The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-14
WILSON STANDS
FIR MLY BEHIND
DECISION OF THE
WARLABORBOARD
Presidents s Letter To Tele-
graph Companies, Is
Made Public
NATION MUST
COME FIRST
Boards Only Purpose Is To
Prevent Labor Difficult
ties During War
(By Assoclated x~ress.)

Washington, June 14.-Evidence
that President Wilson intends to see
that the recommendations of the Ma
tional War Labor Board are followed
to the letter, was seen today in his
communications to the heads OF the
two great telegraph companies asking
that they accept the boards findings
in their controversy with their en-
ployes.
The fact that the President had per-
sonally taken up the case became
known last night with tho announce
ment by Clarence H. Mackay, pres
ident Of the Postal Telegraph COM
pany, that his company would waive
it's right to discharge men who have
joined union, and that Newton
Carlton, president Of the Western
Union, would send his answer Mon
day.
The war lobar boards decision in
the case was that the men should be
permitted to join unions.
The Presidents letter to the teIe-
graph heads, made public To-Day,
reads:
My attention has been called to
the fact that the national war labor
| board after a careful consideration
Of questions at issue between the
telegraph companies, and their en-
ployes have arrived at a decision
the essential points of which are
embraced in the following:
| 1.-The employees have a right to
join q union If they so desire, and
men discharged for Joining the union
fshould be reinstated--
''2.--The company should not be re-
IqlatIed to deal BEithatae union or rec
ognize, it. 49,
s.3, Committees Of employees
should be recognized in presenting
grievances.
"4.-Where employees and employ
ers fail to agree, the question in dis
pute should be determined by the
National war labor board.
"5.-The Telegraphers' union
should not initiate strikes or permit
it's members to initiate them. but
should submit all grievances to the
National War Labor board.
II am informed that the represen-
tatives of the union are willing to
accept this decision, but that the rep
resentatives Of the telegraph COM
panies have not accepted 1t.
MAY. not say that in my judg-
ment 1t is imperatively necessary in
the national interest that decisions
OF the National war labor board
should be accepted by both parties
to labor disputes? To fail to accept
them is to .jeopardize the interests
Of the nation very seriously because
it constitutes a rejection OF the in
strumentality set up by the govern
mert itself for the determination of
labor disputes, set up with a sincere
desire to arrive at justice in every
case and with the express purpose OF
safeguarding the nation against
labor difficulties during the continu-
alton Of the present war.
''All these conditions being taken
into consideration I do not hesitate
to say that it is patriotic duty to
cooperate in this all-important
matter, with the government by the
use of the fundamentally which the
government has set up. I, therefore,
write to ask that may have your
earnest cooperation in this matter,
as in all others, and that you will set
an example to the other employers Of
tht country by a. prompt and cordial
acquiescence."
F9a,xy w G