The sun., 1919-06-14
BURLES0N'S AID
JOINS FIGHT ON
WIRE STRIKERS
Rooms Sends Message to
Companies Promising
Government Help.
TELEGRAPHERS ANGRY
Railway Despatchers Give
Assurances of Support
to Association.
CRISIS EXPECTED SOON
Brokerage Operators to Vote
To-day on Threat to Tie
Up Wall Street.
CRISIS EXPECTED SOON

'o "eAui ous VI StIlkinB employees
OF the Western Union and Postal Tel
egraph companies in this city were
aroused yesterday by information re-
ceived at strike headquarters that ].
C., Koons, Assistant Postmaster-Gen-
eral, had sent widespread over the
country a telegram assuring all tel
egraph officials that the Post ONCE
Department and the Government are
behind them in their fight against the
employees on strike.
A copy OF the telegram was handed
to Percy Thomas, deputy international
president Of the Commercial Teleg-
raphers Union. by a Postal operator.
who said he handled the message over
the wires.
"If this is true" said Mr.. Thomas,
and every action Of Postmaster-Gen-
eral Burleson with regard to organized
labor 5ustifies me believing It Is true,
why. II confirms what I said before.
that the peoples money Ia being used
to defeat organized labor.
'The participation Of Mr.. Burleson
and his assistants in this fight was to
be expected. His attitude has ever
been hostile to organized telegraph,
telephone and post ONCE workers. and
organized labor generally.
Such messages are used to keep those
at work from going on strike and put
ting fear into the hearts Of those already
on strike. but It yili have no real eject
on the strike.''
Strikers AlIese wire Tapping.
When a reporter called UP strike head
quarters yesterday he was asked not to
talk over the telephone with the leaders.
because Il was believed the wires are
being tapped and that loyal employees
of the companies are listening to all the
conversations.
The strike actually made little head
way yesterday in this city. although
twelve Postal employees and three from
| the Western Union were added to the
number already out. swelling the regis
tered list OF strikers to 1.1e7.
s. ]. Konenkamp. international presi-
| dent Of the telegraphers. claimed an in
crease of 1000 in the ranks Of the strik-
ers, making the total $4,000, with 270
points affected. Gains were made In
Boston. Philadelphia, Chester. Allentown
and Bethlehem, Pa
| An official OF the Philadelphia branch
wired to Mr.. Thomas that nearly the en-
! tire stan OF the Postal was on strike In
! Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania
AAAA s.ff ha tore at
! Camp Dix had Joined the strike.
The brokerage operators of New York
will meet in Room 5o4. a. Broad street
| this afternoon to vote on the question OF
| quitting The men arc evenly divided on
tho matter. 30 far as could be learned
| yesterday. II the strike Is favored they
| expect TO give the brokers and bankers
three days in which to Impress upon the
telegraph companies the necessity OF
treating with tho unions.
F. A. Davis president Of the Western
Brokerage Division. wired to Mr.. Thomas
that the men In his district would vote
! to strike. II one division strikes the
| other probably will do 80. for the service
depends upon both divisions operating
Train Despatchers Make Promise
Assurance was received from J. G
/ Luhrsen, president OF the American TraiT
Despatchers OF America, stating that the
organization. including 5000 men, would
cooperate with the telegraphers to hell
prosecute the strike to a successful finish
To-day the railroad telegraphsrs will
refuse to handle commercial business
by order OF their union. Western unior
offlcials said yesterday that only a small
percentage Of their business Is HANDLED
through these offices. but that the situa,
ton would be met by other measures
possibly using tho telephone for trans
mitting messages from one city to an
other.
Hugh Frayne. general organiser o.
the American Federation OF Labor II
charge of the New York branch, tool
to the strikers yesterday afternoon th'
message that his organization wa
strongly in support of the strike agains
what he characterized as "the bitteres
enemies of working people In the world.
Its men OF Newcomb Cartons type.
said Mr.. Frayne. "who are responsible
for Bolshevism spreading and the ex
| listing Industrial unrest. No force he cRi
} call to his aid, however. will proven
your victory. Public opinion is frml.
behind you. for everybody knows yo,
, have not been fairly treated by thes
employers who refuse to give you tn
| right TO organize that President Wilson
himself said was the privilege Of tn
workingmen. There are 100000 Il
the A. r. Of L and they arc with 20,
in this strike"
? In reply to the statement OF L. w
Collins, manager OF the Chicago brancl
of the Postal. that no demands had beel
made to his company by the strikers
Il was said by Mr.. Thomas that dema nd
we're duly submitted to Postmaster EN-
eral Burieson by the strike committee