The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-24
Justice Wheeler Places
 Responsibility squarely
 on Local Ordnance Chief
Continued from Page one)

LAAO SIAdI1pO1 Ol NOIll4l1S1 SC 1OCO4NCN a telegram late Saturday inviting it to send representative to Washing ton to attend a conference upon the subject of cancellation of govern ment war contracts in Connecticut, on Monday at 2 o'clock. President Pierce on behalf of the executive committee of the Chamber of Com merce requested Justice George W. Wheeler to attend the conference and represent the Chamber. Mayor Will son authorized Justice Wheeler to represent the city Of Bridgeport at the hearing. Justice Wheeler went to Washington Sunday night.
 At the hearing MT. Korper appear ed for the governor and the Federal Employment Bureau, and Secretary Julian of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce, and Secretary of La Dor had two representatives present who vigorously supported the Con necticut contention.
 Both MT. Korper and MT. Julian made very effective statements.
 Justice Wheeler made the pre- sentation of the case of Bridgeport. He, at the beginning, said that he came as the representative of the community and in behalf of the 7,500 hands who would be laid off by the Remington and U. M. c. Co. if the cancellation orders now in force were carried out He said the manufac- turers could take care of themselves, but the employees who had nothing but their labor as their capital were entitled to protection and he was glad the Chamber of Commerce felt its ob- hgation to the community as it did and glad that he had the privilege of speaking for the employees of our intuition factories Justice Wheel CT drew picture of what Bridge port, her manufacturers and en- ployes had done to help win the war From that point he entered into the argument showing that on Nov. 16 the Remington-U. M. c. had 2O,40O hands, that they had laid off since Nov. 16 over 4,OOO hands, that in the past week they had laid off 1900 hands.
 That the laying off of 7,50O imme- diately would cause great distress in Bridgeport, that 1t was unreasonable to ask for reduction faster than had already taken place,
 He said that Bridgeport industries could not absorb so great an influx of unemployed. He showed by facts and figures that we are unable to take up the labor already discharged. He showed what our manufacturers had done in meeting postwar condi- tions. He showed the effects upon the subscriptions of the employees to Liberty loans, War Savings, and war work campaign if this wholesale dis charge should happen.
 He pictured the widespread suffer ing and distress that would follow, the great unrest which would develop and the disorganization upon all in dustry in Bridgeport which must fol- low.
 . He pictured what our employees had done towards increasing produc- ton and said that 1t was clear that the war could not have been won when it was won without the help of Bridgeport and of Connecticut. And he insisted that 1t was unfair and un- just to treat labor in this way. He said it wasn't a place for the appli- cation of mere economies, but for good sense and genuine humanity.
 He said the Remington-U. M. c. Go. figured the total cost of all their contracts of goods under way would be S7,o00,000 of which about two thirds of these were partially done. so that the government could put in an additional sum of $2,500,000 and get back the product even if this was not needed 1t was wise to go on with the manufacture instead of causing such widespread distress.
 Justice Whse1er's talk was some what extended owing in part to in teFruptions and questions At it's con- clnsion Mir. Korper made very, strong argument followed by Score tary Julian who gave the New Haven side of the story in a forceful and graphic way.
 The representatives of the Labor Department supported Justice Wheeler tn his position very strongly.
 The Justice asked that the cancel IasAon of var contracts should be made in such 8 way as not to griev- eusly disturb labor and throw out of employment athoBsaHdzs who could not find work As apDliad to the Rem! lngtea-p, M, c, be said that if their e9ntRaets were alieFFed to continue InRtil April 1stA with the pReviso that sbsY sfleASd let go each week 1,ee0 hands it was thought that Bridgeport industries would he able to absorb most oe this help and that he felt thst this was 8. reasonable request to make and one which would in the end involve less eest to the country than. the method ordered: lie asked that the committee issue orders to that ef- feet or write to this concern letter of instruction. MT, Julioa and MT, K6FpeF and the Secretary of Giaber Seiled in this Teaqest and that this method be adapted thRQHgheut Con- neetieHt. They were Hnaasle to secure a decision. Justice Wheeler was asked this gaaFn{ng # he expected a faveFabI8 dgeiaea and he said he could not tell Fhe 6aet thak the ReHniagtep-B. Bf. C.. had Iaad 'e4 last night the 7ye0a men it said it would le9k as if it dta not Sheps for a faEoEsble decision,