Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-13

Chicago. June 13.-First
steps toward a settlement OF
the nationwide strike of Com
mercial Telegraphers we're TAX
en- today when officials of the
Commercial Telegraphers' union
OF America admitted TO the
Postal Telegraph company con-
ditiOns upon which agreement
could be based.
The conditions, in effect, provide
tbat the strike would be called off
so far as the Postal is concerned if
that company will agree to wage
adjustments Immediately after full
control has been given the company
by the wire administration.
Condition Sent Postal.
The conditions, which are under
stood to have been requested by
the Postal Telegraph company,
were forwarded to New York Off
cials of the company today, accoruS
ing to reports here
Union officials said that an order
issuea some time ago by Postmas-
ter General Burleson and still in
effect prohibits the commercial
Telegraph companies signing wage
contracts with their operators. For
this reason it was stated the condi-
tions were so drawn to provide the
actual wage agreements would not
be entered into. nor other conces-
sions granted until after the gov
ernment had discontinued all con-
troll.
VIII Make Tieup Complete.
With the announced .determina-
tion Of making the wire tieup in the
country complete, so far as COM
mercial business is concerned. by
next Monday picketing committees
in scores of towns and cities today
set out to work urging telephone
girls to join the strike. Many of
the girls already are affiliated with
the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers which has call
20 a strike for next Monday that
will affect 10000 workers, accord
ing to strike leaders.
We expect to make the tele-
phone tieup as complete as that of
the commercial telegraph service"
said s. J. konenkamp, international
president of the Commercial Teleg
raphers' union of America. He also
stated that in the smaller cities and
towns about the country they would
be virtually paralyzed when the
union railroad telegraphers, mem
bers of the Order of Railway Teleg
raphers, refuse to handle CONNER
cial business in line of an order
sent out by the head of the o. R. T.
yesterday.
Strike Is Growing.
THE strike is growing daily. it
started small. but it is increasing,
said Mr.. Konenkamp.
The brokers' division of the
~&elegraphers' union. which has
some two thousand members. will
hold meetings in the east and the
west probably tonight to decide
whether they shall strike in sym
pathy. Mr. Konenkamp stated.
It was estimated that the num-
Der of workers idle today exceeds
$4,000 with the number swelling
hourly. Support to the strike will
be given by the American Train
Dispatchers. according to a state
ment by its president, ]. G. LuhT-
sen.
Aflll DiuPF on iEuTeSs
The Postal Telegraph company
reported that in Chicago the oper-
ating force was about 20 per cent
normal" Strike leaders took issue
with this statement, pointing to the
statement of z. W. Collins general
superintendent here, that at one
time since the strike was called
that he had taken key to help
move the traffic.
The Western Union here report
ed 81 strikers in the traffic depart
ment. only is of whom are Morse
operators. Union leaders claimed
that these figures we're 'ridicu-
lous."
Both companies said practically
all their messengers were on strike.
The strikers began distribution of
posters reading:
We fought autocracy over
there. Now we're lighting autocra-
cy- over here"
Will Paralyze Iowa
Des Moines. Iowa, June 1S.-Tef-
eguaph company officials admitted
~fSday that if railroad operators
carry out the orders issued in st.
Louis yesterday and refuse to copy
commercial messages it will have
a decided effect on the handling OF
business in Iowa. Union leaders
declared it would virtually effect
a complete tieup in Iowa, declaring
that telegraph Offices in nearly all
the smaller towns were manned by
railroad operators.
CAR MEN GET INCREASE.
nefroit Iuna 12-Award Of in