New-York tribune., 1909-12-20
SCORE WAIST MANUFACTURERS.
No CLOSED Shop" Demand, Says John
Mitchell. Prevented Arbitration

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Several statements have been issued
by the officers of the Associated shirtwsist
and Dress Manufacturers In relation 20 the
strike OF their employees. and particularly
in regard 10 the effort which was made 10
adjust by arbitration the differences m dis
pute. The manufacturers attempt TO con-
vey the impression that the representative
of the strikers on the board OF arbitration
sought to force the employers 20 operate
their shops upon CLOSED shop basis
The facts are that when arbitration was
at first proposed the union did attach 20 Its
acceptance of such arbitration a condition
that the union should he recognized How
ever, when the manufacturers objected 20
this condition the union withdrew its res
ervation and agreed to submit TO arbitra-
tion all the questions at issue. including the
demand for recognition Of the union The
manufacturers. in their letter accepting ar
bitration means Of adjusting the as
pute with their employees. agreed 70 aroi-
trate all the questions at issue They knew
that recognition of the union was one OF the
principal demands made upon them BY their
employees. and they must have known that
any award OF board Of arbitration liking
wages regulating the hours OF labor
would not. in the shirtwaist industry. prove
Of permanent benefit or effect unless the
union We're recognized and power given 70
the committees Of union working girls EN-
ployed in the factories 10 represent the
workers in the adjudication OF any dispute
that might arise
Notwithstanding the obvious necessity OF
a union among themselves. the strikers
agreed 10 submit II the arbitrament OF
tribunal composed OF six men, three OF
whom should be the direct representatives
OF the manufa cturers. the question OF the
recognition Of their union or the extent 10
which ii should be recognized II the de-
mand of the strikers that their union be
recognized were unjust, surely the manu-
facturers could have had no good reason
for Objecting TO the consideration Of this
demand. because decision favorable 20 the
strikers upon this or any other grievance
submitted could not be made unless one Of
the three men representing the manufact-
urers voted with the three representatives
OF the strikers, II should be borne in mind
that. contrary to the usual practice. UNI
pire was not, selected or provided for And
IL seems unfair. TO say .he least, that the
manufacturers should now attempt 10 be-
cloud the issue and confuse the public mind
by stating that the closed shop demand
stood in the way OF a settlement OF the
strike
If the manufacturers had carried out in
good faith The agreement TO arbitrate all
the questions at issue. there is doubt IN
my mind that q decision would have been
rendered that would have given TO the
strikers a rate of wages. such hours OF
labor and other terms of employment as
were warranted by the condition Of the
trade and the facts in the case. In view OF
the action of the manufacturers 1 am quite
convinced that from the very outset they
had no intention of carrying out the agree
ment TO arbitrate. and in order 20 find some
seeming justification for their action they
bring forth now the CLOSED shop boyle
and attempt TO divert attention from the
real questions in dispute and their own re-
pudiation OF the agreement TO arbitrate the
issues involved
In my experience this is one OF IN. rare
instances wherein an assOciat ton OF either
employers or workmen has disregarded an
obligation of this kind, and I believe that
every one interested In the maintenance OF
righteous Industrial peace should condemn
the action Of tn employers in this instance
in order tina, there should not be a recur-
renee Of such action. Agreements between
associated employers and organized work
ers, either as 10 conditions OF employment
or the adjustment Of disputes should be
kept inviOlate. and any failure so 10 keep
them should bring upon the offending party
the condemnation of public Judgment.
JOHN MITCHELL.
New York Dec. IS. 1899