The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-10
'STR|!.| Of
H;i EGRAP
EMPLOYEES
Between 10000 and so, 900 Will
Leave Keys at Eight
O'clock in the
Morning.
NO SIGNS OF PEACE
President Of Union Says He Has No
Reason to Anticipate Settle
ment with Any Com
panIes.
NO SIGNS OF PEACE
President Of Union Says He Has No
Reason to Anticipate Settle

[United Press Leased Wire Service.l
/ CHICAGO, June 10.-Between 4O,-
! 900 and $4,000 telegraphers will
leave their keys at eight a. m. to-
morrow in answer to the call for a
general strike, according to latest
estimates in the hands Of President
is. j. Konenkamp, of the Commercial
Telegraphers' union Of, America here
today Konenkamp said this number
might be decreased in case settle
ments are reached with companies
| involved.
"I have no reason to anticipate
settlement with any OF the COM
panfes," Konenkamp said.
Reports that Clarence Mackey,
president Of the Postal Telegraph
company and other associated COM
panies, had sent committee here to
confer with him, were declared by
Konenkamp to be news to him."
Konenkamp said the first break IN
the ranks of employers came last
night when the Federal Telegraph
company, combination of wire and
wireless systems on the Pacific coast
and to Honolulu, signed the agree
ment granting the union demands.
It was estimated more than 5000
telegraphers will strike in Chicago
alone.
May Avert Trouble.
SPRINGFIELD, H.. June 10 -
Charles P. Ford, secretary OF the In
ternational Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers expressed the hope here
today that the general strike Of tele-
phone workers called for June 16
might be averted.
Though he had received no word
from the conference in New Rork be-
tween Representatives Of the COM
penies and the employees the fact that
the sessions are continuing indicated,
he said, that some basis to work on
had been reached.
Unless an agreement IS reached,
llnemen cable splicers, installers, re-
pairmen, trouble Shooters" and all
other electrical workers in the me-
chanical departments Of the country's
telephone companies will walk out
June 16 Companies that have reached
an agreement with the men, however,
will not be affected by the strike, he
said.
official Action Today.
WASHINGTON, June 10.-With
less than twenty-four hours remain
ing before the threatened nation
wide strike of telegraph and tele-
phone workers is scheduled to be-
come effective, some official action
in an attempt to forestall the walk
out was looked for here today.
Postmaster General Burleson who
has held numerous conferences with
wire and postof1ice officials since an
nouncement Of the strike Saturday
night, was expected to outline his
policy in a public statement.
Back Pay Coming.
NEW YORK, June 10-Joseph II.
Hays, president Of the Association OF
Western Union Employees, intimated
today that the Western Union, as
soon as the present ill-advised agita-
ton Is over will distribute about ST.
100000 in back pay.
THE postmaster general, has, as
you know, turned the system over to
the Western Union organization to
operate" said Hays in q telegram,
sent to the locals of the association in
all parts of the country.
1--WE have taken this opportunity to
discuss with the company's officials
the retroactive feature Of the in
creased compensation made by the
postmaster January 1, 1919. We feel
justified in saying that the company
will at an early date pay out of its
own pocket to those Of continuous ser
vice from August 1, 1918 to January l,
1919, as outlined in the company's let
ter of July 25.
GAS soon as the present ill-advised
agitation is over the company will,
we are confident, announce the date,