Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-06

What old PRESIDENT " IlSOll w III
the first World War when con-
fronted with a similar situation?
Representative Satterfeld, Demo-
crat, of Virginia has called the at
tention of Mr.. Roosevelt to a re-
markable letter written by Presi-
dent Wilson on September ID, 1913,
which was addressed to a local
union Of the International Assocla-
tion of Machinists at Bridgeport,
Conn. 1t reads as follows:
Gentlemen:
81 am in receipt of your resolu-
tions of September 6 announcing.
that YOU have begun strike against
YOUR employers in Bridgeport, Conn
You are members Of the Bridgeport
branches of the International Union
of Machinists. AS such, and with
the approval of the national officers
of YOUR union, you signed an agree
nent to submit the questions as
To terms of your employment to the
National War Labor Board and to
abide by the award which, IN &C
cordance with the rules of proce-
dure approved by me, might be
made.
Breach of Faith.
1.-THE members Of the board were
not able to reach a unanimous con-
clusion on all the issues presented,
and as provided in the constitution,
the questions upon which they did
not agree were carried before an
arbitrator. the unanimous choice Of
the board.
"The arbitrator thus chosen has
made an award which more than
90 per cent of the workers affected
accept. You who constitute less than
10 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
entitled to press a further increase
of wages because of the high cost
of living. But whatever the merits
Of the issue, it is closed by the
award. Your strike against it is a
breach of faith calculated to reflect
on the sincerity of national Or
ganized labor in proclaiming its &C
ceptance of the principles and the
machinery of the National War La
Dor Board.
eff such disregard of the solemn
adjudication of a tribunal to which
both parties submitted their claims
be temporized with, agreements be-
come mere scraps of paper. If errors
creep into awards, the proper rem
edy is submission to the award with
an application for a rehearing to
the tribunal. But to strike against
the award is diSloyalty and dishonor.
Shoe Fits Both Feet.
'The Smith & WeSson Co. OF
Springfield, Mass, engaged in Gov
eminent work, has refused to accept
the mediation of the National War
Labor Board and has houted its
rules of decision approved by presi-
dental proclamation. With my con-
sent, the War Department has
taken over the plant and business
of the company to secure contin-
uity in production and TO prevent
industrial disturbance.
ut is of the highest Importance
to secure compliance with reason
able rules and procedure for the
settlement of industrial disputes
Having exercised a drastic remedy
with recalcitrant employers, it is
my duty to use means equally well
adapted to the end with the lawless
and faithless employees.
Therefore, I desire that you re-
turn to work and abide by the
award. If you refuse, each of you
will be barred from employment in
any war industry in the community
in which the strike occurs for g
period of one year. During thai
time the United States Employment
Service will decline to obtain EN-.
ployment for you in any war indus
try elsewhere in the United States
as well as under the War and Navy
Departments, the Shipping Board
the Railroad Administration and al
other Government agencies, and the
draft boards will be instructed u
reject any claim of exemption basec
on your alleged usefulness in wa
production.
Sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON,"
The same drastic steps referred
30 in Mr.. Wilson'S letter have beer
suggested in Washington man.
times this year but the soft peda
has been put on them in the belle
by the administration that tn
strikes would soon quiet down ant
be eliminated.
Helpless Unless Backed.
The National Defense Mediation
Board is doing a constructive jol
under trying circumstances but
will be helpless If it isn't backe'
up by the President. incidentally
It is gratifying to be able to an
nounce that Vice Chairman Davi
of the Mediation Board states pos
itively that any alleged spokesme
for the board in the Middle Yves
who are endeavoring to predic
either his views or those of othe
members of the board with refer
ence to cases not yet brought befor
the board are misrepresenting tn
work of the board.
The Mediation Boards prestig
will rise or fall in accordance as
Is held to be an impartial bod