The sun., 1918-12-09
BETHLEHEM CO.
And WAR BOARD
CLASH ON EDICT
Steel Plant Head Scored by
Taft and Manly for Dis
obeying Findings.
BREAK OVER EXAMINERS
Company Seeks to Install It's
Own System of Bargaining
With Employees.

b.,veen the Bethlehem Steel Company
and the National War Labor Board
was revealed yesterday when the War
Board made public letter in which
E. G. Grace. president OF the steel
company, requested the withdrawal
OF the board's examiners from his
plant
A hot rejoinder signed by William
Howard Taft and Basil NJ. Manly.
Joint chairmen Of the War Board. has
been made. In this letter the chair
men accuse the Bethlehem company
Of refusing to apply the boards find
ings or TO respect its authority for the
reason that hostilities have ceased.
Mr.. Grace stated in his letter that
his company was unable to adopt a
finding OF the boards examiners be-
cause hostilities had ended, with the
consequent cancellation of the greater
mart OF the war orders on which the
employees affected were working.
The principal point which aroused
the wrath of the War Labor Board
was, however, the company's desire to
substitute for the boards system OF
collective bargaining by the employees
a system Of its own.
The system Of collective bargaining
installed by the War Labor Board con-
sisted OF the election by the workers
OF one shop committeeman for every
hundred workers. These delegates
deal with representatives of the COM
pany under the supervision Of the War
Boards examiners. There were at
Bethlehem about $50 of these dele
gates and several examiners OF the
board.
I'm view of the problems which con-
front us at Bethlehem, our force there
being four times as much as at the
outbreak Of the European war" Mr.
Grace says in his letter. may we sug-
gest the desirability Of withdrawing
your examiners who are still at our
plant, thus permitting us to proceed
TO make the necessary adjustments
and Encouragement OF our working
forces to meet the new peace time COM
pettive conditions. and also to enable
US to proceed with the installation OF
the practical. comprehensive and per.
manent plan Of employees representa-.
ton, providing for collective bargain
ing, which is now in successful opera
ton at our other plants" -. -.
Boards Powers Not Yet Ended.
Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Manly, in their re- :
ply. point out that the authority and
powers Of the board are to contsinua
undated until the President has pro-
claimed peace. go, -, - ..-- ..
This action by your company pre-
sents a situation Of grave Importance
10 the nation" the Joint chairmen saw.
Last July. when the outcome of the
war was hanging in the balance. upon
representations, Of officials of the War
Department that conditions in the
bethlehem plant were gravely endan-
gering the successful prosecution of
the war and in order that our troops
might not be left. short of guns and
ammunition, the War Labor r -ord ex-
erted every resource 20 ..-ep the en-
playees of the Bethlehem Steel Com
WI II W SCNuIC DTO-
ductlon. Relying upon the War Labor
board TO bring about an equitable adj
Jusment Of conditions in the Beth
lehem Steel Company, the workmen
remained at their tasks, and, we are
informed greatly increased the pro-
auction OF war supplies over what they
mad been prior to the intervention of
the board.
You personally agreed to the in
Stallaton Of system Of collective bar
gaming satisfactory to the board and
amer the supervision OF the board s
examiners. You now wish to repudiate
mat system of collective bargaining
and ask that the boards examiners be
withdrawn. Your company asked and
received the assistance of the board in
securing increased compensation from
the War and Navy Departments to
meet whatever increases in wages were
brought about by the boards award.
You now, without application TO us,
announce the annulment Of the boards
findings on the ground that hostilities
nave ceased and certain OF your war
contracts are being cancelled.
Men Not Needed to He Released.
THE findings of the board do not
require that you continue in your en-
Payment any man whose services are
no longer needed because of the can
collation. Of war contracts. The board,
however, does require that you carry
out in good faith the findings OF the
board upon the basis OF which your
employees consented to remain at work
and thus maintained the production
and the profits Of your company.
This is a question of the good faith
OF your company and of the Govern
ment itself. II the award OF the board
should now be repudiated. your work.
men would have every right to feel
that they had been deceived and
grossly imposed upon by your COM
pany, by the War Labor Board and by
the other officials OF the Government
Who prevailed upon them TO remain
a. work on the assurance that they
would be Justly dealt with.
We must, therefore, insist that the
machinery OF collective bargaining al
ready established be maintained and
permitted to function. and that the
othcr findings OF the board be carried
out fully and promptly"
boards Letter Not Received.
Wen called on the long distance
"'ephone at his home at Bethlehem
'ast night Mr.. Grace said he had not
received reply to his letter, which
was dated November 81. The COM
''lhlcatlon Of the War Labor Board
-, IS dated Washington. December 6