Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-06
Chamber Of Commerce Ap.
peals To Company Officials
For Relief-Claim Progress
Against Strikers In Rhode
Island - Normal Conditions
Hold In Other Sections Of
New England

Boston, July 5.-Telephone service
In Lawrence continues to be severe
ly crippled by the strike of operators
employed by the New England Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company, it
was indicated tonight when the texts
of kilograms exchanged between the
Lawrence chamber Of commerce
and the telephone company were
made public. The strike, now be-
Ting carried on in five New England
states, was called in an effort to en-
force demands for higher wages and
a seven-hour day.
In Rhode Island, where the effects
of the strike were felt most severely
last week, the company claimed
progress in making additions to
working forces while conditions in
Greater Boston, Worcester, Spring
field, Brockton, Lynn and other
Massachusetts centers, were report
ed as almost normal.
The seriousness of the Lawrence
situation was indicated by the Law
renee chamber of commerce in a
telegram to the telephone company
here requesting restoration of serv-
ice on behalf of the subscribers of
the city. In reply, President Matt
3. Jones of the company dispatched
the following telegram:
Certain conditions obtaining in
Lawrence, and differing materially
from conditions in other cities, have
prevented us from making the same
progress in restoring service that we
have made elsewhere. If your board
of directors would like to discuss
these conditions and our plans for
restoring service in Lawrence,
shall be very glad to arrange for an
official of the company to meet you
at any time you may Designate"
Conflicting statements were made
by officials of the telephone opera
tors department, international
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,
who are conducting the strike, and
the telephone company, regarding
the service in various centers. Strike
leaders asserted that their ranks
were increasing, while company Off
Gals maintained that the places OF
the strikers were being gradually
filled. To the public it appeared
that the strike had settled down to
n test of endurance with the service
being maintained in most centers at
almost normal. Prospects that har-
mony between the warning factions
in the ranks of the telephone OPP
orators in Great Boston would be
restored, which were revived when
Edward +. McGrady. legislative
agent of the American Federation
of Labor. was assigned to Boston
faded late today. At the headquar-
tiers of the non-striking union, To-
cal la. a union formally affiliated
with the American Federation OF
Labor, but whose charter was re-
voked. the following statement was
issued:
"Mr. McGrady called up Miss Mol
10y. president of Local Ia. today
and wanted to arrange a meeting to
consider our differences but he was
told that according to instructions
from our organization we could
have no meetings with anyone I'M
less Julia O'Connor. president OF
the Telephone Operators Depart
ment, first came to our office person
ally. and admitted her mistake in
calling the strike"
1t was stated that this decision OF
the union could not be changed al
least until the next meeting on the
nigh of July 13.