New-York tribune., 1921-02-07
Economists File
Amdavits to Aid
Clothing Workers
Prof. Seager Holds Dissolu7
ton of Union, as Asked
in Suit, Would Replace
Cooperation With Strife

Affidavits setting forth that the dis
solution of the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers would be public misfortune
have been made by an array of econo-
rnists and other students of industrial
conditions and filed IN the answer of
the Amalgamated organization to the
suit brought against it by the J. Fried
man Company on behalf of the New
York Clothing Manufacturers Associa-
tion.
The suit asks that the Amalgamated
be dissolved because it is an unlawful
combination and conspiracy, organized
and existing solely for preventing the
plaintiff and others from exercising a
lawful trade" 1t also asks that the
plaintiff be awarded damages to the
amount of S500,00O.
Among the affidavits to be incor-
rorated in the answer are those of
Professors Henry r. Seager and Edwin
Il. A. Seligman, of Columbia Uni
versity, both of whom assail the pro-
posed dissolution as calamity. Judge
Samuel Seabury, who resigned from
the bench of the Court of Appeals to
become Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor, is in charge of the unions in
terests.
Old Relations Destroyed
Professor Seager, whose affidavit is
typical of those of the other econo-
Dists who have volunteered in defense
of the Amalgamated, says in part:
"The most striking characteristic Of
our industrial development since the
Civil War has appeared to me to be
the displacement of small producing
units by large aggregations, usually in
corporate form, which have made i'm
possible the old conditions of personal
contact between the employer and his
employee. 1t is this situation which
has given rise to the labor organza-
tion movement. This movement at it's
best aims to bridge the gulf between
the employee and the employer. to
settle by peaceful negotiation (collec-
tive bargaining) the issues in connec-
tion with which their interests are op-
posed, and to promote their common
interests by the development of
cooperative relationship between them.
"The purpose of substituting a CO.
operatives for q contentious relation
ship between employer and employee
IS indicated by the language character
lstlc of all the agreements into which
the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
America have entered.
Seasons Offer Difficulty
students of American labor condi-
tions have long deplored the results
of the fierce and unrestricted compe-
tltlon that has been characteristic of
the clothing industry. Because of the
nature of the product, this industry is
subject in extreme form to the evil of
irregularity. There are normally two
intensely busy seasons and two dull
seasons. In the absence of any regu-
lation, this leads inevitably to exces-
sive over-employment during some
months of the year and widespread un-
employment during other months. It
was this evil condition which supplied
the incentive for the organization Of
the Amalgamated Clothing Workers,
on the side of the employees and of
associations among employers to in
sure the carrying out of agreements
which might be entered into.
considering the valuable service
which the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers has already rendered toward
the better organization of the Ameri-
can clothing industry, and considering
the excellent relations between employ
ers and employees organized in this
union which exist in most of the
clothing centers of the country, /
should regard the dissolution of the
organization as public misfortune"