The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-07
Carlton Hopes General Strike
Will Be Called.
Says That Will Rid Us of In
desirable Employees.
MAY ORDER POSTAL OUT, TOO
KOnenkamp, Union Head, on
Way to Chicago To Act.
VIII Probably Make Date of
Strike Before June Is.

New York. June President New
comb Carlton of the Western Union
today declared he hoped the telegraph
ers' union would call a strike on all
Western Union lines, as threatened.
u hope Konenkamp does call a
strike" Carlton said That will give
US a chance to rid the service of un-
desirable employees. 1t will eliminate
for all time those who do not have the
interests of the company at heart and
seek to embarrass its service"
BeiittIcs the Strike.
Carlton added that the southeastern
strike situation remained unchanged
and that all offices were operating un-
interruptedly in the strike district.
The service was "up to the minute" :"
he stated. Only 10 out of 10000 en-
ployes eligible to union membership
have Joined. Carlton said. Their strik-
ing would in no way impair the serv-
ice. ne asserted.
Washington, June Threatening
a nationwide strike of Western Union
telegraphers S. ]. Konenkamp, presi-
dent of the Commercial Telegraphers
Union of America, started for Chicago
early today for a conference with of
ficials of the organization. Following
this conference. he said, he would
issue a call for the strike. An order
keys. he said, would probably come
later.
Before juno 16.
The date of the strike had not been
determined by Konenkamp before he
left for Chicago, but he said it will
be before June 16,' which was the
date set for the nationwide walkout
of electrical workers.
The strike situation IN the south
eastern states was confused today by
many conflicting reports. Union Of
ficials in the south declared the West
ern Union is accepting business only
subject to delay, and konenkamp de-
clared the fight in the south already
is won"
On the other hand, Western Union
officials stated that business is pro-
ceeding as usual and that compare
lively few telegraphers are out in the
southwest.
Little Concern Expressed.
Government officials here expressed
no great concern over the threat of
a nationwide telegraphers walkout,
pointing to the reported statement of
the secretary of the electrical workers
union in Springfield. Ill, that Post
master General Burleson's order re
turning control of operation of the
wires to their owners would probably
make a nationwide walkout June 16
unnecessary because locals in many
cases WOulu De aDle TO SeLIle their OlI-
ficulties with local managers.
Telegraphers union heads however,
declared the wires of the country will
be completely tied up when the gen
eral strike is ordered, that the cleo
trical workers and probably other
unions will act in sympathy and that
they will fight the situation thru until
they have won their case.
1t is understood President Wilson
is in touch with the cts.
Rcscind Strike Orders.
Atlanta, June 7.-Orders cs ling out
the union telephone operators at Col
umbia, and other points in North and
South Carolina at 10 o'clock today in
connection with the strike of telephone
and telegraph workers in Atlanta and
elsewhere ir the southeast have been
rescinded, according to an announce
ment this morning by Chief Mann,
Southern organizer for the CONNER
cial Telegraphers' union of America.