Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-05-17
Following An Appeal by
Major Rogers Men Re
turned to Shops Today.
ALL REMINGTON ARMS
MEN BACK AT PLANT
Many of Strikers Did Not
Know Government Was
Investigating Demands.

All the striking machinists
returned to their work at the
Remington Arms plant this
morning and expressed a wish
to abide by the decision of a
government arbitrator in whose
hands the case now rests. ST.
simultaneously with this an
nouncement it was stated that
more than two-thirds of the
men had returned to their
benches in the Liberty Ord
nance works.
Thus ends the strike of the ma
chinists which threatened to tie up
the production of munitions for our
soldiers in France.
At an early hour yesterday it was
evident that the spellbinding inf1u-
ence of the strike leaders was not suf-
ficient to make the men act in a dis
loyal manner, but when the huge
meeting of the strikers held in Eagles
hall last night was addressed by Maj.
D. A. Rogers, of the United States
Ordnance Department, all doubts as
to the loyalty and Americanism of
the men were swept aside as the
was called off.
At the conclusion of Maj. Rogers
address to the strikers in which he
reminded them of their duties as men,
49, Ill
to their brothers who were dying
and undergoing untold hardships in
France.
At the conclusion of Maj. Rogers
address one of the members of the
| union arose and moved that the
strike be called off and all return 20
| work today. This was simultane-
ously seconded by fully zoo men, and
| the strike was at an end.
Government officials are today
proud of the spirit displayed by
the men and do not mince words,
when they openly state that the
machiists are as body, true and
loyal to their country and its
cause, but were unconsciously led
to act as they did by coterie of
disturbers in the union and espec-
tally one of its leaders whose ac-
tons in the past have branded
him, morally at least, a pro-
German agent.
| 1t had been projected to call strikes
at the Locomobile plant, the Ameri-
can & British Mfg. Co., Projectile
| Company, Billiard Machine Co. and
the Lake Torpedo plant, but the plans
| of the strike leaders met a snag in the
| loyalty of the men and up to. a late
hour last night nothing had been
done.
Many Of the returning strikers have
been questioned as to why they went
out on strike, and in answer they
stated that they were unaware that
the government had their case under
| advisement and were told that the
only way to force an agreement was
to tie up the production.
Large numbers of machinists were
preparing to go to other towns if the
trouble continued, but the prompt
action taken by government officials
and the unanimous stand taken by the
public against stopping for an instant
| the productions of munitions so
badly and urgently NEEDED by our men
in France, prevented a big loss to
Bridgeport
1t was stated this morning by one
of the factory officials that the gov
eminent has promised the machinists
a settlement of their grievances by
June i, and that any agreement made
at that time will date from May /, in
| the same manner that the difficulties
of the shipbuilders and the railroad
workers situations were handled.
So far as can be learned no ma
chine shop in Bridgeport holds any
luminosity toward the men who have
gone out on strike and have kept the
names of the men on their books. The
men go back to work as though moth
ing has happened and will resume
the turning out of munitions while
awaiting the decision of the govern
ment officials.
REFNEAA RFREEFA