Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-12
UNION LEADERS
SAY MANY FIRMS
Grant DEMANDS
CONTINUED From Page One.)

Wednesday afternoon, declared that
the Western Union officials who
represented that less than 10 per
cent of their employees had gone out
were deliberately disappearing
the facts.
1t was stated by Mike H. Donelin,
secretary of the local telegraphers'
organization, that but half of the
men were in attendance, the remain
der doing picket duty. The night
shift had gone home after picketing
all night Tuesday and Wednesday
morning, he said.
George Kleffner, head of the Fed
eral employment agency in this
city, also addressed the strikers. He
urged caution in conducting the
strike, but praised the action of the
men and women whto had walked
out when living wage was refused
them
Girls Promised Support.
Support of many of the locals has
been promised the girls, who though
not members of the union, walked
out with the telegraphers.
A committee of seven girls was
appointed This committee will
work among members of their own
sex and do picket duty. A union
of the striking feminine employees
will soon be organized.
Officials of the Telegraphers'
union as we'll as heads of the COM
pany agreed that no strikers are as
yet returning to work although the
threat has been made that they may
not be reinstated.
1t has been reported that messen-
ger boys had returned to work, but
this was denied by Mr.. Donely.
In direct contradiction to the
statement made by officials Of the
local telegraphers' union, A. Long,
division traffic superintendent of the
Western Union Telegraph company,
and J. w. Dudley, wire chief, de-
declared yesterday morning that
less than 10 per cent of their $50
operators and machine attendants
are out.
Say Business as Usual"
Business operations in the COM
pany have not in any way been in
terfered with. the two officials stat
ed. Messages will be handled as
heretofore. The strike ended in
failure at its inception in other
cities. they said In Kansas City,
Kan, St. Louis. Mo-, Wichita, St.
Paul, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and
Sioux City none of the operators
struck, according to Mr.. Long and
Mr.. Dudley.
J. G. Wolf, manager of the local
branch of the Postal Telegraph and
Cable Co., did not attempt to mini
mize the extent of the strike. Twen-
ty-two of the key men and nine girl
machine attendants are out he said.
The company mas s. men and
women in the local branch, he
stated. All messages are being ac-
cepted with the understanding that
they are subject to delay. So far
all business has been successfully
handled, although every one Of the
union employees Is out. Several non
union men also struck at the re-
quest of the organized men.
AS the federal government guar
antees the telegraph companies
against loss at the present time, Mr..
Wolf anticipates government action
in the near future.
Police on Guard.
A Gordon of policemen has been
thrown about the vicinity of the
Teamsters' hall, 513 North Sixteenth
street Anticipating danger at the
Western Union headquarters as a
result of the strike, policemen have
been placed at Fourteenth and Far
nam streets to guard against vio-
lence. At neither point has any
trouble been reported. Picketing is
in progress at both places.
Chief of Police Eberstein an
nounced that he will appoint
point so special policemen for strike
duty. 1--WE will probably increase
this number to 100 to protect the
interests of the CITY," said the chief.
For more than three weeks heads
of the Teamsters' union attempted
to come to an amicable understand
ing with the employers. They de-
manded a general increase in wages
of about s. week and the right to
organize. Discrimination against
the union men was also one of the
factors which caused the men to
strike yesterday. Mayor Smith in
terceded in behalf of the drivers,
but he was unable to effect an
agreement. Believing further dick
ering useless, the men called a spe-
cial meeting for Tuesday evening
+o f,lya da6,;te action With anil,