South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-08
Applies to Employees of West
ern Union, Postal and AM
eriCan Companies.
AFFECTS 100000 employees
S. J. KOnenkamp Sends Out
Strike Order Late Satur-
day Afternoon.

By Associated Press.
CHICAGO. June IA nation
wide strike of teIe5raph ana tsIe-
phone operators who are members
or The Commercial Telegraphs'
Union of America was ordered tcda.
10 take effect next wednesday morn
ins at S a IT,, standard time. The
oroer was issued at general head
quarters Of the union here on tele-
graphic instructions from S. j. Ko-
GenkaWp. international president.
who was in Pittsburg on his way TO
Chicago.
rhe strike order applies TO en-
Ployes OF the Western Union Tele-
graph company. the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph company and
the Postal telegraph and Gable
company with its associated Institu
tions
IL was estimated at headquarters
here that the strike would affect
between 10000 and 100000 individ
uals. of whom nearly 25.OOO were
said 20 be members Of the union.
Follows Washington Visit.
The decision to call "a nationwide
strike was reached by Pres't KoEen-
kamp after spending several days
i'm WASHINGTON, where he had direct
cd strike of union employees In 10
southeastern states. That strike
followed a strike of telephone work
ers in Atlanta. where telephone en-
ployes were said TO have been dis
charged because of union affiia-
tions. although the Southern Bell
Telephone company denied member
ship had been the basis of any dis
charges.
A strike vote was taken recently
concurrently With one by the Inter
national Electrical Workers union.
The strike order was as follows:
All Telegraph and Telephone
Employees:
~ strike is hereby declared to
take effect Wednesday, June IL
1919. at S a. m, standard time
sgainst the Western Union Iele-
graph company. the American Tele-
graph and Telephone company, the
Postal Telesraph and Gable com
pauy. with its associated insutu-
tlous, including the MaCkay and
Nr.,h American companies. and
against telephone companies where
err members are employed.
(Sisned) IS. J. Konenkamp.
international President
send lengthy instructions
accompanying the strike order
were lengthy instructions to mem.
bcrv employed 10y concerns not al
fecteJ bv the order o. aid i'm maxim.
the strike effective. This. it was eN
planned. meant that such employs
of other concerns would refuse q
handle telegraph and telephou,
message classed as commercial
business.
canadian members Of the union
M was said, would refuse 90 hands
ANY commercial business originating
the United States or directed %
a,, ooint within this country
hallway teIesraphers also Would
refuse 10 handle commercial busl
moss. 10 was declared as result %
"a resolution at the recent conNen
ton OF the order Of Railroad Teleg
Ilphers pa st Louis, declaring ina
such business would bc banut9 o
.uploves OF that organization il
o. event or q strike.
Four Thousand Ancctcd.
In CHICAGO. IL was SAID dt uuIo.
ha4dguarters. more than 5000 wlr
workers would &c affe cted.
me Commercial TeleerapEers
-uicu ,aas Iorn here m 1902. Pres
konenklmp declared weeks ago tina
postmaster Gen. Burlesou, who ha
taken over control of the wire s>9
Gems. mad refused Co grant the EN-
ployes increased vases deniantee
and mat unless the union was zee
cgnized and the men given relic
from the hi.h cost OF Twins. a strik
nGlld ba inevitable
AIR. Konenkamr viii RETURN 20
morrow 70 direct the strike.