The Washington herald., 1919-06-17
DISTRICT LABOR
PROMISES. AID
IN WIRE, STRIKE
President of Local Union
Raps W. u. Fight on
Unionism.'
WORKERS WILL WIN
Officials of Companies Still
Maintain WalkOut Is
A Failure

The Central Labor Union. at q
meeting last night in Musicisns' Hall.
went on record as indorsing the ma
uonvide strike of telegraphers. and
assuring the strikers that all in the
power Of the body would be done
20 further their cause
This action on the part Of the Gen.
tral Labor Union resulted from an
address by Sam Small. former inter
national president of the telegraph
ers' union. who presented the case
Of The strikers to that body.
W. F. Mcdonald. president Of the
local union. sand in an address that
Tor years the Western Union Com
pany has been against unionism and
at every opportunity has fought the
union worker
Fought Union Operators
The officials of the Western
Union" said Mr.. Mcdonald. lust
few months ago. in order to
counteract the influence of the
Commercial Telegraphers' Union.
caused to be formed an organiza-
tion known as the Western Union
Employees Association. In this man
ner they hoped to keep Western
Union telegraphers out of the c.
T. u A In this they failed, how
ever, notwithstanding the associa-
tlon mad official sanction and finan-
clal support of the Western Union.
consequently. the issue has be-
come one between capital and Ia
Dor, capital being encouraged by
government officials. with assurance
that financial support will be ex-
tended them
On the other hand, labor stood
alone. fighting to maintain the
American standard of wages and
the right to organize and secure
collective bargaining: a right con-
ceded us by the proclamation of
President Wilson and feadinz world
statesmen by their action favor
able to labor at the Peace Con-
ference"
President Mcdonald is confident
that che strike will be of short
duration and last night. in place
q formal meeting of strikers, a
lance was held in Walters Hall.
All Strikers stin Out.
Many new faces were numbered
among the strikers yesterday. No
member of the local union has re-
turned to work, according t. Nc
Donald, and each will remain out
until the telegraph companies.
come to terms.
THE strike is on ice.' said President
Mcdonald. ''All over the country We
are meeting with success In Wash
ington the strike is moving much
faster than we expected and 1 am en-
tirely satisfied with our progress so
far. Daily our .ranks are being aug
mented by telegraphers and muItiplex
operators who have finally seen that
We were right in our demands.
intend to let the boys and girls
play for the balance of the time we
are out and in place of cut and drieu
meetings we will devote the time to
pleasure The companies are on their
last legs and 1 am certain that we
have the strike won"
officials of the two companies
continue to maintain that the
strike is not felt and that all posi-
tions in their various Offices have
been filled.
Call Strike Failure.
The overnor of Georgia yester-
day wired, Representatives w. ID.
Upshaw OF that State that many
Western Union employees have re-
Gently been discharged on ccount
OF their affiiation with organized
labor.
This information was furnibed
the strikers when they appeared
yesterday morning before their re-
spective senators and representa-
tiyes to ask that the strike be in
Vestigated-
Reports from other cities aected
by the strike show that gains are
being made hourly by the strikers.
Delegates Back strike.
Delegates to the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor convention, being
held in Atlantic City, heartily en-
dorse the telegraphers' strike. in
spite of any action on the part of
Postmaster General Burleson, a
walkout of telephone workers can
be expected.
Postmaster General Burleson yes-
terday denied that he was endeav-
oring to bring a delegation from
the strikers and the telegraph
companies together. He directed all
telephone companies. however. i'm
mediately to appoint an officer to
receive complaints from employees.
1t is the belief of union officiaIs
that the order of the Postmaster
General will not stop a walkout
of telephone workers.