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Show ILL NOT IL TELEGRAPHERS OUTONSTRIKE Head of the International Union Refuses to Sanction Cessation of Work Pending Pend-ing Negotiations. CARLTON AGREES TO MEET LABOR BOARD Western Union President to Tell Why Company Proposes Pro-poses Not to Retain C. T. U. Men. WASHINGTON. May 1. S. J. Konen-kamp, Konen-kamp, international president of the Commercial Com-mercial Telegraphers' union, announced tonight that ho would not sanction a strike of union telegraphers pending a settlement of the controversy between the men and the Western Union and Postal Telegraph companies by the national na-tional war labor -board. The announcement by the union leader came after the war labor board had received re-ceived a telegram from Nc-wcomb Carlton, Carl-ton, president of the Western L'nlon, refusing re-fusing to comply with the board's request that the company refrain from discharging discharg-ing employees who join the union until after the board could hear both sides to the controversy. Mr. Curl ton agreed to appear May 8 to state the reasons why the company has determined not to retain re-tain In its employ men who affiliate with the union. No reply was received from the Postal company. Karlier in the day Mr. KonenUamp told the board that the question of a strike rested with the men and that he would go to New York and Chicago to confer with them. In announcing later his compliance com-pliance with the request of the board not to sanction a strike, Mr. Konenkamp said the men appreciate that "this is not the time to accept challenges to light," if peace can be had by other means. His statement follows: Konencamp's Statement. The labor members of the national war labor board have urged me not to sanction a strike, despite the attitude at-titude of the telegraph companies in refusing to establish a truce between now and next Wednesday, and 1 have consented to await the decision of Lhe labor board. The labor members laid stress upon the necessity of complying with the president's proclamation, even though such a course Involves even greater and more extensive lockouts than have already taken place, so that it might be shown to the nation that labor is loyal to the government at all times. In taking this step I realize that it will meet with some criticism from our members, who resent the arrogant arro-gant attitude of the officials of the Western Union and Postal Telegraph companies. The assurance that the board has power to sustain its decision, deci-sion, however, will give our people confidence that their rights will be recognized in the end. The intimation of President Carlton Carl-ton that we could not tie up the telegraph companies if we wished Is nothing new. His predecessor. Colonel Clowry, was equally confident confi-dent in 1907. Wo feel that this is not the time to accept challenges to fight, and we want peace, if possible to get It honorably. The war labor board adjourned tonight until next Wednesday, with an announcement announce-ment by Frank P Walsh, joint chairman with former President William Howard Taft, that it would take no action in the controversy until then. He added, however, how-ever, that the issue would be given precedence prece-dence over other pending controversies. Mr. Walsh announced that L. F. Lo-ree Lo-ree of the Delaware & Hudson railroad has been unable to continue his membership mem-bership with the board, and that F. C. Hood of the Hood Rubber company of Boston had been named to succeed him. WESTERN UNION WILL NOT MAKE ANY PROMISES NEW YORK, Mav 1. Newcomb Carlton, Carl-ton, president of the Western Union Telegraph company, today sent word to the national war labor board that the company could not see Its way clear to agree to the board's suggestion that the Western Union should not discharge em- j ployees on account of their membership in the telegraphers" unions pending discus-sTOft discus-sTOft of the controversy. Tne reasons behind be-hind the company's policy opposing the ; union, Mr. Carlton said he would be pleased to present to the board on May S. "You have asked my company to agree not to take any action against employees who, under the influence of misleading" promises and guarantees, may ally themselves them-selves with an organization which hither- j to has not had any representation among i the employees of this company," Mr. Carl-ton's Carl-ton's statement read,. "It was testified i before the Walsh commission that there j were approximately 73,000 Morse operators in the United States alone, to which I number should be added about 500 more In Canada. We are informed that the 1 membership of this organization in the United States and Canada is about 250O, j and principally in Canada, Says Few Joined. "This organization now seeks to ex-tend ex-tend Its membership to our employees, using the present emergency as a means to that end. After two months of active propaganda, especially directed to our employees, meetings were held on April j 28, under the direction of the organiza- : tion, in various cities throughout the j country, and about 40,000 of our em-ployees em-ployees were invited to attend. Not-Withstanding Not-Withstanding promises of higher wages, ! better working conditions and guarantees against loss of position made by organ- j izers of these meetings, a total of only ! 140 Western Union employees responded, j This small number understood perfectly . well that the company was opposed to ; membership in this parti eula.r organiza- I tlon and that they were making a choice between employment with the Western Union and membership In this organixa- j tion with employment In some other of the fifty-odd thousand telegraph positions open to operators. Will Present Reasons. "The reasons actuating the policy of the company have been long and thoroughly thor-oughly considered, and T will be pleased to present them to your commission on Wednesday next. In view of these circumstances cir-cumstances and of the fact that tho telegraph tele-graph service is unimpaired, and no public pub-lic interest in jeopardy, we cannot see our way clear to agree to your suggestion, sugges-tion, which we are convinced would only result in the further misleading of era-ploj era-ploj eea who are. we believe, contented r with their occupation and the conditions under which they labor." Discharges at Seattle. SEATTLE, Wash., May 1. "Between 125 and 150 men and women operators nave been locked out this week in Seattle Se-attle by the Western Union Telegraph company because they attended an opening open-ing meeting of the Commercial Telegraphers' Telegra-phers' union here last Sunday," J. F. Campbell of Vancouver, B. C, International Interna-tional vice president of the operators' union, asserted here today. Western Union officials here declined to make any statements. Little local development In the telegraphers teleg-raphers situation was made yesterday. Three Morse operators were sent from the local office of the Western Union company to fill vacancies made by the lockout at Seattle, Tuesday. Union officials offi-cials said yesterday that little would be done until after May 8, when the conference con-ference will be held in Washington between be-tween the war board and the telegraph company heads. |