Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1919 — RAIL WIRE MEN TO AID STRIKE [ARTICLE]

RAIL WIRE MEN TO AID STRIKE

80,000 Will Stop Handling Commercial Messages for Telegraph Companies. WILL TIE UP WALL STREET Operators in Brokerage Offices to Voto on Joining Walkout—lß,ooo Men Now Out —Complete Tieup Promised Next Week. Chicago, June 18.—S. J. Konenkamp. director of the nation-wide strike of the commercial telegraphers, received word at union headquarters that 80,000 railroad operators had been instructed to discontinue the handling of business of the Western Lnlon and Postal Telegraph companies. This persistent rumor had run through union circles during the morning, and was later verified by a telegram from E. J. Manlon, president of the Railroad Telegraphers at St. Louis. This order will become effective after 0 a. m. Saturday. Members of the order were directed to remain at their posts and perform their railroad duties as usual. Lies With Brokerage Men. The success of the strike was said to lie In the decision of the brokerage telegraphers of the Western division. There are 1,400 of these brokerage offices and the tying up of these will tie up Wall street business, the strikers say. F. A. Davis, president of the Western brokerage division of Commercial Telegraphers, said: “Every brokerage office in th# > United States will probably be closed by next Monday. Our union wlji hold-a meeting Friday night, at which a referendum vote will be taken from the 350 members to decide whether or not we will go out on strike with the commercial telegraphers. “Within 24 hours the eastern branch of our union will meet in New York city to pass their referendum vote. Claim 18,000 Already Are Out. From the camp of the union men also came the announcement that 000 men were out in Chicago and 18,000 throughout the nation. It was asserted that this number would increase day by day, and would reach 60,000 by Monday. The telegraphers will at this time be Joined by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which includes the bulk of union operators throughout the country. Federation Gives Support. At a convention in Atlaintlc City the American Federation of Labor voted moral support to ]the strike of the electrical workers, and also agreed to appoint a committee to co-operate with a committee of the strikers, both to go to Washington and try to obtain a settlement of the trouble with Postmaster General Burleson before the walkout becomes a reality.

Mr. Konenkamp made a bitter attack upon Postmaster General Burleson and said "that the latter was responsible for the strike, that “he hadn’t played fair with anybody,” and had “double-crossed the national war labor body.” “Can Mr. Burleson settle the strike?” he was asked. “Yes, by agreeing that the workers have a right to organize and that he will rigidly enforce his orders not to discriminate against workers, and also to put into effect an adequate wage scale and protect workers.” The Postal service reported that only 40 out of 250 were missing, and that the restriction “subject to delay” had been lifted from its telegraphic service. The Western Union, against which company the strike was originally directed, said that there was a full complement of telegraphers on hand, and that the strike, which had been an “Incident,” was forgotten today.