The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-18
WIRE STRIKE MAY
BE SETTLED TO-DAY
Onion Leader Says Right OF
Collective Bargaining Will
/. Simplify Negotiations.
AWAITS BURLESON'S ACT
Konenkamp Expects Meeting
Of Employers and Employ
ees to Be Called.

CHICAGO, June IFS. J. Konenkamp,
president of the Commercial Teiegra-
piers Union OF America, said to-day
that the strike Of telegraphers which has
been in progress for week might De
settled tomorrow. Konenkamp believes
that the recent order OF POSTMASTER
General Burlesen. which granted the
tight of collective bargaining to electrical
and telephone workers and thereby pre-
vented a strike. would apply also TO the
telegraph operators and would tend 10
simplify the situation.
"The speed with which the strike Ii
ended depends largely upon the time
taken by the Postmaster-Generalt to or
ganize his machinery and bring the ON.
Gals of the telegraph companies and
those of the union together,' he said.
The negotiations which have been In
progress between the Association OF
western Union Employees and the
order OF Railway Telegraphers to have
the latter organization rescind It's order
against handling commercial business
on railroad wires came to an abrupt
end to-day, and II was announced that
the order would remain in effect. The
action of the railroad telegraphers has
practically stopped wire communication
between small towns OF the country. ac-
cording to officials OF the order. Ono
Official said the action affects about so
per cent. OF the business OF the Western
Union Telegraph Company.
The negotiations were stopped by z.
j. Manion. head OF the railway teleg-
raphers, who charged that the associa-
ton was lending itself to the officers
of the Western Union Company and
trying to break the strike. The asso-
citation, which claims to represent 90
per cent. Of the employees OF the West
srn Union. replied that ''the so-called
Vaccinations OF any corporation could
not parallel the autocratic tenor of your
communication"
Plans for extending the wire strike
are being pushed at strike headquarters
here. where it is claimed that twenty
FIVE trades and labor unions now have
pledged support to the strike. in addi-
tion to the Order OF Railway Tele-
graphers. the American Train Despatch
ers Association and the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen.
Despatchers from San Francisco to-
day stated that in spite of the orders
OF union officials to postpone action in
view OF concessions granted by the Post
rester-General. telephone operators,
linemen and electrical workers through
out California went on strike this morn
ang at o'clock. Practically all of the
larger cities are affected, and officials
OF the telephone companies said this
afternoon that the system Is crippled.
There were long delays in connection
after o'clock, the hour when the strike
was called. The union officials announced
that sufficient operators would be left
at their posts to answer hospital, news
Paper and emergency calls.
The telephone operators are demand
ing increased pay. better housing con-
ditions and the discontinuance of al
legged discrimination against union MEM
bers by the telephone company en-
ployees. L. CO. eraser. international
v.ce-president of the Interna tiona al
Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers. said
this afternoon that the strike is illegal
and without sanction of officers Of the
union.