South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-18
WILSON HANDS
4 HOT REBUKE
TO HUTCHINSON
Tells Carpenter Head His AC-
ton on Shipyard Strike
Gives Aid and Com
fort to Enemy.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 1s - Pres't
Wilson took a hand Sunday night
in the eastern ship yard labor
strikes and issued "A sharp rebuke 10
William l.. Hutchinson. president IF
the brotherhood OF Carpenters ard
JOiners who after refusing 20 send
striking ship carpenters back %
work pending action by the ship
building labor adjustment board
had asked for "a personal confer-
ence TO la the situation before the
president.
In effect the president declared
that IL HutchesOn did not want 20
give aid and comfort 20 the enemy
be would send the men TO work and
leave a settlement of differences To
the adjustment board and declined
10 see him until he had done so.
The president sent this telegram
90 the union chief
II have received your telegram
Of yesterday and am very glad u
note the expression Of your desire
as a patriotic citizen TO assist in the
work by which we are trying %
save America ard men everywhere
who work and are free. Taking
advantage OF that assurance. ] fscl
It, 20 be my duty 20 call your at
tentiou 20 the fact that the strike
Of the carpenters in the ship yards
is in marked and painful coutreSt
90 the action Of labor In other trades
and places. Ships are absolutely
necessary for the winning or this
war No one can strike a deadlier
blow at the safety OF the nation and
OF it's forces on the other side tran
by interfering with or obstructins
The ship building program.
No Right to Strike.
All the other unions engaged i'm
this indispensable work have agreed
10 abide By the decisions OF the ship
building wage adjustment board
That board mas dealt fairly and lilo
orally with all who have resOrteI
% IL. L must say TO YOU very frank
ly that IL is your duty 20 leave TO
10 the solution OF your present diff
culties with your employers and u
advise the men whom YOU represent
the decision. No body of men have
the moral right in the present cir.
cumstances of the nation 10 strike
until after every method OF adjust.
ment has Leen tried TO the limit If
YOU do not act upon this principle
YOU are undoubtedly giving aid ana
comfort TO the enemy. whatever
may bc your own conscious pur-
pose.
FL do not see that anything VII
be gained by my seeing YOU per
sonally until YOU have accepted and
acted upon that principle II is the
duty OF the government 10 see that
the best possible conditions of labor
are maintained as it is also its duty
20 see Co IL that there is no lawless
and conscienceless prodteering and
that duty the government has ac-
cepted and will perform VIII you
cooperate or viii YOU obstruct3
tSigned) WOODROW WILSON,
other Heads Oppose Hutchinson.
The fact that other union heads
are refusing 10 support Hutcheson's
position and that they fear his at
titude may put labor generally in .
false light encouraged shipping
board officials To believe that the
carpenters who are out in the New
York district and at Baltimore will
return TO work even if Hutchinson
does not direct them 10 do so. Car
Ienters' locals i'm other districts al
ready are dealing directly with "a
adjustment board and those at Bal
umore have been given the privilege
~ accepting the new Delaware river
wage award announced Saturday
night which grants substantial in
crease i'm wages
All other trades in the New York
district except the carpenters have
agreed 90 leave "a settlement OF thei-
claims 20 the Adjustment board ard
their demands viii bee taken up
within the next week Members OF
the board are hopeful that the car
uenters there will return 90 work
iu view q the wage increase given
iu the Delaware district ON which a
New York award will be based