New-York tribune., 1920-12-08
Open Shop Is
Proclaimed i'm
Clothing Trade
Recognition of Union Is
Withdrawn in New York
and Boston by Manu-
facturers' A ssociations
$4,000 Affected Here
Nationwide Lockout In.
volving 100000 Fore
cast by Labor Chiefs

The long quarrel tetwecn employees
and employers in the clothing trades
came to definite declaration of war
yesterday.
Sidney H.llman, president of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers OF
America received letter from the
Clothing Manufacturers Association
of New Y rk, withdrawing recognition
of the Amalgamated, repudating the
impartial chairman and proclaiming
what is regarded as the open shop in
the industry.
The action of tAe employers will af-
feet $4,000 workers in the clothing in
dustry in this city. A similar step by
the Clothing Manufacturers Associa-
lion of Boston was taken yesterday
The &C ion of manufacturers in New
York and Boston were interpreted by
spokesmen for the union, which num-
bers more than 10000 members
throughout the United States, as the
beginning of bitter conflict which will
probably express itself in nation
wide lockout and an effort on the part
of the employers to break the Anal
g& -ated. 1t WAS said that the pres
ent moment for such fight has been
chosen by the manufacturers because
Of the slack condition in the industry
moe than 10000 workers being out
Of employment in this city alone.
Wholesale Discharges
The beginning of the struggle in
:h;s city was indicated yesterday when
was learned that the firm Of Heidel-
oerg @ Wolff Blocker Street and
broadway, had discharged most of its
SUI employees, retaining only such as
were willing to work under the new
conditions laid down by the manufac
.orers' namely. the Introduction of
piece work, reduction in wages and
me restoration of the right cf the
manu1acturers to hire and discharge
employees ct will. Union men were
plcketing the plant all day Yesterday
IN ITS letter to Mr. Hiliman. signed
ooy William Bandler, president of tha
!anulacturers' Association, the asso-
clatlon announced that "in viev, Of the
unions refusal to accept the pronosal
u one manufacturers contained in the
resolut of the market committee of
oecemoer Z. 1t is no longer possible to
;gcognlze the Amalgamated Clothing
acting in the interest of the workers
tn the New York clothing market"
Ihe association also declared that
the manufacturers will attempt in
avery way possible to obtain business
and give employment to their workers
lpon a basis that will insure GOOD
wages and make competition with other
markets possible"
The impartial chairman" the man
..Iacturers announced, "has ceased to
function and is without authority ~
speak IN behalf Of the local market"
Public Won't Buy
Mr. Bsndler asserted that the public
as justly refused to buv clothinc at
gar prices, that prices of manufactured
.eocks have been slaughtered and manu-
acturers have taken enormous losses
70 investigation is needed Of these
.acts' ne asserted, nor Of the self-evi-
lent condition that clothing must he
produced at reduced prices this Season
% meet the public's demand.
M1. hlllman, prior to the recent of
me associations letter, forwarded the
,0o+'r ,ol.owlng communication to the MANI
Ssc'urers, setting forth the position Of
ne union, the letter being addressed
% Irving Crane, secretary Of the man
afaeturers' aG association. 1t folows
on december 2 our organization
,nauiessed & letter to the CLOTHING
Manufaeturers sn,, IL . Association in reply to
Our position as then defined mas
now neen ratified BY referendum Of
,nr 5000 members in mass meeting
Inc letter is now official as the reniv
Of our organization. ''p''
we believe that this is no time
TO scrap all Of the machinery Of s.olrs rov9
srnment for the industry which haa
~ofsed ses so successfully for ten years
otner markets and until now in
greater New York. -'" l"
I've believe that to accede to your
5e a1e''na5uIn n1d a..1 means not only return to
workers, but also a confession tbot
government in industry is inpossibie