Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-09
CLAIM WIRE LINES
. SHOULD BE OWNED
BY UNITED STATES
Washington Leaders Issue
Statement Urging I'M
mediate Action.
INVESTIGATION DEMANDED
OF SITUATION At PRESENT
Claim Menace Threatens Peace
of Country's Industrial Exist
enee at This Time.
SAL BuRLEsoN PASSES BUCK
W'estern Union Fights Employees and
Government Pays Bills, Assert
Omcials. 'r.
INVESTIGATION DEMANDED
OF SITUATION At PRESENT
SAL BURLEsoN PASSES BUCK
Westorn Union Fights Employees and
Z, Government Pays Bills, Assert
OniCials.

WAsHINGToN. June, s--consress
tonight Was called upon to enact leg.s-
lation for permanent, government own
ership OF the telegraph lines Of the
country .-by the local branch of the
Commercial 'Telsgraphers' Unirn. which
will Join In the Impending nation wide
strike 'of the key men, r.5
The responsibility for the strike was
placed upon Congress in a statement
by the telesraphsrs. 1t says: -
Teiegraphsra, tho private. secreta-
ries OF all public men, because OF the
nature, OF their calling. handling their
private 'correEpondence over the wires
are well quaitnsd to pass jud xment on
the acts of many. Of them We are
given an insight to their characters,
motives etc; known only to the in.
dividual and his copfd enti al secretary.
With Athe ,knowledEe'; gained in this
manner the teiesrapher Inns decided 1t
Is time to call "a halt. We assert that
tho responsibility ;. for. the present
telegraphers' strike and whatever may
fellow. :rsits with the Congress and
not with the owners OF the wire sys-
tsmss or Sthe wire sWorkers... q, I,
GyivI Seek orxani,s ttna RisNt.y g, Sy.5. y, b
E$S,'sWs. dsmand theSrfsht TO rorsani.e
Ahd sntsr into woskinE agreements
With empioyeFs.
1--WE sreassert statements mad nv iis
at various times.to The effect that. the
present telegraph systems are made
auRte and do not meet the require
ments OF the{,businsss needs OF the
County; that StheismanaEemant under
Aes rst p'osss SsnF the
Client and a continuation, of ,tfils .inef-
noieney during the period Of, recon
Strueton means 'ruineus losses to the
large and small 49,
w. demand Of Congress an i'm,
parsiai Investigation OF the whole
government ownership, Failing in this
the compileEs of this statement express
Tie 9nseseS 1assd cnmd, on knowledss Of
graphers.. Blu, among ali craftsmen.
that menace. threatens the peace Of
our industrial. life."
BurIeseu Passes Buck.
situation. 8. j. Small. a former Inter
national' ofncer, and now prominent
local cal, dealer. said:
hole when it votedto return the wires
soI,th%ith ,s TO. private ownership. The
suck to sasI.aon. T Il. dfsns de Tsstuyn W.n, the +,
50 he returned the operating power OF
me ytrsz systems.to the owners and re-
eiai ohliEasions, including any abnor-
mi' fa1 e. ,s1pen.e % and hnanet.f loss inciden-
atink control to you and YOU nxht the
strtkeFs. I'M retain; financial control
and ,oeligSte the government to make
ers.' - 9,"--; $500 - - INV INV own
strike. Called for weanxsday.
A dispateh from Chicago tonight
said that s. J. Konenkamp, president
OF OF shn 20, G9mmsreial Telssrs piers Union
and began plans for the nation. Wide
strike which 10 called for Wednesd.v
,m9rn,hs,' n.n,sd Mr:.kone kar,p said he .ex-
eial % eann,n S4npiess ninn =. tisaup Of eommer-
ne added. had issued fnstruetIens that
no business originating In the UnIted
states would be handled in the Do
,h n,in,"h. or on" the Atlantic or Pacihc
According to Mr. 'Kon.nkamp. $4,000
rs.t; ,siaEranhers VIII quit their keys. rep
Postal And Sse. %e..epn 2G pss Tnon cen, n Gt the
Although thers was n sentiment he
said. 'amons the lndn to cali Out onel.
mar ,hst tSey St broken s,,,d wires,t was decided
Telegraph employees will foin M
s. sr1ke. psess expectations. Mr. Konen.
,"p sciH'-. HOulu- not be affected at
tnie tine The policy towards press
associations. he added. had not vet
been determined.
Msssagts rs.ehinE Mr.. Konsnkamp
ttom points. throughout the country
shon'ed Unanimous support Of tho
strike call. "A majority OF the locals
met. today to formulate plans for tbs
Yalkput. -. s.! :. ~ - ' '
y. 1890 Ne. Reported out
Mr.; Konenkamp denisd statements
OF Western Union officials. which re-.
ported but few men optSin the South.
according: to- sIupion* head quarters re-.
ports. 1900 men already have struck
In, the Southern districts, In. sympathy
With this waikout or the Southern Bell
Fe.ephonet sglpfoyses-in Atlanta.
IGs stTiEa' VIII mean a paralysis
OF the entire tslesraph industry IL
Tho 5eountr,t Hr, konsnkanp said
we have tried, to prevent It. but We
cou!n not ger hearing any nther
way. .Wb found there Haa.,no board,
eoTmission or perse?s in. Washirrton
wttH power TO carry out the lab6r colt
wsis';IssnsSNnssd w ,hy President wilson,
Z The Elm mmsdiats Gauss Of calling N.
strike. now. Mt., konank am D. said was
the return OF the wire management
,nro the hands OF the company 'oficfais
n.y. Mr., .Rur!csop. All Efforts 10 gain
reeokpition or 9 hearing from; the west.
en- Union maray en-. MT had proven IN
tps oyer acourSs of severn years, ne
sa.G: and the-onlys course open wts.to