Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-12
NO JUSTIFICATION
FOR WIRE STRIKE
BURLESON HOLDS
Declares Control Board Will
Adhere to Wartime
Regulations.
SAYS UNION AFFILIATIONS
NOT FACTOR AT ATLANTA
But Seven Employees of Southern
Bell Telephone Company Dis
missed in May
BUSINESS MOVING AS USUAL
Postmastcr-Gencral Reports His In
formation Is That Traffic VIII
Not Be impeded.
SAYS UNION AFFILIATIONS
NOT FACTOR AT ATLANTA
BUSINESS MOVING AS usuA
POstmastcr-Gcncral Reports His In
formation Is That Traffic VIII
Not Be Impeded.
lBy Associated Prcss.I

WASHINGTON. June lI.-Declaring
the strike OF wire employees which
began today was wholly without justi-
iication," Postmaster General Burleson
said in statement today that mo
amount of pressure Viii avail TO make
the wire controi BOARD extend or go
beyond rules and regulations affecting
by the national war labor board"
Mr. Burleson said his information
was that teieEraphic traffic had not
and would not be delayed. Govern
ment business, which makes up the
hulk OF business handled by the compa-
MES nee vas reported moving as
it was said there had been no intor.
ruptton of cable communication with
SnyS Strike Not Justified.
The present strike OF wire employees
is wholly without Justification said
the Postmaster Gen eral. 1T started
mat employees OF the Southern Bell
Telephone Company had been dismissed
solely because Of aftil!ation with the
was promptly referred to the post. office
.insp ectors for Investigation. While the
investiSatfon was in progress and be-
certain the facts a sympathetic strike
against the Western Union was called
~ the southeastern States. An IN
significant percentage OF the operatives
sages. were not delayed ana business
was handled as usual.
n the meantime it was asce-tained
that on:y seven employees of the
Southern Bell Telephone Company had
Seen M dismissed during the month Of
hve for two months preceding. and
the investigation of these cases SO
Ia, ,ar completed show that no discrimi-
against employees OF that companv
because or union affiliations.
..1,ta apeains Turning Back Wirrs.
ported a bill in favor of turninn h.,el-
forthwith the wire systems te their
owners and the House committee hav.
aiohS similar lines an order was is
sued continuing the operations OF the
W. mtre systems for the remaining period
1883. dated August l. 1918. This was
necessary so that the companies again
could ,, take up their own operations
trol ends and could resume full con-
lroi OF their properties with as little
and. further. so that thev could
promptly take steps TO protect their
snGdcn nTheSs ,n,fnm rtGm the Gonsequences of too
utilities commissions in the chanse of
rates which have been fixed durinE d the H
period or government control
Traffic Not Delayed
After this order was issued The
present strike was ordered our in- ne
has not been delayed and the Informal
llon received indicates that it will not
oe DELAYED. During the period Of gov :
ernment control the rules and reeula
tons tons Of the War Labor Board have
neen stictly observed and will con-
tinue to be observed during the con
IN IN lance or government control. but
make the wire control board extend
or go beyond these regulations
w hen the period of government
control ends the wire system can be
and VIII be returned to their various
owners intact with their operating Or
gsnizations intact without the values
or these properties having been in the
slightest impaired"