Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-06-13
10000 MEN OUT
UNION ASSERTS;
OTHERSON BRINK
Refusal of Railroad Op-
orators to Handle Busi-
ness Held Ominous.
k0NENKhMP PUTS BLAME
ON BuRLEsON ATTITUDE

I Chicago. June 12.-Despite claims .,
union officials that $4,000 telegrat
| operators were idle, today. and that the
te-up would be complete by Monday
commercial telegraf business, particri-
iariy between the larger cities, is being
handled on practically normal basis
according 70 reports TO the commercial
companies here, tonight.
Officers of the c. r. u. A.. which
called the strike to enforce demands
that the workers be permitted to
organize, bargain collectively and
obtain adequate wages" were eIated
over an announcement from ST.
Louis that union te!egrafers were
ordered TO discontinue handling CON-
merciai business after s a. m. Satur-
day. The order was issued by &. j.
Manion, president of the Order Of
Railroad Telegrafers, and affects
10000 operators. II Was stated.
Whether the railroad operators
viii be called out on sympathetic
strike will depend upon developments
Of the next few days, if was stated.
BROKER OPERATORS sHAKY.
The strike leaders gained further con-
fldence throu adoption by the American
Federation Of Labor of resolution
pledging moral support to the strike.
called for June IS by the International
brotherhood of Electrical workers. The
union men claimed the brotherhood has
membership Of more than 100000.
winch includes the bulk Of the union
felefone operators threuout the country.
I halieS Ford, secretary Of the brother
hood. denied reports thar some OF the
members already had walked ont in
with the striking telegrafers.
;. j. konenkamp, president of the
Commercial Telegraphers Union of
America, who is directing the strike
from headquarters here. after a number
of long distance telefone conversations
with eastern representatives, declared
assurance had been given that the broker
operators in New York would Join the
strike as soon as Developments warran-
ted such action
W. u. Scoffs at Strike.
Meanwhile officials of the Western /
Union Teiegraf company claim that the t
strike has been a complete failure so far
Is that company is concerned. and Off
clais Of the Postal Telegraf company as I
sert that traffic is being moved without t
Interruption.
The Association of Western Union en-
,loyes. which represents s. per cent of |
he employees of the Western Union, re-
'elved kilograms from all sections of the
.ountry, saying all workers were report
ng for duty despite the propaganda Of
he strikers to spread the trouble
Fewer Postal operators were out to- +
ay than yesterday, according to reports
Q the Chicago office
President konenkamp charged that
ne attitude Of Postmaster General Bur
eson to enforce the rule prohibiting dis
against union workers had
rot on the strike. He said Mr.. Burleson
ad been informed before the strike was
allied that all controversy would be
leared up if he would permit the right
{ collective bargaining and establishment
tribunal to fix fair wages.
The Postal Telegraf company in Chi
ago, which was hard hit by the strike ;
esterday, reported conditions greatly
approved today.
Delivery service of both the Western
nion and Postal was greatly hampered !,
ere by the strike Of all messengers. ),
r. r. Men Can Hit Hard.
President Konenkamp declared the ac- t
on of the Order of Railroad Telegraph i
g was an important step. c
"Of the $4,000 Western Union offices s
the country. $4,000 are in railroad d
atlons," said Mr.. Konenkamp 'By re- /
lsing to handle commercial messages
le railroad telegraphers will cut off t
ON the Western Union the telegraph c
Continued on Page Two) o