The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-13
ALL WIRES TO
Be PARALYZED
Complete Tie-Up Of Telephone
as Well as Telegraph
by Monday.
KONENKAMP CONFIDENT
$4,000 Already out-Cole
Reports Atlanta Employees
Dismissed for Reason.

Chicago, June 13.-Complete pa
ralysis of the telephone as well as
the telegraph systems OF the coun-
try will be a reality by Monday. ac-
cording to q statement made by S. J.
Konenkamp, president of the Com
mercial Telegrnphers' union. today.
konenkamp declared that telephone
operators throughout the United
States are preparing TO join in the
electrical workers strike already
fixed for Monday.
The strike of the electrical work.
ers and the telephone operators. Ko-
nenkamp declared, will deal all forms
Of wire service a staggering blow and
make victory certain in the strike of
operators. which began three days
ago.
Konenkamp estimated the number
of Western Union and Postal em-
ployes on strike today at $4,000.
j. G. Luhrsen, president of the
American Train Dispatchers associa-
tion, said today that 5000 members
of that organization will support the
tehgraphers' strike in every way.
Means of aiding the strike will be
discussed at a convention which
meets in Chicago Tuesday.
Canadian railway operators, 1t was
announced today, have followed the
action of the railway operators in the
United States in refusing to handle
commercial messages from this coun-
try.
Inspector Coles Report.
Washington, June 13,--Em-
ployes Of the Southern Bell TsIe-
phone ennpany In Atlanta were
dismissed "for good and sufi-
oient reasons" and not because
OF union affiliations, Postal In
speotor Cole reported to Post
master General BurIeson today.
A preliminary report made public
| by the postmaster general said;
Investigation of telephone case
concluded today. The company
(Southern BelD has shown good and
sufficient reasons for all dismissals
or other changes in force and after
painstaking and exhaustive inquiry
no evidence Is found to support the
| charge that employees have been dis
charged or otherwise Disseminated
| against on account of union mem
bership or other activity. Full re-
| port will go forward as soon as 1t
| can be prepared and should reach
| Washington not later than Monday
The postmaster general will await
the arrival of the full report. it was
| announced at the department., anu
will then go over it in detail.
New York Claims to Be Normal.
New York. June 13.-(A. P)-The
third day OF the telegraphers' strike
opened with the local situation appar-
emily unchanged. Both the Postal and
Western Union officials said they were
: handling their service at practically
normal speed and under normal condi-
tions. At strike headquarters leaders
claimed the services of both organiza-
tons were badly crippled.
Order Banned Wage Contracts.
! Chicago, June l3.-Union officials said
an order issued some time ago by Post
master General Burleson and still in
effect prohibits the commercial hele-
graph companies from signing wage
contracts with their proprietors. For
this reason, it was stated, the condi-
tons were so drawn as to provide ac-
tual wage agreements would not be en-
tered into nor other concessions granted
urtil after the government had discon-
tnued all control.
With the announced determination OF
making the wire tie-up in the country
complete, so far a commercial business
is concerned, by next Monday, picketing
| committees in scores OF towns and
cities today set to work urging tele-
phone girls to join the strike. Many
Of the girls already are affiliated with
the international Brotherhood OF Elec-
trical Workers, which has called a
strike for next Monday that will affect
1906 workers, according to strike
lenders