The Washington herald., 1919-06-09
ALLEGES AN ATTEMPT
TO ELIMINATE POSTAL
Speaker Exhorts Workers,
Who Will Walk Out We'd
nesday, to Stand Fast and
Predicts Victoy-Only
Action by President VII
son Can Avert Tie-up of
System.

Flatly accusing Postmaster Gen.
eral Burleson of being in ca
hoos" with the Western Union in
terests. Sam Small. former inter-
national president of the CONNER
cial Telesraphes. Union of Amer
ica. yesterday at a mass meeting
of organized keymen in Perpetual
Hall. called upon members of the
union to make the waIk-out. called
for Wednesday at 8 a. m, a 100
per cent strike.
Using" Uncle Sam.
Small declared the Postmaster
General in turning back to the
companies operating control OF
their systems, had IN effect dodgrd
responsibility for the nationwide
strike ordered by Sylvester J.
konenkamp, international presi-
dent, and incidentally, by retaining
control OF the properties. had
made the Federal government
financially responsible for anv
losses that might be incurred by
the corporations.
Another phase of Smalrs sd-
dress dealt with an alleged at
tempt of the Western Union inter
ests, in collusion with the Post
master General. to eliminate the
Postal Company as competitor.
Data for President.
1t is considered that action BY Pres
ident Wilson is the only possible
means OF preventing the waIk-out nxed
for Wednesday. but what form OF sc-
ton he might order has not been made
clear. The President has received al
Paris cabled information concerning
the origin of the strike at Atlanta. its
spread throughout the Southeastern
States and the call for a nationwide
effort 10 compel the employers 20 meet
the union's demands.
| Postoffice officials were in conference
with representatives of the wire COM
panies here yesterday IN an effort 10
/ find some means Of avertinS the tie-up
but without apparent result
Small Emphssises Principle.
Addressing the mass meeting Of to-
llegraphers. Small pleaded with them -
1 hold out until all demands have been
met by the employing corporations.
saying:
1t is not the additional money
alone. but the principle of the thing
that is important Since 1855 telec-
raphers have been i'll treated by the
companies and salaries have been just
large enough 20 keep US alive. At
every turn We were and are taken ad-
vantage of, and our rights as Ameri-
can citizens have been set aside.
The telegraph companies have
blacklisted us for the most trivial
things and in several cases have been
responsible for men being forced TO
leave the United States in order to OBJ
tain employment.
Cabinet Member Accused.
I'VE are now told that il We strike
I'VE will never be given employment in
kthis country again. This statement is
i from the heads Of the companies.
"a high government oniciaI
| has declared that the strike will
| not be tolerated. In my opinion
| the Postmaster General L. In
| rahoots with the telegraph com
panies and does not intend that
the Woodworking employees
| shall win out
] Mr.. Burleson's move in turning
back the wires to private owners Is
me rely an indication that he is
anxious TO get from under and duck
responsibility in the case OF the
I photographers strike.
In short, he said to the Western
Union Company, I9l return operst-
| ing control TO you and you hgnt the
strikers. viii retain financial
control and obhEate the govern
nrent to make good any losses sUs-
tanned by the company.
Can't Lost Any Money.
The government has already
guaranteed the Western Union a
! fixed interest on its stocks ano
J bonds and guaranteed the Postal
company nothing BurleSon and
Cartons gang are bitterly op-
posed to the Postal company. and
CONTINUED on PAGE EIGHT.