The evening times., 1899-05-06
SWBA4SHOP EVILS
IN new YORK City
Garment Workers Associa-
tion's Secretary Testifes.
Some Revelations Before the In
dustrial Commission.
Prominent Witne.ses to Appear Dur.
ing the First Week Of the
Trust !4veit,x.tio..

Prominent Witnesses to Appear Dur
ing the First Week Of the
| Trust Ifveftis.tio..
| ~ II -a...- $500
Henry White, ofeNev York, Secretary of
the United Garment Workers Association
of America. was examined by the Indus
trial Commission this morning. His tes-
| timony was OF particular value, In view of
/ the reputed arduoas conditions under which
I; the garment workers exist.
| The association was founded In 1891, end
at the present time consists Of 10000
members and las local unions 1t was
formed by bodies which formerly belong
ganized to fight the sweatshop system and
= improve the condition Of its members gen.
orally. Women are allowed in the organi-
zation and form a large proportion of the
membership. There are more women in
the association than in any other national
trade union. 0ne-fourth is the propor-
! tiOn of women.
The national association Is an outgrowth
OF the Clothing Cutters Association which
was the pioneer OF organizations among
the garment workers. They were organiz-
ed in 1Si9. The association has a national
| fund for defence purposes and for the pay
| ment OF current expenses, including sick
and death benefits. This money as in 9TH
i er organizations of its kind. is raised by
assessment upon the members. Mr.. White
regarded the sick and death benefit fund
; as strong attraction to hold membership
during hard times.
During the past eight or ten years the
association has fathered many strikes
! Within the past few years. however there
have been no strikes. the object OF the or
ganiZation being to settle all difficulties by
other means.
In 1894. the tailors of New York revoited
; against the then existing deplorabie condi-
! tion. The movement was concentrated
lasting two months and resulting In the
granting Of the demands made by the
strikers. Their object was TO secure a
ten-hour day and minimum rate of wages,
averaging from 50 to SIG per week, accord
Ing to the nature Of the work. The i'm
! proved condition continued for some time
after the strike, when the members began
! to lose interest in the trade unions. Dis
organization followed and gradually the
old conditions were restored. A more thor
ough organization followed and another
strike was inaugurated. which proved as
successful as the first. The garment
workers again lost interest and old abuses
we're experienced.
Another strike followed during which
the strikers compelled the manufacturers
| to give bond to maintain the prices and
hours demanded by the union. The man
ufacturers violated their agreement. but
owing to an unfavorable decision of the
| courts the organization could not collect
| the amount of the bond.
The witness thought the three strikes
demonstrated the fact that the garment
workers cannot be thoroughly organized
| They Join the unions In large bodies
and leave in equally large numbers" said
Mr.. White. The interest taken in unions
| by the clothing workers comes from mo-
mentary enthusiasm. said the witness.
Mr.. White pointed out number OF objec-
| tions to the contract or sweatshop system-
| The danger Of infection from contagious
diseases Is great. The high standard OF
| work which Is set by the manufacturers
| cannot be maintained in the sweatsnop.
| AS a general thing. the people who are
| employed by the small contractor live in
| a very limited way. They know OF nothing
outside of their localities.
| They depend on the clothing business
| for sustenance and in times of depression
are willing TO work for 4ower wages in or
der to exist. Competition has narrowing
effect upon the garment worker in the
sweatshops. There is a constant battle for
| supremacy among them resulting in the
| cutting of prices. The petty contractor is
| nearly as poor as his employe. He has no
permanent shop. He starts in business
one day, renting his quarters and buying
his machinery on the installment plan.
| He continues as; contractor or middle
man for a few months, when he becomes
an employe, while perhaps one of his
former employees is his boss.
immigration swells the number Of sweat
| shop workers.
| Immigrants come to this country and en-
ter the clothing bushes for the purpose of
existing until they can do something bet
ter. When once they start to work in the
sweatshops they are not able to earn
enough to get out. They. are generally ig-
noralt and do not know where to find bet
| ter conditions. and remain in New York
doing the work until they are completely
broken In health. 1t is difficult to organize
| the employees Of the petty contractor. be-
cause of lack Of intelligence to see the
advantages. Among those employed in the
| garment trades who work for manufactur-
ers. and belong to the organization. the
conditions are good.
| The finest retail clothing establishments
| in New York have their work done In
| many instances by the poorest sweatshop
| workers. Mr.. White knew Of one occasion
when a SIS suit Of clothes was ordered.
| The work Of making the clothing was done
| in one Of the poorest and dirtiest dens in
| the city. The man who did the work was
| assisted by his son. and wife and occupied
a week to finish the garments. This prac-
tice is generally carried on because the
retail dealers can get the work done so
much cheaper and consequently make a
larger profit.
The following is the complicated sched-
ule for the first week of the trust investi-
cation. which begins May IL.
May 11-Hon. T. W. Lee. Pittsburg, Pa.
State senator. Called in connection with
the Standard Oil Combination.
May 12-Henry o. Havemeyer, New
York, the head of the so-calied sugar trust
May 13-John Arbuckle, New York, op-
ponent of the so-called sugar trust
May 15-Gen. John McNulta. receiver Of
the old so-called whisky trust.
May 16-Hon. Frank s. Monnett, attor-
ney general of Ohio. Columbus, Ohio
Credited with having driven the Standard
OIL Combination out of Ohio.
May It's. M. Rice. President of the
American Spirits Manufacturing Company
and the head Of the reorganized whisky
trust, so-called.
May 1s-Henry q. G. Leyties. of Leyties
Bros. New York. He is described as hav-
ing been hurt by the so-called whisky COM
bination.
May 1s-Martin Cook. Of Cook & Burn
helm, New York. Said to have been hurt
by the whisky coordination. so-called.
May 20--Claus Dosher. New York. an op-
DOnent nf fha s,,1ar tr1,af ao.caI1ed