The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-14
Strikers Must Return or Be Barred From All Govern
 ment Controlled Work
SMITH-WESSON PLANT
 IS COMMANDEERED
Both Employers and Employees Noti- fled That No Controversies Will Be Permitted to Interfere With
 War Material Production

Bridgeport. Conn, September 13. Striking machinists from the Bridge port munitions plants held a mass meet ing this afternoon and,remained in ses- Ision. two hours awaiting an official copy of President Wilson's letter de- manding that the men return to their work. It was announced that the Presi- cents message had not been received and adojurnment was taken to 3 D. m. Monday. Strike leaders said Chat if the letter hadN been received at that time the machinists would vote on it.
 Samuel Lavit, business agent of tha local machinists' union. said after the meeting that if the Presidents letter was as drastic as indicated in nress eeiesfams, 1t was his opinion the striis CTS would accept the alternattve of- Tered to go before their draft hoard. TOT Induction into the army str,,-o leaders refused. however. to-acoant ~, newspaper version of the presidat.s reliablep p"
 
 i'aoi LOOK the War labor situation in hand personally today and applied tbs iaWiess and faithless employees force in Keeping with drastic measures which ne ulsesosed had been adopted with his an. pfovai in dealing with recalcitrant am. ployes. e'"-
 striking iHachinists and ofher ;..ar plant workmen at Bridgeport cam r.a,.s informed in letter addressed direct1x. to them by the President. that they must return to their work and abide bv tb. decision of the war labor board. or be barred for a year from all employment over which the government exercises con- sfoi' and lose all claims for draft exemp- ten on cccupational grounds.
 At the same time the President an. nounced that the plant and business Of the smith x Wesson company of Spring. Held, Mass, the first employer to Haunt the rules of the war labor board approved by presidential proclamation had been communicated bv the war de- partment
 In effect, the President gave notice to both employees and employers that no la por controversies will be permitted to stand in the way of the production of
 
 The great majority of both employers and workmen are cooperating heartily with the government. With the broad communicating powers granted by Con. Gless. the large measure of control exer- cised over all plants doing war work, the operations of the federal employment service, and the far-reaching worK or fight regulation of the provost marshal general, the President is prepared to see ha fAx it,nl tn cto fro not interfere with the output of the in- dustrial army.
 ACTION REGRETTED
 Frank P. Morrison, secretary of the American FederatiA of Labor. in statement tonight said the action of the machinists at Bridgeport lis to be deeply regretted" and added that this was the first instance where members of organized labor have failed to com ply With an award by the national war labor board
 '.The refusal said Mir. Morrison "of the machinists of Bridgeport to abide by the award made through the ma chinery of the national war labor board and their further refusal to heed the advice and instructions of President Johnson of their international organi- zation to return to work is to be deeply regretted
 '1'he officers of the international or ganizations have, without exception, i'm sisted upon all agreements entered into with the government or pri- vate concerns-being compiled with.
 While there have been a number of employers who have absolutely refused to submit their grievances to the war labor board, and the Bethlehem Steel and others have refused to comply with the award of the war la Dor board. this is the first instance that has been brought to my attention where the members of organized labor have failed to comply with an award Of the war labor board. even though the award or decision did not reach their expectations.
 Failure of local unions to follow the advice and instructions of their duly appointed international officials can not but bring about condition that is in opposition to the desires sofsthe organized bodies of workers of the United States. "The machinists. after returning to work upon the request of President Wilson. can follow the advice of the President and make application for a re e-hearing of their case to the war la bor boapd.''