The sun., 1919-06-12
TELEGRAPHERS'
STRIKE STARTS:
WIRES ARE OPEN
Between $4,000 and $4,000
Operators in Country Quit.
Union Head Claims.
BIG WALK0UT DENIED
Head Of Western Union Tells
Burleson Only 175 Men
Struck.

No interruption in the delivery of
telegraph messages either by land
wires or cable resulted from the strike
OF the Commercial Telegraphers Union
which started yesterday all over the
United States.
The claims of the opposing leaders
were amusingly at variance.
1T is not strike, but a slight ir-
ntation." is the way Newcomb Carlton.
president of the Western Union, put It.
Mr.. Carlton telephoned Postmaster
General Burieson and Assistant Post
master-General Koons yesterday that
the system was working smoothly and
that reports from all over the country
showed only 175 operators had quit
their posts. In New York city, he
said, but eleven operators employed by
the Western Union Joined the strike.
Postal Telegraph operators quit IN
most Of the newspaper offices Of the
city, but virtually none Of the Western
Union men quit their posts. In the New
York Tribune, the New York Times, the
World, the New York Herald and THE
SUN one Postal operator kept the wire
open In each office. Usually there are
a half dozen at each place. Dispatches
usually carried over the Postal were sent
on Western Union wires
Percy Thomas. deputy international
president of the Commercial Telegra-
Dhar I-,t1
between 5000 and $4,000 operators in
the country were out. More than 1000
quit in New York, he said, and more
than SO per cent. of the strikers are
Western Union employees.
Strike Gets Mild start.
The strike had not a successful start.
1t was apparent at o'clock yesterday
morning that several hundred employees
OF the Western Union and Postal sys-
TENS were out. They paraded around
City Hall. and later. carrying placards,
picketed all the telegraph Offices in the
city.
Five hundred attended their meeting
in the Pulitzer Assembly Hall yesterday
and the girls in the meeting comprised
about 80 per cent. of the total gather
ing. This was explained by the strike
leaders in the statement that the older
operators were doing picket duty.
At this meeting Mr.. Thomas told the
operators that the strike looked par
ticularly hopeful and that the delivery
ala 70
extent as a result of 1t. In Chicago.
he said, the Postal strike was success
full, and that while the Postal was not
entirely paralyzed by the walkout. Its
service was seriously interfered with.
He said $4,000 Western Union men were
out, according to conservative reports
from all over the country.
Mention of the name of Postmaster
General Burleson was greeted with a
storm of catcalls. Kisses and booins
by the operators. when Mr.. Thomas said
''It must be remembered that Carlton
has the strong support OF Mr.. Burleson
Burleson has fouted all of President
wilson's orders against discrimination
L venture so say no Hindu fakir can
DdlhnCe nlInSclI OF ulSdppCdT hho 4Seh
Lesson. He Is a master wire magician
Now you. have the wires, now you
haven't"
brokerage Operators stick to Jobs
Rose Schneiderman. president Of thu
womens Trade Union League, pledged
the support of her workers 20 the tele
graphers' cause. Among the strikers wht
attended the meeting was James Saslov
OF the Eighth Field Signal Battalion
Fourth Division, who was stationed a.
Nivre, France. during the war. He Il
rated as tho most expert operator In thu
Postal and while In the service HI
handled all messages to President VII
son and General Pershing.
The District Council. No. 16. passed I
resolution calling upon President s. ]
Konenkamp 20 order out the brokerage
operators Their strike cannot be sue
cessful. several said. unless the $500
financial telegraphers quit and 90 IA
they have refused to leave their posts
Talk with several of the 700 who ar
employed In Wall Street developed nj
disposition upon their part to joih tn
strike. &C.
Neither will the cable operators g
out Six of them are said to have at
tended the strike meeting yesterday. Blu
the cable Offices yesterday showed maj
at every desk and all the normal amour
OF business being taken care OF withou
delay. There Is the usual delay arislnI
out OF the congestion OF Government an,
press dispatches, but the strike appar
entity has affected these Offices IN no way
The Mackay companies. controlling ca
bles to England and France. the CONNER
ciai Pacinc Gable TO Japan and the Phil
Ippines, the United States and Hayt
cable and the Halifax and Bermud
cable are all unaffected by the walkoui
Continued on FiJth Page.