Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-20


President of the United States can stop
this strike now" he said
BIGGEST JOB EVER
UNDERTAKEN IN L. 8.
Mr. Keppler said In his announce
ment that this is the biggest job We
have ever undertaken in this country"
He then continued:
at this point 1 want TO make one
statement most emphatic l want IL
known that II there is a big argument
in this town the people OF Bridgeport
have no one 10 blame but Major Pen
field. We have tried in every way 10
bring about peaceful settlement We
want peace. but il looks as If we can
not have II. AS for the statement
made by Major Penneld that German
influence brought about this situation
! want to say this If any one forced
the issue. II was Major Pcnfeld We
tried 70 confer with him Even the
United States government recognizes
the right OF the employee TO confer
with the employer. Major Pcnneld has
denied us that right"
Mr.. Kcppler declined to say what
other shops would be called out II the
men in the new plant OF the Rcming-
ton Company went on strike, but
added that within week I'VE will have
all the manufactures in the city tied
up"
The Bridgeport Manufacturers As
ISOLATION. at meeting to-day. accord
ing 10 statement given out by the
secretary afterwards, determined to
stand a body behind the Remington
Company in its decision to maintain
an open shop. In regard to this state
ment. Mr.. Keppler said:
There was no mention of closed or
open shop in Bridgeport until the
Manufa cturers' Association made that
statement to-day. AS q matter OF fact
II was the Remington Company or the
Stewart Company or both. that started
closed shop methods. They told the
millwrights that they would have 10
join the Carpenters Union or quit
That was what started all this
trouble"
I'm the Carpenters Union they would
receive 1915 per day. In the Machin-
lists Union. where they belong. they
would receive So. ] should think that
would be sufficient answer to the charge
that German influences were behind the
movement" added Mr.. Keppler
we did not start the thing. The
Remington or the Stewart people did
We wanted to settle that difficulty
by peaceful conference We could
not.
MEN WORKING SECRETLY
on MUNITIONS OF WAR
we have men working secretly on
munitions OF war. They are working
under favorable conditions They will
continue 10 DO that work unless the
United States government forbids then,
10 do so. That Is the only thing that
can stop them. 1t certainly is reason
able to suppose If there were any Ger
man influence behind this strike those
men would be affected as we'll as tho
men in Bridgeport"
The statement made in WASHINGTON
to-day by Samuel Gompers was Non
toned by Timothy Daily, of Cincinnati
president Of the Polishers' and Buffers
Union, VINO are working on rifle bar
rels
Il understand from the published in
tervew with Mr. Gompers." said Mr.
Keppler. that he says he is going to
send an American Federation Of Labor
man here to take charge Of the situa-
ton. I would like to know what Mr..
Gompers has got to do with this. The
international unions are capable Of
taking care Of themselves. He has no
right to tell rs what to do. He Is
elected and paid by the internationals,
and we tell him what to do OF course,
! have no means of knowing that Mr..
Gompers was correctly quoted
II intend to find out from Mr..
Gompers what he means when he says
that German money must have been
used. If he has such information, we
want 1t. We have right to It,"