The San Francisco call. [volume], August 12, 1907, Page 4, Image 4

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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4
United States Threatened With Strike of All
Weftern Union and Postal Wire Operators
Continued from Pace 1, Colnma 5
will result in bringing the demands of
the operators before President Roose
velt, President Gompers. Labor Com
missioner Neill. President dowry of
the Western Union company and Presi
dent Mackay of the Postal corporation.
Th<* gravity of the situation induced
Commissioner Neill and President
Gompers to hasten to Chicago, where
they -will confer with President Small.
The government's Interest is keen in
the matter, for with the closing of all
of the telegraph and cable offices
there would be no communication be
tween Washington and Manila. If the
strike is made general the cable oper
ators 3000 miles away on Midway
island, between Hawaii and Guam,
would be called out and_ there would be
no cables working from the Pacific
coast to the Orient.
CHIEFS TO MEET IN CHICAGO
Ralph A. Ensley, chairman of the Na
tional .Civic federation, also will be in
Chicago to meet President Small. Presi
dent Gompers and Commissioner Nelll.
The decision of Neill to go to Chicago
was reached by him after he had at
first virtually declined to interest him
pelf In what he termed an illegal strike.
He was then informed Immediately by I
Small in a long message of the repudl- I
ation by the local telegraph offlcials I
of the agreement which had terminated
the . first strike here, and upon the
showing made by Small the. labor com
missioner agreed to go to Chicago for
a conference.
The causes of the strike are of such
a nature as to almost preclude the pos
sibility of an amicable settlement with
out a decisive, hard fought battle. The
operators declare that the Western
Union company has violated grossly
and wantonly every clause in the
agreement signed by Commissioner
Neill, Storror, Miller and Small at the
?nd of the strike here last month. The
company officials reply to this charge j
by saying that there was no exact
agreement entered Into and that the
men have no grievance.
"It Is strike lust." said Superinten
dent Storror of the Postal telegraph
company yesterdaj-. "Our men are sat
isfied and do not want to go out, but
it is likely that they will be compelled
to quit work by the vote of the ma
jority." \u25a0• . \u0084'
STRIKE NOT DECISIVE
Neither side was satisned with the
tentative agreement which patched up j
the last trouble. While the men as- I
serted openly that they had been hand
ed a "gold brick," the company offi
cials regarded themselves as the vic
tors In the struggle, and as such could
see no reason why any concessions
should be "granted. There was no
handshaking between the belligerents,
but rather lowerisi,? looks and' ill
suppressed animosity. The fight had
not been decisive
Following the settlement of the San
Francisco and Oakland strike com
plaints over alleged grievances were
unheeded by the offlcials of the com
pany, the men claim, and they say
further that every effort was made to
keep union members from employ
ment. The union operators declare
that many of the members who wer.t.
on strike were not taken back into
the employ of the oomparles. while
others, they claim, «r«»re re-employed
at reduced salaries; the, women mem
bers .«f the union were subjected to
conditions of hours and service tnat
were wellnigh Intolerable; in short,
the members of local felt th«?y were
being punished for striking. This feel
ing- culminated in th^ meeting h«ld
yesterday. •
'enthusiasm at meeting
The resolutions adopted breathes
. nopes of ultimate victory, enthusiasm
for the fight, and an indomitable spirit.
The session was mark;d by outbursts
of union loyalty, and it was with diffi
culty that the mem'.>era were re
strained by the cooler beads from go
ing on strike Immediately. Every
member of the local who '.s employed
by either company agreed to leave the
employ of the Western Union or *he
Postal at the call of President Small
It was unfair, they declared, to re
main at work while the members of
other locals throughout the country
were striking because of the trouble
In this city and Los Ansre'es.
President Small, after outlining the
situation as it appeared to him, de
clared that the officers of the two
companies were entirely ignorant of
the resources of the telegraphers, every
one of whom, he said, could engage in
some other employment should neces
sity demand. He said that it was his
intention to go at once to Chicago to
take personal direction of the sit
uation in the east, and then named A.
W. Copps, the secretary treasurer of
local No. 34, to act as deputy grand
president during his absence.
STOBROR TALKS OF STRIKE
General Superintendent Storror said
last night that he had no information
of the Impending general strike other
than that which had been made public
through the press. He did not think it
possible, he said, that the men. even If
they Ftruck. could get his company
into difficulty with the government
through any existing agreement on the
part of the Postal to transmit govern
ment messages or lose its franchise.
"We cannot be made to perform the
Impossible." said Storror. "If our
operators strike and the strike is gen
eral we will have to meet such an un
usual condition as best we can. .The
government hardly would exact mira
cles of us in getting messages to and
from Washington and Manila. Our men
do not want to strike, I am sure, but
they will be made to, probably."
Storror said that be was unable . to
Bee bow the strike was to be financed
by the telegraphers. "A million dollars
would be inadequate to carry them
through," he eaid. "Occasionally there
seems to be a necessity for a strike.
Each generation has one. We had one
in 1869; the men lost. We had one. In
the eighties; again the men lost. Now
we are about to have another." t can
not see how they can win. and* I think
the agitation is hasty, ill advised and
damaging alike to unionism and to tha
public The lowest paid operator in
this office gets $71 a month. It Is
pretty good wages for a woman. The
average wage in the office, counting
men and women operators, is' $110 and
over There are few clerical Jobs that
pay bo well. The men have no griev
ances against the Postal company."
STATEMENT BY SMALL .
President Small m«Cde an official
statement yesterday after the meeting
of the union members in Oakland. He
"The foundation for the present trou
ble lies in the fact that the Western
Union officials in San Francisco made
no effort whatever to live up to the
provisions in the Neill-Small-Miller-
Ptorror agreement. Nor have the high
er officials in New. York administered
affairs honestly under the Clowry-
Neill agreement
"In San" Francisco and Oakland, since
the late strike was declared off, not
withstanding that Assistant General
FuT>erintendent Miller agreed with roe,
through a third party, that every ef
fort would be made to have the strik
ers return to work . under as pleasant
circumstances as possible, his subordi
nates have from the' first discriminated
against virtually, every telegrapher
•who returned to work... Further tnan
that they have not reinstated 'strikers,
as ncr agreement. In no single cas«
have charges . been made, against a
striker, yet at least a dozen or more
have been told that their services
would not be neeSed again.
"Both manager O'Brien and Chief
Operator Jeffs have been particularly
severe on the women operators." con
tinued President Small. "In a number
of cases since the strike was ended op
erators have been discharged atMistant
points at the request of Jeffs. This
started the trouble in Los Angeles. A 1
Mrs. Nichols has been the cause of the j
discharge of four or five operators in J
Los Angeles. She works the Los An
geles wire out of the West Oakland
Western Union office. Any operator
at Los Angel<?3 who happens to meet
with the disfavor of the woman is
reported by her to Jeffs,, and. he
through Superintendent May calls upon
the Los Angeles officials to either dis
charge or remove the person' from the
wire. - " -.
"I will leave for Chicago tomorrow.
If by the time I reach there an adjust
ment^has not been reached the several
strikes will be legalized and all other
commercial telegraphers throughout
the country will be called out."
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
Folowlng are the resolutions adopted
unanimously yesterday by local 34.
There was not a dlssentlg vote or
voice, and the voting was accompanied
by loud cheering:
Wbereas. by the action of the Western Union
telegraph company In violating both the letter
and the spirit of the agreement entered Into
between that company, the department of com
merce and labor, and our national president, S.
J. Small; and
Whereas, we have In our popsossion orer 20
specific Instances of Illegal intimidation and
cruel and unjust discrimination practiced against
members of the commercial telegraphers' union
of America, -e specially against Its women mem
bers, by the Western Union telegraph company;
and .
Wherees. the local officials of the Western
Tnlon telegraph company, both grand and petty.
Lave, by their actions — tfcti us lndioiitiv-' of
obdurate malignity and gross Inhumanity — vio
lated time and again the aforesaid agreement;
I and
Whereas, our fraternal sisters and brothers
In SO cities of the country, and employed by
both companies, liavlng arlgpn as a unit and
thrown off the shackles that have for a quarter
of a century bound them, and stand as one re
deemed, regenerated end disenthralled, and are
now engaged In a glorious struggle to win for
our <*raft a place In keeping with an advancing
civilization; therefore, he It
fiesolred. that the local executive board of
locs. 1 34 believes, that Its members, any member
of this union, any friend of union labor, or any
self respecting "telegrapher,- should not wort In
an office where men are on strike; n r m be It
i further
; Resolved, that .this local recommends that our
| national' president or his deputized representa
tive, call on every member of our organiza
tion employed by the Western Union telegraph
company and the Postal tol<?gr;ipn company In
the counties of San Francisco and Alameda. to
leave his or her key at any moment such call Is
given. •
* The members at the meeting yester
day listened to the telegraphic ex
changes between their president In this
city and United States Labor Commis
sioner N'eill in Washington. The first
message read was one sent by Small
telling the commissioner that the teleg
raphers' strikes in other sections of
the country were assuming serious
proportions and were spreading rapid
ly. Small asked the commissioner to
give the matter his attention.
JVEIL.L WILLING TO ACT
The following reply from Xelll was
read:
Washington, D. C. Aug. 10. 1907.
S. J. Small. Oakland. Cal.: Tele CT am re
ceived; also telegram from Stewart. It Is use
less for me to attempt to do anything at this
time; as I do not understand precisely the Issues
or toe exact cause of the strike. I assume th?
varloua. strikes have been without your authority
and are therefore Illegal. If locals have no
respect for constitution of organization, and tin?
national officers caanot control them, what
guarantee can . you give me that any adjust
ment satisfactory to you will be accepted by
cien on ftrlke? * *
I »in entirely at your iservlce and willing to
do all In my power to assist you In bringing
about a fair settlement of this controversy.
vUU you advise me definitely precisely what Is
the demand for which the strike has occurred,
and cpon what terms you would take the re
sponslbllllty of ordering locals back?
CHARLES P. NEILL.
President Small's reply explained
what he had presumed was already well
known to the commissioner, the causo
of the present dissatisfaction among
the operators.
SMALL REPLIES TO NEILL
This was Small's reply in full:
_ . v . Oakland. August 10, 190".
Charles P. Nlell. commissioner of labor,
Washington, D. C.
Cauae of present disturbance Is repudiation
of San Francisco agreement which settled
strike. Local Manager O'Brien, Chief Operator
Jeffs, Superintendent May repeatedly discrimi
nated against strikers. Women telegraphers
after returning to work humiliated such extent
resigned. Western Union reinstated less than
]00 strikers, many still out employment. In
cluding married men. Notwithstanding agree
ment provides reinstatement strikers without
prejudice, outsiders given preference and em
ployed. Present strikes illegal but provocation
great and rese utment against Western Union
officials because of bad faith so universal that
general strike be authorized Tuesday unless we
can find way to bring about conciliation. An
swering your last question: Can guarantee im
mediate resumption of work If government will
Insist upon Investigation or arbitration of propo
sitions embodied In memoral addressed to board
of directors of Western Union last June. Local
management's petty . discrimination and favorit
ism toward woman Nichols on Los Angeles cir
cuit caused transfers and dismissals of men
lone In company's service and finally strike.
. 'S. J. SMALL.
The following message from Small
to Wesley Russell, general secretary
of ' the commercial telegraphers, was
one of Small's efforts to get quick
action from those In authority, to pre
vent the struggle that appears Immi
nent: • ;
II Oakland. Aug. 10. 1907.
Wesley Bussell, 030 Monroe Building, Chi
cago, 111.: Answering message from Neill, wired
him that I could guarantee Immediate . resump
tion of work if government will Insist upon
Investigation or arbitration of proposition em
bodied In memorial addressed to board of direc
tors Western Union company last June. Get
Gompers by long distance, and wire him to tee
Roosevelt. Inform him that the dowry and
San Francisco agreement bas not been lived up
to by the Western Union. Will be with you In
• few day». g. j. SMALL. .
With the realization that strife Is
unavoidable, the union members count
victory as theirs largely on their confi
dence that the United States govern
ment, through its specialized agents,
will recognize the Justice of their
claims and force the companies to ac
cede to them or forfeit their fran
chises.
CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
The utter Inability of taking care of
even the merest fraction of the work
by nonunion operators was discussed
by President Small, who said: <
"Not more than 2 per cent of- the
commercial telegraphers In the United
States would be available for service
in case a general strike of Western
Union and Postal operators were called.
This includes all towns where there
are three or more operators employed.
COPPS ADDRESSES MEMBERS
A. W. Copps, the secretary, treasurer
of local No. 34 of the telegraphers'
union, who was appointed 'deputy
national president, to handle the strike
situation after the departure of Na
tional President Small for Chicago-to
morrow. In an address to the members
of the local union at the : meeting to
day said:
The members of this local must remember. If
they are again called out, . that •we are ' sot
striking against the Western Union telegraph
company, for the mere name signifies nothing.
We are striking against the capitalists and
the Wall street broker* who form the corpora
tion and who are striving with President dowry
to compel as to work at any terms that they
may- dictate, that their profits may not be
lessened. Just remember If you are \u25a0. again
called out that we mo»t win. ;We will
not go back.* now that . the - company \u25a0• ha*
compelled us to : fight for our rights by refusing '
to live up to the terms of. the agreement made
with the department of commerce and '< labor
until we are assured that Intimidation and dis
crimination will cease. - The entire - situation ! is
sow la tb* haada of our national president and
THE SAISr-FRAlk^
whrn be Issues the call to the members of this
local let us remember that xve are engaged in
a flght to a Culeh and go In and -."ln. -
McCANDLISH SPEAKS
President W. v W. McCandllsh of/ the
local union, echoed the sentiments ex
pressed by the deputy grand president,
and in conclusion added:
The West*rn~Union and Postal telegraph com
panies are alone responsible for the - present
I trouble, and this beinn true. It would seem that
rre hare nothing to fear as to the outcome of
the strusKle. \Tn« members of this . local, after
the settlement of the first strike, which was
: reached on July 19. went back to work prepared
' to abide by the terms of the agreement, but
this the officials of the company refused to do.
and the result Is that we hare been drlren. by
continuous discrimination against our members.
I to again engagfe ,ln a battle , for the right to
work at ltTinjr wages. All I baye to say to the
members of this local is, when you go out again
be prepared, to remain out until ' the company
glres us the terms we want. '\u25a0
Thomas F. Hanley, one of the mem
bers of . the executive board of the
local -union, said: - ;
» The officials of th« Western Cnton and Postal
comparies, when we ended the first strike on
July 19, assumed that we were beaten Into sub
mission and they straightway • Tiblated both the
letter and the spirit of their agreement with
ns. They hare brought this trouble about ; by
their own action, and all that is left for us to
do now Is to fight and win. _ ; ..\u25a0 .' , ." F;; :
WHY THE MEN ARE OUT
Telegraphers' Chief Says Companies
Have Broken Agreement
By S. J." Small, !
National president of the commercial • teleg-
raphers' union.
The foundation of this strike lies
in the fact that the telegraph com
panies, especially the Western Union,
have been grossly untrue to their
agreement; their subordinate, officials
insufferable In their treatment of tha
union operators, men and women. The
latter have been oppressed wantonly
with impossible conditions of service.
The men have been refused employ
ment, in many instances, and no oppor
tunity has escaped the vigilant petty
officers, particularly of the Western
Union, to make the-Jot of , the union
men unbearable and humiliating. | We
are being punished for having struck,
and the Western Union makes no pre
tense at honesty or fairness.
I go to Chicago and' hop^ the situa
tion will be altered for the better when
I reach there; otherwise I shall call a
general, strike. There is nothing* else
to do. The fight will have been forced
on us.
SAYS THE MEN MUST LOSE
General Superintendent Storror As-
serts That Hotheads Rule Union
By L,. "W. Storror,
Central superintendent of the Postal tcle~
graph company.
Every generation of telegraph oper
ators develops a strike. There was
one in 1869; the men lost. There was
another in the early eighties; the men
lost. Now another is Imminent. I
cannot see how .it can be won. Our
men have no grievance against my
company, and I cannot "believe they
want, to quit their keys; but a strike
wave is sweeping over the country,
and the operators are filled with strike
lust. They are determined, apparently,
to test their strength against the com
panies*.
J, cannot see- how -they can win. It
would take 'millions: to carry 'them
through to a victory for the union— lt
would take many millions. They.can
not finance their fight, which initially
is. unjugt and will not; earn the sup
port of organized labor, for the strikes
called have been grossly illegal, ' and
the expressions purely those of hot
headed members Itching for a fight.
NEW YORK STRIKE DELAYED
After Stormy Session Operators Re-
solve to Await Conference Result
NEW YORK, Aug. ?11.— Action cre
ating a strike of the 3,000 telegraph
operators in this city has been deferred
until Friday, pending an important con
ference in Chicago early this week at
which Charles P. Nelll, United States
labor commissioner; Samuel J. Small,
president of the American federation
of labor, and Ralph M. Easley, chair
man of the executive council of the
National "Civic federation, will en-:
deavor to adjust the difficulties between
the telegraph companies and their em
ployes throughout the country.
The decision' was reached at a meet
ing of the local telegraphers' union to
day. News that Commissioner Nelll
was on the way to Chicago to try to
bring about a settlement was an
nounced at the meeting by James P."
Archbold, secretary of the National
Civic federation, who said that the
commissioner-was acting at the request
of President Roosevelt- Secretary Loeb
said tonight that the president had not
ordered the labor commissioner to in
terfere in the strike and that the labor
commissioner, had not informed the
president of his action. Secretary Loeb
added, however, that the commissioner
had full power to act without execu
tive directions. .
Percy Thomas, deputy president of
the telegraphers' union, announced
after the meeting here today that Small
and members of the national executive
committee will meet in Chicago Thurs
day to discuss the advisability of call
ing a general strike. Thomas said he
made arrangements for a general strike
in all cities and towns east of Pitts
burg and that the walkout depended on
the report of the Chicago conference.
The meeting of the local' telegra
phers' union was divided in an acrimo
nious discussion of the question of de
ferring action on a strike, and it was
only after a three hour argument, In
which the local union j officers used all
their efforts for delay, that , the de
cision finally was arrived at giving the
local executive committee power, to
call a strike if the Chicago conference
failed to result in material concession
to the employes of the Western Union
and Postal companies 'here. '
Several hundred' telegraphers were
present when Joseph Ahearn, president
of local No. 16, convened the meeting
at the Manhattan lyceum this afternoon.
There had been much strike: talk dur
ing the day and the operators were of
the opinion that a strike would be
called. Deputy President Thomas, who
was delegated yesterday, by, President
Small to direct the situation in , the
east, made a short speech, in which
ho said that he was* willing to abide
by any decision of the meeting. Several
warm speeches declaring for a strike
were made by members and a motion
to call a strike was about , to be made,
when Chairman 'Ahearn announced .that
James P. Archbold," secretary "of the Na
tional Civic j federation, and a member
of the brotherhood of painters, ' had an
important statement" to; make. .V-
Archbold said he had received a tele
gram from Commissioner Nelll, saying
that he was proceeding to Chicago im
mediately; at ; the request! of -President
Roosevelt to "confer with- Small,' Gom
pers and Easley, 1 and try to effect a set
tlement of the; difficulties.' :> Archbold
told themeeting that Nelll' desired that
the New York operators make no strike
declarations yet. .• % ?- : : ; '' '
Several men were.on. on \. their 'feet in
an- instant' and a ; strong ? effort ,was
made ' to bring .theS meeting • to ? a : vote
declaring^that • the time ] had passed-, for
parley." and : that I nothings could a come
from "the Chicago .conference/. Several
of the older; men' counseled delay and
in the; heated argument that followed
Chairman Ahearn had to rap repeatedly
for order.
An j amended resolution finally was
adopted. H :\u25a0'\u25a0-'. ':\u25a0\u25a0 , ':'
"In view of the statement of Mr.
Archbold. .'immediate action on the
question' of calling a strike be deferred
and that the local union notify both
telegraph- companies that If they con
tinue, trying to recruit j strike breakers
in New York summary action will be
taken, and further that the mediators
now on. their way to Chicago be given
till Friday noon to conduct negotia
tions, if by that time they have; failed
to» secure material and 'favorable- cohr
'cession?, the New York local president
is empowered to call a strike imme
diately.'* .., . ; ; \u25a0\u25a0; v \
After the meeting president Ahearn
of, the local union said:
The , officers of the local approve the . action
taken today by the meeting. It" will show that
we ar»» honest in this fight and we are putting
It up io the companies direct now. It's the
last chance that the companies have to avoid a
strike. " •
E. J.: Nally, vice: president and gen
eral, manager of the Postal company,
sent out to all Postal offices the follow
ing statement:
We shall take a linn stand In dealing with
the - situation. ' You are authorized to advise
managers- at the points where strike condition*
prevail to gay to our loj-al men who stand by
us In our difficulties that all operators will be
paid their regular salaries as a bonus and
their services at . the keys will be computed as
extra on a basis of seven hours a day or
night, and where you deem it wise to do so
you may also furnish free menls and lodgings
until ' we return to normal conditions, when the
regular old tyrrany rates will prevail.
SEEK 5 CONCILIATION
Labor Commissioner Neill and Others
Offer Services to Belligerents
CHICAGO. Aug. 11.— With further
spread of the telegraphers' strike In
Chicago checked for at least ' 24 hours
and a walkout in New York postponed
until Friday, efforts at conciliation are
to be made by Labor Commissioner
Neill, Secretary Ralph L. Easley. of
the Natianal civic federation, and Pres
ident Samuel Gonjpers of the American'
federation of labor. They expect to
meet President Small of the telegra
phers here on Thursday.
Small is hurrying to, the city from
San Francisco to take charge of the
strike and will reach here Wednesday.
An effort will, be made Thursday to
bring about a meeting between the
offlcials of the Western Union and Pos
tal companies and President Small.
The . ; National: i civic federation,
through -.Secretary Easley.^ will offer
its good in an effort«to .bring
about a settlement, and Labor Com
missioner Neill, as- a representative of
President Roosevelt, will urge upon
the warring parties the necessity of not
prolonging a struggle which is demor
alizing the. business of the country.
Western Union officials say they will
have nothing ' to . do . with/ Commif|3ioner
Nelll or. any^other party/ " They say
there la "no reason why- they should
confer with" any orie~as to'',' the conduct
of their business. Members of the
local union, who called' the strike with
out waiting for.; the sanction of their
leaders, say they will refuse arbitra
tion. They see no use in asking for
arbitration when they have the other
fellow whipped, they declare. The re
quest of the National civic federation
had the effect; of Stopping the 3,000
New York telegraphers from walking
out of their offices tonight*: They were
taking. a strike vote. when the. request
came for a postponement^ until Friday,,
when Commissioner Neill could confer
with President Small in Chicago. It
required three hours of persuasion
from the leaders before the men would
consent to the delay..; -
It was reported tonight that Secre-*
tary Russell of the telegraphers' union
at Chicago .had held secret long dis
tance \u25a0 conferences i'wlth" Commissioner
Nellh at* Washington. The: details :of
these conferences, however, .were carer
fully kept from the public. . In Chicago
the spread of the strike- was stopped
temporarily by the decision of the
operators of the Associated Press and
other leased wire service to delay the
execution of their strike • order until
tomorrow morning. -; • : <f v : '
The 'strike. of the commercial .tele
graph - - operators , will ; ,be ,: general
throughout > the United! .r States > and
Canada within 24 hours, -according to
National Secretary Russell of the teleg
raphers' organization. -.This statement
was made by Russell after he had been
Informed of the action? taken by the
men in New York. •
"This strike movement," said Rus
sell, "has come to - the point where
there cah.be no \u25a0 backing down. The*
telegraphers have been trodden on long
•enough. by the companies and'now that
we have the opportunity, we 'are going
to use all "our strength l to enforce our
demands. For several weeks President
Small and myself have been holding the
telegraphers back and have been ad
vising conciliation, but they have taken
matters into their own hands and we
are going to stand by them. ; No union
man will be allowed to work with any
one , not ' belonging to our organization,
arid this means that morn
ing, when the business;of the; week be-f
gins, the strike will become universal.
We cannot go half way in this matter
now. The strike has been precipitated
by the men themselves without the
sanction of the national officers, but we
are now all working in unison and any
thing that the offlcials of the various
unions throughout the country v have
done in calling strikes meets with our
hearty, co-operation."
. The order of railway telegraphers
was represented at the. big mass meet
ing " today National Secretary
Quick, who informed the ' strikers that
his organization was at their disposal
both morally and financially. "We have
$1,000,000 in our treasury^' he said,
"and It is at your disposal., Your fight
is ours, and we will stand .with you
until the end." ..
The men employed by the press asso
ciations presented their request at 7:30
o'clock tonight and the employers wil 1
be given -24 hours to comply with It.
The schedule presented calls for $35 a
week for sbc : nights^a week and 70
cents an hour overtime, eight hours to
constitute . a • day's work, with half an
hour for; lunch. The operators em
ployed by the news companies I and
newspapers in the daytime will ask for
$30 a week and $0 cents an hour over-,
time, eight hours to constitute a S day's
work and the regular lunch time. These
requests were presented to every news
gathering organisation -in the .United
States and Canada tonight and 24 hours
will be allowed I for an answer." If at
the end of the time, the demands have
not met with a favorable response the
men will report to the union omclals
and they Bay a strike will be ordered.
• In Chicago today the officials of both
companies declared that they had more
men working than \u25a0 they ; needed. "Sun
day is quiet in the tele graplt business."
said one. of these officials, "but we
could have handled twice as much busi
ness as we did. fact we sentsev
eral operators hom<* as we did not need
them." \u25a0 ' --v.-::-' V.: - '\u25a0\u25a0{:\u25a0 '- '/\u25a0\u25a0. \u25a0\u25a0''\u25a0'-'\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0I
ROOSEVELT IS WATCHING
Nation's Chief Executive Giving Close
Attention to the Strike
i .; WASHINGTON, 'Aug. Jlrr According
to • Information received . here President
Roosevelt Is watching with the closest
Continued , on Page 10, Column 4
Paso ' Iloblea ' Hot s Springs
J On Southern -Pacific coast line, ; few
hours'? ride from: San * Francisco 'or Los
Angeles; all latest appliances for:reme
dlal uses of mineral watersj hot" «ul-
Pbur tUb,-e]essJip-fcat£*V^.^_^_.. *
Touriste and Steams Cars the Winners in Exciting Contests
Witnessed by a big Crowd of Enthusiasts at Concord Track
R. R. l'Hommedieu
Some of the. : greatest . automobile
races that have been seen in California
for a long time took place on the track
at Concord yesterday. Many of the
contests were so close that it was. not
until the last few feet! of the conclud
ing : mile that the winner could be
picked. Of all the cars entered. "'. the
Tourist, a California car, ! won four of
the eight; events,^ the ones in
which th© car could .be entered. Out
side of these ; victories the winning of
the big Steams car, under a handicap
which was more than it i was thought
the machine could carry, kept the 3,000
spectators on,. their feet during the
last few' miles of the event, which was
over a 25 mile course.
The track is one of the best for
automobile racing in the state. It wa«
a little slow and dusty yesterday, but
It has such . good turns that a little
care could make it very fast: . ; .
The main event of the day was the
25 mile free for all. i In this event
there were eight .starters. Steams, a
Thomas Flyer 70, horsepower Speedster,
a Buick touring car,' a Locomobile, a
Rambler, , an 'American roadster and a
White, steamer." v
At the drop 'of the flag the Speedster
.went,, to the' front with the Steams
close up. In the . second mile the me
chanic on the American -roadster fell
off and the car withdrew. Luckily the
mechanic was not hurt.
; Allttle later the Rambler withdrew
and the race settled down to the re
mainder. In' the' seventeenth mile a
steering knuckle of the White steamer
broke and the cart went down the em
bankment into the inner field. The ac
cident occurred in the stretch and no
one was hurt. During the twenty-third
mile the Thomas commenced to slacken
pace and the Steams came through
and took the lead.
.'The Thomas, being new at the Lake
port run, had not been Umbered up
and was not able to stand the pace. All
the. pars .except tne roadster were
stripped for the race, while the Steams
carried its tonneau. Taking the con
ditions of all the cars In the "race It
was not thought that the Steams could
carry the handicap. It did it well and
its victory was a one.
The first-: race of the day was be
tween a; Tourist touring car, a Tourist
runabout, a Buick runabout, A Buick
touring car and a.Hercules. It opened
the sport in fine shape. The two Tour-
Ist cars and the Buick runabout were
{ Is Winning Every Day j
p.-~-. \u25a0..\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0.. •\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0 o ?*r??
Successfully defeats all other cars in the 25 mile race at Concord yesterday.
Won the event, which was a free-for-all, carrying the tonneau, while tho
other cai*v*vere stripped for the contest
Captured Witter hill climb, August 3.
' Won every event at St. George, N. V., hill climb In which the cars
could enter, August 5.
Won all contests entered in the Atlantic City, races; best mile made in
J fifty-two seconds, August 5. ;//.;
Won handicap race for 4-cylinder cars at Atlantic City, August 6.
. Won second with 6-cyllnder car la free for all at Atlantic City against
Vanderbilt Cup racers, making world's record for stock cars, time 34 seconds,
August 6.
'- j ' The Steams ability is just as satisfactory on the road through its abso-
0 \u25a0'....,.-.-.
California -Nevada Automobile Co.
In New Quarters— l 363 Bush St. between Polk and Larkin
, Telephone Franklin 3008
The California car continues its great record of victories made during the
Captured its 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th first place at Concord yesterday.
\u25a0Took every event entered. V .
; Price Eunabouts, 22 H;;P;f2 cylinder >." $1,275
- Price Model "X" Touring^ Cars, 22 H. P., 2 cylinder . .... . . .$1,350 .
Price Model "N" Touring' Cars, 35-40 H. P., 4 cylinder.- $2,700
Price Model "X" Roadsters, 35-40 H. P., 4 cylinder. ..... . .$2,550
Price Model "N" Limousine, 35-40 H. P., 4 cylinder .$3,700
!• <. v AH cars equipped.
/ Compare these prices .with those of the cars we defeated. ' W
value that cannot be duplicated. '
$m 0: 1908 OAES ONLY BEING DELIVERED.
AUTO VEHICLE COMPANY
540 Golden Gate Avenue 644-646 telegraph Avenue
abreast the whole five miles and it >
was a question which was to be tho
winner until they entered the stretch
for the last. time. Then the Tourist
touring Car took the lead by part of a
length from j the runabout, with the
Buick runabout lapped. The other
Buick carao along well with the Her
cules distanced. *\u25a0
The second event was for touring
cars. There were but two starters In
this event, the White steamer and the
National. The White won. The win
ners of the other races were: Touring
car, 24 horsepower, 10 niile race — Two
Tourist cars first ansi second. Buick
third, Cadillac fourth and Steven-Dur
yea fifth. v - -
Forty horsepower cars arid under-
Locomobile first.
Runabout free for all — Locomobile by
default. , v ' :
Touring cars, four passengers — Tour
ist by default *
Handicap, 10 miles — Tourist runa
bout.
\u25a0 - • \u25a0 • \u25a0;•- • \u25a0 '\u25a0'
J. T. Ronald, former mayor of Seattle,
accompanied by his brother. W. G.
Ronald. J. W. Godwin and L. T. Tirape.
arrived In San Francisco last week
after a successful trip from the north
west in his 20 horsepower V/hlte tour- [
Ing car. The party left Seattle July 25
and made the trip down by easy stages.
They encountered some rough groins:,
but report no mishaps en route other
than two punctures.
The worst stretch they met was 45
miles from Delta to Dunsmuir, which
Ronald says is almost Impassable. They
made the climb over the Slsklyous
without Incident. Up Canyon creek In
Oregon for. about 12 miles the climb
was particularly steep and 'very rocky
and rough.- From Glendale to' Wolf
creek, about eight miles, the road runs
over a steep mountain, which is rough
and has many sharp turns which tax
the ability of the best driver. They
made part of the trip down the Slskl
yous in the dark with the aid of the
searchlight.
Ronald says that the bridges across
the Sacramento below Delta are washed
out and It is impossible for autos to
travel over the route between Redding
and Dunsmuir except by a long detour
through Trinity county.
Ronald and party 'will remain here a
few days to make short runs before
they start home.
• • •
\u25a0 Mr. Lewis of Stockton has purchased
a four cylinder California Tourist.
They are having a great mixup over
the 24 hour race held July 12 and 13
on the Harlem track in Chicago. Th«
Ma theson company of that city has ob
tained several affidavits from those
who acted in an ofScl&l capacity, pur
porting to "show that the Matheson
car. which was second, would have won
the contest had the car been credited
with the .actual number of miles it la
said to have traveled. The question
has been taken to the American Auto
mobile" association in the form of a
protest.
SOUNDS A WARNING TO
THE UNITED STATES
CHICAGO. Aug. <l^- Warning
against a war with Japan was sound
ed yesterday by Professor Frederick
Starr of the University of Chicago la
an address on "Japanese Questions'* at
services of the Abraham Lincoln cen
ter. Not only did he tell the United
States to keep out of difficulty wtth
the little brown man, but he predicted
dire things for any European army
which 'might be sent against them In
war. There Is little danger of & con
flict between the United State* and I
Japan, however, he declared, unless It
is precipitated by the United Stat*s.
but if it is he hinted that Japan would
prove the victor.
Professor Starr did not pose &* an ad
vocate of the "yellow peril," but <!«
clared "there is no such thing as th« ,
yellow peril unless we insist upon It."
, He said that since the United States
j had Insisted by show of force In 1353
that Japan give up Its policy cf ex
clusion the latter had now the earns
; right to .use force Is opposing excln- :
sion practices in the United States^
Japan he ranked as the equal of any
nation on earth, of assuredly the stand- |
ards of western civilization, but ha also j
pointed out that the commercialisation
of the island might prove Its undoing.
Incidentally, he reiterated hl» b*ll«f.
expressed to his university classes a
few weeks ago. in the greatness of •'
Russia's future. With on» route ;
blocked in the orient, he declared that
Russia would push south and ulti- j
mately seize India.
Professor Starr was In Japan during
the Russo-Japanese war and he mada '
extensive studies, both of an anthropo
logical and political nature.