New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-14
Loyal Labor Men Accuse
Board of Control Of
Favoritism
Artificial Shortage
Of Goods Created
Firms Hiring Peoples
Council Unionists Get
Contracts, Is Charge

union arc holding up the supply Of
army uniforms were made yesterday by
Benjamin A. Larger, general secretary
OF the United Garment Workers.
Mr. Larger specifically charges:
That Louis Kristen, Of Boston,
chairman of the board Of control
has favored the Ama!gamated Cloth
ing Workers Union. affiliated with
the Peoples Peace Council. at the
expense Of unions which supported
the national war policy and has
sought TO have contracts held by
firms under contract with the United
Garment Workers taken away and
firms employing members Of the
pacifist union substituted for the
original contractors.
That Mr.. KRISTEN prevented the
award OF a contract for $4,000 over
coats 10 Mark Cowen & Co, Of New
York. on the ground that Cowen, who
is engaged in government work, had
not complied with the recommends
tons Of the board. Governs is q
union shop. against which the Anal
gamated Union declared q strike
the United Garment Workers.
That Mrs. Florence Kelley, another
member Of the board, has openly IA
vored the Amalgamated and declared
that while regretting the failure OF
the president of the pacrist organi-
2ation TO secure a place on the board
she would represent him. IL was
Mrs. Kelley who, at meeting OF the
Women's Peace Party in Madison
Square Garden August IS, called on
tn, women of America 10 wear
mourning until the CONSUMPTION law
was repealed, on the ground that
democracy is dead and you are
the widows OF democracy
That the COwen contract was held
up over the protest of Captain Wal.
ter l.. Kruesi. the army member o.
the board.
That contractors operating union
shops and having capacity OF thou-
sands Of uniforms a day Lave been
unable TO secure contracts.
That immense contracts, requiring
months 20 fill, are given 10 shops en-
ploying members Of the paciiist union
and that an artificial shortage OF ma
terial has been created by the deliv-
cry 70 such shops of goods that can
lot be worked up for many months.
Cowen Accuses Pacifists
Mark Cowen, head of Mark Cowen &
Co. now engaged on government WORK
backed these charges up with the as
sertions:
That whatever difficulty exists in
supplying uniforms is due 10 desire
Of the pacifist union 10 90 all Of the
work.
That. although his is a union shop,
operating under union conditions and
passed by the Board Of Control.
months ago, as complying with al!
standards. his firm has been refused
q contract for coats for delivery next
month because Of his alleged failure
10 comply with recommendations.
That this refusal Of contract was
made over the protest of Captain
Kruesi and followed the declaration
of a strike by the paciiist organiza-
ton. with which he has never done
business.
That he has sought to find out in
what way he has failed TO comply
with recommendations Of the board,
Int has been unable TO find out, al
though he has offered 20 allow the
board to name its own conditions.
"That, beyond a doubt, all of my
troubles would be over if | were will
ing 10 do business with the ANAL
gamated union"
Larger Charges Discrimination
MIR Larger made the charge agains
the Board Of Control ut the Offices o.
the United Garment Workers, lie
Biblc House. i'm the presence OF Johr
Manning. of the label committee OF the
American Federation of Labor. ant
Frank DOYLE, "A general organizer or th'
United Garment Workers.
"Declaration that the government
cannot get uniforms is merely cam
outage" he declared. ut can nave al
the work done it wants if the Board O.
Central of Labor Standards, OF whIci
Mrs Florence Kelley Is the New or
member. ceases 10 discriminate IN taVoI
of The Amalgamated Clothing WORK
or a pacifst organization formed b!
eecessionists from this union. Inn
determination is against union WORKER
Who have LOYALTY supported the drai
and overv other action Of the govern
rent since the declaration OF war
g"Witbin the month Mark Cowen q
70 one of the largest makers or uni
forms in the world, a house that ma
SAMPLED hundreds OF thousands OF gar
roents 70 the Allies and IS no" q.
gsged on work for this government
Va refused contract ior oVercoa'
wanted by the army IN hurry on VIZ
,,rornd that the Board OF Controi "oul'
not approve the granting OF inns 90''
tract. p.rd of Control an
nroved contracts with tne NoNJn ~. oon
many. which is a union shop u nJ iivin,
tract with this organization anu Ate
w ~. stoned an agreement with thi
!. 30; &c" Tho Amalgamated declared
uiiJn .borc Refusal TO approve Ih
liz. Jiji.5onaI contract followed TINS strlhe
au s.i, tbe Cowen case. Captain hruGs
~ ,dcd that the contract o.
ror5nd This was opposed by Mi'
go, md KRISTEN and, though MI
~ - ~ FIRST denied that he mad inter
seel, e; a. he matter, he later ADMITTED
that he had.
Artificial Shortage Created
"Another instance Of material penn
4;ed nm and an artificial shortage eie
ated IL that Of house taxing IGn
tract for denim garments. nc eh''.
supply Of q mill was turned oHeI =
MS house, which has SUI psiee y
Goods living on its floors uht'i sGo
Zine as il can get around to usih'
them" Tin, &c an
There will be a mass meeting OF un
emoloved garment workers in Webste
Hall this afternoon. Ihese are MN
hers of the international Ladies Gar
rnsnt WORKERS Union, 10000 OF "hon
are now idle in this city
vxT.U 3D. CTn1"