Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1907 — SPREAD OF STRIKE. [ARTICLE]

SPREAD OF STRIKE.

ORDER FOR GENERAL WALK-OUT PROMULGATED. Cull to “Quit’’ Includes All Commercial Telegrapher, fn United State, and Canada Order, However, Add* Few Hecruit. to Striker.. The general strike order to all commercial telegraphers not working under union agreements, which was issued by Sylvester J. Small of the Commercial Telegraphers’ Union of America at 1:30 o’clock Friday morning, had produced almost no change in the situation Saturday afternoon, twen-ty-four hours after it had been promulgated. In fact the general order, heralded in advance as the crowning feature of the strike, hardly created a ripple in Chicago, according to a correspondent. The force of the Chicago and Milwaukee Telegraph Company, which operates for public business between’ the Chicago Board of Trade and the Milwaukee grain exchange, six men all told, went out and five men employed on leased wires by-Hulburd, Warren & Chandler, a brokerage house, also left their keys. The situation in the stockyards and along the LaSallestreet district otherwise was undisturbed, and there were no new developments In the strife between the union and the two big companies, the Western Union and the Postal. < All the reports which came in to Chicago over the wires of the Associated Press and through other sources outside of the union were to the effect that there had been no change in the situation. Nevertheless union members were unanimous in declaring that the country would feel the effect of Small’s order. • Advices from New York and Boston said the order for a general strike had met with no response from the men at work in either the Western Union or the Postal offices or those in the Associated Press. The officials of the two big companies said they had failed to discover that the strike order had had any effect on-the situation. The extension of communication to the more remote and smaller towns was proceeding rapidly and business was being moved expeditiously. It is estimated that nearly 15,0041 men are on strike. The strike, it is said, will ibe confined strictly to the commercial telegraphers. The railroad operators will lend their moral aud financial support. There will be no sympathetic strike of railroad teleg■JVQhers, vyho are working under contract aficT will live up to tlietr' agreements. Cauae of the Big Strike. Higher wages, an eight-hour day, more comfortable working conditions and the free use of typewriters—-these “are the essential demands of the striking telegraphers. Ever since the union was formed, March 15, 1903, these have been its principal aims, and in both the matter of wages and working conditions substantial progress has been made. Much remains to be accomplished, however, in the way of securing further concessions from both the Western Union and Postal companies, the strikers declare, before they will be satisfied. In a letter addressed to . President Clnwr*. of the jypstern Ilnion company last May, President S. J. Small of the unioii demanded for the operators: That the standard of wages be fixed and - that the increase of 10 per cent granted to some of the operators last March be given to all. That clerks and other employes be remunerated more liberally. That eight hours constitute a dgvtlme "trick.” That seven hours constitute a split day and night “trick.” Thar given hTillfs constitute a day for extra work. That no “trick” shall be divided Into more than two parts. That no telegrapher be compelled to work more than four and one-half hours without beipg allowed thirty minutes for lunch. That a reasonable time for extra reliefs be allowed. That the companies furnish typewriting machines to telegraphers In the operating departments. That all sliding scales, so-called, be abolished. While the strike in Chicago was directly due to the refusal of the union operators there to work wires with nonunion telegraphers employed by the Western Union company in Los Angeles, the basic and chief contributing element was the unrest caused by the above grievances. With the strike in full force the telegraphers are now clamoring for an additional increase of 15 per Cent in pay. Data furnished by International Secretary Wesley Russell of the union shows the following conditions among commercial telegraphers throughout the country : Number of operators 27,000 Number of local unions 135 Numerical strength 20,000 Average pay SSO a month Maximum pay SBB a month Minimum pay $25 a month Day "trick 1 ’ In main offices. ;... Nine hours Workday in branch offices.. Nine to 12 hours Split ‘•tricks”.... Seven and one-half hours Night "tricks’*... .Seven and one-half hours Workday for extra men Eight hours Day for overtime work. Seven hours Conditions obtaining in 'the Postal company’s offices are. to a large extent, similar to those in the Western Union offices.