The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-13
PRESIDENT
LETTER TO
SZlERS
Bridgeport sinists Told to
Return to TX or be Bar
red fr Employment
ne Year.
CASE WAS ARBITRATED
To Strike Against Award Of War Labor
Board, is Called DishonorabIe
and Also Dis
loyal.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13.-Presi-
dent Wilson today notified striking
! machinists at Bridgeport, Conn.,, that
! they must return to work and abide
/, by the nationa, war labor boards
tlnedfation Of their differences, or be
| barred from employment in any in
dustry for one year.
! The presidents letter, addressed
! to District Lodge No. 35. Information
al Association of Machinists, and
other striking workmen Of Bridge
port, Conn. follows:
Gentlemen: l am In receipt of
your resolution of September an
nouncing you have begun a strike
against your employers in Bridge
port, Conn. You are members Of the
Bridgeport branch Of the Interna-
tional Union of Machinists. AS such,
and with the approval of the officers
Of your union, you signed the offer
to submit the questions of the terms
, of your employment to the national
war labor board and to abide by the
award, which, in accordance with
the rules of procedure approved by
me, might be made.
The members Of the board We're
not able to reach a unanimous con-
clusion on all the issues presented
and, as provided in its constitution.
the questions upon which they did
not agree were carried before an
arbitrator, the unanimous choice Of
the members of the board.
The arbitrator thus chosen has
made an award which more than
ninety per cent Of the workers af-
fected accept.
;{,,&a hop
per cent, refuse to abide by the
award, although you are the best
paid OF the whole body of workers
affected, and are, therefore, least
entitled to press further increase
Of wages because of the high cost
of living.
But whatever the merits Of the
issue, it Is closed by the award.
Your strike against 1t is a breach
of faith, calculated to reflect on the
sincerity of the national organized
labor in promoting its acceptance OF
principles and machinery of the ma
tional war labor board.
If such disregard for .Se solemn
adjudication of a tribunal to which
both parties submitted their -I-tms
be temporized with, agreements be-
come scraps of paper. If errors creep
into awards. the proper remedy Is
submission to the award, with appli-
cation for rehearing. to the tribunal.
But to strike against the award is
disloyalty and dishonor.
The Smith & Wesson company of
Springfield. Mass, engaged in gov
ernment work, has refused to accept
the mediation of the national war
labor board and has Haunted its
power OF decision approved by presf-
Dental proclamation.
With my consent the war depart
ment has taken over the plant and
business of the company to secure
continuity in production and to pre-
vent internal disturbance.
It is of the highest Importance 70 Sc
cure compliance with reasonable rules
and procedure for the settlement of
industrial disputes. Having exercised
a drastic remedy with recalcitrant
employers, it is my duty to use means
equally well adapted 10 that end with
lawless and faithless employees.
Therefore I desire that you return
to work and abide by the award. If
Won refuse each of you will be barred
from employment in any war industry
in the community in which the strike
occurred for period OF one year. Dur
ing that time the United States en-
n