New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-27
GARMENT WORKERS CO
ON WITH STRIKE PLANS
Efforts of State Board of
Mediation and Arbitration
Prove UnavaiIing.
EMPLOYERS AWAIT ISSUE
Declare Bad Time Has Been
Chosen for Demonstration, as
Trade Has Just Expert
enced Two Dull Years.

In the hope OF averting the impending
garment workers strike. which is expected
to make 125. 600 people idle. and may now
be called any day, the heads Of the New
York State Board OF Mediation and Arbi-
tration have tried without success 20
bring about some amicable understanding
between the workers and the manufact-
urers.
Colonel Michael J. Regan. chief mediator
OF the New York branch OF the board.
saw the representatives OF both sides and
he found the officers OF the unions busy
preparing for the strike. Eugene Benja-
min. OF Alfred BENJAMIN & Co, president
OF the New York Clothing Trades Asso-
citation, which will bear the brunt OF the
fight on the part OF the employers when
the strike is on. was visited by Colonel
Reagan, but declared there was nothing TO
be said or done on the part OF the manu-
factrers until demands were made or
there vas some issue. SO far. he said. no
communication had been sent TO the
manufacturers on behalf OF the workers
W. c. Rogers. chief state mediator OF
the board, also came from Albany and
made an unsuccessful effort to bring about
peace. lie is now in favor of asking the
State Labor Commissioner for permission
10 call public hearing on the conditions
leading 10 the strike. which could be con-
Quoted even during the strike.
one Of the representatives q the en-
ployors said from what he had read Of the
demands. which were drawn up and rati
fed Joy the unions but not submitted to
the employers, these demands would mean
in come cases an increase OF 100 per cent
in wages. lie said the New York Cloth
Ing Trades Association stood for the open
shop, but had always stood also for fair
wages and good working conditions.
II faced a strike nearly ten years ago
for tho closed shop. which. however. ended
in an open shop agreement. The Clo-
thicrs' Association Of New York. he said.
has nothing 10 DO with the question Of the
relations OF employers and employees, and
the National Association OF Clothiers,
which has its headquarters in this city,
takes no part In local wage disputes.
The executive committee or the New
York Clothing Trades Association met
yesterday afternoon at the Hotel Bre-
WORT but its members said the meeting
had nothing 10 do with the coming strike
Mr. Benjamin said
"All things considered. 7 do not think
the workers have chosen good time
for n strike II they want 70 win. The
trade has just passed through two very
duh years. I'm which number Of manu-
fscturers were driven TO the wall There
is more hriskness now In preparing for
the spring trade. but there IS no boom
In the trade. A. TO what We are 20 eN-
poet I can say nothing. as VIC have re-
ceived no demands"
Others who were seen said they sup
posed the strike would go on. though they
could not understand how the strikers
could have any hope OF winning at this
time.
The Greater New York District Council
Of tho United Garment Workers, which
will have charge OF tho strike. met yes
terday at Clinton Hail. No Isl Clinton
street. and sent out committees to engage
halls for mass meetings Of the workers
on Monday night and to select about
forty halls as headquarters for the strik-
ers. The cutters will hold a mass meet
ing tonight
BENJAMIN Schweitzcr. general organizer
Of the United Garment Workers, and II.
V. I.avener had principal charge Of tho
arrangements. They said many halls
would be needed for Monday night but
up 10 the present they had engaged only
Tammany Hall and Webster Hall, nth
street, near Third avenue, Manhattan;
Teutonia Hall. in Harrison street. Brook
yn, and Palm Garden. Liberty avenue
and Sackman street. Brownsville.
Mr. Schweitzer said the first official an
nouncement OF the date OF the strike
would appear in A special issue OF the
official organ OF the United Garment
Workers, and might be announced at any
time.