River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-02-21
Shipyard Strike Called Off BY
Hutchinson When President
Sends Reproof.
STRIKE WOULD AID FOE
Question Put Squarely Ia Union Chief
BY Executive With Result That
Men Are Told To Return
To Jobs.

New York, Feb. 19.-The shipyards
strike at the port of New York and
other eastern points has been called
off by William l.. Hutcheson, general
president of the United Brotherhood
Of Carpenters and Joiners. Definite
action was taken after Hutcheson
had received a telegram from Presi-
dent Wilson, rebuking him with a
query as to whether he stood ready
to cooperate or obstruct'' the pro-
greSs of the war.
Mr.. Hutcheson Immediately sent
messages to all of the brotherhood re-
representatives. that could be reached
last night, instructing them to send
word out to the men to report at their
places of work at once. Moore than
5000 men out will return Immediately
at Mr. Hutcheson's order.
The message from the President
deeply impressed the labor leaders
here. They held a long conference at
which all phases of the situation were
discussed The order to call off the
strike was issued after it was decided
to take up the adjustment of their
differences with the shipyard employ
ers directly with President Wilson.
The Presidents message to Hutche-
son said:
Points Need of Ships.
81 have received your telegram of
yesterday and am very glad to note
the expression of your desire as a
patriotic citizen to assist in carrying
on the work by which we are trying
to save America and men everywhere
who work and are free.
Taking advantage of that assur-
ance, | feel it to be my duty to call
your attention to the fact that the
strike of the carpenters in the ship
yards is in marked and painful con-
trast to the action of labor in other
trades and places.
Ships are absolutely necessary for
the winning of this war. No one can
strike a deadlier blow to the safety
of the nation and of it's forces on the
other side than by interfering with or
obstructing the shipbuilding program.
"All the other unions engaged in
this indispensable work have agreed
to abide by the decisions of the ship
building wage adjustment board. That
board has dealt fairly with all who
have resorted to it. | must say to you
very frankly that it is your duty to
leave to it the solution of your present
difficulties with your employers, and
to advise the men who you represent
to return at once to work pending the
decision.
"Wil You Cooperate or Obstruct?"
mo body of men have the moral
right under the present circumstances
of the nation to strike until every
method of adjustment has been tried
TO the limit. If you do not act upon
this principle you are undoubtedly Civ
ing aid and comfort to the enemy,
whatever may be your own conscious
purpose.
Il do not see that anything will be
gained by my seeing you personally
until you have accepted and acted up
on that principle. 1t is the duty of
the government to see that the best
possible conditions of labor are main
tanned, as it is also its duty to see to
it that there is no lawless and con,
scienceless profiteering and that duty
the government has accepted and will
perform. Will you cooperate or will
you obstruct?"
The message was signed by the
President