Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-06
BOUNDS AROUND
PHONE COMP ANY
DRAWN TIGHTER
approximately 10000 Phones Ex-
pected Out In Week-MOre
Operators Join Union.
THF PHONE STRIKF.

Hope for an early settlement
of the telephone strike seems TO
rest in ability Of the strikers
to force the company to grant
wage demands or allow tele-
phones TO be removed.
approximately 1900 tele-
phones have been taken or or
dered from the homes of union
men and others since a call two
days ago, union leaders said
today. 1t is expected that TO-
900 VIII be ordered out by the
end of the week.
If any wires have been cut
they were not "snipped7 by the
strikers, union leaders say.
A meeting of presidents and
secretaries Of all unions viii
be held Thursday with q view
TO placing fines on those who
refuse TO order phones removed.
More funds for the homeless
girl operators are to be secured
from dances planned this week.
No word has been received as
to whether or not Miss Mae
Matthews. secretary of the ma
tiOnaI telephone operators
union, viii be in Rock Island
soon TO handle the picketing Of
the strikers.
The girls have received a
+ char .er, No. 1854, for the tele-
phone operators of Rock Island,
Moline. East MOline and SilVis.
The Central Union Telephone
company will be forced to settle
wage grievances of ESQ striking
linemen and operators or lose bust
hess in Rock Island, if the plans
already in oTIration by the strik-
srs eliminate in the. success pre-
licted
This morning It was announced
hat approximately 1000 telephones
had been taken or ordered from the
homes Of different union or union
families. 1t was pre-
licted by H. D. Smith, business
agent for the strikers, that over
.en thousand will be out before the
ind Of the week.
ElEHS 70 Nc CHHtnSus
In order to clinch plans, meet
ng Of presidents and secretaries
If approximately eighty union or
carnations will be held at Indus
rial hall Thursday night to draw
I'D plans whereby all union mem
oers will either order their phones
removed or pay fines for not doing
10.
So far, practically all unions
rave agreed to the plan of remov-
ag phones by referendum ballots
Fhe pressmen have already served
lo1ce that theirs must be removed
Next Thursdays meeting is expect
ID to result in affirmative action by
LII organizations.
Strikers today said they woulS
-efuse to allow nonunion men to
inter their homes to collect dis
phones.
In the meantime notices are be-
ng prepared for the signature of
,itiZens who desire to sign the pa
)ers as an order for the company
o remove phones within 10 days.
Last night a resolution was
Ldopted by mass meeting of citi-
ems at Market square pledging the
Of the public in helping
he strikers gain their demands.
rho resolution asks the city Off
.ials to take steps to force the COM
,any to treat the strikers justly !;
also asks that unless better SER
nee be assured steps be taken to
ANGEL the franchise of the COM
,any in this city.
The strikers maintain that they
lave executed their strike in all
airness. They refute limitations
hat they had som ething to do with
he severing of lines in certain
ocalities.
More funds for the support Of
he homeless girls are being secur-
d daily. One labor organization
gave $500 for their sup
fort. A dance is being arrange-9
or Friday night, and an exhibition
'out is scheduled for Aug. II at