The Washington herald., 1919-06-16
KEYMEN CHARGE
BURLESON PLOT
AGAINST union
Former Head of Telegra-
pliers Alleges Agreement
To Fire. Railroaders.
TO BESIEGE CONGRESS
Local Strikers Will Attempt
To Enlist Support Of
Congressman.
TO BESIEGE CONGRESS

Striking telegraphers here last night
charged that Postmaster General
'Burleson. at the instance of Newcomb
Carlton. president of the Western
Union Telegraph Company. requested
Walker d. Hines. director general of
railroads. TO discharge any railroad
teIegraphers who refused to handle
Western Union business.
''The Carlton-Burleson compact Is
revolutionary" said S. ]. Small. for
mer international president OF the
Commercial Telegraphers' Union, and
applies only against commercial teleg-
raphers, with no limit set as to the
lengths they will go to win.
Would Cause waIkout.
Carlton telephoned Burleson Friday
evening directing him to confer with
Director General OF Railroads Hines
with a view OF having any railroad
refusing to handle Western
Union busines dismissed instantly.
Burleson replied that he had already
made that request. Such action would
bring about a walk-out
of $1,000 railroad telegrsphers. involv-
ing the engineers. firemen, conductors
and brakemen's organizations. then
tying up the entire transportation IA
cilities of the country. Whittier are
we drifting?"
A committee of 100 strikers will visit
both the House and Senate office build
ings this morning to present a memo
randum to each member of Congress
setting forth briefly the grievances Of
the strikers. Postmaster General
Burleson's action in reaching an agree
ment with the electrical workers.
thereby preventing a strike of that
trade. is termed tricky by the teleg-
raphers, who sey he has refused u.em
the concessions granted the electrical
workers.
BurIeson Accused.
The petition to Congress will set
forth these things:
That the machinery and funds OF
the government are being used TO de-
feat the telegraphers' strike.
That Postmaster General Burleson
has used his personal and official in
f1uence TO prevent an adjustment or
the differences between the workers
Snd their employers. and has taken
measures against the former Re
ducing their wages. and causing un-
rest
The petition also demands the right
of collective bargaining for the wire
men. the right to belong to a labor
union. and lbo reinstatement of all
workers discharged in 1918 and 1879
for membership in a trade union or
for legitimate trade union activities.
Upshaw Pledges Aid.
Representative William n. Cpshaw
of Georgia, addressed a meeting or
striking teleGraphers Yesterday in
Walters Hall. assuring them that he
would support their cause in the
House.
While Mr.. Urshaw declared himself
in favor of unioniSm, he asserted
that a non-union man is entitled 10
make a living in spite Of not being
allied with organized labor.
Members of the telcEraphers' unio1
do not concur with Representative
| Upshaw on this point. and hope TO
so arrange matters that man. to
obtain employment. must hold a
union card.
Western Union Denounced.
President W. F. Mcdonald briefly
addressed the meeting and in no un-
certain terms denounced the present
I mana agement of the Western Union
Telegraph Company.
Postmaster General Burleson and
Carlton of the Western Union Com
pany." said Mcdonald. have been
given some very choice names in some
of the addresses that have been de-
livered during the strike.
Il must protest against the applica-
ton of the word Bolshevik in con-
nection with these two men. ] do not
feel that we should degrade the Boil
shevists in such a manner"
Whenever reference is made to the
Postmaster General and Newcomb
Carlton, president Of the Western
Union. the titles pref1xing their names
are invariably Grand Duke Burle-
son" and Kaiser Carlton"