The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-13
10000 STRIKE IN
PANTS SHOPS HERE
Trouble Expected to Spread
I: Struggle May Be Joined
by $1,000 Workers.
CHARGE BROKEN PLEDGE

VIA nNb DltON ibN ihhDSb
Ten thousand men who make trousers
for New Workers went on strike yester-
day. According TO an officer OF the
Amalgama;ed Garment Workers or
America this means a reduction In the
output of trousers OF 100000 pairs a day.
The troubles OF the pants makers
oficially the garment is listed as pants
Instead OF rousers-are entirely sep
arate from those OF the International
Garment Workers Union. which has
threatened to strike. II this strike takes
place there will be a dearth Of women's
clothes. but both employers and en-
ployees were hopeful last night that
trouble would be averted. Much con-
fdence Is placed in the Mayors concili-
alton board, which meets to-day.
There IL less optimism among the
manufacturers OF mems garments and
their operators. There seemed prospects
last night hat within a few days the
strike. which started yesterday, might
spread TO all workers on mems clothes
and even invade. though not to a great
extent. the realm OF workers on women's
clothing. In that case approximately
"a, 900 persons would be affected. divided
approximately as follows 10000 pants
makers. IS. 900 coat makers, 10. 000 max
ers of children's garments, $500 cutters
and s,O0O v~estmakers. Luckily this
u the good old summer time.
Charge Broken Promise.
After the general clothing makers
strike Of 1913 the manufacturer and
the unions entered into an agreement.
the employers promising TO make no
further reduction In wages and the
workers pledging themselves 10 make
no demands for an Increase. The pants
makers assert that the manufacturer
have made a general average reduction
In wages OF 80 per cent, and In some
Instances as much as IS and even so
per cent.
I'VE are making no new demands
now said Sidney Hillmsn. president of
the ~Amalgamated Clcthing Workers of
America. yesterday. 'Wo ask simply for
the restoration Of the scale fixed In 1918
and a guarantee that the manufacturers
will abide by the agreement In the
future"
The United Jewish Trades. the GEN.
ira! organization composed of delegates
from all unions of Je Wish workers. met
last night at l75 East broadway and
voted to give the striking pants makers
their moral support and It need be finan-
ciai assistance. These unions. with a
membership OF more than 200, 900. prac-
t,cslly control the clothing industries.
both mems and women's. Of the city.
After the meeting IL was said that
opinion among the jewish workers was
almost unanimous In ~tavoring "A general
clothing strike unless the pants makers
gained their point with the manufac-
turers within a few days.
Accol ding to Meyer Shoenfeld, labor
adjuster of the American Clothing Man
,,fan.nrars Ase aTfgtipn fhA .s1pipxev g'
organization. changing conditions have
necessitated a-lowerlng OF tile 1913 scale
which. in his view, was not intended to
be permanent.
IF we can possibly better labor con-
ditions, after making a thorough investi-
CATION, we shall do So" said Mr.. Sheen
field. However, We are powerless to
alter the laws OF supply and demand
and these avs We maintain, govern the
raising and lowering OF wages"
Pants makers had bean busy for two
hours in 700 shops OF the. city yesterday
morning when. at 10 o'clock. word was
received from headquarters 10 quit work.
Several hundreds OF the worker focked
to the Manhattan Lyceum. sc East
Fourth street. where conditions were
explained 10 them in several foreign
tongues.
Hint Of strike In Chicago.
Meetings were held also in Manhattan
avenue, Brooklyn at l05 Thatford ave-
nue., Brownsville, and at 90 Essex street.
T e workers at each or these gather
ings were too that clothing workers
generally were prepared to stand by
them. II was hinted that workers in
Chicago. which also is a great town
for trousers, might walk out in SYM
patty.
The strike committee met at 80 Union
Square East In the afternoon and issued
a statement In which II said
"The union wants NJ war. II wants
no strike. 1t wants its members to
work and make a decent living. But II
the manufacturers want to fight it out
the organized tailors are ready.
THE union has been forced to resist
the continuous reduction in wages.
Also discrimination has been made
against active union members, and the
manufacturers have followed up a
policy of establishing n%on-union shops
Leaders of the union were discussing
yesterday civilization with the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. 1t was said
that overtures had been made by the
federation. 1t was argued that con-
nection with the federation would sup
ply a club when might be used effec.
lively in the present strike.
According to a. Miller, secretary OF
the district council of the A~malgamated
Clothing Workers, "A fast worker
who foremrly made AS high as s26
a week now makes only about Sl4
while the average worker, who once
made $40. finds it hard to make sl2.
The peace commission appointed by
Mayor Mitchell to consider the differ.
ences the women's garment
workers and their employees Will NEE,
at 10 $50 this morning at city Han
II may not concl Ide its sessions for two
weeks, Among the subjects to be dis.
cussed are demands made severaI
months ago for an increase in wages.
ARRIVALS AT THE HOTELS.