New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-25
ROOSEVELT ASKS STATE
TO AID GIRL STRIKERS
SAYS Conditions in White
Goods Industry Demand
Legislative Action.
TELLS OF EAST SIDE TOUR
Scores Employers for Refusal to
Recognize Unions-Retails
Hardships and Low Pay
of Child Workers.

Declaring that an investigation by the
state into conditions in the strike-ridden
garment industries is imperatively neces-
Sary and voicing a severe criticism OF
the attitude of those employers who STAND
pat on their refusal TO recognize or oeai
with the unions, Colonel Roosevelt yes
terday made public the results OF his per-
sonal investigation into the situation In a
letter 10 Assemolyman Schaap, advocat-
ing action by the Legislature. botn III the
form, of an exhaustive inquiry and the
enactment of laws 10 remedy conditions.
This action was inspired by tour he
made last Wednesday, under the gum
ance of union leaders, through the h"s'
Side when he visited several halls useo
by the striking girls as headquarters ana
heard the story of their hardships from
their own lips. The letter to Assembly
man Schaap was as follows:
II seems TO me that in the interest OF
INC Deopl, of New York il is now I'M
nerafiveiv necessary that the legislatuIe
Of the state should undertake thorousn,
investigation into the labor conul'ioiIs VI
the special industries severaiI! ond Gi.
mated as white goods. wrapper ana Nj
mono In the dress and waist industt!
an investigation has already neen al
ranged for within the industry Itself o.!
the Joint action of the employers anu ''e
No such Joint action has been arTanseaa
concerning the white goods. wrapper anu
kimonO industry. and II canhot oe a.
ranged until the employers IN these Ia
dustries recognize the Fundamental hesu
that the employees shall have the rleht "
combine into unions recognized Dy 'he
employers. -, ,hr.c. ALI
10
women in that industry, having spe.isi
regard to the wages, the earnings, t'e
hours and conditions OF WORK, IraMI, ;SS &C
sharp distinction between actual earrr.,t5,
and wage scales, and including contract-
ing sub-contracting and minor suo0'"
tracing.
Mr.. Roosevelt then took up statement
made by Harry A. Gordon. counsel of the
EMPLOYERS in the white goods INDUSTRY
asserting that conditions are good IN the
greater number of shops. but admitting
,hat IN several specific instances there is
need of shorter hours, increased wages
and improved sanitary conditions
Wants Unions Recognized.
The colonel said 1t is not in his province
mr. mower 10 pass judgment TO what ex'
toni changes in these regards should be
,bough conditions in some shops are good
there lis no question that IN other iac'
tories the conditions are bad from ever!
standpoint" He then passed to the aues
,jon of union recognition as follows:
emphatically dissent from the posi-
tion taken by Mr.. Gordon as represeh.a
tive OF the manufac turers IN thelr atii.uu
,nwards trade unionism. This posltloh y
in effect that taken NUMBER OF !edI
ago by a certain gentleman IN the an
,hracite coal trade. and has since pee pee;
known as the .'vicegereht Oh "ou ipU.
t:on-the position that the eInp,,oir
ought 10 treat his employees well anG NJ
marelv. but should be held reSponsipi
only to God and his own conscience 10
his actions-a position taken tiiIous ,.op
history not only by absolute monarcn
y no were good but also by absolute mon
arc MS who were bad.
The employers represented by MI: poi
don express their emphatic opposition U
the protocol or memCrandum OF asIe.
ment i'm the cloak. suit and sklft ihoust,.
between the manufacturers ana the uhloi
signed September .. 1910. AS am suoin,l
ting this attack by Mr.. GoIuoh Oh IN
protocol i'm question. ! must also ada Una
his allegations of fact are chalieheed "
such persons as Miss Valid DR.. Hen.
Moskowitz. William J. Schieffelip, Junu
Henry Cohen and others whose haihc
can he given. The VERSIONS named ar
WORKING continuously under the protocc
and know whereof they speak =.
Moreover. Mr.. Gordon states that NJ
organization will not deal with or recos
NE the union To my mind, this Is IN
criticaI noint of difference. No man cal
inouire in the most cursory manner iht
Inc situation as il actually exists amohi
these kimono ana white goods workei
without realizing that these young slii
are absolutely helpless IL they ar
obliged to bargain for their rights indi
Nidually