The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-01
|g!'RES|OENT MAY
/ SEIZE CONTROL
Of WIRE SERVICE
Western Union Opera
s';.stors Receive Orders to
, GA Strike July 8.
ndinss -~--
/ sS'..1MAx OF FIGHT
| ~ ..s4tnpany Insists on Its
=: sss 4alicy of Refusing De-
81; hands Of Organized
'.SsI e. Employees.
,lMAx OF FIGHT

y
Sk westJ -
$3.50 Washington. June 3o.-President
Inc hlrsfon lie expected to take action TO
'ym0on N the strike of the Western Union
SnsN Eraphers, called for July by s. j..
president of the Com
ks1ercial Photographers union.
4 The idea OF strike is deprecated
n ofiiciai quarters here tonight,
yaiefy because OF the fact that the
E~..~atire labor situation concerning the
toStern Union and its operators is
~ ifhe hands OF the president, and also
of the added fact that the
Tvs, esident is set against waikouts IN
k6ent dy industries that are Intimately re-
q Lasted to the government in its war
kAA Mivities.
lain sf.he president Is reported TO have
The sn the telegraphers situation par
IGGAvois lar attention since the decision of
nv. Ju; national war labor board. allow
operators Of the two largest COM
An snhs--,he Postal and Western Union
hat 81 y right to organize. The Postal
oness Ned to this decision; the Western
namph turned It down.
sswpoH hough complaints against the
e&n ceaern Union on hours and wages
soyAM ire pending before the board. the
nuISn fement of it's award 10 the man
ooH ~ Nomination La now up to the presi-
This was made plain several
yS.Jago by Frank p. Walsh, Joint
$500 inau Of the board, before he left
IN. un,irtdgeport. to handle threaten
h NJ Munitions strike there,
em~ ME do not expect a strike" said
~, wIer executive officer OF the board
"a 81. Bat. Something is likely 10 hap
The before 1t can be called and go
ktsA w6effsct"
aiaiss ke something" In generally ac-
hN orx4d to mean government operation
~ s@fS nh ErAz nF be try
liner n the period OF the war by man
(rneAss from the president, While the
|H~ inter might adopt more conciliatory
on aonE1r&s 10 avoid y breach between
Ne corntany and the men. he stili re-
|erves the last word In the matter
through the war powers he possesses.
II said
Representatives Of the union have
M3charsed that the Western Union
s4would welcome q strike which would
~c0mpel the government TO assume con-
go roi Of the wires. as this would carry
with II government guarantee of a
financial return better than the one
the stockholders now receive. This
motive has been denied vigorously by
representatives Of the company,
Konenkanp Explains Purpose.
Chicago. June s0-S. J. konen-
ikAmp, president OF the Commercial
i Telegraphers' union. today issued a
general order TO all subordinate units
calling for a strike agains; the West
aArn Union Telegraph company on
Az July s. at A. NJ.
lof3months OF negotiations through the
4tnafional war labor board. whose de-
c3sion granting the telegraphers the
right to organize was rejected by the
Weetern Union.
Mr.. Konenkamp in his strike order
sAys:
The grievances to be adjusted are
khose set forth In President Wilson's
Il fl1k4Ar to the Western Union Telegraph
Il lHompAny n % the reinstatement OF
Nh over 500 Western Union employees
+ locked out contrary to his proclama-
ttOn Of April s. 1918. and ca to en-
1uTce the decision of the national war
tabor. board June, /. 1913. In this
letter to the Western Union the presi-
Aent asked the officials OF that COM
4 pAny to cooperate with him by ac-
lcepting the labor boards decision.
This tn. company declined to do.
seim,3r letters addressed TO the
i3ostal Telegraph company and the
union frIpuEht expressions OF ready
WInint, Us to comply with his re-
81, tt strfke AGAINST the Western
Qntff erlone IL necessary because of
xhaxt Tmpany's continued determin-
Nt3Esio destroy the organization. 1t
HknI3ontinuance OF struggle that
8fv.s5nne through many years during
49, IN we have appealed to the gov
49,. .,ilsnt and were sustained by the
~ litigation os 1908. the U. s. COM
E-.eH.~sr,n of industrial relations in 1915.
-. Sr.rhe Massachusetts state board OF
x~ssY42 and industry in 1916 well as
4. ~ national war labor board. all OF
As.r IN has been of no avail except to
Il I1ntensify the struggle.
e. frttr mill AoN = y
II 6oys at the front because of its pur.
VI pose. 1t Is not of our seeking.
81 s1t Ii the last resort to preserve
IN organization from humiliation
with nearly one thousand members
1dAnied ! the right to work at their
txrade. with the danger of extensive
n i6ckouta confr2nting us, there Ii
! e n0khtng lett exas pit to stand up In the
As4enaA Of lily .ty. freedom and de-
9Mocracy 1T hsarile as well as abroad
- 1hia strike lads for nothing except
nndAmentaft rmericanism and IT. Il
NJ S0inG TO bea On on that ground"
NJ. Kone ws.np notified oficials o!
1911 brancf co Of the Railway Tele-
&tnphers' preon. which had under
l 6tAsratie joining with the Com
Ec1al X, sraphers In their de-
6nls tqrpqpply to H. 3. Perham
Sl4grArk M. for further instruc-
I rnG reich ing their participation.
Il -
A Neshrcw.k senators Back Up.
FB KeMjster, \, June so.--United States
0at{x. of} ellsworth and Calder to-
III j rec4rew their can for a Re-
q &lj4 hiaate convention to be held
~ MI. within view OF = declaration by
d Va jcommittss today that Z
u ~ M. Mhavsntion u TO be held on
! A'l''''