New-York tribune., 1918-09-14

industry in the community in which
the strike occurs for period of one
year. During the time the United
States Employment Service Will de-
cline to obtain employment for you
IN any war industry elsewhere in the
United States, as we'll as under the
War and Navy departments. the Ship
ping Board. the railway administra
tion and all government agencies. and
the draft boards will be instructed to
reject any claim of exemption based
on your alleged usefulness in war
production. Sincerely yours.
"WOODROW WILSON,
United States Takes Over Plant
Communicating of the Smith e. Wes-
son plant and the placing of All army
ordnance officer in charge was an
nounced formally by the War Depart
ment after the action had been dis
closed by Pres dent Wilson, in let
ter notifying striking workmen at
Bridgeport that they must return to
work.
This action" said the departments S
statement. was made necessary by the
refusal of the Smith & Wesson Com
pany to abide ny the award of tho Ma
tional War Labor Board. rendered
August 22. 1918. This is tho only in
stance Of manufactured under con-
tract with the War Department arbi-
trarily rejecting an award by the
agency set UP by the President for the
maintenance OF industrial peace dur
ing the war.
"The War Labor Boards finding in
the Smith & Wesson case was made
upon a recommendation by Joint Chair
man Frank ?. Walsh and Frederick ~
Judson, acting Joint chairman in the
absence of Mr.. Taft The Walsh Jud-
son report recommended that the com
pany discontinue for the period of the
war It's practice of compelling en-
poyes not to Join trade union; that
one clause Of which bound the EN-
ployc not to join trade union; that
tho right to DIN trade unions be cX
tended to the workers and that a sys-
tenn Of collective bargaining be estab
! lshed in the Smith & Wcsson plant.
The demand of the workers for a 25
per cent increase in pay was not con-
ceded in the recommendation it being
( stated that the question Of wages
could best be worked out through the
/ operation of the collective barga inn..
system.
ain its letter rejecting the War
Labor Boards findings, the Smith G.
/ Wesson Comany said:
"'Thc Smith & Wesson Company
sees no reason why it should abandon
( its lawful and legitimate method of
doing business, known and proved by it
to be conducive to industrial peace
and high efficiency for the fantastic
method outlined by the War Labor
Board in it's recommendation for deal
ing with its employees
Objects to Concerns Language
"Thc language employed by the com
pany IN the foregoing paragraph was
held to be calculated to induce other
employers to avoid the jurisdiction Of
the War Labor Board and to defeat
the object Of the President in its
creation, and the company's general at
ttude toward the reasonable findings
of the board was deemed such as might
be expected to disturb industry and to
interfere with production
The recommendations contained in
the War Labor Boards finding are in
thorough accord with the principles
and policies TO govern industrial re-
lations for the period of the war pro
mulgated by the Pres dent and made
the constitution of the War Labor
Board. These principles and policies
were adopted by duly selected repre-
sentatvcs OF organized employers and
workers of the United States. It is the
policy of the War Department to give
Labor Board in all cases coming under
the jurisdiction of the departments"
Morrison Regrets Workers. Attitude
Frank p. Morrison, secretary Of the
American Federation Of Labor, in a
statement tonight, said:
"Thc refusal of the machnists of
bridgeport to abide by the award made
through the machinery of the national
War Labor Board, and their further
refusal to heed the advice and instruc-
tions of President Johnston, of their
international organization, to return to
work, Is to be deeply regretted
The officers Of the international or
carnations have, without exception. in
sisted upon all agreements entered into
whether with the government or pri-
Vate concerns being complied with
First Workers to Refuse
While there have been a number of
employers who have absolutely refused d
TO submit their grievances to the War
Labor Board, and the Bethlehem Steel
Company and others have refused to
comply with the award of the War
Labor Board, this is the first instance
that has been brought TO my attention
whore the members of organized labor
have failed to comply with an award of
the War Laboi Board. even though tho
award or decision did not reach their
expectations.
Failure OF local unions of interna-
tlonals TO follow the advice and instruc-
tons OF their duly elected international
representatives cannot but bring about
condition that is in opposition to the
desires of the 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
rehearinG of their case to the War La
Dor Board"
Bridgeport Union.