The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-11

statement that their loyalty is not 4
mere occurrence, but a western Union
tradition. proving eoncluslVely what
We have commended ali along, that the
present III-aponHorsd agitation IL en-
tirely on the outside and not on the
inside. Our employees are well paid ;
working conditions are ideal. and
their environment is everything that
human ingenuity can make %. The
same condition obtains in our serv-
Ice throughout the United states
We are we'll satisfied with the
progress OF the strike" said ". =.
Mcdonald. president Of the District
Council No. -. the Washington
branch OF the Commercial Telegra--
piers Union. today. "lt has de-
veloped much better than we sG-
pected. understand that. nearly
100 per cent of the Postal men are
out and between so and so per cent
OF the Western Union men have quit
their keys. More Western Union
operators win walk out at $3.50
o'clock today"
Mr.. Mcdonald said that the Western
Union officials had, in anticipation Of
the strike today, ordered their day
force out at 7 o'clock. instead OF at 8.
and had warned them TO bring their
lunches with them.
Admits Early HO1FS.
Mr.. williams admitted the early
hour order, but said that had been
done with the idea Of aseertaining
how many Of the force would be loyal.
All Of them proved loyal, Mr.. VIII
liams said.
President Mcdonald was still hope
full today that an early agreement be
tween the Postal company and the
strikers would be reached.
"In that case" he said, 81 have pre-
pared q plan whereby the western
Union men who are out will md en-
pIoyment two days a week with the
Postal. to help US finance the strike"
Soon after the strike had been de-
elared on. g. NJ Foote, manager OF
the Postal Telegraph Company, said
there we're only q dozen workers AT
the keys, with no prospect Of replac-
ing those out now or in the near flu
tuFe.
"The Postal is almost solid for the
strike" SAID Manager Foote. I'VE
can't get men to replace the strikers,
and so our business is almost COM
plstely tied up" ....
Resigned 70 Strike.
He was asked how the Postal would
care for its cuisines.
There nothing we can de-" he re-
piled. I'VE have resigned ourselves to
the strike and hope something will be
done soon TO settle the differences be-
tween the men and the company"
Striking tslegTaphers, however, said
that only 1--WE Workers-three women
ana two men, one Of the latter being
a cripple-are still at the keys at the
Postal offices. The men were still
hopeful today that President Mackay
would sign the agreement he was ap-
pealed 70 by International President
Konsnkamp to sign, recognizing the
union.
western Union officials, however.
today were very optimistic concerning
the situation.
H. Frank Tan, general Buperin'"n-
dent Of the company. said so far A.
the western Union was concerned
there was no strike.
The force is more nearly normal
today" he said, than it has been for
the last three weeks. There is only
one absentee from the force, and We
know positively he Is absent because
of illness. Men who were absent for
one reason or another managed TO
show up to work today just to snow
their loyalty to the western Union
and to indicate they are opposed 70
the so-called tsleEraphers' union.
I'VE are taking care OF our bust
ness in the regular, norway way. One
hundred per cent Of our force is
working and will continue working
while this agitation is going on
One explanation for the better
showing made by the Postal in sup
port Of the strike was that the Pos
tai Is equipped entirely with Morse
machines which can be operated only
by expert telegraphers. These, II Is
argued, are hard to replace, and as
a result the Postal business is al
most completely tied up.
The Western UnIUA equipment, on
the other hand, is almost nifty per
cent multIpIex machines. which can
be operated by anyone after only 4
day or two OF practice. 1t was said,
though, that fully nifty percent Of
the muItiplex machine operators had
left their work and that = similar
oeFeentaRe Of the Morse men quit
their keys this morning.
Crowds OF striking operators gath
cred in front OF the Postal and the
western Union buildings, but special
traffic policemen kept them moving.
There was no demonstration or dis
turbance Of any kind.
The striking operators will hold
meeting at Perpetual Hall at .
o'clock this afternoon.