New-York tribune., 1920-12-20
ClothinsUlnions
Raising Million
ToFislntOwners
Amalgamaied Lays Plans
for Six Months Contest,
Backed by Organizations
in Many Other Cities
10000 Out Of Work Here
Commissaries To Be Opened
ON the East Side: viii
Extend Credit 10 Workers

A fund of 81 900 900 IN preparation
for six months fight will be raised
at once by the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers of America to combat the New
York Manufacturers Association in the
dispute over readjustment Of wages and
working conditions and recognition Of
the union. The controversy has para
lyzed the clothing trade in this city
and thrown $4,000 workers out of en-
ployment.
Announcement of the proposal to
raise the fund by voluntary contrlbu-
tions of members os the Amalgamated
in New York and Canada was made
yesterday by Sidney Hllman, president
Of the Amalgamated. after an all-day
meeting of officials of the union from
this and other cities at the Hotel
Pennsylvania. Mr.. Hillman made it
clear that the proposed fund would not
be raised with the assistance of the
newly organized Needle Trades ALI
ance.
1--WE have not yet appealed for aid to
the Needle Trades Alliance MIR. Hill
man said. "That organization had no
representatives at our meeting
Chi ago to Give s5O0O0O
Mr.. Hillman announced that the rep
resentatives of the Amalgamated from
Chicago, headed by Samuel Levin,
chairman of the Chicago Joint Board,
present at the meeting, pledged them
selves to supply S5CO,OOO of the pro
posed fund, 100000 of which, they
promised, would be in the office OF the
L. o II l.
man declared also that the entire 81
600 900 fund wor d be collected by
January Is.
Mr.. Hillman explained that the fund
would be used in extending credit to
Amalgamated workers out of employ
ment in New York, the opening OF
com mi~sarics and restaurants on the
East Side and in other sections OF the
city, and in generally aiding the EN-
ployees in keeping UP their hgnt' IN
addition, he said, provision would be
made for the purchase of food, cloth
inc am cth~r essential nccessaries OF
life at cheaper prices.
"No member OF the Araalgamated
locked out by the employers SAID Mr..
Hillman. "will be permitted to suffer
dire need. We w II not perm any
case Of distress among the clothing
workers Of New York. We are prepar-
ing for a six months fight, and are
making every provision necessary to
withstand the struggle. | have all con-
fidence that we viii WIN
II was pointed out by Mr.. Hillman
that in TIE lockout Of 1913, which
lasted twelve weeks, the union ra-sed
Q fund of 100000.
May Ask Federal Inquiry
Other cities which will contribute
nd
will be Philadelphia, Rochester, 10
ronto, Buffalo and a score o. Sn'@i4ci
towns.
The Federal authorities. .lr. Hillman
declared. might be requested by the
Amalcamated to make an investigation
Of the industry n New York for the
purpose of determin ng what Mr.. HILL
man called the inexcusable profteering
in the industry, which, he said, was re-
sponsible for the high cost OF clothing.
In addition Mr.. Hllman. commenting
upon the announced intention of the
manufacturers to ask Governor elect
Miller for q Legislative nve5tigation OF
the industry, said the Amalgamated
would like the manufacturers assocla-
tion to submit its charges to Dlstrct
Attornev Swami imm ediately, without
waiting for a legislative probe.
'1f the manufacturers have any evil
dence Of conditions the clothing IN
dustry with regard to labor similar TO
those uncovered in the building
trades" said Mr. Hnlman, "why don't
they take the matter uD at once with
District Attorney swain? Let them
present the evidence Immediately
The Amalgamated will cooperate with
the District Attorney in every way tc
help hin. get to the bottom Of the stu
alton. ! have no hesitation in saying
that any serious invest cation, no mat
ter by whom undertaken, into the cloth
ing industry W Il reveal conditions OF
postwar prohteering by the manu-
facturers that will astonish the city.
Charge Plot to Owners
at is this profteering and other
malpractices by the manufacturer
which are responsible for the higF
cost Of clothing. The manufacturer
arc seeking to detract public atten
ton from this fundamental probler
by charging the union with Brindell
ism. We know the situation, and W.