Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-06
GENERAL STRIKE IN
j. 6. AND CANADA IS
KONENKAMP PLAN
President of Union Says
Those Already Out Will Be
AssiSted-Phone Company
Gives Out Figures 81.

A number of the employees of the
Southern Bell Telephone company ia
Atlanta struck Monday afternoon for
the reinstatement of several opera
tors alleged to have ben discharged
by the company, and on Wednesday
afternoon operators of the Western
Union telegraph officers in Atlanta
walked out in a sympathetic strike.
The telephone service is being main
tanned, and the Western Union also
is maintaining its service.
Striking in sympathy with the tel
ephone workers who quit their posts
on Monday afternoon, Morse and null
t1pleX operators in the employ of
the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany walked out at II o'clock Wed
nesday morning.
According to official figures an
nounced by H. c. Worthen, general
manager of the Western Union sys-
tenn in the southern territory, ninety
two employees quit work at the ap-
pointed hour, this number including
both Morse and multiplex operators,
office messengers and employees in
the testing and regulating depart
ment. E
Union leaders claimed that be-
tween 800 and 400 Western Union
employees had walked out, but re-
fused to make any definite statement
until after the strikers had regis
tered at the Labor Temple. where
they assembled Immediately after
quitting their posts at IL o'clock.
The company, having been apprised
Of the impending .walkout, had made
preparations for handling traffic by
using substitutes. About seventy
operators had been brought in from
other cities and several employees in
other departments in the Atlanta
offices were transferred to the oper-
ating department for the elner-
gency.
The Western Union alone is af-
fected by the strike. union leaders
indicating that the Postal Telegraph
company would not be involved at
this time, although they expressed
the opinion that further develop
ments might be expected in the near
future. The leased wires of the
from difficulty arising from the
strike.
unless the Atlanta telephone and
quickly the entire United States
and Canada will be involved,
the situation here showed little
change Thursday. While the service
of the Southern Bell Telephone com
pany and the Western Union 'refe-
graph company was. admittedly
somewhat impaired, it was asserted
by officials of both companies that
the situation was adjusting itself
satisfactorily and that further i'm
provement might be expected.
limitations that the telegraphers'
strike might be extended to other
cities throughput the southeast had
been made by union leaders soon
after the Inauguration Of the strike
Wednesday, so that the statement is
sued Thursday by President Konen-
unexpected in Atlanta. He asserted
that the importation of strike-break-
ers by the Western Union would GER
tainly precipitate nationwide walk
out and criticized Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson for not following diff
ferent course in the matter.
w. U. Confident
Western Union officials indicated
that they did not anticipate serious
trouble through a spread of the
strike, stating that the Commercial
Photographers strength in the West
ern Union ranks was not sufficient to
cause much difficulty.
THAT is the reason we are able to
bring operators from other cities, "
said Mr.. Worthen.
The striking telegraphers and te1e--
phone workers expressed utmost
confidence in the ability of the or
ganization to win the fight against
the two companies. After confer
ence at the Labor Temple, the exc
cutive committee Of the Atlanta Dis
trict Council No. 60, c. T. U. of A,
issued the Following statement
through Charles F. Mann, general or or
ganizer and third vice president of
eve are standing with the public
and the public is standing with us,
We are aware that the Western
Union can bring STRIFE breakers into
Atlanta. but in case that is done the
strike breakers won't get on duty.
because nationwide strike will
occur
Coincident with the announcement
in Atlanta of Mr.. Konenkamp's state
ment regarding the prospect of a
nationwide wire strike, came the
news from Birmingham, Ala, that a
strike of telegraph operators at that
point was expected to occur on Mon
day morning unless a settlement of
the Atlanta controversy should be
effected Immediately.