The sun., 1919-04-16
TELEPHONE STRIKE
TIES UP FIVE STATES
100000 New England Sub
scribers Affected by Walk
out Of 5000 Operators.
CONNECTICUT Is EXEMPT
Burleson, Appealed To, Says
Wage Demand Was Not For
mally Presented.

Boston, April 15.--Telephone COM
munication throughout New England.
with the exception OF Connecticut, IA
virtually at stop tonight as a result
OF the strike of 5000 operators of the
New England Telephone ana Telegraph
Company. and the Providence Telephone
Company. In Boston and in practically
every other exchange in Vermont, New
Hampshire, Massa chusetts, Maine and
Rhode Island, the operators quit work
at seven O'Clock this morning. Union
leaders declared tonight that they ex-
pact the operators in Connecticut to join
The strike within a day or two. So far
approx imately coo. 900 subscribers in the
five states are affected by the action Of
the operators.
Authorities Of the Federal Govern
ment, and of the five states and many
cities affected by the strike have not
vet decided what measures to take to
combat the movement. The governors of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island and Vermont have sent messages
to Postma ster General Durlsson dem5nd-
ing that the Post Office Department come
to some terms with the strikers, and
officials OF the Department of Justice
have conferred with tine United States
District Attorneys in the various feder-
al districts concerning the possible ac-
ton to be taken by the Government.
In the majority Of towns and cities,
Government telephone business is NOV
ing nj usual. and the strikers left oper-
ators in Boston to operate the switch
board in the Federal building, in order
to prevent interference with the mails.
In response to a message which he
sent earlier In the day to Postmaster
General Burleson Gov. Coolidge re-
ceived a telegram declaring that every
thing that was possible bad been done
to prevent the strike. but that the OPP
orators had refused to present their de-
mands, so that the Post Office Depart
ment had nothing to go on in attempt
ing a settlement. At the same time
despa tches from Washington state that
the Post ONCE Department hold that
the strike is absolutely without justifi-
cation, and has instructed the manage
ment Of the New England company to
replace the strikers with other oper-
ators. or 10 take any other measures
necessary to maintain the service.
Mr.. Burlesons message to Gov. Cool
idge follows:
Every step possible was taken to
avert strike of telephone operators
in New England. The operating officials
or the company nave neen Wiling 10 re-
ceive their wage scale and other mat
ters affecting their working condition
and transmit them through the operat-
ing board to this Department with their
| recommendation. and this Department
is prepared to act promptly. However
for some reason they have refused to
| submit these matters and have gone OF
strike without any cause existing. There
fore the operating officials have been
directed to take every step TO restore
the service"
Joseph +. Tdmuity. secretary to Presi-
dent Wilson. sent a telegram to Miss
Julia s. O'Connor. President OF the Tele.
phone Operators Department. tonight
- oposing that the striking operators ir
New England su'nbit their wage scale e
william Il. Driver. Jr., General Manager
Of the New England Telephone and Tclc-
graph Company.
Miss O'Connor. In a reply, said tina,
the operators would submit their scale
TO Mr.. Driver provided they were given
the assurance of the Federal Govern
mcnt that he had been given full power
to settle wage scales. retroactive to De
csmb.r 81. the date upon which the
wage agreement between the company
and the operators expired.
Within half an hour after the strike
started Boston was almost without tele-
phone operators except such as were nee.
essary to send Government and army