Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-14
WILSON WARNS LABOR,
WORK OR Be DRAFTED
Refers to Bridgeport Machinists
Who Rejected War Board
Award as Lawless and
FaithlesS.

Washington Sept 1i.-President Viii
sons letter addressed TO tho striking
Nachinists at bridgeport Conn, yoster
dav was forccful and direct II made
his position plan with respect to workers
and his stand has caused much favorable
comment. The letter follows:
''Gentlen~- am IN receipt Of vour
resolutions of Sept 6, announcing that
YOU have begun q strike against Your
EMPLOYERS IN Bridgeport. Conn You
arc mcnhers ol the Bridgeport branches
of The International Union at MacmuIsts
As such and with the approval Of the
national officers soi VouT union. YOU
slgned an agreement t0 submit the qncs
ions as ia he terms # your employment
- the national war labor board and 10
abide the award which m accordance
with the rules ot the procedure approved
bV me might bc made.
The members of the board we're not
able to reach a unanimous conclusion on
All tho ISSUES presented and as provided
m ats constitution the questions upon
which thev did not agree we're carried
before an arbitrator the unanimous
,.hnlce ol the members of the board.
Tho arbitration thus chosen has made
an award which more than 90 per cent
of tho workers affected accept. lou who
constitute less than 10 per cent refuse to
abide the award, although you are the
best paid of the whole body of workers
affected and are. therefore, least entitled
to press a further increase of wages be-
cause Of the high cost Of living But
whatever the merits Of the issue. II IS
closed by the award our strike against
If Is a breach OF faith calculated to reflect
on The sincerity of national organized
labor IN proclainrnC IFS acceptance OF the
principles and machinery of the national
war labor board.
"If such disregard of the solemn adJudl-
cation Of a tribunal 10 which both parties
submitted their claims bc tcmporizcd
with, agreements become mere scraps of
paper IF errors creep into awards the
proper remedy Is submission to tho award
with an application Tor rehcaring to the
tribunal But to strike against the award
is disloyalty and dishonor
The Smith u Ncsson Co, Of Spring
field. Mass engaged IN government work
has refused 10 accept the mediation Of he
national war lsbor board and has fiaunted
It's refusal OF decision approved 10y p7csi-
dental proclamation With MY consent
the war department has taken over the
plant and business of the company 10
secure continuity IN production and 10
prevent Industrial disturbance.
1T IS Of tie highest Importance 10
secure compliance with reasonable rules
and procure for the settlement OF in
dustrial disputes Having exercised a
drastic remedy with recalcitrant en-
pIoyers, It j. my duty to use means equal
" we'll adapted To the end with lawless
and faithlcsS employees
Therefore ] desire that you return to
work and anidc by the award. If YOU
refuse each one Of you Will be barred from
employment in any war industry in the
community in which the strike occlIrr for
a period of one year. During that time
the United States Employment Service
will decline to obtain employment for YOU
in any war industry elsewhere in the
United States as well as under the war
and navy depart ments. the shipping
board. the railway administration and all
government agencies and the draft boards
will be instructed to reject any claim of
exemption based on your alleged useful
ness on war production.
Sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wilson"