The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-11
STRIKE TO-DAY
ON WIRES Is TO
INCLUDE CABLES
Extension Ordered to Make
Wilson Act to Receive
U. s. Messages.
GETS $4,000 WORDS A DAY
Postal Men Ordered to Go Out,
Though They Are Perfectly
Satisfied Now.

The nationwide strike OF telegraph
operators Is to be put sharply UP to
President Wilson, II was decided last
night, by extending 1t to include the
transatlantic cables. The President re-
ceives cable messages totalling $4,000
words a day from Secretary Tumulty,
and the abrupt interruption Of their
receipt in Paris because of the strike
will. 1t is believed by the union officials,
force him to realize the seriousness of
the situation and to take immediate
action which. they hope. will accrue
to their benefit.
Operators all over the country are
scheduled to leave their keys at 6
o'clock this morning, according to or
ders issued by s. ]. Konenkamp, inter-
national president Of the Commercial
Telegraphers Of America.
The move to include the cable oper-
ators was decided upon at a confer
ence, of the international officers of the
union here last evening. It is planned
to call them out on the Western Union,
Commercial. United States and Hayti
and Anglo-American systems to-day.
Five Hundred Pickets Detailed.
Five hundred pickets will be detailed
to the cable Offices. They win also in
terview the 1900 employees at the main
Office Of the Western Union, 26 Walker
street, and the men at the keys at the
company's 500 branch offices. They will
carry placards upon which will be in
scribed: Don't scab! President Wilson
vs. Newcomb Carlton! Where do you
stand? Don't be the black sheep OF the
family"
A despatch from Chicago says that
Mr.. Konenkamp declared the strike
would be won IL 1t were necessary TO
call out brokers and leased wire op-
orators. including Press Association op-
orators. Some press associations have
contracts with their operators expiring
July /.
F. A. Davis. district head Of the
Western brokers division of the union.
sent notice to brokers yesterday ad-
vising them to have the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company sign
with the union unless they wanted their
wires paralyzed.
Union officials asserted last night that
advices received by them from all over
the country assured a tremendous de-
lay" in the delivery of Western Union
messages. II 1t did not entirely cripple
the system. Percy Thomas. deputy inter-
national president of the union, who is to
handle the strike in the Eastern section,
said that tho situation was Improving
hourly" He asserted that 80 per cent.
of the force at the Walker street Office
would strike and said IS per cent. of
the Postal operators were union men.
Everything indicates there will be
great indignation rebellion against the
president of the Western Union. who
has attempted to force upon the en-
ployees an organization they do not
want" he declared. Mr. Carlton says
only 500 in the whole country will 20
out. That number will leave mis- own
main office tomorrow. We are going
to win and will enlist all the financial
support necessary to carry II through.
raphers unions and the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. we will start a drive
! to solicit funds from the public to
put down This corporate kaiser. New
comb Carlton"
Differ on Employees Affected.
/ Although President Carlton of the
" Western Union fixed 500 as the number
of the employees OF his company who
would respond to the strike call, II was
estimated by Joseph B. Haynes, presi-
dent OF the Association OF Western Union
Employees, an organization which is
against the strike. that 1000 men might
leave their keys. The union officials
pointed out that 100000 messages daily
would be affected. even IL only 1000
operators left work, as each one handles
from 900 to 900.
The. strike Is expected TO be more
successful in New York city and in New
England than in other sections, because
the union claims a greater membership
In the East w. e. Conry, international
president in charge OF the Boston coun-
ell of union operators, wired last night
that 200 would quit work there.
The situation OF the Postal Telegraph
Company puzzles both its officials and
many of the union leaders here, who
We re frankly amazed when Konenkamp
Included the Postal in his strike order
The Postal operators. themselves. are in
quandary as to what action to take to
day. They are ordered TO strike and
yet are perfectly satisfied with working
conditions, there not being the slightest
discrimination against union men in the
, service of the Mackay companies. Ed
ward Reynolds. the Postal general man
ager. said last night he had no idea how
| many men In his employ were members
OF the union and thus subject to the
strike order.
The strikers have no plan OF mediation