The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-07
CARLTON SAYS. FEW .
OPERATORS ARE OUT
Western Union Head Practi-
cally Challenges KoRsnkamp.

cutiy Challenges koRenRn1np'
What amounts in effect to . direct
challenge to 8. J. Konenkamp, president
Of the Commercial photographers Union,
to call his threatened strike among the
operators outside OF the Southeastern
States was issued yesterday by New
comb Carlton. president OF the western
Union.
Mr.. Carlton and William J. Deegan,
secretary of the Mackay companies. the
latter speaking for the Postal Telegraph
Cable Company, both declined to take
the statement Issuing from Konenkamp
In Washington seriously. and the West
ern Union executive went 50 far as to
say that he would welcome a showdown
BY the union.
In discussing the situation with a rep
resentative Of THE Sun Mr.. Carlton
said:
IT wish Mr. Konsnkamp would call out
the men he thinks he has organized.
wish he would play out his hand, 80 that
the public would learn just what the sit
uation 10. These continuous rumors of
strikes that never amount to anything
are not good. Irresponsible statements
are issued by the union leaders to the
effect that the operators are organized to
30 or 100 per cent, and that they will all
respond to a strike call. We know they
are not organized to any such extent
Mr.. Konenkamp should call his strike so
that the public, which 10 entitled to the
facts, may have them"
| Late yesterday afternoon Mr.. Carlton
placed the number Of Western Union
employees who had actually quit work at
something over 200. He said that of the
| 10000 employees eligible to join. the
Commercial Telegraphers Union only 7lo
were members. Among the men that
have quit. Mr.. Carlton said. there were
a number Of radicals and so-called
fire eaters" but these with others who
would go out In response to a general
strike call were not enough to render
| the situation consequential from the
viewpoint OF industry.
| Mr.. Carlton had before him a file OF
| kilograms from all the principal cities
/ Of the Southeast, where the Konenkamp
influence IL acknowledged to be strong
| est, and II was on the Information con-
tained in these advices that he based
his statement that only something over
eco employees had already quit These
advices came from Greenville, Savannah
Richmond. Charlotte. Charleston, Mont
gomery, Augusta, Pensacola, Memphis
Nashville. Roanoke. Raleigh. New Or
leans and other places.
In New Orleans, where Konenkamr
was reported yesterday as having said
the operators were organized 1o(
per cent, the local management declared
the force to be 90 per cent. on duty. At
lanta reported full, force at work and
Birmingham. Wilmington and Tampa
reported holdouts of more than six oper'
ators each.
The Western Union does not dis
charge its employees for Joining the
C. T. IT," Mr.. Carlton said. But It will
not take back employees who quit work
in an effort to cripple the system ano
destroy the continuity of the service
That in our opinion. is little short of q
high crime and m!sdemeanor,"
The Postal Telegra Gable Company
denied knowledge OF any pending strike
among its employees and Mr.. Deegar
said that he was not concerned with the
difficulties In any other company He
added that the employees of the Postal
Telegraph Company had no grievance
and that SO far no threat of a strike had
been received.
Percy Thomas, vice-president of the
Commercial Telegraphers Union. said
yesterday that no strike order would be
issued to the employees OF the Western
Union to-day and that none might be
expected before Sunday, or until the
seventy-two hours which KonenkamT
q
strike had passed. Mr.. Thomas declined
to comment on Mr.. Cartons predictions
that the threatened strike would prove q
failure.
Despite these statements, subordinate
officials and active members of the unior
agreed emphatically yesterday that Mon,
day would see a general strike of the
telegraphers in New York and Washing
ton II the demands of the union for tbs
reinstatement of discharged employee,
| were not met.
Except to remark jecularly that tn,
suggestion was lese majestic, Mr.. Carlton
declined yesterday to commit on the in
| timation by Senator Watson Of indiana
yesterday before the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee TO the effect tina
Postmaster General Burleson had re
stored control Of operation OF the wire,
to company officials only to escape re
sponsibility In a labor dispute and "pas
the buck" to the company officials. Mr.
Carlton said that he had received no Of
fcial notice from the Postmaster-Gen
eral of the change In HE executive statu
and only knew Of the restoration of con
troll through what had been printed IL
the newspapers.
The following notice, however. wa
sent out 10 all officials of the Postal-Tel
egraph system by its president. Clarenc
II. Mackay:
ION and after to-day the following of
ficials OF the Postal Telegraph Cabl
Company. removed by Postmaster-Gen
eral Burleson. are restored to the posi-
tlons formerly held by them In connec
ton with the operation OF the lines of tn
Postal-Telegraph Gable Company, name
ly, Clarence II. Mackay, president; VIII
lam w. Cook. general counsel; Edwar,
Reynolds, vice-president and genera
manager. and A B. Richards, genera
superintendent