The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-29
THE OUTLOOK.
Hebrew Clothing Makers Obey an
Order to Quit Work.
A CLAIM OF UNFAIR TREATMENT
Which They Wish Contractors
to Remedy.

NEW YORK, July 20.-The Hebrcw cloth-
ing makers of this city yesterday, for the
first time, observed the Christian Sunday.
They were on strike. Trouble has been
brewing between the 'tailors and tho con-
tractors for some time, and yesterday
morning 1t eliminated in q general strike
OF the workers
1t Is claimed by the strikers that $4,000
workers have responded to the call OF the
United Brotherhood OF Tailors, and that
not only this city, but Brooklyn, Newark
and Brownsville are affected. The num-
Der out in this city Is set down at 5000.
The United Brotherhood of Tailors had
hoped that a strike might be avcrted until
September, when the agreement for the
year between tho workers and the con-
tractors would expire and when work
would naturally cease until n new agree
ment had boen arrived at The workers
claim, however, that the contractors were
not willing TO wait, and that now when
there Is plenty of business they wished To
force n strike. They say that the con-
tractors broke through the agreement by
refusing to 'ay their hands on the day
specified, ant thar thoy-the better To en-
sure the succ ,ss OF their scheme to force
strike-lockei out some hundreds Of their
employees
Contractors' Side OF the story.
The contractors allegc that work Is
slack and ~ few were their orders that
they were compelled TO knock OFF some OF
their men. They deny any desire on their
part not to keep up To the terms of the
agreement, and that they were anxious To
force tho men TO thcir present action.
But however these things be- one thing
is certain, that the tailors were dissatisfied,
and that they have demonstrated this by
responding instantly To the call-out issued
by the United Brotherhood Of Tailors, the
leading spirit of which is Meyer Schoen-
field, who styles himself "official organ-
izer OF United Garment Workers OF Amer
ica."
Schoenfeld and the other leaders warned
the contractors of what would happen IL
they persisted in their policy, but IL had
not the desired effect, and no proceeded TO
act yesterday. The Fiery Gross never
brought the Scottish clansmon pouring
from their mountain Businesses In quicker
time than did the call of Schoenfeld and
his fellow members Of the executive board
bring the tailors from their workshops.
AT o'clock yesterday morning four
men started out with slips of paper bear
ing the official stamp Of the United
Brotherhood and the order "Stop working
at once" in large capitals. addressed ITO
all members of tho United Brotherhood OF
Tailors." In few minutes every needle
In shops in the neighborhood of Orchard
street stopped.
The strikers camo trooping from all di-
rections to Walhalla hall, and by o'clock
the street In that neighborhood was black
alo h.lA L.,
the new Washington hall and other places.
The strikers arc very anxious on account
of the manufacturers, because IL they do
not help the contractors out Of their diff
Guilty the latter must give way to the work
ers.
Strikers Are Determined.
No matter what happens, however, the
strike will not come to an end until the
contractors have signed the new agree
ment drawn up by the executive commit
tee of the United Brotherhood. They in
sist that only members Of the brotherhood
be employed, they guaranteeing to furnish
all the men wanted that they shall be re-
quired to work only 80 hours In the week,
10 hours on all days save Friday, when
they stipulate for an hour less. The con-
tractors must also agree that they shall
not make IL compulsory for an employe to
make certain number Of garments In q
certain number of hours.
This is an entirely new clause, rendered
necessary, IL Is said by the fact that the
contractors, while living up hitherto to
the number Of hours agreed upon, practi-
cally robbed the workers Of the gain by
them by compelling them to do an i'm
possible amount of work in the time or
suffer in pocket.
The minimum wages demanded are: For
operators, sl5; basters, sl3; pressers, $40;
bushelers, $40; trimmers, $40; twisters, 81.
They also insist that all members of the
brotherhood out be reinstated and that
representatives Of the brotherhood have
access To the shops to investigate griev-