The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-09-14
Wilson Sharply
Rebukes Strikers
Nation VIII Not Tolerate Unfair
WaIkouts Where war Work is
In Progress.


In Progress.
I Washington, Sept. 13.--Strikes will
not be tolerated where war work is
in progress.
! The ultimatum from President Will
son today, transmitted to the striking
machinists of Bridgeport, Conn, who
have refused to abide by decision
of the national war labor board.
esta blishes the governments policy
toward essential labor for the period
of the war.
The president ordered the men,
5000 in number, TO return to work
irum ediately. Ii they fail TO heed
this order they will be barred from
any war industry in their community
for a year and also from any war
industry elsewhere in the United
States. In addition their draft boards
will be notified that they are no longer
engaged in essential work. This
would mean that they soon would be
indicted into the army.
The presidents letter is really a
rigid application of the "work-or-
! fight" order.
Loses Patience.
The letter to the men came "out
III me open AtialNdiCo FtdipsS
that the president had lost patience
with them. The president. it is
known, held back his letter until to-
day hoping the men would return to
work and present whatever remaining
| grievances they had TO the war labor
board.
The letter was addressed to the
] Bridgeport District Lodge of the In
International Association Of Machinists
e. Nf
Bridgeport. Conn" II follows:
"Gentlemen--f am in receipt of
your resolutions OF September an
nouncing that you have begun strike
against your employers In Bridgeport.
Conn You are mem hefs OF the
bridgeport branches of the In
national Union OF Machinists AS
such, and with the approval OF the
nationa! officers Of your union, you
signed an agreement 10 submit the
questions as to the terms of your
i employment 10 the national war labor
board and 10 abide by the award
{ which in accordance with the rules
Of procedure approved by me might
be made.
The mem hers of the board were
not able TO reach A unanimous con-
ciusion on all the issues presented,
and. as provided in its constitution.
/ the questions upon which they did not
agree. were carried before an arbi-
traitor. the unanimous choice of the
mem bers of the board
The arbitrator thus chosen has
made an award which more than 80
( per cent of the workers affected &C
/ cept. You. 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 because
/ of the high cost OF living. But what
ever the merits Of the issue Ii is
closed by the board. Your striking
against II is a breach of faith caicu-
/ lated to reflect on the sincerity OF
national organized labor in proclaim
/ ing its acceptance of the principles
and machinery of the national war
labor board
III such disregard of the solemn
adjudication of tribunal to which
both parties submitted their claims
be temporized with, agreements be-
come mere soaps OF paper; II errors
creep into awards. the proper remedy
is submission to the award with an
application for rehearing to the tri-
bunaL But to strike against the
award Is disloyalty and dishonor.
The Smith & Wesson company. OF
Sprin gfield. Mass, engaged in govern
ment work, has refused to accept the
mediation of the national war labor
board and has Haunted its rules OF
decision approved by presidential
proclamation. With my consent the
war department has taken over the
plant and business of the compan,
to secure continuity In production and
to prevent industrial disturbance
1T is OF the highest Importance te
secure compliance with reasonable
rules and procedure for the settle.
ment of industrial disputes. Having
exercised a drastic remedy with re-
calcitrant employees, it is my dut.
to use means equally we'll adapted te
the end with lawless and faithless EN-
lployes.
Therefore | desire that you re
turn to work and abide by the award
III you refuse, each one of you will
Ibe barred from employment in any
Iwar industry in the community ir
(which the strike occurs for a period
Iof one year. During that time the
United States employment service
will decline to obtain employment foi
you in any war industry elsewhere
lin the United States. as well as un.
der the war and navy departments
the shipping board. the railway ad
ministration and all government
agencies, and the draft boards will
be instructed TO reject any claim OF
exemption based on your alleged use
lfulness on war production.
u Sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON"