New-York tribune., 1919-06-06
Men i'm 10 States in
Southeast Ordered
Outs Minutes After
Lines Are Given Up
Rates Remain
Wi WitlnoutChange
aforementioned
To Be Continued:
Big Deficit Shown
Ne,o York Tribune
Washin0tO1a Bureau


Washin 0ton Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 5.-Facing the
threat of general strike of teleg-
raphers, Postmaster General Burleson
tonight ordered the telegraph and
telephone lines returned to their own
crs. Five minutes after he had re-
ceived word of the Postmaster Cen
erals action, S. J. Konenkamp, inter
national president of the Commercial
Telcgra piers Union, ordered a general
strike of telegraphers in ten south
eastern states.
The states in which employees of the
Western Union were ordered out imme-
diatey include Florida, Alabama,
Georgia, South Carolina, North Caro-
lima, Mississippi, West Virginia, Ken
lucky, Tennessee, New Orleans and
Louisiana.
While the wire companies will be per-
mitted to operate the systems and to
put into effect any general policies
they desire, the government still re-
tains its control. Present rates and
the financial arrangements the COM
panies have with the government will
remain in effect until Congress orders
otherwise.
The principal demand Of the teleg-
raphers is that the Western Union Tel
egraph Company shall reinstate in it's
employ the telegraphers the union
alleges we're discharged because of
their connections with organized labor.
Western Union Lines Affected
While only the lines of the Western
Union Telegraph Company are affected
by the strike, it is estimated that
from 5000 to 1000 operators will leave
their keys in response to the strike
order. Louisiana is not included in
the ten Southeastern states which will
be affected by the strike, but telegra-
piers in New Orleans were ordered
to leave their posts, because New
Orleans is relay point, and it is ex-
pected that the strike of operators
there will cripple the service through
the entire Southwest
President Konenkamp said tonight
that unless the demands Of the men
of the Southeastern division are speed
lily met by the Western Union, now
that the physical control of it's prop
critics has been restored by the gov
ernment, there is every probability
that general strike of telegraphers
all over the country, by whatever com~
pany employed, will follow
While the Postmaster Generals
order, returning physical possession of
the wires to the companies, emphasizes
that the order of October 2, 1918, pro-
hibiting discrimination because of
union affiliations, still remains in ef-
feet, Mr.. Konenkamp scoffed at the
idea that the companies would observe
this ruling when free to determine
their own policies, if they refused to
do so when government operation was
in full force.
81 took the step Immediately upon
learning that Postmaster General Bur-
Lesson had ordered the wires returned
to the companies" he said Authority
for it was extended by a strike vote
taken some time ago, which has been
held up to see if we could not negoti-
ate peaceablc settlement. 1t is very
likely that the strike will also involve
the Postal company, but that cannot
be determined yet"
BurleSOn Explains
Postmaster General Burleson's order
restoring the wires to the owners was
accompanied by a statement explaining
the action.
The President having recommend
ed the return of the wire systems and
the control Of the owning companies
with certain Legislation designed to
stabilize their operation" Mr.. Burle-
son said, sand the Senate committee
having taken action looking to their
immediate return, and the House COM
mittee IN its hearings on the proposed
legislation having indicated concur
renee in the suggested immediate re-
turn with or without legislation so
recommended, I feel it my duty to now
return the actual control of operations
to the companies
Rates Are Not Affected
Some days ago I directed the neces-
sary orders to be prepared to accom-
pl'sh this and have to-day issued same.
These orders do not affect questions
or rates and finance with which tho
Congress may determine to deal. The
rates now in force and the financial re-
iations between the government and
the companies and the order Of October
z, 1913, prohibiting discrimination be-
cause Of union afliliation will continue
unless the Congress in it's wisdom may |
Continued on page eight