Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-13


of Railroad Telegraphers to discon-
t1nue handling business Of the West
ern Union and Postal telegraph COM
panies after A. M. Saturday, June
II. was issued here today by e. J.
Manton, president of the railroad
telegraphers. The order affects 80,-
900 railroad operators and approx
mately 10000 railroad telegraph Of
fees. according to officials of the
organization.
A nationwide strike OF union COM
mercial telegraphers called by s. J.
Konenkamp, international president
Of the Commercial Photographers
Union of America, became effective
at Z o'clock Wednesday morning.
The companies against which the
strike was called include the Western
Union Telegraph company, the Pos
tai Telegraph company, the Amer
lean Telegraph and Telephone COM
pany and a number of smaller tele-
graph companies in various parts of
the country.
include their right to organize and
bargain collectively, wages and
working conditions.
= At a meeting of the telegraphers
peaceful p1cketing" was decided
upon and at o'clock pickets were
placed around the general offices of
the companies in Atlanta.
Mr.. Konenkamp said that 1t might
be necessary to call out leased wire
operators in order to enforce the de-
mands by the commercial men.
Postmaster General Burleson de-
clared in a statement Wednesday
that no amount of pressure would
avail to make the government wire
control board extend or go be-
yond" rules and regulations Of the
"war labor board which have been
strictly observed since the govern
ment took over control of the tele-
graph and telephone properties"
Mr.. Bur1eson declared the strike OF
wire employees which began Wednes-
day morning was wholly without
Justification" and added that in
ic traffic had not been delayed and
would not be delayed"
mo amount of pressure will avail
to make the wire control board ex-
tend or go beyond these regulations"
he added.
present strikes started at Atlanta
because it was claimed 800 employees
Of the Southern Bell Telephone com
pany had been dismissed solely be-
cause Of affiliations with labor or
CARNATIONS. This claim was later
reduced to 100, and still later to
thirty-four," Mr.. Burleson said. "The
complaint was promptly referred to
the postoffice inspectors. While the
Investigation was in progress and
before the investigation had time to
ascertain the facts, sympathetic
strike against the Western Union
was called in the southeastern states.
can insignificant percentage Of the
operatives respected this order to
strike. Messages were not delayed
and business was handled as usua!:
In the meantime, 1T was ascerta1ned
that only seven employees OF the
missed during the month of May, as
compared with an average of five
for two months preceding the in
vestigation of these cases so far
completed show that no discrimina-
ton whatever has been practiced
against the employees Of that COM
pany because Of union affiliations.
"The senate committee having re-
ported a bill in favor of turning back
forthwith the wire systems to their
owners and the house committee haV-
ing indicated a purpose to take ac-
ton along similar lines, an order
was issued disseminating the opera
ton Of the wire systems for the re-
naming period of government con-
troll. This was necessary so that the
companies again could take up their
own operations when, the period OF
government control ends and could
resume full control of their proper
ties with as little confusion and dis
turbance as possible, and further so
that they could promptly take steps
to protect their finances from the
consequences of sudden action on the
part of the state utilities commits
sions in the change Of rates which
had been fixed during the period OF
government control. After this order
was issued the present strike was
ordered. When the period OF govern
ment control ends the wire systems
various owners intact, with their ope-
rating organizations intact, without
the value of these properties haV-
ing been the slightest impaired.
Conflicting claims Of union leaders
and officials of commercial telegraph
companies made uncertain the ex-
tent of the nationwide strike OF
telegraph operators, which began at
7 a. M, but representatives of the
workers confidently maintained that
the number of strikers would reach
$4,000 by nightfall.
per cent" declared an official Of the
Western Union Telegraph company
after receiving reports from points
in this district. which includes ILL
noiS, Wisconsin. Michigan, INDIANA
and Ohio. Our proof is the fact
that we are ready to accept all bust
ness offered"
1.-TWO thousand seven hundred
workers will be on the streets by
night in this district" said S. j.
Konenkamp, international president
of the Commercial Photographers
Union of America. 'In Chicago 500
already are on strike. The number
will be nearly doubled by night"
British Submarine