New-York tribune., 1918-09-18
Presidents Order
Stops New Strike
AT Bridgeport
Returning >Workmen Com
plain Employers Started
Discrimination
Especial Dispatch to The Tribulc)

Especial Dispatch to The Tribuno)
BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Sept. 17.~A
swift interchange Of kilograms be-
tween this city and the Whito House
to-day alone prevented recrudcscencc
Of the trouble which for more than a
fortnight has held up the production
of munitions in this, the greatest
way manufacturing city of the United
States.
At noon to-day 1000 men were ready
to march out again in strike against
the attitude assumed toward them by
their employers. In accordance with
their vote on Monday, the men APP
pearcd this morning at the various fac
tories which they quit on August 80,
with the announcement ot the Eidlitz
award. Contrary to the previously pub
lished reports, however, these men were
not taken back without prejudice y
into the jobs each had occupied before
the big strike in this city was called.
Many Of them were made to reg
lister" as if they never before had done
work in the factories in question
Others were shunteo TO Jobs inferior 20
those which they had held before the
walk-out was ordered. AS result. in
olgnation mounted high and strike
headquarters was thronged with opera
tives vehemently protesting that they
would not stand for it,"
In consequence Sam Lavit, the local
business agent, shortly after / o'clock
sent telegram to President Wilson,
reading as follows:
Men voted to return to work this
morning and abide by your orders.
Manufacturers refuse to reinstate
former employees. Immediate action
on your part will prevent another
strike this afternoon.
SAMUEL LAVIT.
Business Agent"
The big works here continued to
be deadlocked until late in the after
noon when the Presidents answer, ad-
dressed to the heads of the several
plants here, arrived. 1t was almost as
peremptory an order as, late last week,
chlnists. 1t read:
My attention has been called TO
the fact that several thousand ma
chinists and others employed in con
nection with the war Industries in
Bridgeport, Conn.,. engaged in the
strike to obtain further concessions
because they were not satisfied with
the decision rendered by the umpire
appointed under the authority con
tcrred upon the National War Labor
Board.
On the 18th inst I communicated
WIN the workmcn engaged in the
strike, demanding that they accept
the decision OF the arbitrator and
return to work and stated the penal
ties which would be imposed if they
refused to do so.
Inc men at meeting voted to re
turn to work this morning, but !
nm Informed by their repre- se natives
that the employers refused to re-
lnstate their former employees. In
view of the fact that the workmen
had so promptly complied with nv
directions, | must insist upon the
reinstatement Of all Of these men.
WOODROW WILSON.
This communication effectively
che cked all forms of fine distinction on
the part OF the employers, and the
night shift went to work without any
particular new lines being drawn. At
the same time, all the suspicious of tho
e%-strikcrs have been wildly revived.
at a meeting of the men held this
evening it was voted to speed to the
utmost the work of the American La
Dor party, formed at Yesterdays con-
vcntion.