The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-28
SUIT MAKERS
LOCKED OUT TO-DAY
Unions to Answer Employers
by General Strike and
New Demands.
CLOSED SHOP THE ISSUE

1ncensed at the attitude Of the gar
ment workers unions. the Cloak. suit
and Skirt Manufacturers Protective
Association. comprising 400 shops and
employing at least $4,000 persons, noti-
ned their employees yesterday not to
report for work until further notice. TIL
heads Of the cioakmakers unions and
affiliated unions thereupon served notice
on the manufacturers that the lockout
would be a signal for a general strike.
The situation implies that to-day
there will be an almost complete cessa-
ton Of labor in an important industry,
n with little present likelihood OF the
manufacturers and the workmen COM
ing to AN agreement. About $4,000
cloak. suit and skirt makers will be
locked out by the manufacturers order.
and the general strlke-if II eventuates
will throw thousands more into idle
ness.
The attitude and grievances Of the
employers were set forth yesterday In a
notice printed in English. Yiddish and
Italian. They complain that constant
agitation In the Jewish press has made II
impossible for them to continue business
peacefully, and makes IL unwise and
unsafe to begin the new season until
| such conditions are ended. The unions.
II IL charged. have been trying to force
| employers to make workmen pay their
union dues on penalty OF losing their
| Jobs. Thu employers characterize this
effort "a d~ishonorable and say that their
! refusal to do 80 was the cause OF the
! union breaking its contract with the as
sociation.
III the union wou not always play
politics. the circula states. but would
abide by contracts made In good faitf
| there would be peace in the industry
| We do not object to o being a union
man. but We will not act as policemen 10
make you pay or discharge you wher
you do not pay
The manufacturers assert that the
| crisis was caused by the action or tht
union officials In inducing the Mayors
Council u Cancellation TO proclaim th'
closed shop in this Industry.
This was DONE" the manufacturer
statement reads. ''by Or Felix Adler
| after counsel for the union had. by re
peated and insistent effort. demandef
an Interpretation Of the Keystone o.
the old protocol of 1910. known as Para
erapn -. III. Felix Adler, II would
seem. fell into the trap laid for him. and
promulgated the closed shop. To permit
OF such q condition would drive this
industry from our city
President Benjamin Schlesinger OF th'
International Ladies Garment Worker!
Union. together with eleven officers r
cloakmakers unions. had hoped unit
las, night 10 receive word from Mayo
Mitchell that the manufacturers ha'
agreed 20 accept his second invitation
TO a peace parley. When word did no
come the union officials gave notice tina
n general strike would follow the lock
out order. Mr.. Schlesinger gave out
statement explaining the unions po'n
Of view.
THE proposed lockout can have oni
one meaning he said. TT - "A declara
ton OF war against he unions. tn
union mus. he destroyed AZ any cost
That is the slogan. With this end !
view they have been planning their ~
tack for months. They have brazenl
declined an urgent invitation from IN
Mayor.
"Our emplo, ers will no. he rermitte
TO fight this battle upon ground chose
by them The planned lockout will h
answered Immediately 10y a genera
strike. The union will ~ once formt
late "A new list Of demands, There wi
he no surrender. no peace. until n
workers secure just and fair conditions