The evening world., 1920-12-18
CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS
IN WAR WITH WORKERS PUT
THE BLAME ON THE PUBLIC
Demand for Cheap Clothes
Makes New Conditions
Necessary, They Say
SEE MARKET RUINED.
Want to Be Able to Compete
With Rivals in Other Cloth
ing Centres.
By Sophie Irene Loeb.

Ihe contentious OF the AnalSa-
noGted Clothing Workers OF America
Wor0 set forth in these columns yes
Snday in reference to the unemploy-
ment Of $4,000 workers, which, II not
speedily settled, is bound 10 cause IN
told hardship
A. stated. the Clothing Maunfac-
turerS Association had put before the
WoFkers five points which fllndamen-
tally would do away with the Board
ofArbttrRtion, as between the workers
and manufacturers, as we'll as the I'm
partial Chairman. and revert to a
pteoe work system which the workers
G9ert would again bring uD a sweat
shop condition.
ttChs workers claim that there should
10 an investigation Of the industry at
nUth sides to ascertain production and
costs and then adjust wage sCiles &c
sordingly.
me employees believe that a plan
enn be developed whereby Increased
efficiency Of output will obviate the
necessity of lowering wages.
The manufacturers refused these
Suggestions, declaring that the I'm
partial Chairman has ceased TO func-
tion in the local market and is with
out authority to act for, or speak on
behalf OF the market; that all frater-
ni1tnx between any member of the as
Sociation or any OF the employees Of
the association and any of the union
officials or representatives ho de-
cAared TO be contrary TO the best in
teFegts of the association and it's
membership: that a COMMITTEES be i'm
mediately appointed with authority 70
formulate a plan uf work whereby
,S-ch worker will be held responsible
eOr q daily standard Of production
and pair upon a basis permitting com
petition with other markets.
Further contention OF the manu-
6aOhlrers Is to this effect: They de-
plOre conditions in which the clothing
market in New York City finds Itself,
a condition which. unless Immediately
relieved, would spell huin for both EN-
SAOyers and workers; that the past
record Of the workers has been "a
Eolicy OF aggressive miiitancy," and
t11at little reliance can be placed upon
Gba '-empIoyees' g4ttteTtng generalties
about cooperation with manufaCtur-
~@
TnO manufacturers further make
ehe fo1aowing assertions:
The industry has reached a stage
UAere talk and exploration a term
used by the workers which uncon-
acloualy betrays their attitude Of
mind, can serve no useful purpose
We have been talking and exploring
Eince Aug. rs, last, without avail.
Srhat the public has Just refused tc
Guy clothing at war prices and that
the prices OF manufactured stocks
have been slaughtered and manufaC-
kurers have taken enormous losses
a a matter of common knowledge
and needs no Investigation or eX-
ploration. That for the coming sea-
son clothing must be produced al
reduced prices TO meet the public's
demand is also self-evdent and needs
no Investigation or exploration. That
tho future prospects OF profits tc
manufacturers have dwindled. Ii
generally conceded.
aS6ha4 to make possible the sale o.
caothing at reduced prices the cost Of
loroduction must be reduced needs nj
ex,Aoration or investigation. Tha'
file labor unit cost OF production II
the New York market is prohibitivelJ
higher than in any other centre yol
would never question except for pur'
poses of delay.
"Ail that remains is the methoC
which will bring business 10 the en-
ployers and work TO the workers.
"Our proposal that a standard o.
production shall be formulated, tha'
~N-Sach worker shall be required TO pro
duce and be paid in accordance will
the standard, and upon a basis per
nnissive OF competition with otheI
markets, where union standards nov
prevail. is not our arbitrary demand
as the workers charge, but Is thu
natural and inevitable solution Il
the problem confronting us. The un
disputed facts irresistibly compel tn,
adoption of this plan OF work II th'
New York market Is to be saved"
Legion Auxiliary COmmIttee Nance
TSha Annarfcan Teprinp New YOrl