Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-14
STRIKERS ARE WARNED
MUST RETURN TO WORK
President Tells Bridgeport Machin-
lists They Arc Violating
Agreement.
MAY BE BARRED FROM POSITIONS
III They Fail to Respond They Will
Go Jobless for Year and Excmp
ton Claims on Ground of War
Work Will Not Be Recognized.
IBy Associated Press. l

w 5 III y G T y, September 10
striking machinists at Bridgeport.
Conn have been notified by President
wilson that unless they return to work
ana abide by the wage award of the
war Labor Board. they will be barred
from employment for year and draft
board Will be instructed TO rejec. any
claim of exemption from military SER
vice based upon their alleged useful
ness on war production.
The Presidents warning wen; 20 -da y
IN letter addressed to the machinists.
replying to resolutions forwarded to
him announcing the strike because of
dissa tisfaction over the War Labor
BOARDS award and a later interpreta :
toh by am umpire.
Bridgeport District Lodge OF the Inter
national Association OF Machinists and
olher striklnE workmen of Bridgeport.
Conn. II follows:
Gentiemcn.-i am in receipt of Your
resolutions of September announcing
mat you have begun strike against
your employers in Bridgeport Conn.
you are members of the Bridgeport
branches of the International Union OF
M"chiniStS. As such and with the APP
prevail Of the national officers OF Your
union YOU signed an agreement to sub
NIT The questions az TO the terms O,
your employment TO the National War
iaDof Soard ana TO abide by the ava I'd
which in accordance with the rules OF
procedure approved by me might be
made.
The members Of tho board we're not
able TO reach unanimous conclusion
on all the issues presented and. as pro-
rided in its constitution. the questions
upon which they did not agree We're
carried before an arbitrator the unau
nous choice Of the members Of the
board
MORE THAN 80 PER CENT
HAVE ACCEPTED AM ARD
The arbitrator thus chosen has made
an award which more than 30 per cent
Of the workers affected accept You
who constitute less than 10 per cent.
refuse TO abide the award, although
you are me best paid of the whole body
Of workers affected. and are: therefore.
least entitled to press a further in
crease OF wages because of the high
cost OF living. But whatever the
merits OF the issue j, is closed by the
board. Your strike against il is 4
breach OF faith calculated TO reflect on
the sincerity OF national organized
labor in proclaiming its acceptance OF
the principles and machinery or the
National War Labor Board
III such disregard of the solemn adj
judication Of u tribunal To which both
parties submitted their claims he tenn
porized with agreements become mere
scraps OF paper; il errors creep into
awards the proper remedy is Submiss ION
20 the award with napplication for
rehearin2 TO tho tribunal. But TO
strike against the award is disloyalty
/ and disHcnor.
The Smith & Wesson Company OF
Springfield. Mass, engaged in govern
ment work. has refused 10 accept the
mediation Of the National War Labor
Board and has Haunted its rules OF de-
/ ciSion approved by presidential proc
iamation With my consent the War
4 Department has taken over the plant
and business of the company to secure
continuity in production and TO pre-
MUST BE CONSISTENT
IN ENFORCING COMPLIANCE
1T is OF the highest Importance 10
secure compliance with reasonable
rules and procedure for the scttlemen;
. OF Industrial disputes. Having exer.
I cis"d a drastic remedy with rccaIc!tran,
employers II is my duty TO use means
equally we'll adapted TO the end with
| iawless and faithless employees.
wherefore desire that YOU return
to work and abide by the award. II
YOU refuse each one Of YOU will bt
barred from employment in any war
. Industry in the community in which
the strike occurs for period OF one
year During that time The United
I States employment service will decline
TO obtain employment for you In any
war industry elsewhere in the Unit ed
States, as we'll as under the War and
Navy Departments. the Shipping Boa I'd
the railway administration and all gov
eminent agancies. and the draft boa rts
Will be Instructed to reject any clair
OF exemption based on your alleged
usefulness on war production.
Sincerely yours,
N.Y.