Republican farmer., 1919-04-04
WIRE MEN VOTE
 TO HOLD STRIKE

Washington, March 28-Informa- ton has reached Washington that the Commercial Photographers Union of America has issued strike ballots to all telegraph and telephone workers. proposing a nationwide "tie-up" eff fective on April 22.
 The employees demand recognition of their union. the reinstatement of those who were locked out last year, and higher wages. They are resist ing the refusal of Postmaster Gen eraI Burleson to treat with the union.
 The workers say they will quit work unless their grievances are ad- jUsted in tn emeandme by the Unit ed States Wire administration. The proposed strike would affect nearly 400 workers, grouped as follows: Tel ephones. 265. 1000; commercial tele- graphs, 7O,0O0; railroad telegraphs 7O,00O.
 The strike ballot, which is signed by s. J. Konenkamp, international president of the Commercial Teleg- raphers Union of America, after set ting forth a resolution adopted by many districts demanding that strike vote be taken, and explaining that the General Committee of the union elected last October to try and adjust grievances with the wire ad- ninistration. had exhausted it's re- sources, declares that the representa- lives of the government have not kept their word.
 We have appealed to Congress but our appeals were of no avail" " President Konenkamp says in his statement accompanying the strike ballot. We appealed to the Ma tional War Labor Board without re- suits. The Department of Labor is helpless because the Wire Adminis- 'tration. under Postmaster-Gene Btlrleson, insists upon handling it's la Dor problems differently from all oth- CT departments of the government.
 we have been unable to get the ear of the President of the United States because, so we are told, our case was not sufficiently acute.
 If MT. Burleson would express a willingness to apply the procIama- ton of President Wilson, dated April s, 1918, establishing the National War Labor Board to the telegraphs and telephones; if MT. Burleson would agree to reinstate the work CTS who were locked out last year because they accepted President Will sons proclamation at its face value as he said he would; if MT. Burlesoa would enforce his own orders pro- hibIting discrimination against union men and women; if Mir. BurIeson would agree to treat with the tele- graph and telephone workers Cn the same basis that the Railroad Admin istration has dealt with the railroad workers, if MT. Burleson would agree to our reasonable wage demands there would be no necessity for 8 strike.
 '"The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is in a position similar to the telegraph and telephone sworllers.'' continues President Konen- kamp. ''They, too. are being com peIled to take strike vote'' he says, and intimates that there will be a pooling of grievances which win affect all means of electrical com municatior. The letter concludes: Tt is because we can see no other solution that we find it necessary to ask you to vote on the question of a strike. The sole responsibility for it rests in the unfair and arbitrary ac- tions of the Wire Administration un- der the personal direction of Post master General Burleson.