The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-12
WESTERN UNION MANAGER
CALLS CAPITAL STRIKE
FAILURE; PREDICTS END

That the end OF the telegraphers'
strike was in sight and that the
walk-out would result in a dismal
failure in Washington by tonight or
tomorrow was the prediction today
OF W. r. Williams. manager OF the
Western Union office.
Mr.. Williams admitted. however.
that al least three of the Morse op-
orators and six girls had walked out
He asserted that no striking employe
Of the Western Union would under
any circumstances be reinstated.
Union men, on the other hand. ar
gued today that the strike is gaining
in momentum with every passing
hour. They gave a list OF sixteen
men who. they said, had quit, by way
Of disappearing Mr.. Williams state
ment that no operators had left the
keys.
This list. the strikers said, included
only such names as they could re-
member off-hand. asserting that a
complete list Of the men out was i'm
possible of compilation because of the
alleged practice of the Western Union
of shifting its employees around from
city to city.
Don't Know All of Men.
I'VE don't know half OF our own
members" said J. NJ. Lowry. one of
the strikers. because some OF them
are newcomers here"
The list OF Western Union employees
who have walked out follows: Ben
Davis, c. c. Smith. Starr, Donnegan.
Lowry, Van Fleet, Dennison. Phillips
Graham. Gavin, Hartford, Denning
Anstrom. Hooker and Cox, besides
number of women.
Mr.. Williams said. however that
only Van Fleet, Phillips, Hartford and
Graham could be considered as being
out, as the rest of them were either
discharged before the strike or were
not regular employees of the company.
As an illustration of the methods
Of the Western Union, strikers today
cited the case Of J. NJ. Lowry, who, |
they say, has been a telegrapher for
nineteen years and has always been
efficient. A few days ago, a short
time after he was elected vice presi- |
dent Of the local union, he was dis
for alleged ineffciency, union |
men say.
Charges that both the Western
Union and the Postal Company had |
resorted TO the suitcase" method Of |
their kilograms were de- |
MED by officials OF both companies |
today.
Strikers Issue Challenge.
Striking telegraph operators today |
challenged the Western Union and |
the Postal Telegraph Company to |
produce figures. names. and other |
pertinent facts to prove that the /
strike which was declared yesterday |
has not tied up Washington's |
telegraph business.
The strikers were more emphatic
today that fully 80 per cent Of the
Postal Company's men have quit their
keys and nearly % per cent OF the
Western Union men have walked |
put
Telegraph officials. on the other
hand. were certain that the strike
had done no appreciate damage and
hat business was being conducted
almost normally.
The situation continues normal"
said ". Il. Williams, manager of the
Western Union local office. today.
We are taking care OF ali our bust
less and everybody is happy"
DefyIng Western Union officials 10
women other than those six girls had
IuIt. T. II. Mcdowell member OF
he executive committee of the te-
egraphers. union. said today:
81 challenge Mr.. Williams 10 deny
hat the Misses +. y. Stafford. 4. NJ
iaisk. y. 3. Gibson. VI. Kaufman.
.ouise Boyd. Mary Davis. NJ y Nc
ill Alma i. Monroe. Pauline Cav.
attic Mcbride. Nesja Tanner. Ida
'!add. and Mrs Z. \. Berry did not
cave their work with scores Of
thors
To Register Strikers.
Union men also promised that a
NJ meeting a. Perpetual Hall this
fternoon the strikers would be reg