The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-01-31
WIRE OFFICIALS LOAF
Konenkamp Charges Concerted
Effort Being Made to Dis
credit Federal Control.
Makes Claims of Managers Deliberate
iy impeding Efficiency of Telegraph
Transmission, in Order to Create
Prejudice Against Govern
ment Regulation.


troll of the telegraph the managers of
the Western Union and Postal are
practicing sabotage that would land
any other person in the penitentiary,
declares President Konenkamp of the
Commercial Photographers union, who
is seeking the reinstatement of 700
victimized union telsgraphers.
1--WE have bundle Of testimony"
said Konenkamp, ito support our
claim chat the companies are sabo-
tagging the government; that they dis
charged competent and necessary te-
legraphers because these workers at
tended meetings of their union; that
company business is given the right of
way over important cash business that
is often forwarded by mail, and that
telegraphers are ordered to go SLOW,
so that managers may show the pub
lie. to use the words of one official,
This is what you get under govern
ment control
Sdetrack Messages.
POSTMASTER General Burleson has
in his possession protest by Atlanta
citizens who show that Western Union
officials at that gateway to the South
ordered employees to give company
business the right of way. The small
est detail of company management is
placed before business of vital need
to the nation. AS high as 10000 of
these deadhead messages have been
filed in one day and important tele-
grams were shipped by railroad, while
company officials assured complain.
ing public that the government, and
not they, is responsible.
"To perfect it's sabotage policy al
Atlanta the company has ordered some
of it's men to report at 10 a. m. in
stead of $780, This has resulted IL
an hour and one-half accumulation
of business, in addition to the dead
head business, which company officials
increase whenever possible.
Ordered To Go Slow.
"Frop many western points l have
received information that telegrapher'
) have been ordered to go slow'-to re
duce speed. This was one Of thu
things that put Haywood and hi
crowd in the Leavenworth peniten
tiary.
eat Los Angeles. CAL, substitutes
or what we call extra men, have beer
! told by Western Union officials tina
| there was no work for them. At tn
same time Santa Barbara and othe
cities were calling Los Angeles for al
hour and one-half. Later Los Angelo
would reply that its service is disol
ganized because of government cor
troll.
Competent Men Jobless.
: "In Chicago competent telegrapher
2 are seeking employment while tn
= companies plead lack of men as a
excuse for poor service.
"In Oklahoma City two operator
:. were discovered talking while at worl
They were discharged, and the con
pany gave notice to connecting cite
: that because of the scarcity of labo
: the office had to close at midnight, an
:, that after-midnight business would b
3 handled the next day.
g 1--WE have testimony that employe
=, In a New York Office left their wire
: to urge other employees to join tn
i company union formed by Preside1
e Carlton of the Western Union. At tn
e same time war munitions plants
: Ansonia, Waterbury, Bridgeport an
+ other Connecticut towns were tryin
to connect with New York to get RI
of their accommodating messages.
"The Western Union can give til
; w. w. points on sabotage, but viii
i the latter are jailed President Car
d ton and his associates are permitte
1 to go their way, although they max
|. no attempt to conceal their policy an
y the motive behind it. Instead of All
ing the government these officials al
not only sabotaging the governme1
but they create discord among en-
u ployes by their continued refusal
o accept the governments labor polio
e and cease discrimination against trad
9 uniOniStS.'