The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-12
Allied Divisions May Join Ma
ton Wide Strike of Key
men, Out Of Sympa-
thy.
FIGURES CONFLICTING
Western Union Chief Says Only 1866
Men Were Out Yesterday and
Some Have Already Re-
turned.

/ UNITED Press Leased Wire Service ]
| CHICAGO, June 12.-That allied
! divisions of telegraphers may join
the nation wide strike of keymen was
| indicated here today by message
received by President S. ]. Konen-
kamp, of the Commercial Telegra-
piers Union of America from the
/ Eastern Broker operators division,
saying the men had voted to go out
| on sympathetic strike.
| Western Broker operators also
were understood by Konenkamp to
be considering sympathetic walk.
out. Konenkamp said until decision
Is reached by the western division
and the official facts are placed be-
! fore him for consideration, he can
! not decide whether he will give his
approval.
| Chief Operator e. T. Jones, Of the
Western Union, said Of the 166 oper-
ators reported out in the United
States at noon yesterday, many have
/ returned. He described the situation
as practically normal"
/! Postal officials refused to make a
! statement, saying no figures were
| available.
| May Avert Strike.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, June 12-That
! the nation wide electrical strike may
! be averted through the outcome Of the
! conference now being held in New
t York between the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph company and the
union heads was the prediction today
| OF Chas. p Ford, international secre-
| tary of the Brotherhood Of Electrical
/ Workers.
| Twenty-fou companies have signed
! satisfactory agreements with local
/ unions of the electrical workers and
are therefore exempt from the strike
called for next Monday, Ford said.
! Seeking Aid Of Congress.
| WASHINGTON, June 12-Striking
| telegraph operators today were seek
| ing the aid Of congress in their fight
against the two telegraph companies
and Postmaster General Burleson.
A delegation Of strikers was to call
OF Senator Watson, Of Indiana, to
urge that he press his resolution for
an investigation of the wire admins
! tration, while Postmaster General
Burleson and other officials here were
/ aw aiting further developments In the
strike before making any further COM
ment or taking action.
The local situation was unchanged,
! Western Union and Postal officials
| declared, while union officials claimed
the ranks of strikers were growing
stronger.
| Both Sides Satisfied.
| NEW YORK, June 12.-With both
sides apparently satisfied. the teleg-
raphers strike situation in New York
was unchanged today. Traffic Off
cials at the Western Union stated
there was no interference with bust
ness, that conditions were normal.
At the Postal it was announced that
Edward Reynolds, vice president,
would make a statement after he
had had time to survey the situation
The last utterances from strike
leaders here were to the effect that
more than 1000 operators are on
strike in New York and that this
number would be increased. The
pickets who were on duty before the
Postal and Western Union main
Offices yesterday, were not on duty
this morning.
Service Greatly Improved.
CHICAGO, June 12-E. G.. Collins,
general superintendent of the central
division, Postal Telegraph company,
early today, said service was greatly
improved throughout the system. He
said fifteen men of the Chicago office
who walked out yesterday returned to.
day. Collins said he did not know
why the men were striking-that no
demands had been placed before COM
pany officials.
President Konenkamp said all de-
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