The sun., 1919-06-12
TELEGRAPHERS GO
ON GENERAL STRIKE



according to q statement OF Edward Rey-
nolds, general manager OF the Postal
system. Likewise. the United States and
Canada cable and the cable to the Eu-
ropcan continent are not interrupted.
Called "Tempest In Teapot"
Mr.. Reynolds said: There are only
between 20 and 80 per cent. of our
operators out. We have 5000 operators
in the country. Traffic to-day was par
ticularly heavy and II II being moved
without serious delay. Many OF those
who went out want to 20 back to their
Jobs. The best operators did not go out
Out of force of fifty men in the main
office about ten quit. Only two OF the
400 men employed In the 100 branch
offices in the city Joined the strike"
Said Newcomb Carlton: This Is n
repetition OF the tempest in the teapot
that took place last year, when similar
agitation from the same quarter, with
similar Misrepresentation, resulted. as
the public knows, in complete failure.
what could be more unjust to the
public than an attempt to call sym
pathetic strike OF the telegraph en-
ployees because some other employer
over whom the Western Union has not
had the remotest control or influence
was thought TO have done something
which the union did not approve? What
| would the public say II the Western
Union were to lock out its employees
because some other employer had locked
out their employees-and yet this 10
the principle OF the sympathetic strike,
to which the Western Union Is utterly
opposed.
mo attention would have been paid to
this ill-advised effort to PROSTATE the
telegraph service were It not that the
newspapers have been publishing propa-
ganda rather than facts.
$50 far as the Western Union COM
pany Is concerned the so-called strike Is
| a complete failure: but II Is due TO the
fact that our employees are too intelli-
gent to be misled by any self-seeking
ana irresponsible individual. The West
ern Union makes no discrimination
against a union employee and nom
union employee as such. There have
| been no demands or grievances put FOR
ward by Western Union employees.
There never has been a strike ballot OF
Western Union employees although a
partial effort was made to distribute bal
| lots, but no attention was paid TO them
by the employees
THE whole procedure Is a scandalous
effort to usurp power on the part or an
| individual. and we hope that IL this In
dividual agzain makes such an enort the
public will bear in mind the causes for
| his failure and hereafter treat his ef-
forts with the contempt they deserve"
Assert "sIeepers" Are at Keys.
The strike pickets carefully watched
Yesterday to detect any so-called va
| Using OF messages. 1. e.. sending tele-
| grams by messenger on train from one
| city to another. 1t was reported to
| President Thomas last night that the
Western Union had "sleepers' at the
desks of telegraphers who went or
strike to give the appearance that the
full Office corps was working.
Joseph P. Hayes. president Of the As
ISOLATION Of Western Union Employees
who is opposed to the strike, stated that
only three operators left the Walker
street main ONCE. In cities like Spring
field. Mass. Scranton. Pa, and Wilkes
barre, Pa, where the union is strong
only few employees left their posts
Mr.. Hayes said. There was tieup IN
Atlantic City when the messenger boys
Joined the strike
The assistance expected by strikers
| from the electrical workers yesterday
was not given. At meeting OF this
union in 30 Union Square the matter OF
! jcintng the strike or giving financial aid
| was not discussed.