The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-24
SWEATER SHOPS IDLE
Most Of "Czar" Rsiss's Shirt
makers Join the Strikers.
PICKET Charles Weinberg Fined SIS
on His Complaint.
Three Thousand Hands Refuse In
Work for Starvation Wages.

The shirtmakers' strike BEGIN in or,,,
earnest this morning. 1t Is battle roval
against starvation wages and long hours
OF overwork in unhealthy, pent-un shons
Walhalla Hall, IS Orhard street. re-
sounded with babel Of voices this morn
ing, and Hoods famous Song OF the
enirt was more popular with the east
size women, who fully appreciate 1t. than
ever before.
Walhalla Hall is the general rem
oezVous for the male contingent OF the
strikers, at SO East Broadway. the
headquarters OF the Shirtmakers, IInion
is reserved for the women and girls and
the Executive Committee OF the organi-
zation.
Ihere are 5000 shirtmakers in this city.
ana about 5000 OF them. who are now on
strike, have labored for the men known
as sweaters or contractors-men who
bargain with wholesale dealers and lob
pers to furnish stocks OF shirts of any
style and then make their own profits
out OF men and women who toll twelve
and fourteen hours a day at sewing ma
chimes for pittance that does not aver
age "a week each.
The largest of these sweater con-
tractors are thus enabled to clear a
proht of SIS and even 500 a week, and
the smallest are content to make from
SIS to $50 a week each.
The main object OF attack this morn
Ing on the part Of the strikers was the
shop OF elias Reiss 800 Monroe street,
day, when all but twenty Of them
struck 1t is one of the largest. II not
the largest, sweater shops in the
Mr.. Reiss Is known as the Gear"
among the strikers, because Of the ex-
tremelv strict rules he enforces in his
shop and the system OF espionage which
1t Is alleged, they will Join the union
and force him to pay higher wages.
For these reasons Reiss's workers
nave nave NTH hitherto not been organized, but
surroundings are said by his employees
to be the cause for the almost general
stampede that took place from his shop
to-day.
The, Union committee sent Charles
Weinberg to pipe on Reiss's shop this
morning and report the movements Of
tain such other Information as he could
gather. Weinberg was instructed to be
cautious and avoid any breach Of the
sst nor he Union t. win the
When Weinberg walked quietly past
Reiss.s shop the latter saw him. Reiss
had notified the police of the Madison
.siSt otolioh VI tHe Strike, ana nVe
bluecoats were standing about the build
Ing. Reiss called one Of the patrol
men and demanded Weinberg's arrest
The picket declared he was not break
ing the law. and he and Reiss engaged
In an angry argument. Then Weinberg
demanded Reiss's arrest, and both were
taken to the station-house and thence
to the Essex Market Court, where Reiss
was discharged and Weinberg was fined
IS, without, his friends allege, a full
hearing OF his side.
He paid his fine and returned to
picket duty. His treatment made the
strikers very indignant against Reiss,
the police and the police justice who
fined him. The strikers from Reiss's
shop had much to say about the matter
when they held a meeting at 50 East
Broadway shortly afterward.
1t was charged that the building
where Reiss has his shop is dangerous
in case of fire, and that there are no
adequate conveniences for the workers.
The shops of Louis & Son, AT Broad
way, so hands; Citren, In East Third
street, near Lewis 10 hands. and Mrs.
Becks. 3lS and 800 East Houston street,
30 hands, are among the largest affected
by the strike. Nearly all the other
shops employ from ten to twenty-five
hands each.
Ten years ago a quick. skilled shirt
maker could earn SO a week, but now he
or she can make but S a week, and the
large majority not over "a.