Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1891-03-28
A PLEA
FOR THE CLOAK MAKERS.

Seldom has labor organization in thu
short period of one year Of eKistenc,
been subjected to such series Of severe
trials as the New York cloaknakers
union.
The great lockout of last summer witt
its thirteen weeks of starvation anC
heroic struggle, involving six thousand
workers, is still in everybody's memory,
Last year the cloak manufacturers were
finally forced to recognize the night OF
their employees to protect themselves by
organization and to cOnCede TO them
somewhat less inhuman conditions of
life.
The modest demands Of their hands
seemed to the cloak manufacturers an
Insoent interference with their business
management and some of them de-
termined to destroy the organization
that had forced them to make few con-
cessions to humanity and civilization.
The present troubles of the cloakmak-
ers are the result Of a preconcertei at
tack upon the union,
About six weeks ago the contractors
of the firm of Blumenthal Bros. d Rot
tenberg locked out their employees num-
boring about $50 and told them hat
they would not be re.employed unless
they abandoned their union and as an
evidence of their withdrawal delivered
up to the contractors their union books.
The union called on the firm, in accord
ance with the agreement made last year,
to require its contract, RS to reOrganiZe
the union. But the firm in direct viola.
ton of that contract, refused to comply
with the unions request. Fifty men di.
rectly employed in the firms establish
ment thereupon went on strike. These
are the facts and they show clearly that
there was well.planned conspiracy be-
tween this firm and its contractors aim
ing at the very existence # the union
The trouble in the shop of Benjamin
and Caspari originated from a similar at
tempt. Some three months ago this firm
commenced to send large part of their
work to scab contractors in New Haven,
Newark and other places, thereby redu-
cling the earnings of the union men en-
ployed in New York to So and 81 per
week For two months the union en-.
deavOred to induce the firm to abandon
this unjust disCr minatlOn. which was
clearly in violation of last years contract
to have all work done by union labor In
sisted in this unfair practice, To be thus
victimized meant for the employ 6S, who
had not yet been able to make up for
the losses of the long strike during last
summer, not only present distress, but
hopeless starvation for the still reason
that reduces them to absolute ideness
for several months in the spring and
early summer Of every year. When all
peaceable negotiations failed, a strike
was decided and 400 employees of this
firm have been out for four weeks.
In both cases, as soon as things had
come to an open conflict, the manufac-
turers loudly proclaimed their intention
to DESTROY the union. When the unfor-
tunate affair took place at Jamaica, they
eagerly seized the opportunity to secure
the assistance of courts and police in
their campaign against the union. At
plllo ,Jui1NLhlC VIC HtC ioOlllIIlS up UpIIliu
the firms directly interested the Cloak
Manufacturers Association, whose
lawyer, eX-Judge Glldersleeve, assumes
the role of prosecuting attorney.
We will here state that whatever
wrong was actually committed at Jama-
ca, the union has nothing to do with it
and is in no way responsible for it. And
let us express our opinion, that the
friends of labor, whatever they may
think of that occurrence, should not
and, we trust, will not allow themselves
to be prejudlCed by the wilful misstate-
ments of the capitalists who want to
exploit it to strike a blow at organized
labor.
This. intent is clearly apparent from
the wholesale arrest of innocent men
and the outrageous persecution initl-
tated against Joseph Barondess, the first
officer of the ClOakmak ars' Union. The
courts aided the CAPITALISTS by unwar.
ranted severity and the imposition of
excessive bail. The breakdown of the
witness or complainant Weinstein and
the collapse of the prosecution based on
his affidavit" shows both the scandalous
of the proceeding and the
of the capitalists and officials
with this affair.
AS to the charges now pending against
Barondess subcommittee of the under.
signed committees elected during an
interview with William Fischell, the
alleged complainant in one of the cases,
the following statements:
Committee: Did you make the charges
against Barondess personally or on re-
quest?
William Fishell: We did 50 on request
and that is all that we did.
Committee; Did you not authorize
your lawyer to ask for high bail?
William Fischell: We have not any
lawyer.
Committee: Is not Mr.. GldersIeeve
your lawyer and did he not act on your
request yesterday in Jefferson Market !