The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-12-15

In PROSPECT
New York Manufacture
ers and Unions on
Verge Of Severing
Relations

New York, Dec. 12.-Manufacturers
IN the clothing trade do not intend TO
lend themselves to the establish
meht Of sovietism in their industry"
declared William Bandler, president
OF the Clothing Manufacturers asso-
cialon' IN statement issued here
tonight. He characterized as hum
p"S' sham and false pretense," the
union charge that the manufacture
CTS plah 10 return to sweat shoD
conditions"
inns VIII be evidenced" the state
ment added, by the fact that the
employers are about to put into oper-
alton plan of work whereby en-
ployment will be given to thousands
OF workers who for long time have
been idle because of the inability of
the manufacturers TO compete and Sc
cue business. And the workers will
be invited 10 work, but it is feared
that they will be prevented from so
dong by the unions direction that
they strike. Sweat shop conditions
today are matter Of the past and
are inconceivable and impossible
through the safeguards and protec-
ton fforded workers by our present
labor laws"
Mr.. Bandler asserted a complete
change in the fundamentals control
ling the local labor market is i'm
perative TO restore the industry to a.
basis OF business efficiency and eradi-
cafe tn ecvil practices in which "the
industry is stepped and the perils
which threaten it," This is neces-
sary. he declared. in orGer TO meet
the public's demand for a reduction
of clothing prices, to save 20 New
York city the clothing market with
Its annual output OF $500, 100000 and
give employment to about 10000
workers
Mr. Bandlcr citeG numerous confer
enceS with the union, which. he said,
led TO nothing and the unions posi-
tion that irrespective of merit and
OF existing economic conditions" it
would not recede from what 1t had
secured during war times. After the
union rejected the proposal that
workers be held individually resDon-
Slblc for q daily standard of produc-
ton to be agreed upon and manu-
tacturcrs be permitted to discharee
incompetent help, Mr.. Bantller said
There remained no other course
open 10 the manufacturers than to
publicly announce the severance OF
relations between the association and
the union and 10 proceed to nut into
elrect plan Of work whereby each
worker would be paid for what he
produces and on a basis which would
permit the New York manufacturers
to secure business in competition With
the other clothing markets where
the wages are very substantially
t lower"
Therefcan be no hope for the saw
| ing Of the New York clothing mar
kets the statement said, unless the
| relationship between the EMPLOYEES
and workers be reeStablished upon
a most complete remuneration by
the workers of what is, and has been.
the fundamental revolutionary doc
rine and purpose Of the Amalgamat-
ed Clothing Workers union as stated
IN It's constitution as follows: ITO
put the organized working class in
actual control Of the system of pro-
ducuon, to the end that they shall
be ready to take possession of it,"
Union officials took exception to
Mr.. Bandlcr'S charge OF sovietism i'm
their industry and declared their OBJ
Ject is the democratic control OF
industry"
Our constitution has not been
'HahEcd IN any material respect for
SIX years" statement by the Anal
Gamatcd officials said. The manu-
iacturers have made contracts with
MS during that time and not one Of
these contracts has ever been violat-
ed by the union, We believe the
! workers has more invested in the
industry than any one who may have
made temporary money investment.
The worker has put his life, his skill.
into the material he is engaged in
producing"
Union leaders today made plans 10
meet complete lockout which.
they said, they expected will be put
into effect by the manufacturers to-
morrow. They declared $4,000 unem-
ployed members Of the organization
are prepared to act as pickets If
lockout is enforced.