The Washington herald., 1919-06-06
Gutter" Says Union
Leader, of Postmaster
General, Whom He Ac-
cuses Of Breaking Prom
ises and of Getting
From Under" When Poll
cies He Followed Make
Great Contest Inevitable.

Postmaster General Albert S.
Burleson is a "quitter." in the
opinion of Sylvester ]. Konen-
camp. international president of
the Commercial Teleraphers'
Union of America.
He expressed this opinion last
night after the Cabinet member had
announced that control of opera
lions of the wire communication
systems of the United States had
been restored to the owning cor
poratons.
Waits on Congress.
Control of the properties, as dis
hnct from operations, is retained
by the government pending action
by Congress on resolutions provid-
ing for complete return of the sys-
tens. -. .ss :. =
! koneneamp said Buresons se-
hon adds to the disgrace Of the
wire administration" and also re-
ferred to the head of the Post
office Department as an official
whose promises were not to be re-
he'd upon.
Konenkamp IL Emphatic.
The action Of Mr.. Burleson in re-
storing operating control to the ex-
ecutives OF the telegraph and tele-
phone companies. in the face Of a
threatened nationwide strike because
of his policies, would indicate that he
is gutter" said Konepcamp. Mr..
Burleson's getting out from under
doesn't change our situation II ag-
gravates it
The fact that II places Newcomo
Carlton back in charge Of the West
labor policy which will protect the
workers. emphasizes the necessity for
a telegraph strike ag.>lst that COM
pany.
1t will be remembered that IL was
Cartons locking out loo members
of our union in 1915 that precipitated
government control of the wires. and
now to restore the status quo ante
! without solving the labor problem
adds to the disgrace Of the wire ad-
] ministration.
Fight to n Finish.
I'VE know that We are confronted
now with a fight TO a finish vita
the Western Union. We will have
to fight for our life as labor union.
and we are going to strike before
Carlton gets a chance to play his old
game.
1T is with this in mind that have
sanctioned an immediate strike of the
Western Union workers in the South
eastern States. and the rest of the
country will not be far behind.
I'VE will either have the right to
| organize obtained by force. or we will
not. The union workers know they
will be locked out by Carlton IL he
can do IL.
I'VE are not opposed to govern
ment ownership. We believe in Il:
but have never been able 70 under
stand why Burleson imagined he
could surround himself with all the
enemies of government ownership
and then make government control
a success"
In making public the order which
| returns the wires. Postmaster Gen.
eral Burleson issued this formal state
ment:
The President having recommended
the return Of the wire systems and
the control of the owning companies.
| with certain legislation designed TO
stabilize their operation. and the
Senate committee having taken ac-
ton looking TO their immediate re-
turn, and the House committee. in
it's hearings on the proposed legisls-
tion. having indicated concurrence
in the suggested immediate return
with or without legislation SO rec
commended. feel 1t my duty to now
return the actual control OF opera
tions to the companies.
Some days ago ! directed the
| necessary orders TO be prepared to
accomplish this and have today is-
sued the same. These orders do not
affect questions Of rates and finance
with which the Congress may de-
/ termine to deal.
The rates now in force and the
[ financial relation between the gov
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