The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-06-07
All Union Men
Quit, Say Atlanta
Strike Leaders

ATLANTA, GA, June THE
strike of union telegraph operators
employed by the Western Union was
extended over the Southeast last
night, following Postmaster General
Burleson's order returning the wire
companies to private control. The
walkout was ordered in support of the
strike here.
In the absence of Chas. f. Mann,
third vice. president and southern or
ganizer of the Commercial Telegraph
ers' Union of America, who was con-
fined to his home by illness, P. G.
Fonville, president of the local coun-
ell, announced that dispatches were
being received hourly showing that
members of the union were obeying
the order as rapidly as it reached
them.
H. c. Worthen, general manager of
the southern division of the Western
Union, with headquarters here, said
that the latest move of the union men
would not seriously hamper the COM
pany.
II cannot see that we will be seri-
ously affected" he continued. "The
union was stronger here than in any
other place in the south and that's
why they made their first show here.
We brought into Atlanta 96 opera
tors from New York late yesterday,
and may send some of them to other
southern cities if necessary. Some
of them may go to Birmingham as
a matter of precaution."
I Mr.. Worthen contended that the
unions membership in the south was
mot proportionately large enough to
halt the movement of telegraph serv-
ice. President Fonville, of the local
union, was confident, however, that
the membership was large enough to
make itself seriously felt. Mr.. Wor-
then contended that in smaller Offices
where it chanced all of the one or two
operators were union men that they
could be replaced without delay.
In connection with the extension
of the strike, it was asserted here
last night by union leaders that the
Postal Telegraph Gable company was
employing union men who went on
strike from the Western Union. When
asked about this, General Superin-
tendent Ribble, of the Postal, said he
did not know personally.
"The question of employing new
operators is up to the local chief
operators" he added. eve don't dis
criminate against operators because
they are members of union or be-
cause they have worked for the West
ern Union. If the men applying for
Jobs were good operators and we
needed them, | should think the local
chiefs would hire them"
The strike had its inception in the
walkout Monday of employees of the
two telephone companies here, who
are affiliated with the telegraphers'
union. They struck asserting dis
charge of certain employees for join
ing the union, which the company de-
MED. That situation remains un-
changed. On Wednesday local West
ern Union operators, members of the
Commercial Telegraphers' Union of
America, struck in support of the
telephone workers. The strike
throughout the southeast was called
to support these. Many of the tele-
phone workers are affiliated with the
telegraphers' union.
Mayor Key yesterday wired Post
master-General Burleson and S. ].
Konenkamp, president of the union,
asking appointment of local COM
mittee to arbitrate the matters at is
sue here. Meanwhile the postoffice
officials have been investigating the
telephone strike.