New-York tribune., 1918-07-05
Carlton Pleads
With w. u. Men to
Stand by Company
He Urges Them Not To Be
Stampeded Into Strike by
International Union
Labor Chief Replies
Declares Delay Is Sought to
Add to Company's $5,OOO,-
600 Rainy Day Surplus

Newcomb Carlton, president of the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
yesterday appealed to the employees OF
his company to refrain from being
stampeded into strike by the Interna-
tlonal Telegraphers' Union. The strike
has been called for July 8, and meet
ing will be held at 2:30 o'clock next
Sunday in Terrace Garden to organize
the strike campaign.
Mr.. Cartons statement caused Percy
Ihomas, deputy president of the Teleg-
raphers' Union, to reply that Mr. Carl
ton evidently desired to hold the teleg-
raphers in leash until "the rainy day
surplus" piled up by the Western Union
since the United States declared war
had grown many times its present size.
full understanding of present condi-
tlons," Mr.. Carlton said, "it seems
proper for me to say that on the eve
of the formation Ct Western Union
employees association the government
IS considering taking over the teie-
graph lines because of the threat of an
outside organization without member
ship IN our forces.
mo one would pay any attention to
such threat were not the nation at
war. 1t is therefore pertinent to call
view on outside unions as expressed by
Postmaster General Burleson before
the House committee on Tuesday last
as follows:
II have never opposed the govern
ment employees organizing, but if the
telegraph and telephone lines are taken
over the employees should not be affili-
ated with any outside organization. The
sole animation should be with the gov
eminent, and no utside organization
should be allowed to influence their ac-
ton"
"From the foregoing it would appear
that the policy of the company is pre-
cisely that of the Postmaster General.
When your association is formed, it is
proposed that the company make an
exclusive contract with it under which
the company will deal with the asso-
clatlon in matters relating to wages,
conditions of employment, sick bene-
tits, pensions. life insurance and anv
other matters affecting the interests Of
employees.
Meanwhile you may be urged to do
something foolish by self-seeking IN
dlvlduals who hope to improve their
own position, and such an individual
representing small union of about
$500 members, largely Canadian. pro
poses on his own authority to call you
loyal men and women of the Western
Union from your works in order to
defeat the association which YOU are
about to form. | am confident that
you will answer this attempt by an
additional demonstration of your low
atty to your government by continuing
at your post OF duty without fear Of
criticism by rightminded people"
Mr.. Thomas said the nation had
hppNn To NOuhf ha u,;cjop,
the important functions of transmits
sion of telegraphic messages in the
hands of private individuals in war
time. He said the government had re-
Gently disclosed that kilograms were
being sent by train, and that Secretary
OF the Navy Daniels had charaed the
Western Union with sending naval
messages by mail.
1.-The labor movement is not in ac
cord with Postmaster General Burle-
son in his desire to prevent the union
ization of those workers who are serv-
ing their country faithfully at home"
said Mr. Thomas. "Presdent Carlton
understands fully Mr.. Burleson and
Mr.. Burleson's views, and so does Mr.,
Vail, of the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company.
Mr.. Carlton cannot be blamed for
desiring to establish Western Union
union The constitution and bylaws
or such body would probably be writ
ten by j. e. Welliver, vice president of
the western Union, or some other Of
nclal or the company, guaranteeing the
exclusive contract idea until the rainv
day surplus of more than $4,000 600
accumulated by the Western Union
since the United States went to war.
shall have grown to many times that