Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-11

night in this district" said S. ].
Konenkamp, international presi-
dent of the Commercial Telegraph
ers' Union of America '"The mum
Der of strikers in the entire coun-
try will be $4,000 by night. Re
ports are most encouraging. In Chi
cago alone 500 are already on
strike. The number will be nearly
doubled by night"
Report General Response.
He exhibited kilograms from
various widespread points indicat-
ing that the strike response had
been general, but failing to show
the exact number of strikers.
First reports to the Associated
Press from a score of central west
cities and towns failed to show that
the strike had brought serious re-
suits. In Cleveland about fifty Op-
orators were reported out; every
operator employed by the Mackay
Telegraph company in Dallas and
Fort Worth, Texas, quit work; COM
pany officials in Detroit report nor
NAL conditions, while union officials
report $50 men out, and Milwaukee
reported the strike postponed to
Saturday.
MiddIeWest is Storm Center.
Both sides admitted that the CEN
tral west and especially Chicago, is
the storm center of the strike.
The Postal Telegraph company
here was most seriously affected by
the strike. E. w. Collins, general
superintendent, said that only
about 80 percent of the operators
quit, while union officials asserted
90 percent of them had gone out.
I'VE can operate on a normal
basis when the police have cleared
away the agitators about our build
ing and thus permit men to come
to work" Mr.. Collins said.
Messengers Joined the Postal
strikers. A number Of slight dis
turbances occurred about the
Western Union and Postal offices,
pickets and workers clashing. Tho
western Union requested police pro-
lection after a number of these
outbreaks.
Board of Trade Hard Hit.
Postal operators were entirely
absent from the Board of Trade
here today and the Western Union
force there was reduced to about
one-half normal.
Mr.. Konenkamp declared it was
uncertain whether electrical work
ers throughout the country would
be called upon to join in the strike
for what he terms the right of the
commercial operators to organize
and bargain collectively" The
Electrical Workers already are un-
der strike call effective June 16.
Full Force On Duty, Claim.
New York, June 11.-Reports
from the seven divisions of the
Western Union Telegraph company
throughout the United States and
the maritime provinces, showed a
full force of operators on duty
two hours after the commercial
telegraphers' strike order had
gone into effect, Newcomb Carlton,
president of the company, an
nounced today.
Shortly after o'clock the West
ern Union announced that only
two operators had left the New
York staff.
Union officials on the other
hand, that city a handful of the
lGO men VINO huDulu nave l6ppi tNa
for the early morning shift had
put in an appearance"
Postal officials stated that it was
too early to estimate the effect OF
the strike order as their men were
assigned to report during the
morning and the day
Says Service is Normal.
The divisional reports which
covered all the large centers in tho
Western Union service, declared
that the wires were clear and, traf-
fic normal. Mr.. Carlton said. He
was without advices. he added,
from the smaller offices but ex-
pected q complete report by mid
day.
I'VE are handling business
throughout the country without
serious interruption anywhere,
Mr.. Carlton stated. I'VE have an
adequate force to carry on all our
(Contfnuad On PAPA 1AN