The Washington herald., 1919-06-12
Delegation of Washington
Keymen Will Call Upon
Senator Watson for Aid
Today-Burleson Con-
fines Activities to Issuing
Len gthy Statement.
Western Union Declares
Business Unhurt-Em-
ployes Take Issue.

congress today VIII be urged
10 intervene in the wire contro-
versy between the Western Union
Telegraph Company and its oper-
atives with the view o: determin-
ing whether or not the corpora
ton has Disseminated against en-
ployes because of their afiliation
with organized labor.
A delegation OF striking keymen
will call upon Senator James z.
Watson of Indiana and urge that
he press his resolution for a hear
ing on the wire trouble to an early
conclusion.
The union operators in the ofices
Of the Western Union and Postal
Telegraph companies walked out in
compliance with the order of Sylvester
/ J. Konencamp. president Of the Com
mercial Telegraphers' Union promptly
/ at S o'clock yesterday morning.
Company Not Worried.
We do not know that strike is
| in progress" was the statement OF
. w. r. Williams. manager Of the West
. ern Union telegraph Company here.
( last night.
/ As FAR as ! know not a man or
woman has left the employ Of the
/ company" he said.
Union officials characterized this as
a lying. deceitful statement" typical
Of Western Union methods.
Il challenge Mr.. william. L, deny
/, that the Misses E. y. Stafford. A.
NJ Gaisk, y. b. Gibson. NJ. kaufman.
Louise Boyd, Mary Davis. NJ. y. Nc
GILL Alma D. Monroe. Pauline Cav.
Pattie Mcbride. Vesta Tanner, Ida
Bladd and Mrs. Z. V. Berry did not
leave their work with scores Of
! Others said F. H. Mcdowell. Of IN.
executive board of the union.
All MuItipIex operators-
I merely give these names 70 show
that the Western Union has no re-
gard for the truth. These .-irIs ar,
all multiplex operators. handling on
an average 800 messages a night, and
they received word before even the
strike went on to shut down channel
wires on account OF shortage OF
force" he added.
Postmaster General Burleson rn,da
a brusque entry in the strike yester-
day when he issued a statement de-
claring that the present strike of
wire employees is wholly without jus-
tification," and in which he beIittIes
its extent
This constitutes Mr.. Burleson's scle
activity since the beginning OF the
strike. With the exception of his in
vestigation Of conditions at Atlanta,
where the controversy between the
telegTaphers and the Western Union
led 10 The present trouble he made no
erort TO conciliate the men and the
companies. His statement YESTERDAY
afternoon, moreover, indicates that he
Is against the action Of the members
of the Commercial Telegraphers' IN
ion in stopping work
Out of the ninety eight teIegra-
piers employed by the Postal Com
pany. according to r. w. McDon-
aid. president Of the local union.
ninety-three struck at the appoint
ed time. The number that left
the Western Union at 8 O'Clock YES
terday morning is said to be about
100.
Following the walkout. members
of the union held a mass meeting
, in Perpetual Hall to discuss All
phases of the situation. Commit
, tees were appointed to further the
work of the union during the time
that the men and women are out.
Ex-presIdent Speaks.
Sam Small. former international
president of the union. addressed
, the meeting and set forth the fact
that the cause is just and cannot
lose. All present enthusia astically
greeted Mr.. Small's proposal 10
man the guns until the companies
came through"
. Miss Ethel NJ Smith. Of the wonn-
ems Trade Union League. assured the
strikers that her organization would
as far as possible stand behind the
strikers and give what assistance IL
could in helping the women employees
; of the telegraph companies during the
time the strike is in progress.
Following the meeting in Perpetual
Hall, the strikers marched to the Of
fees Of the Western Union Company
and stationed pickets. All employees
: coming to work were stopped and
!, urged to ally themselves with the
strikers
+ Committeeman >ppointed at yester-
= days mass meeting are as follows:
Finance. L. A. johnson. c. f. Jetton
and A. o. NanFleet; legislative COM
mittee. Sam Small and L. E. Anstrom.
the third member will be named to-
day; press committee. Sam Small.
Clyde Smith and Joseph Hockery:
committee to take action on matter
= OF government. key men taking the
, places Of strikers; J. T. Donegan, A.
S. Price and W. L. Phillips; entertain
Hent. William w. Fitzgerald. Ida
! Bland and John Benton.