New-York tribune., 1919-04-17
Girls Are Striking
''Against Burleson,''
ColIivan Declares

WASHINGTON, April 16.-If the
New England telephone strike does not
come to an end within the next twenty
four hours Joseph Tumulty, secretary
to the President, will cable q state
rlent of the situation to Paris and ask
President Wilson for instructions re-
garding the steps to be pursued by the
government in restoring the New Eng
land telephone service. Mr.. Tumulty
gave this assurance to Representative
James A. Gallivan, of Boston, here to-
day.
"If necessary I will get into personal
touch with the President" Mr.. Tumulty
said, $50 that the girls side Of this
controversy may be heard and an early
settlement effected"
Representative Gallivan conferred
with Mr.. Tumulty to-day at the White
House for three hours regarding the
| strike situation. He declared it was
"a strike against Burleson," and
further stated that unless steps were
taker at once by the Federal govern
ment to bring it to an end through
conciliatory measures that mot a ves-
tige of the Democratic party in Massa-
chusetts would remain"
Secretary Tumulty was much dis
turbed by the report Of the situation
given him by Mr.. Gallivan. He was in
conference for the greater part Of the
afternoon with officials Of the Post
Office Department and the Department
Of Labor regarding the matter. Asked
If he believed the Postof1ce Depart
ment would make good its hint Of
strike breakers to restore the service,
Mr.. Tumulty declared that he dil not
believe the department had any inten-
tion Of taking such action. Secretary
Of Labor Wilson gave Mr.. Gallivan a
similar assurance.
Il told Mr.. Tumulty," said Mr.. Gal
!. Ivan, Chat I represented no one ex-
cepting the sentiment in Boston, and
that / was not authorized to speak for
any organization Of any kind l
wanted to impress on him that in my
Judgment the strike Of the telephone
girls was really strike against Burle-
Son, and I think I convinced him before
the conference ended. In my Judgment
and in the judgment of all those with
whom | have talked about the situa-
ton, the demands Of the girls are not
at all unfair and never have been.
Their splendid leader, Miss O'Connor,
to my own personal knowledge has
endeavored to interest Burleson for
many weeks in order to avoid what
has now became q reality, but, as l
: told Mr.. Tumulty, she met with one re-
: buff after another and the incompetent
I. and brutal Postmaster General has
brought about a situation by which
all Boston is made to suffer. Secre-
tary Tumuty assured me that he
would continue to show the lively in
terest which he has already dis
played"
Statement by Burleson
Postmaster General Burleson, in a
statement issued late this afternoon,
| injected new element into the situa-
| tlon by calling attention to the prob
ability that increased wages for the
| telephone operators in New England
| would probably result in higher rates.
His statement follows:
The issue involved in the strike OF
| fne telephone operators in New Eng
iand IS by no means confined to the
simple question whether tho employees
arc entitled to higher wages. The peo-
pie OF New England now suffering so
eventually ! must detsrmine whether. uu.
they arc willing to pay more for such
Bcryice in the future than they have in
the past.
THE employees should realize that
the public interests involved and
should return to work at once upon
tho assurance that their demands
will be carefully investigated to
determine whether increased wages can
be granted without impairment oi tho
financial stability of tho companies. II
the increases they ask prove to be tust
and reasonable, this increasss will be
granted in any event, sven though, In
order to continue efficient service. thu
charges to the public must be increased.
But the public interest cannot be sac
rihced upon the mere demand OF any
set OF employees.
III the employees will submit their
demands to tho general manager and
return to work, they have tho assur-
anee OF the goyernxnent that they viii
be dealt with fairly. II they coritinue