Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-09-14
WILSON SENDS A
WARNING NOTE To
IDLE MACH|NISTS
Bridgeport Strikers Must Re-
turn to Work, or Be Barred
From Employment for a
Year. May Have to Fight,
lsY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrRrl

tsY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wiREI
Washington, Sept, 13.-Strilling ma
chinists at Bridgeport Conn, have
been notified by President Wilson that
unless they return to work and abide
by the wage award of the war labor
board, they will be barred fom en-
ployment for a year and draft boards
will be instructed to reject any claim
of exemption from military service
hasad upon their alleged usefulness
oa s,sd production.
The presidents warning went today
in letter addressed to the machin-
lists, replying to resolutions forwarded
to him announcing the strike because
of dissabsfac over the war la
Dor boards award and q later lister
pretation by an umpire.
The letter was addressed to the
Bridgeport district lodge of the In
ternational association of machinists,
''and other striking workmen of
Bridgeport, Conn.," 1t follows
Gentlemen;
II am in receipt of your resolutions
Of September s, announcing that you
have begun a strike against your em-
ployers in Bridgeport, Conn. You are
members of the Bridgeport branches
of the international Union of Ma
chinists. As such and with the approx
al Of the national officers of your
union you signed an agreement to
submit the question as to the terms OF
your employment to the national war
labor board and to abide the award
which in accordance with the rules
of procedure approved by me might
be made
Issues Were Arhitrated.
"fhe members of the board were
not able tor reach a unanimous con-
clusion on all the issues presented
and as provided in It's constitution the
questions upon which they did not
agree were carried before an arbitra-
tor, the unanimous chaice of the
members of the board.
"The arbitrator thus chosen has
made an award which more than
ninety per cent of the workers affect
ed accept. You who constitute less
than ten per cent refuse to abide by
the award, although you are the best
paid of the whole body of workers
affected and are, therefore, least en-
titled to press a further increase of
wages because of the high cost of liv-
ing. But whatever the merits of the
issue, it Is closed by the award Your
strike against it is breach of faith
calculated to reflect on the sincerity
of national organized labor In pro-
claiming its acceptance of the prin-
ciples and machinery of the national
war labor board.
''If such disregard of the solemn
adjudication of a tribunal to which
both parties submitted heir claims,
be temporized with, agreements be-
come mere scraps OF paper. If errors
creep into awards the proper remedy
Is submission to the award with an
application for rehearing to the trib-
unal. But to strike against the award
Is disloyalty and dishonor
One Plant Taken Over.
"rhe Smith & Wesson company of
Springfield. engaged in government
work, has refused to accept the med
iation Of the national war labor board
and has Haunted its refusal of the de-
cision approved by presidential pro-
clamation With my consent the war
department has taken over the plant
and business OF the company to Sc
cure continuity in production and to
prevent industrial disturbance.
at is of the highest Importance to
secure compliance with reasonable
rules and procedure for the settle
ment of industrial disputes Having
exercised a drastic remedy with re-
calctrant employers 1t is my duty to
consult means equally well adapted
to end with lawless and faithless en-
ployes.
Therefore, ! desire that you return
to work and abide by the award. If
you refuse each one of you will be
barred from employment in any war
industry in the community in which
the strike occurs fof period Of one
year. During that time the United
States employment service will decline
to obtain employment for you in any
war industry elsewhere in the United
States as well as under the war and