New-York tribune., 1919-03-03
Proposed Strike Aimed TO
Tie Up All Telegraph and
Phone Lines in Country
More Pay One Demand
New Workers Urge Removal
of Burlcson; Locals of
Many Cities Ballot eyes"

f5 lnieaientu. Inc situation is flled
with many serious problems. in view
# the fact TINT alI wire systems are
under government control and EN-
rloyes ara cassed - government
WORKERS.
Il vas lfirncd Yesterday that locals
ttrtssentinR electrical workers. all over
'he United states have rof The last
veeh heen secretly voting Many have
taken p slnnd in favor of nation
tide vnihoui
The operators demand nn nnrease In
RaHes and improved working eondi
iionr, They ask ihnt their unions ha
recognised and ihnt discrimination
against union membera particularly IN
Western tluion Offices, be slapped,
They contend that the wire systems
hhVo been put into the hands Of board
dominated by the Western Union md
icll Telephone companies. which Ia de
nSine them the rights and privileges
insured them in the decisions of the
National War Labor Board.
The matter came up for action ut n
meeting yesterday Of District Council
No. Is, international Union Of CONNER
cihi cRraphcrB of America, in the
World building The operators de-
cidcd, however, that nothing should be
left undone that might avert the con-
templatcd tie-up. A resolution was
adopted detailing the grievances of the
operators and demanding the removal
ny the President of Postmaster Gen
cral Albert s. Burlcson.
The resolution reads:
Albert S. Burleson, Postmaster Gen
oral OF the United States, has con-
sistontly pursued an anti-labor policy
since the day of his appointment;
He has nullifed the decisions of
the National War Labor Board ap
pointed by President Wilson;
He has refused to reinstate in their
former positions. as ordered by the
hoard, members of the Commercial
lclegraphers' Union of America, dis
charged because of their union men,
hershiD:
lie has delivered into the hands of
Newcomb Carlton all cable lines reach
ing these shores;
1T was this same Newcomb Carlton
who. by defying President Wilson and
houung his wishes, forced government
control Of telegraph and telephone
lines:
The actual control of the wire sys-
le Us OF this country has been put into
the hands of board dominated by
the Western Union Telegraph Company
and the Bell Tclephone Company. a
board upon which the workers receive
no representation at all
Npert ). Burleson is actually ac-
qu1esclng IN the discrimination prac-
tlsed by petty telegraph officials
against members of the Commercial
elegraphers' Union Of America.
The right of tclcgraphers to Join
union composed of members of their
own craft belongs to them not only by
,helr common, inalienable rights as
Americans. but also by special decision
Of the National War Labor Board.
We believe that this right is covert
IL being violated by Albert S. Burleson,
wno IS denying to free Americans the
right of free association
These Americans played not un-
important part IN the winning Of the
great war.
The brother workmen of these
Americans are returning from France
10 lind that their work as operators of
the Morse telegraph system in the
Offices Of the Western Union Telc-
graph Company is seriously threat
cned, II not practically ended, by the
Inhalation of automatic printing
telegraph machines.
Mere children, not always given to
correct spelling, nor able to decipher
the doubtful handwriting of the aver
age person, after d brief apprenticeship
are assigned to operate those ma
chimes and thus replace the heads OF
families who have never worked out
SIDE ne telegraph field.
The policy of Albert S. Burleson in
ms control of the telegraph system of
the country is one with the attitude he
has revealed in the postal service.
1t has become only too apparent
tnat his aim is to stranglc not only
labor but all competition in the tele-
sraph and telephone fields and hand
over those properties, greatly en-
hanced in value, to the Western Union
and Bell companies;
Albert 5. Burleson - one with all
the sinister and black forces Of reac-
ton;
His record constitutes a blot upon
the achievements of the present ad-
fninistration, m therefore be it
Resolved, That President Wilson be
requested to demand ;hc resignation
= Albert s. Bureson and not receiv-
ing 1t, to remove him srom the Cabi-
ret.
Percy Thomas international deputy
- ''''~' oldANN JtobtIudy tfiaL tHt CON
templated walkout was primarily aimed
~ the Western Union lines, whose of
'cials, he held, have always denied
'nelr Vpcrators the right to unionize
and have discriminated against those
who were union members
The Commercial tclegraphers, he
sald, were acting in the matter in con
junction with the Order of Railway
Photographers and the international
brotherhood of Electrical Workers. all
Of which organizations are affiliated
with the American Federation Of La
Dor.
The district organizations in Spring
held, Mass and Boston, including tele-
phone operators. mechanics and wire
workers associated with the electrical
and telegraph trades, have voted, he
aaid. IN favor Of strike. The Same
action has also been taken in various
cities Of Illinois.
=. J. Koncnkamp, international prcsi-
dent of the Commercial Tclcgraphers
Union Of America, is lining UP the or
CARNATIONS in the Eastern and South
ern states. Assisted by three vice
presidents he plans to carry the cam
paign to-day into Richmond, Va. To-
morrow he viii be IN Atlanta. after
which New Orleans, Jacksonville and
Birmingham will be visited.
The question will come up in New
York cry again next Friday night ut
meeting Of the Central Federated
Union.
The troubles Of the telegraphcrs date
hack 70 last year when Western Union
ID x In. s.A l. a i