Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-01
KEY AND Phone
WORKERS MAY QUIT
UItimatum by Employees to
Southern Bell May Bring
Nationwide Strike.
BEFORE FEDERAL BOARD

By the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, Ca, May 31-The dispute
between the Southern Bell Telephone and
Telegraph Company and certain Of its
employees, which the latter assert may
result in . nation-wide strike Of COM
mercial telegraph operators, telephone
ana electrical workers 1foBday has been
sssse1 ~ the gpgeEnpnent operating
beard IN New York. which controls the
telephone and telegraph companies, J.
Epps Brown. president Of the Southern
Bell, said here late today.
MI. Burleson Asks Delay.
Union leaders said late today they
had received a telegram from Post
master General Burleson requesting that
they take no decisive position. pending
an investigation. Their reply. they said.
was that the only way to avert the
strike, was for the telephone company
to reinstate the discharged operators by
noon Monday, and that an investigation
could be made later.
Asserting that fourteen local tele-
phone girls were discharged Thurs
day for joining the Commercial Te-
leeraphers' Union Of America, a union
committee today presented to the
company an ultimatum demanding
reinstatement for the employees with
the alternative Of nationwide
strike at o'clock Monday afternoon.
Mr.. Browns Statement.
In a brief statement later Mr. Brown
said:
"Six out Of the $50 telephone opera
tors employed by US in Atlanta have
been discharged since May 1, each
one for ineff1ciency or infraction OF
the rules, without regard to whether
or not they are members OF the union.
I'VE don't know who are or who are
not members of the union. We make
no distinction between union and
non union employees"
Under government control Mr..
Brown said, the company had care
Pkully observed orders Of the Post
master General issued October 8, 1913,
warning against any discrimination
against employees because they do or
do. not belong to any particular
union"
Unions "Next Step"
Members of the committee which
presented the ultimatum said their
next step was to make a report at
a union meeting tomorrow night.
They reiterated that fourteen op-
orators had been discharged for union
activities, but did not claim 100. as
reported in union circles in Washing
ton.
The strike, If 1t should be called,
would involve zoe. 1000 commercial tel
egraph operators and telephone work.
ers throughout the United States,
union leaders said. and later might
involve the 100000 members Of the
Order Of Railroad Telegraphers. About
600 would be affected here, they as
serted.
Konenkamp Confirms Report.
MONTREAL May SIS. ]. Konen-
kamp, president Of the Commercial
relesraphers' Union. confirmed here
today reports from Washington that
a general strike of telegraph and
electrical workers throughout the
United States would be called Monday
unless discharged members of the
union in Atlanta, Ga, were reinstated
The union leader. who will leave to-
night for Washington. declared the
strike had been called to enforce
recognition of the right to unionize.
During the strike. he added. rail-
road telegraphers had pledged them
selves not to handle commercial mes
sages.
Mr.. Burleson's Order.
POSTMASTER General Burleson issued
bulletin No. 3 in September last pro-
| hibiting tho discharge Of workers
solely on account Of their union mem