New-York tribune., 1919-04-27

at the end of that period. To Miss
O'Connor the board system was
nothing more nor less than a device
to delay, and, if possible, prevent
action. She stamped her French
heels and insisted that Mr.. Burleson
might do as he pleased with other
matters, but he would have to per-
NIT the telephone girls to deal col
lectively and with the company en-
ploying them. Mr.. Burleson differed
with her, and the strike began.
The strike itself was revelation
to union leaders in other lines, and
to employers. Ordinarily the re-
sponse of rs per cent of the employees
in large industry to a strike order
is considered good; 95 per cent is
close to a record. The telephone
girls struck 100 per cent, and tele-
phones became as useful as the
what-nots that used. to fill eorners
OF Down East sitting rooms.
Then the men came eut-a,000 of
them They came out Ia sympathy,
hut as an afteftheught presented
demands Of their own, This made
the tieup aa complete as any one
could ask, and In Ave days Mr., Bur
Lesson capitulated, allowing the girls
all they asked In the matter of direct
dealing with their employers and
collective bargaining. In the con-
ference that followed the girls got
most of their demands-incIuding
about 100000 back pay and in
creases in wages that will net the
1000 close to s600,00O a year.
Thanks to the women, the men
Jared as we'll. They received very
little back pay (due, as noted, to
their lateness in making demands)
but their pay checks will be ST.
100000 fatter than they were for
1918.
There is the story Of the strike
and of Julia O'Connor. 1t is not
told by her, for she will talk of
almost everything except herself,
and anyway, she is busy woman
these days.
''Sfrike Forced on U.s."
She Said
"I am not Of interest,"" she SAYS.
"My work may be. If have accom-
plished anything, it is because I be-
lieve in work and in organizing.
Without organization you can get
nowhere. With it, with an organi-
zation worth while, one can get
everything. We have a splendid or
ganization here-a 100 per cent or
ganization and every member 100
per cent loyal. They followed every
order and did splendidly everything
they were asked to do.
"This strike, which was forced
upon US and was not at all of our
seeking, proves plainly that women
can be organized as thoroughly as
men, and it should prove to the sat
isfaction of everybody that by or
ganization the exploitation of women
in industry can be prevented. When
they learn the lesson of coordination
exploitation will cease.
"They must, however, be not only
for woman labor, but for all labor.
They should work for all. Labor
everywhere must work together
Just now there is a tendency to ask
for too much special legislation for
the protection of the woman worker.
We realize, of course, that there are
physical limitations, but women can
not very we'll insist on equal pay
and that sort of thing and yet be
constantly demanding special privi-
leges. In this contest the men stuck
by US and we stuck by them. In the
labor movement men and women
must work together or fail"
At the same time, while Miss
O'Connor deprecates too much spe-
cial legislation, she is very keen for
legislation that will give women the
ballot, Among other things she has
found time to put in much hard
work toward that end and she plans
to put in much more,
"lt is hound To come" she says,
"and the sooner it Is given to us the
better for all"
Demands Suffrage as
Simple ,Imsiiee
Net that phe thinks II Ia a cure