New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-20
SYMPATHY FOR THE TAILORS
rr.r ri oTHrNG MANUFACTURERS PRES
1pENT HOPES THEY WILL WIN.

HE ADMITS THAT THEY ARE MsERABLf POOR
AND B1AMEs THE LOW PRICE OF CLOTH
ING-rIGUREs ON COAT MAKING
THE STRIKE NOT PICNIC.
rn. already large army OF the striking tailors
was Increased yesterday by several more thousands
Of workers Every branch OF the trade IN TINS cix
IA now on strike with the exception OF Some sinai
organizations and the members OF the Sociaiis,
progressive Taors' Union. The latter are expectoo
"a GO out to-day. All the branches IN BrookNn
and Brownsville are out and also about nd" "
the Newark tailors. II Is said fur,her !na' '"e
tailors on strike in Philadelphia humoer t'u'
thousand. .,
The strikers had lots to interest them YESTERDAY
IN the fact that Samuel Gompers. president OF the
American Federation Of Labor, arrived IN 'hS CIV!
from Chicago to take part In trying 70 o'ie 80
a settlement of the trouble, ana the Ietu'" Vi
Joseph Barondess from Philadelphia. Inc con-
tractors also held a meeting and even 'he iia"u
facturers had something to say through Albert r.
Hochstadter. who is president OF the 0io'n'is
Manufacturers Association Mr. Gompers sa'u ne
thought the present strike would put an aosoiu'e
end TO the present sweatshop system me manu-
facturers alege that they could nor aHoro 10 co"
duct their business under any other system out
Mr. Gompers declared that he knew many manu-
facturers who had reaped fortunes In the last Few
years in spite of the hard times
Mr. Hochstadter. who is the mead OF the hrih Vi
Alfred BENJAMIN & Co, said II was true thar the
tailors were miseraby poor, and he hoped they
would win their strike. He had tried to formulate
a plan whereby their condition could be oenenteo'
he said, for a long time. I'VE are trying 10 get
them out OF the congested places in which they
live" MI Hochstadter continued put as ias' DIS
ne do 40 others keep crowding in. II they can hold
out for six weeks, think they will win their strike
The present trouble Is chiefly due to people buying
cheaper clothing. Houses are selling $40 suits OF
clothes this year that sold anything less than
$ suits before. Clothing is cheaper this year than
before. Our association was not informed that
the were going TO strike No demands were
made on us. and ! cannot tell what we shall do.
The majority Of the manufacturers always try TO do
the best they can for their employees"
The Executive Committee Of the Contractors
Association held a meeting ut No ll2 Clinton-st
yesterday. Mr. Witkowsk the secretary, said that
detailed statement Of the contractors side OF the
strike would be ready IN day or two. He de-
clared that the contractors were worse of than the
men. because the latter had some wages at least
10 take home at the end of the week. whereas the
contractors often went home in debt. Those or
the contractors who had some capital, he said.
had lost II all In the last two or three years Ben
jamin Driesen q prominent contractor said that
the workmen in each shop knew just what the
contractor received for making coat. When a
contractor takes work from manufacturer" said
Mr. Driesen. "he tells his workmen just what he Is
20 receive for a coat, and the workmen SIT down
and figure how many coats they must make for a
the contractor. II the taors cannot make more
than 81 a day they know that the contractor Is
not making much either
In conjunction with the secretary, Mr.. Driesen
gave the following account of the cost Of making
good coat: The contractors receive e2z cents from
the manufacturers for each coat. OF this the OPP
orator gets l6 cents the baster 10 cents. the fnsher
81 the Teller cents. the presser cents NE
tack maker and buttonhole maker cents and me
bushelman tents, making in all 5ss cents. Tbs
leaves just cents pront on a coat ior 'n oo Toi
day at these prices 10 make fair days pay. THIS
account agrees with the statement Of the taioaS
the contractors were now only making prom Of
about ye cents On eeGs Boh Mr.
and Mr. Dresen lnsis ted yesterday that the present
conditions would not be better until the manufact-
The chiidren's jacket-makers held a mass meeting
in New Irving Hall in the afternoon. and among
the speakers was Joseph Barondess. At the close
Of the meeting Mr. BaroHdess said he wanted ie 10
man who understood his business as tailor could
manufacturer with all the ailoTs he wants to work
ten hours day for IS week said Barondess
TO occur until the sweating system is abolished;
Mr.. Hochstadter says that the tailors are satsneo
the fact that the families Of fifty tailors were
evicted from their homes within the last month for
the present strike. because il will take desperate
EFFORTS on the part OF the manufacturers TO keep
continue on strike for six weeks If necessary.
think that TIE cloakmskers win also strike in JULY
win. They are now making women's jackets Tor ~
certs apiece" l,..
George w Jones. the delegate Of the Cutters
Union which has taken no part In the present
strike denounced the jaors yesterday for not keep
ing up their organization. They never paid dues
only when they about to strike, ne said. and
they were as much blame for breaking the
agreement as the contractors. They were
too willing 10 take any prices offered 10 mem IN
stead Of keeping up union rates, and this had
largely caused the present trouble.
Never Schoenfed. the ACKNOWLEDGED leader OF
the strikers so hoarse yesterday that ne could
not make any more speeches After meeting the
Executive Committee. he said that the tailors de-
nlands would take day or two yet to formulate
They will then be presented 20 the contractors.
Mr. Schoenfeld was not pleased with the utter
ances of Henry White. general secretary of the
United Garment Workers OF America. and Greg
Org Weinstein a meeting of the Socia. Reform
Club on Tuesday night Mr.. White referred TO
the strike az a disease annual picnic or the
tailors. "If M Weinstein. whoever he Is said
Mr. Schoenfed. would only come down ana
mingle among the East Side garment workers. ana
II he knew anything about our craft, he would
strike every one Of the 3s5 days In the year.
The strikers VIII hold parade followed by a
mass-meetng. in Union Square on Monday night