The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-18
MASS. PLANT MAY BE RUN BY GOVT.
s. A. Woods Machine Co.,, Boston, DisObeys War
 Labor Board Orders

Washington, Aug. 18 - (UP) = President Roosevelt is expected to order government seizure and oper- ation of the s. A. Woods Machine Company, Boston, Mass, today un- less the company decides at the last minute to comply with a War Labor Board order.
 The company, in telegram to the board last night, virtually de- clined to comply with the order which was to grant union workers a maintenance of membership con- tract and establish arbitration ma- chinery. It would affect $50 em- ployeS.
 The telegram, sent to the board s public member Wayne L. Morse, conte1ded that there is no reason why he should be called upon to surrender the rights of American citizens" The company said neither union maintenance nor compulsory arbitration had anything to do with production in its plant, but that i've shall cooperate in production to the fullest extent permitted us whether we or the government oper- ate the plant"
 The telegram was in reply to one sent yesterday by Morse to H. c. Dodge, president of the firm, accus- ing the company of "dilatory tac- tics" tantamount to manage ment strike against the govern ment." The company had appealed for delay in compliance with the boards order pending court test of the boards powers.
 Until 2 P. M.
 Unless the board is advised by p. m. tomorrow, Aug. IS, that the company is prepared to comply im- mediately with the boards order in this Case, the board will be forced to refer the matter to the presi- dent for such action as he deems appropriate" Morse told the com- pany.
 Thus no action is contemplated before 2 D. m. At that time, if the company has not changed it's mind, VILE Chairman William H. Davis probably will call at the White House and inform the president of the company's refusal. Shortly thereafter a seizure order can be expected directing the army to take over and operate the plant.
 It would be the second plant within week that the president has ordered seized. Last week the navy took over the General Cable Co.,, of Bayonne and Perth Amboy, N. J., and is now operating it. That was seized ecause workers went on strike and refused to obey a VILE return-to-work order.
 General Gable employees were re- buked yesterday by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox for showing 'ill- advised defiance of the VILE and causing a dangerous threat to the success of our national effort in this critical emergency" In a letter to Michael Petrakian, leader of the employees who struck, Knox said the navy has too much fighting to do to be managing plants which should be operating in the American way under their own management" Pe- trakian had telegraphed President Roosevelt that the workers would redouble their efforts under govern ment management to offset pro- duction losses during the strike.
 The dispute at the Woods plant dates back to Au,,. when the WLB ordered the company, which has army contracts for munitions, to grant the CLOS United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers a maintenance of membership con- tract and to establish arbitration machinery. The WLB's refusal to delay pending 8 court test brought from the company last night this telegram to the VILE:
 Your telegram received. We regret that you are disposed to deny us court test of your powers. Neither union maintenace nor com- pulsory arbitration have anything to do with production in our plant. Production in our plant is in no wise jeopardized by the manage ment. If threatened, it will be only as the result of activities of lead- CTS of organized labor under the cloak of your decision"
 l "There Is no reason why we