Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-05-10
20 SHOPS PRODUCING !.
BROWNING GUN TOOLS
LOSE ALL CONTRACTS
ACTIVITIES OF LAVIT IN FOMENTING
STRIKES CAUSE OF ACTION TAKEN
WORK TRANSFERRED WEST-3OO
WALK OUT OF ARMS AT NOON.

Samuel LavIt, the business
agent of the Machinists' union,
by cancelling all contracts with
about 20 local shops for the
manufacture of Browning ma
chine gun tools and parts, and
transferring the work to factor
les in the middle West, which
have been either closed or run
ming on part time owing to gov
eminent orders covering the
manufacture Of automobiles
and non-essentials.
This afternoon it was learned that
approximately 300 men had walked
out of the tool department of the
Remington Arms plant, but it is said
that while the production of machine
guns will be somewhat slowed up, the
handicap will not seriously effect the
gun production as the 800 who have
struck represent less than 80 per cent
of the entire complement of workers
in the tool department, and the ma
jority of the malcontents show a dis
position to return to their work to-
morrow morning.
The contract transfer on the part
of the Arms company has only been
taken after careful weighing of all the
facts connected with the output of
the gun parts which are SO vitality
necessary to keep our troops at the
front supplied with weapons.
The reluctance of the Remington
people to take this step before, was
due to their desire to avoid the few
days delay incidental to the transfer
of drawings and tools to the shops at
more distant points. It is understood
government officials were first con-
suited.
Browning machine guns, and auto
matte pistols are needed, and needed
badly by our soldiers on the firing
line and every minute counts in the
production of the arms, means the
sacrifice of the lives of American SOL
diers.
The officials of the Remington
plant have exhausted every means to
prevent the labor troubles being TO-
mented by Samuel Lavit, not alone in
the factories turning out contract or
ders for the Browning machine gun,
but in the shops of the Remington
Arms itself.
It was impressed upon the repre-
sentative of the Bridgeport Times,
that the only shops affected by the
edict of the Remington Arms, are
plants which have been turning out
parts for the manufacture of machine
oIr ~; 10
strikes are idle.
The following is partial list of the
plants affected by the transfer of Or
ders to the middle West:
Anderson Die & Machine 90.
Bradley Machine Co.
+. G. Breul.
Bridgeport Gun Tool Co.
Feeney Tool Co.
Electric Compositor Co.
Harris Engineering Co.
Lindstrom Die, Tool & Guage Co.
Modern Mfg. Co.
Model Tool & Guage Co.
Peterson Bros.
Precisio Tool & Guage 90.
W. L. Smith Mfg Co.
f. S. TrumbuIl Co.
Dozens of machinists that have been
ordered to stop working by Business
Agent Lavit, have spoken rather loud
ly about the mistake which has been
made and have even gone so far as to
predict trouble, but say that they will
not be here to see it. AS a conse-
quence many machinists are leaving
Bridgeport and it is no uncommon
sight to see a score of them at the
railroad station with their tool boxes
leaving Bridgeport for points in the
Middle West
Manufacturers seem to be helpless
as they find it impossible to meet the
constantly growing and unreasonable
demands made by Samuel Lavit, who
has gained a record for picking out
factories engaged on important gov
eminent work in which to start q
strike or some other trouble which
holds up the production.
At the beginning of the presen
strike there was a strong bid made t.
gain the public sympathy by the bus
mess agent of the union and it was
loudly and broadly circulated that thu
shops that we're effected were onh
the small factories which were try1n,
to hog all the profits out of the Rem
ington contracts which they had Sc
cured.
When this propaganda was bein.
spread it was not told that the worl
which these small shops were engage,
upon was of the most vital importanc
to the manufacture of the machin
guns and other arms for which gu
men in France are loudly calling.
On the other hand the public wa
led to believe that the small plant
were paying small wages and that il
proportion to the profits on worI
which was of no great Importance t
the conduct of the war, the none
they paid skilled labor was not suffi
cient
The same methods were used b
Lavit. according to statements mad
by people in position to know the in
side facts, when he called strike afte
strike in plants engaged in manufac
turing arms and other munitions fo
our allies before America entered tn
war. There has not been a sing
instance of where he has started Ia
Dor troubles in any plant other tina
one engaged on government work {
doing work for one or the other {
our allies.
The transferring of the contrac
let out by the Remington Arms
auto factories and other plants in IL
middle west will be a loss to II
commercial interests of Brfdgcpor