The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-09-13
STRIKERS GET
DRASTIC ORDER
Must Return to Work and
Accept Wage Award of
the War Labor Board
OTHERWISE WILL LOSE
EXEMPTION CLAIM
And Will Be Barred from
Employment for a Year
Wilson Orders It

Washington, D. c., Sept l3-Striking
machinists at Bridgeport, Conn, have
been notified by President Wilson that
unless they return to work and abide by
the wage award of the war labor board,
they will be barred from employment
there for a year, and draft boards win
be instructed to reject any claim Of ex-
emption from military service based on
their alleged usefulness on war produc-
tion.
The presidents warning went to-day
in letter addressed TO the maehinsts,
replying to resolutions forwarded to him
announcing the strike because of dissat-
isfaction over the war labor boards
award and later Interpretation by an
umpire.
The letter was addressed to the
Bridgeport district lodge of the Interna
tional Association of Machinists "and
other striking workmen Of Bridgeport,
Conn 1t follows
Gentlemen:
II am in receipt of your resolutions
of September announcing that you
have begun a strike against your en-
ployers in Bridgeport, Conn. You are
members of the Bridgeport branches of
the international Union Of Machinists.
As such and with the approval of the
national offices of your union YOU signed
an agreement to submit the questions
as to the terms of your employment to
the national war labor board and to
abide the award which in accordance
with the rules of procedure approved
by me might be made
"The members Of the board were not
able to reach unanimous conclusion on
all the issues presented and as pro-
vided in its constitution the questions
upon which they did not agree were
carried before an arbitrator, the unani-
nous choice of the members of the
board
THE arbitration thus chosen made an
award which more than ninety per cent.
of the workers affected accept. You
who constitute less than ten per cent,
refuse to abide the award although you
are the best paid of the whole body
of workers affected and are, therefore,
least entitled to press a further in.
crease of wages because of the high
cost of living. But whatever the mer-
its of the ISSUE it is closed by the
award Your strike against it is
breach of faith calculated to reflect
on the sincerity of national organized
labor in proclaiming its acceptance of
the principles and machinery of the ma
tional war labor board.
4
Indication Of tribunal to which both
parties submitted their claims be
temporized with, agreements become
mere scraps of paper. If errors creep
into awards the proper remedy is sub
mission to the award with an sppfca
tion for rehearing to the tribunal But
to strike against the award is dishonor-
able.
"The Smith & Wesson company of
Springfield, Mass, engaged in govern
ment work, has refused to accept the me
diation of the national war labor board
and has Haunted its rules of decision ap-
proved by presidential proclamation.
With my consent the war department
has taken over the plant and business of
the company to secure continuity in pro.
duction and TO prevent industrial dis.
turbance.
ut is of the highest Importance to Sc
cure compliance with reasonable rules
and procedure for the settlement of in
dustrial disputes. Having exercised
drastic remedy with recalcitrant employ
ers, it is my duty to use means equally
well adapted to the end with lawless and
faithless employees.
Therefore, desire that you return to
work and abide by the award If you re-
fuse, each one of you will be barred from
employment in any war industry in the
community in which the strike occurs
for period of one year. During that
time the United States employment serv-
ice will decline to obtain employment
for you in any war industry elsewhere in
the United States, as well as under the
war and navy departments, the shipping
boards, the railway administration and
all government agencies, and the draft
boards will be instructed to reject any
claim of exemption based on your al
legged usefulness on war production.
Sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wilson"