New-York tribune., 1915-07-09
Garment Trade Arbitration.

Attempts to settle the differences in
the garment trade by arbitration will un-
questionably centre on two points-the
right Of discharge, or, as the employers
call it, the right Of administration, and
the relations of the unions to the small
shops not under the old protocol or any
kindred arrangement for maintaining
certain standards Of sanitation and work
production. Other questions are capable
Of adjustment-indeed present compara-
lively little to adjust, if any kind Of
satisfactory arrangement can be made on
the two points specified.
In another column this morning The
Tribune presents thoughtful letter from
one of the employers summarizing their
side of the controversy, which to him has
assumed the state Of a class war, and to
Judge by the utterances of some Of the
union leaders seems little different to
them. His contention is that whereas the
manufacturers under the protocol con-
scientiously endeayored to produce better
working conditions and paid higher wages
the union did not en- srce upon its men,
bers compliance with these higher stand
ards by compelling them to keep out Of
shops where the latter were not observed
Indeed, he asserts that there was actually
an understanding between the union and
small shops, working under detrimental
conditions which enabled them to cut
prices below the scale which employers
lving.up to protocol standards could meet
To that he adds the statement that the
union seeks. under guse Of equal distri-
button of work." to prevent the discharge
Of men whom the employers deem incom-
petent-in other words, to establish q
communism of employment contrary 10 in
dividual and business efficiency.
To these accusations the union leaders
will doubtless enter denials or pleas in
mitigation. It is quite possible that union
men have been discharged from some
shops for union activities when the eX-
cuse was that they were incompetent
Nevertheless, it is hardly to be expected
at this time that the right to discharge
men, which is really the right to pick the
working force, will be yielded by any en-
ployer. Under an equal distribution of
work" arrangement he would practically
have to stop selecting his best workmen
and making it worth their while, by good
work and good wages, to stay with him.
Neither can the employers in the Protec-
tive Association be expected to continue
any arrangement which will bind them to
upholdng Of enlightened and therefore ex-
pensive conditions of manufacture, if the
union permits, OF does not stop, union
men working for less conscientious en-
ployers who are enabled thereby to un-
dersell the more conscientious.
With the intricacies and technical de-
tails of these charges and counter charges
the public cannot familiarize itself. 1t
wants substantial justice for the workers
better hours, better sanitation, better
pay. But the clothing industry is highly
unscientifc, unstandardizcd, and neither
that nor even a less chaotic, fuctuating in
dustry can maintain the workers without
profit to the employers.
The publcs interest demands an ar
bitration committee big enough to go into
all the questions honestly and fairly and
to do its utmost to avert a long and
disastrous war between employers and
workers. On the work Of such COM