The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-08
UNION STAND DEFIANT
Head of Garment Workers
Asserts Employers Seek
Return of Sweat Shop.
CLASH Is EXPECTED SOON
Failure of Public to Buy at
Present Prices Brings
Crisis in Trade.

The Clothing Manufacturers Asso-
citation of New York took the often
sives yesterday in what promises to
be long fought war for the estab-
lishment OF an open shop In the in
dustry. by declaring that it no longer
recognizes the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers of America as spokesman
for the $4,000 men and women en-
gagged in the industry locally.
In a statement announcing this
move William Bandler, president of
the Manufacturers Association, COM
mitted the manufacturers TO the open
shop principle when he said: The
manufacturers will attempt in every
way possible to secure business and
give employment to their workers
upon a basis which will insure good
wages and make competition with
other markets possible
He made it known also that from
the manufacturers viewpoint. the
impartial chairman" who has here
tofore sought to keep peace in the
industry has ceased to function" in
dicating that the shop owners do not
care for arbitration in what is ex-
pected to be a finish fight"
The seizure of the initiative by the
manufacturers followed referendum
Monday night in which the workers
voted to reject the owners ultimatum of
''piecework or no work at ALL" and
tunity of collective bargaining unless
they speedily choose mouthpiece favor
able to the manufacturers.
Fears Return OF SyventshOp.
The best the workers had to offer in
defence yesterday was another letter
to the Manufacturers Association re-
iterating that they stand ready for Ire
gotiations and speedy adjudication of
all problems in the industry" Com
menting on the Bandler statement Sid,
ney Hillman, president of the Amalaga-
mated. said:
"They hope to create such chaos that
they can grab from II such advantage
as may be possible. They talk Of giving
employment to the workers. Instead
their purpose is to create more unem-
pioyment. to break with the union de-
stroy us IL possible and return 10 the
sweatshop IL possible
Though the manufacturers generally
have not begun to lock out their em-
ployees who refuse to do piece work,
500 workers In the Heidelberg & Wolf
af nd RlaaH1far
street. found themselves barred there
yesterday. There had been labor trou-
bles in the concern for several days.
When II was reported that "guerrllas"
had been brought TO work in the plant
the Amalgamated at once sent pickets
to the spot, and in consequence the po-
lice were called out for the first time.
There was nothing for them TO do how
ever
Formally notifying the manufacturers
that the entire local membership OF the
Amalgamated had indorsed the policy
OF opposing the owners uitimatum. Mr..
Hillrnan wrote:
I'VE believe that this Is no time TO
scrap all the machinery Of government
for the industry which has worked sue
cessful)y for ten years In other markets
and until now in Greater New York. We
believe that to accede to your ultirnatum
status of helplcssness OF the workers,
but confession that government In In
dustry Is impossible. we do not believe
a resort to chaos is the only way out"
The "Declarntion OF War;
Mr.. Dandler yesterday sent the fol-
lowing letter To Mr.. Hilman, which is
virtual declaration of war" on the
part of the manufacturers:
Your letter of December In no sense
meets squarely the issue which our let
ter OF December has presented 10 you
The association has formulated in tho
simplest possible terms a remedy for
the deplorable conditions In which the
clothing market in New York city finds
itself, condition which, unless imme-
diately relieved. spells ruin for both en-
ployers and workers. Instead of a cate
gorical answer you embark upon gcner-
nlities mad platitudlnous discussions. as
II the question Of collective bargaining
and the Inauguration of oppressive work.
Ing conditions were the issue. The in
dustry has reached n stage where talk
can serve no useful purpose. We have
been talking since August 26 last, with
out avail
That the public has Justly refused
TO buy clothing at war prices and that
the prices of manufactured stocks have
peen slaughtered and manufacturers
have taken enormous losses IL a matter
OF common knowledge. That for the
coming season clothing must be pro-
duced at reduced prices to meet the
public's demand is also self-evident
That the future prospects OF profits to
manufacturers have dwindled IL gen
orally conceded. That to make possible
the sale OF clothing nj reduced prices
the cost OF production must nc reduced
needs no exploration or investiga ton.
That tho labor unit cost Of production In
the New York market IN prohbitlvely
higher than In any other centre you
would never question. except for pur-
poses of delay. To the candid mind all
the germane facts are established All
that remains II the method which will
bring business TO the employers and
work TO the workers.
"A most careful perusal of your last
communication reveals 10 us that IN no
appreciable way do you propose to meet
this problem save by an evns.ve plan for
delay. disguised under an appeal for
further investigation and exploration.
We are compelled to construe your let
ter as a rejection OF our proposal and
shall act accordingly"
Forty small manufacturers through
counsel yesterday gave their, indorse.
nent OF the stand taken by the associa-