Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1918-02-28
SHIP STRIKE
CALLED OFF
Presidents Wire That Mems Atti-
tude Was "Giving Aid to the
Enemy" ImpreSses Labor.
Is ASKED TO AID VICTORY.
Union Officials After Long Meeting
Decide to Take Matter of Adjust
ment of Differences Direct
Iy to President.

New fork.-Carpenters OH strike in
eastern shipyurds were ordered to re-
turn to work at once by William l.
Hutcheson, president of the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and join
ers.
The orders were sent out from strike
headquarters at the Hotel ContInen-
tai. In this city, by personal messen.
gers, telephone and telegraph within
half an hour of the moment "a sternl.
worded telegram from President VIII.
son was received. e.s
The Presidents telegram was to
William L. Hutcheson, general presi-
dent of the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of America,
and read:
II have received your telegram of
yesterday and am very glad to note
the expression of your desire as pa
triotic citizen to assist In carrying on
the work by which we are trying to
save America and men everywhere
who work and are free.
Taking advantage of that assur-
ance, l feel 1t to be my duty to call
your attention to the fact that the
strike of the carpenters In the ship
trast to the action of labor in other
trades and places.
"Ships are absolutely necessary for
he winning of this war.
mo one can strike deadlier blow
at the safety of the nation and of Its
forces on the other side than by inter
fering with or obstructing the ship
building program.
"All the. other unions engaged in
this Indispensable work have agreed
to abide by the decisions of the Ship
building Wage Adjustment Board.
hat board has dealt fairly and liber-
ally with all who have resorted to 1t.
II must say to you very frankly that
it is your duty to leave to Ii the solu-
ton of your present difficulties with
your employers and to advise the men
whom you represent to return at once
to work pending the decision
mo body of men have the moral
right i'm the present circumstances of
the nation to strike until every method
of adjustment has been tried to the
limit.
IF you do not act upon this principle
you are undoubtedly giving aid and
comfort to the enemy, whatever may
be your conscious purpose. i do not
see that anything will be gained by
my seeing you personally until you
have accepted and acted upon that
principle.
at is the duty of the governments to
see that the best possible conditions
of labor are maintained, as 1t is also
its duty to- see to 1t that there is NO
lawless and constituencies prodteer'
ing, and that duty the government has
accepted and will perform. WIZ you
cooperate or will you obstructP'
From sources close to the White
House it is said that the chief execu-
tive Is confident that the present strike
is one that should admit of easy ad-
justment without arousing national un-
rest. 1t should have been settled with
no trouble:
Samuel Gompers has given assur~
ances to the President that labor viii
stand behind the government, and al
most unanimously II has done so. The
president of the American Federation
of Labor had a half hours conference
with the President at Washington,
and, while no announcement was made
of the deliberations, 1t is understood
Mr. Gompers again assured President
Wilson that labor was behind the gov
eminent to win the war.