Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-04
PHONE WORKERS
STAY OUT; WILL
REMOVE PHONES
Strikers Do Not Respond to Com
paHy UftimatHm and Say They
Are MisrepreseRted.

Telephone strikers not only to-
day refused to return to work at
the Central Union Telephone com
pany, as ordered in a notice from
the company, but increased their
strike efforts by ordering all tele-
phones taken from union mems
homes.
II. ID. Smith, business agent for
the strikers, said this morning
that both the linemen and girl OPP
orators out on strike were firm in
staying out He said that within a
few days the telephone service of
the company would be much more
impaired.
1t is expected that by the end
of the week 5000 telephones may
be taken from homes. A general
notice for removal of phones was
issued this morning If the notice
is not responded to by all union
man, mass meeting will be called
With a view to organized efforts.
7 Referendum ballots have been
taken during the last few days by
different unions, and the telephone
strike leaders claim that all the
unions are in favor of assisting
the strikers by disrupting phone
service. The inside electrical
workers, it is said. have decided
to Immediately remove their
phones.
Misrepresentation.
In reference to a telegram quot
ed by the company in serving no
tice on the men to return to work
today, the strike leaders claim that
their case has been misstated. The
telegram from Assistant Postmas-
ter General Rooms approving the
stand taken by the local manager
of the telephone company was a
result of misrepresentation, the
strikers claim.
They say that Thomas S. Brown,
district manager at Rock Island,
misrepresented their case to the
government, according to infor-
nation received from an employee
still working for the company.
This employee. it is said, told the
strikers that information had been
sent out by the district manager
that the linemen and operators
struck without notifying the COM
pany officials.
On the other hand. the strikers
claim that they served sufficient
notice of their demands, five days
before the strike was declared.
The girls, they say, went out on a
sympathy strike.
No late information has been re-
ceived of Miss Mae Matthews,
leading picket of the national
body of telephone operators. 1t is
doubted if she will be able to
arrive in Rock Island soon.
Meeting This Morning.
The strikers met this morning at
Industrial hall to perfect plans for
the future. They are arranging for
several more dances as a benefit
for the girl operators who have
no means of support during the
strike period. AS to funds. the
strikers claim they are faring we'll
and will be able to remain out in
definitely if no obstacles more ser
ious than the money question con-
fronts them
The telephone strikers were also
prepared to take part in any par
ape of railway shop and street car
Strikers being arranged to take
place in Rock Island tonight. AL
though they had received no Off
cial notice this morning of a dem
onstration, they declared that it
would take them only a short
time to get ready and participate
in a parade.
The union members are also TAX
ing action which may lead to cir
culation of a petition for signers
who are asking efficient phone SER
vice. The service has been stead
lily growing worse, in the public
opinion. Long distance calls are
almost impossible through the
Rock Island exchange. No action