The Washington herald., 1919-01-20
WIRE QUIZ CERTAIN,
SAY WORKERS; DENY
BURLESON STATEMENT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

over that specified should be paid for
as overtime. Al, Sunday work was
paid for as overtime work. 1t is
/ therefore shown that with the virtual
abolition of all overtime pay, the te-
legraphers instead of obtaining an
increase in their monthly salaries.
have actually suffered a reduction OF
those salaries. On this point the te-
legraphers declare their ability to pro-
duce all the figures that an exacting
investigating committee can require,
to establish their contention.
1t is in this connection that the
charges OF the telegraphers place
| Postmaster General Burleson in active
sympathy and collusion with the Off
GERS of the Western Union Company
and the policy of that company.
The abolition of overtime pay for
Snday work and all work in excess of
eight hours daily were two of the OBJ
jects for which President Carlton OF
the Western Union and his associates
had been working before the wires
were taken over by the government
1t was the basis OF the conflict be-
tween the Western Union Company
and the operators which had reached
the point Of a threatened strike. at
the time the President interfered with
his seizure of the wires.
The Western Union Company. de-
spite an urgent request from the Pres
ident that the dispute be submitted to
the War Labor Board for adjustment
declined TO make any concessions and
had virtually created a situation in
which there was nothing left for the
President to do except to take over
NXyirn nd civ Of
TO the Postmaster General.
Claim Discrimination.
The selection Of President Carlton
of the Western Union as general man
ager OF the entire wire system Of the
United States followed soon after the
Postmaster General had assumed con-
trol, and while the selection was justi-
fled by the known ability OF the Wes-
tern Union chief as an executive and
as an expert in the handling OF tele-
graph work. it is now asserted that
the Postmaster General was actuated
by a desire TO support the Western
Onion in its night against the Teleg-
Taphers Union.
II has been charged that in the pay
accorded the Western Union for the
use of its wires under the direction
of its own officers the government has
disseminated against the owners Of
the Postal lines, and that from the
beginning of his control the POstmas-
ter General has been an active Western
Union partizan against the interests
OF the rival company and against the
interest of the employees.
The proof Of this charge. like that
affording the basis for the other
oh &c IN that tho
Western Union policy has been made
the government policy and the West
ern Union officers have been cntrust-
ed with the execution OF their own
policy, supported by tho authority Of
the government to make it effective
This. it is charged. has enabled the
Western Union to maintain as gov
ernment policy its own policy OF
blacklisting all telegraphers who had
been active as union men in resist
ing the changes that President Carl
ton was insisting upon in the matter
of hours of labor and overtime pay
before the government interviewed.
The Postmaster Generals order re-
specting increases in pay applied
only to employees who had been in
the service six months prior to the
assumption of control by the gov
ernment.
AS all the blacklsted men of the
Western Union had been forced out
of the service within the six months
period specified this was, in effect.
an order from the government con-
tinuing the lockout and giving It the
sanction of the government.
BInckIisted Men Complain.
1t is charged that since the gov
ernment has been in control OF the
wires. Notwithstanding urgent need
for all available operators to handle
government work and the great press
of commercial business, no man who
had been blacklisted by the Western
Union as the result of activity in be-
half of the telegTaphers' union has
been able to obtain employment In
Western Union offices.
The old scandal respecting the use
by. the Postmaster General of con-
vict labor upon his extensive plan
tations in Texas has been revived
and will be presented to the Congress
sional committees as proof of his op-
position to free and Orga niZed ahor