The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-29
GREAT CLOTHING STRIKE
The Sweat Shop Workers of New
York Are Now Out.
THEIR DEMANDS VERY MODERATE

The Btrilsers Declare That the Contest
Was Forced Upon Them by tho Con-
traotors-Nine Thousand Workers Out
I'm New York City Alone.
NEW YORK, July 29.-The Hebrew cloth
ing makers Of this city yesterday, for the
first time, observed the American Sun
day. They were on strike. Trouble has
been brewing between the tailors and the
contractors for some tinae, and yesterday
1t eliminated in general strike Of the
workers, 1t 10 claimed by the strikers
that 16,o00 workers have responded to tho
call OF the United Brotherhood of Tsilors.
and that not only this city but Brooklyn,
Newark and Brownsville are affected.
The number o1t TN this city Is estimated
at 5000. The workers assers that the con-
tractors broke through the terms OF the
existing agreement by refusing to pay
their hands on tho day specified, and that
they the better to insure tho success Of
their scheme To force strike, locked out
several hundred of their employees.
Tho contractors allege that work Is
slack, and that 90 few were their orders
that they were. compelled to knock of
some Of their men. They deny any un-
willingness to live. up to the terms Of the
agreement and that they forced the men
to strike.
The men, however, these things may be,
one thing is certain, that the tailors were
dissatisfied, and that they have demon
strated this by responding instantly to the
call issued by the United brotherhood Of
Tailcrs the leading spirit OF which is
Meyer Schoenfeld. who styles himself
''officlal organizer Of the United Garment
Workers of America"
Mr.. Schoenfeld and the other leaders
warned the contractors of what would
happen IL they persisted in their policy,
but II had not the desired effect and he
proceeded to act. The fiery cross never
brought the Scottish elnnsmen pouring
from their fastnesses In quicker time than
did the call Of Schoenfeld and his fellow
members of the executive board bring the
tailors from their stuffy hooks Of work
shops.
At o'clock four men started out with
slips of paper bearing the official stamp Of
the United Brotherhood and the order,
''Stop working at once" In large black
capitals, addressed ito all members of the
United brotherhood of Tailors." In few
minutes every needle in the shops in the
neighborhood of Orchard street stopped,
and soon the snap of scissors was no more
to be heard in all the lower cast side than
the clink Of glasses. The strikers came
trooping from all directions to Walhalla
hall, their rendezvous in Orchard street,
and by o'clock the street in that neigh
borhood was black with people.
As many as could find room within the
hall went in and heard speeches from
Schoenfeld and other leaders. Schoenfeld
told the strikers that the strike would be
over In week or ten days II the Wholesale
manufacturers would not interfere, as the
strikers had been called out in busy
time, and the contractors were not in
position to leave their orders untitled.
Meetings were also held in the new Wash
ington hall and other places.
The strikers are very anxious concern
ing the attitude of the manufacturers, be-
cause II they do not help the contractors
out OF their difficulty the latter must give
way to the workers. No matter what hap
pens, however, the leaders say that the
strike will last until the agreement drawn
up by the executive committee of the
| United Brotherhood is signed. They in
| sist that only members Of the brotherhood
be employed, they guaranteeing to fur
| nish all the men wanted; that they shall
| be required to work only flfty-nine hours
| in the week, ten hours on all days save
| Friday, when they stipulate for an hour
| less of work.
The contractors must also agree that
they will not make 1t compulsory for an
I employe to make certain number of gar
ments in certain number Of hours This
Is an entirely new clause, rendered neces-
sary, 1t is said, by the fact that the con-
tractors, while living up hitherto to the
number of hours agreed upon, practically
robbed the workers of the benefits of the
agreement by compelling them to do an
impossible amount of work in the stipu-
! T.. 81, i,,,
The minimum wages demanded is for
operators SIS; basters, s13; pressers, $40,
bushelers, $40; trimmers, $40; twisters,
90. They also insist that all members of the
brotherhood out be reinstated, and that
the representatives of the brotherhood
have access to the shops to investigate
grievances and see that the employees have
their "due books as proof Of their MEM
bership to the union.