The sun., 1919-06-16
PHONE OPERATORS
TO HELP KEYMEN
Promise Is Given That Girls
VIII Be Organized to Join
in Fight.
THOMAS Is ENCOURAGED
Photographers Leader Will
Confer with A. F.of b.,
Executive Council. y

The disappointment Of the striking
teiesraphers Of New York city In the
failure of the threatened electrical work
crs' walkout to come to pass was re-
lleved yesterday afternoon when Mise
Julia o'Connor, president OF the teie-
phone department Of the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor, and Miss May Mat
thews, secretary of the same orgnniza-
ton. promised the keymen that New
York telephone operators would be or
Eanized Immediately and lend their aid
TO the fight.
"If these girls are organized soon
enough" said Percy Thomas. deputy IN,
ternational president OF the Commercial
photographers Union, they may be used
in the telegraphers' fight against Burie-
son. AZ a matter of fact most of the
5000 operators in New York are ready
10 Join the organization. Their em-
ployers cannot discriminate against
them. because Mr.. Burleson has already
recognized tho right of The electrical
workers to organise and bargain col
lectively."
Miss Matthews. who cana down from
Boston TO address n mass meeting OF
photographers In East Fifteenth street
yesterday. declared Burieson's concession
to the electrical workers was solely
brought about by the successful strike
Of telephone operators In New England.
Going to Atlantic CITY.
Mr.. Thomas will leave for Atlantic
City tomorrow to confer with the exec
utive council Of the American Fedefn-
ton of Labor. That body win demand
IF Mr. pnrIaann Tho ANNA rnnr xoforta fur
photographers that he granted the cleo
trical workers.
This Is a case of rank discrimination
and 1t will be pat up to President Will
son." said Thomas. IT believe the Pres
ident will not fail to see the point Pow
erful interests are determined that the
telephone and telegraph operators Of the
country shall not organize"
"If Burleson refuses. what does II e.
tablish? 1t simply means that on the
advice of Newcomb Carlton and his
coterie of officials he recognized the
electrical workers In order to weaken the
strike of electrical workers.
Thomas charae terized as a pretty Bit
OF camouflage the promise of the West
efu Union after the strike was declared
that II would pay a million dollars back
wages to its employees. II the company
honestly means to do this he said, ther
III. strikers must receive their share OF
the million. but he doubted that the
company would ever pay a nickel TO any
employee.
Replying to Mr.. Cartons statemen,
that he would supply expert Morse oper.
ators to take TIE place Of the s,6ot
brokerage operators who may strike on
Thursday. Thomas said this would bS
impossible, as II required months Of
training to fit operators for These posts
Two TcIegrams Sent broadcast.
These two kilograms were sent broad.
east over the wires;
New York. June 10: In view Of thu
instructions Of the Order OF Railroad
photographers to It's members to refus,
10 handle Western Union comnSercia
business. commencing Saturday. mes
ssges for joint risk must. be accepted
subject to delay. Trafic Instruction.
already issued provide for the mailing
OF such messages from the nearest com
ruercial relay point.
~. n. Hyiand. District Commercial
superintendent. Western Union"
From the Postal:
"supt. Reynolds. Buffalo. adviser
1.ockport. N. ", Is the only out
side Office in western New York wher,
an. employee remained away from
duty for the past few days. What few
operators failed to report In Burial,
state they will report for work Mon
day.
Not. single ONCE In tho Plttsbur,
district except the city Of PittsburE II
affected. Men are returning in Pitts
burg.
"All men have ,eturned at Jackson
VILE. Fla. and Atlanta. Ca"