The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-09-14
WORK Or FIGHT
SAYS PRESIDENT
T0STRIkING NEN
Head OF Nation Uses Drastic
Measures.
TO WIN WAR IS BIG THING
Characterizes Men Who Refuse to A.
bltrate or Abide by Decision &c
Lawess and Faithlecs

WdSninlOQ sept. To- lta+ttNhe W il-
son took the war labor situation in
hand personally today, ana applied to
"lawless and faithless employees force
in keeping with drastic measures
which he disclosed had been adopted
with his approval in dealing with re-
calcitrant employers.
Striking machinists and other war
plant workmen at Bridgeport, Conn
were informed in letter addressed
directly to them by the President, that
they must return TO their work and
abide by the decision OF the war labor
board, or be barred for year from all
employment over which the goYen-
ment exercises control and lose all
claims for draft exemption on Occupa.
tional grounds.
at the same time the President an
nounced tha the plant of the Simth &
Wesson company Of Springfield, Mass,
the first employer to "llaunt' the rules
of the war labor board approved by
presidential proclamation had been
Communicated by the war department
to be operated for the period OF the
war.
In effect, the President gave notice
to both employees and employers that
no labor controversies will be permit
ted to stand in the way of the pro
duction of materials needed for win
ming the war.
The great majority of both emplyoy-
ers and wOrkmen is cooperating
heartily with the government With
the broad Communicating powers
granted by Congress, the large meas
ure of control exercised over all
plants doing war work, the operations
OF the federal emloyment service.
and the far reaching work or fight or
der of the provost marshal general,
the PRESIDENT is prepared TO see that
tlieihterfere with the output OF the in
dustrial army.
Frank =. Morrison, secretary of tho
American Federation of Labor, in a
statement tonight said the action OF
the machinists at Bridgeport SIS to be
deeply regretted and added that this
was the first instance where members
or organized labor have failed TO com
ply with an award by the labor board
The letter was addressed TO the
bridgeport district lodge Of the Inter
national Association of Machinsts aut
"other striking workmen Of Bridgeport
Conn 1t follows:
Gentlemen; am in receipt of yom
resolutions of September 6, announc
ing that you have begun strik,
against your employers in Bridgeport
Conn. You are members of tn,
Bridgeport branches of the lnterna
tional Union OF Machnists. As sucl
and with the approval of the nati0na
officers of your union, you signed an
agreement TO submit the questions a
to the terms of your empoyment to thl
National War Labor Board and &
abide the award, which in accordance
with the rules of procedure approves
by me, might be made.
The members OF the board wer
not able to reach a unanimous cor
cusion on all issues presented and a
provided i'm its constitution the ques
tions they did not agree upon wer
carried before an arbitrator, the III
animous choice of the members OF th
board,
THE arbitrator thus chosen ha
made an award which more than min,
ty per cent. of the workers aneCte
accept. You who constitute less iha
ten per cent refuse to abide by an
award although you are the best pai
OF the whole body OF workers lifec
ed and are, therefore least entitled {
press a further increase of wages b
cause of the high cost of living. Bl
whatever the merits Of the issue 1t
closed by the award. Your strik
against it is a breach OF faith calcula
ed TO reflect on the sincerity of natio
al organized labor IN proclaimmg i
acceptance of the principles and m
chinery Of the national war lab,
board
"if scch disregard OF the solemn "a
judiCatOn of q tribunal to whi,
both parties submitted their claim
temporIdcd with, agreements necon
mere scraps OF paper. II errors ere,
into awards the proper remedy Is sd
mission to the award with an apple
ton for reargument TO the award
disloyalty and dishonor
THE Smith q Wason company
Springfield, Mass. engaged IN govei
mont work has refused to accept {
mediation of tho national war lah
board and has faunted its rules of
cision approved by Presidential proc
nation with my consent the war
partment has taken over The plant a
business OF the company to secure G,
irjity IT, production and to prev,
Industrial disturbance.
1T IS of The highest Importance
secure compliance with rops0na
rules and procedure for the sotI
mcnt of inductrial disputes Hay
exercised drastic remedy with fe,
ciir0nt employers. it is my duty lo
means equally well adapted To- d
with iaithlcss and disloyal men.
Therefore. direct your return
work and abide by the award. lf
refuse. everyone of you win ho Na~
from employment in any war indus
IN the Community Boo which ihe su
occurs for period of one year. !
ing that time the United States
nloymcnt for YOU in any war