The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-20
WOODS MACHINE.
 PLANT IS SEIZED
I5O Soldiers Patrol Area in Boston, Where Govt.
 Took Over

! Boston, Aug. 20.-CUP)-One hun Idred fifty heavily-armed soldiers pa- troled the s. A. Woods Machine Co. plant here today as the U. S. army, acting under President Roosevelt's orders, operated the munition-pro- ducing factory whose officials re- peatedly refused to comply with 8 war labor board order. Maj. Ralph P. Cow and his aides from the Boston ordnance district, erection production of war orders, prepared to issue statement after night-long study of the plants operations.
 In the first New England action of its kind and the governments seventh plant seizure during the war emergency, the troops in full fight ing equipment moved swiftly into the plant early last night under the direction of Lt.-Col. James A. Ken nedy of the First Service Command.
 Plant officials had left when the soldiers alighted from seven army trucks. They lined up at gate, end Maj. Cow, addressing himself to Plant Guard Anthony De Fra tus, began tuo read:
 "In pursuant of orders from the secretary of war and signed by the President of the United States, I am directed .."
 %. K.", said De Fratus and swung the gate open. The soldiers marched inside.
 A night crew of workers, part of the plants 700 employees continued their work without interruption. A few plant maintenance men peered from windows to watch the army activities.
 Small Crowd Gathered
 A small crowd had gathered in the street but were kept at some distance from the gates by soldiers. The street was closed to traffic for a brief period.
 Company President Harry c. Dodge remained at his office until late in the day. But he had reached home when notified by the army that they planned to make the seiz- ure within an hour. Neither he nor other company officials con- mented.
 Business Agent Arthur R. Han- nigan and local president Freder- ick Newell of the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of Amer ica (CIO) expressed delight at the arrival of the soldiers.
 They had waited impatiently for | the action and only few hours earlier Hannigan threatened to is- sue a vigorous statement" on the situation. They said they had im- portant shop problems to discuss with whoever was placed in charge of operations.
 Major Cow issued the following statement:
 '"The United States army, pursu- ant to the order of President Roose- welt took possession and operation of the s. A. Woods Machine Con- pany in South Boston at D. m. to- day. MT. H. c. Dodge, president of the company, was notified shortly before D. m. that the army would take over.
 Stu6y Operations
 Maj. Ralph F. Cow and other officers charged with the operation of the plant began an immediate study of the plants operation. A de- tail e troops commanded by Lieut.. Col. James A. Kennedy of the 704th military police battalion took up duty a; the plant"
 The VILE had ordered the man. agement to grant a maintainence )f membership contract and arbitra- ion to the electrical, radio and ma ,hine workers union (CIO) ,l which represented the plants $50 employees.
 The management refused four ,imes to obey the order, saying here was mo reason why we should ,e called upon to surrender the tights of American citizens" and were powerless to prevent the gov ,rnment from supporting organ zed labor in its threat of obstruc- ion"
 MT. Roosevelt told Robert P. Pat erson, acting Secretary of War, yes erday to seize the plant. Patterson aid the arrangements failure to bey the VILE "has created ser ous threat to the production Of vital var material which 1t manufac- ureS."