Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-26

Boston, July 25.-The balloting Of
the various telephone operators union
locals in Boston and through New Eng
land was completed tonight. The re-
suit of the voting on whether or not
to call off the telephone strike will be
announced tomorrow morning at
strikers meeting in fremont Temple.
Miss Julia S. O'Connor, leader Of the
strike for higher wages and seven
hour day. said after a meeting of the
wage conference committee of the
strikers.
Whether or not acceptance was voted
OF the New England Telephone G. Tele-
graph COS. proposal to take back the
striking operators individually, where
places can be found for them, with the
loss of their seniority and the sus-
pension of company benefit privileges
for one years time, Miss O'Connor re-
fused to divulge.
"Why should our members read of
the result in the newspapers before we
tel lit to thom?" was her counter to
questions put to her on the matter.
Nevertheless. it was learned, tcle-
graphic notification of the vote result
was sent to every affiliated union soon
after the close of tonight's meeting.
Miss OConnor read to the wage con-
ference committee the letter from the
state board of conciliation and arbitra-
ton urging the calling off of the strike
and promising to intcrcede with COM
pany officials in any difficulty that
might arise thereafter. 1t was voted
to acknowledge the communication
and place it on file.
There were indications that the To-
Gals were not unanimous on the issue
involved in the voting. The presidents
of unions which favor continuing the
strike, 1t was learned, will bend every
effort to changing the attitude of their
members to one that accords with the
majority of their comrades
Vote Not Unanimous for Return
1t became known today as the re-
suit of a secret referendum being TAX
en- throughout the affected territory.
Local 65-A of Providence, which in
cludes in its membership all of the
striking operators of Rhode Island.
except Newport. was the first to re-
port its vote, which President May II.
Brady said was overwhelmingly
against returning.
The regional council has been
called into conference in Boston to-
night to canvass the returns of the
poll. Miss Brady announced. Fol-
lowing the conference between Cen
eral Manager G. II. Dresser of the
New England Telephone &c Tele-
graph Company and Mayor j. NJ
Curley, at which, it was stated, Mr..
Dresser re-afiirmed the company's
Cffpys tn fal-n ;,l
Viduals only, the meeting of the re-
Sional council was called. The
council after a protracted session
voted to submit its recommendation
to end the strike, once before reject
ed. to the strikers again.
The strike. which has been in pro-
gress a month, was called when de-
mands for seven hour day and pay
increases were refused by the COM
pany. The division of the strikers
into two unions in the affected ter
ritory and the refusal of a portion of
the striking union, headed by Miss
Annie L. Malloy in Boston, prevent
cd the Gripping of service. Only
$500 out of a total of approximately
1900 operators left their switch
boards.
In many cases their places have
been filled by recruits but week
ago the company offered to take back
as many strikers as it could find
places for. They would forfeit
seniority rights, but, after a years
probationary period. would share as
before in the company's benefit. The
regional council recommended aC-
ccptance of the offer but the oper-
ators voted against it.
After a conference today with
Miss Julia O'Connor, leader Of the
strikers, and other union officials,
the state board of Cancellation and
arbitration sent a letter to the
strikers urging them to call off the
strike, and promising its best eff
forts with telephone company Off
Gals to have as many employees as
possible restored to work without
discrimination. This letter was TAX
en- to indicate an early ending of the
strike. Miss O'Connor is said to have
read the letter before it was sent
out.