The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-07
THREAT Is MADE
T0CALL0UT N. Y.
TELEGRAPHERS
Konenkalnp Asserts Strike
Will Be Nationwide With
in Ten Days.
HAS GONE TO CHICAGO
Western Union Says 300
Obeyed Order to Quit;
Union Claims 5000.
BURLESON KEEPS POWER
Companies Are Given Back to
Owners Only So Far as Op-
GRAFTON Is Concerned.
BURLESON KEEPS POWER
Special Despatch 10 TEE snN

soiesrapn operators in New York and
Warrington who are affiliated with the
Commercial Telegraphers Union are 10
be the next men called out on strike II
was stated here to-day by s. J. Konen-
kamp, president OF the union. Mr..
konenkamp said that a formal state
ment on call for the extension of the
strike on a nationwide basis would be
Issued from Chicago tomorrow.
The strike is to grow" he said, "un-
I'll 1t reaches maximum proportions
June 16. when the electrical workers
go out" Whether the additional strike
call viii be cumulative. calling out op-
orators in first one section and then
another. and spreading gradually, or
whether the rest OF the union mem
bers through the country would be
called out at one time, Mr.. Konenkamp
refused to say.
The union president left Washington
Tor Chicago tonight. He does not ex-
pect any Government interference in the
strike. and Is not asking any. He made
It very plain that no appeal would be
taken by the union.
Loses Faith I'm Governments.
Any faith the union may have had
IN Government settlement or aid in a
settlement Of the demands OF its mem
bers has been considerably shaken" he
declared. The War Labor hoard has
failed to do anything. The Department
of Labor has failed. Postrnaster-oen-
eral Burleson has failed, and We sought
to see the President last February and
failed. The fact that I am leaving
Washington is sufficient indication that
/ expect nothing from the Government.
I'VE understood that We failed to see
the President because our case was not
acute. 1t is becoming and win become
more acute"
The Post Office Department will make
no statement with reference to the
strike. 1t has taken no action sand It
was strongly indicated that nons would
be taken. The Department ID disposed
TO let the matter take its course and
leave it to the Western Union ofiicials.
There was wide divergence in state
ments as to the number OF men on
strike in the eleven States IN the South
and East SO far affected. Reports
reaching the Post Office Department in
dicate that the number is slight Presi-
dent Konenkamp will not gfve figures.
He attacked those OF Newcomb Carlton,
declaring that the Western Union presi-
dent in the past had fired several
hundred employees for attending a union
meeting. after he had issued statement
that only 150 were present
Public Ownership Plan Denied.
President Konenkamp said he was
willing to submit the matter to the War
Labor Board II the company was. but
that he did not expect any such con-
tingency He scoffed at reports that
the strike was designed to bring about
permanent Government ownership and
operation, a result that he favored, along
with the Postmaster-General.
"Mr. Burleson and myself are mighty
wide apart" he declared. II favor Gov
ernment ownership on the Plumb plan
for the railroads, Government ownership
and a voice by the workers in opera
tion. I believe In decentralization or In
dustry. Mr.. Burieson believes in Just
tho opposite-Governmeht ownership
with full operating powers In his hands
and no regard for the workers"
Mr. Konenkamp refused to indicate
the number of men he expected to call
out in New York and In Washington
He was satisfied with the situation, he
said, and promised astonishing results
when the strike was called IN the capital
and in the metropolis
Postmaster General Burleson denied
to-day that the wires had been re-
lnquished by the order of last night
He sent a letter to Senator Cummins
Qowa), chairman of the Senate Inter
state Commerce Committee, declaring
that his order related solely to opera
ton Of the lines and was not the ac-
tual return of the properties to theiT
owners.
mo such action has been taken by
me-" he wrote. nor is any contem-
plated"
Operative Board Only Goes.
This order" Mr.. Burleson's letter
continued, simply dissolves the oper-
Ating board appointed by me under date
OF December 13, 1918. and directs that
the systems be again operated by the
regular operating officials under Gov
ernment supervision. Responsibility oi
the Government to the systems In nowist
ceases. 1t being evident that these prop
critics are to be returned In the very
near future. II was necessary for ths
Postmaster-G General to take steps i'm
mediately to set up the regular operat'
ing organization OF the companies %
that when the properties are turned
back II can be done without confusion
or interruption to the service. which wal
the purpose Of the order. This order II
nowise affects the legislation pending
before your COMMITTEES or before Con
gress. II will enable the companies q
begin steps Immediately to prepare thu
data and collect their information Il
be submitted to the State commission
for the rate cases, which will probably