Evening journal., 1919-04-17
TALK OF NATION
Wide Phone STRIKE
Operators Union Agent
Says Workers Are Now
Voting on Referendum
WANT HIGHER WAGES
AND SHORTER HOURS

LOUISVILLE, April Hilary Hen
ierson, business agent Of the Tele-
phone Operators Union Of Louisville,
announced yesterday that vote is be
.ng taken throughout the country BY
telephone employees 10 force govern
mcnt recognition OF the employees
unions with a nationwide strike as the
alternative.
The referendum, Henderson said,
would be finished by May II. He ais
asserted that Information from The
headquarters OF the National Union o.
Electrical Workers, which includes
employees OF telephone companies, is
hat the votes OF 2j0OO0 telephone en-
)lSyes already have been received anl
.hst graf majority favor a striAc J..
.he demands are not granted.
henderson also declared that .he
s.riLc OF operators OF the New England
aud Providence Telephone Companies
was regarded as test OF The union :
urtngih and that IFS result WJu!i
lharply define the issue.
The unions demands. Hendcrs Jn
lays, are higher wages and shorter
hours.
WASHINGTON, April i5-Steps to-
Nard settlement OF the strike OF New
england telephone operators wee
.aken yesterday by Postmsster4GenasaI
}urlesOn and Secretary Tumulty. Eac1
lTicial urged the strikers to return 10
.ork Immediately and submit their de-
aands for a higher wage scale and
.ercgnitiOn Of the right OF eollecuN'
,lrgsining 20 the general manage ol
ne rev England Telephone ana Icie
-aph Company
The operators were assured bs Doll
he Postmastcr-General and secretary
Tumulty that their application would
1e acted upon promptly after its sub
mission 20 the general manager OF th'
company, who has been authorized %
lccept any proposed agreement ant
'eoommend its adoption by the wire
operating board.
In a statement given out late today
ifter a conference with secretary Iu-
uultv. Mr.. BurlcsOn declared that the
'OsiOffice Department was not Tree %
;rant wage increases which would nave
o be paid for by the public, without
arefully inquiring into the relation De
.ween revenues and expenditures o
he company. He promised, however
hat II the increases were found 10 D'
lust and reasonable they would d
yranted even II the charges TO the pup
Ic had 70 be advanced
Mr.. BurlesOn warned the strikers tina
unless they returned TO work at once
she people Of New England. now sui
'ering so seriously from the loss o
,ervice" would turn against them an'
would be less likely 20 give the EN-
,loyes the support necessary to war
ami favorable government action Nj
surleson's statement follows:
The issue involved in the strike O
Inc telephone operators in New Englan
is bv no means confined 90 the simpl
question whether the employees are en-
titled 10 higher wages. The people o
New England. now suffering so serl
,uslv from the loss OF service, event
,aUv must determine whether they ar
willing 20 pay more for such servic
n the future than they have in Tn
oast
"Durins the period Of government
Management the Postofilce Department
'eels that 70 cannot grant wage IN
,reasas merely upon demand from IN
,mnioves. A strike on the part OF ,em
nIoves working for the government j
"a nernissable. Sound public opinion
can always be depended upon to secur
for them absolute justice. IL must al
,vavs he kept in mind that a strike can
moi he successful without public ap
1rOval.
Promises Fair Investigation.
THE employees should realize tnat "
,,,bl,c interest Is involved and sh0ul
.,,,,-, 40 work at once upon the as
.,,rance that fheir demands Will b
.s-ef,,IIv INVESTIGATED to determin
%bether increased wages can be granite
,,,itbont impafment Of the financial sta
,nJ,v ~ fhd companies. II the in
n.o.s.s ,bevlask prove TO be Just an
-ossonabIe ne increases will be grant
"A in anv eient. even though, in orde
90 co,finuseflcient service, the charge
20 tbe nuHic must be increased. Blu
tbe nnbIic Interest cannot ne sacrifice
,,nop Inc mere demand OF any set O
employees ..,. ,ho;
s,-,s,dsto the general. manager, an
return ! work, they have the assul
ance ofthe government that they WI
he deal with fairly. II they contlnu
ia disegard the public interests iil
nubIiowin be less likely to give tn
emplSes the support necessary 10 wal
rant bvorable government aciloh'