The New York herald., 1921-11-14
Act for Good of Industry
and Benefit of Public,
They State.
WORKERS ARE CONFIDENT
Have S3,000.000 and Are Pre-
pared to Stay Ont Twen-
ty Weeks.

The strike of $4,000 cloakmakers in
this city will begin at ten o'clock this
morning. The piecework system,
which the workers profess to fear be-
cause it was in effect during the old
days Of the sweatshops, will be re-
introduced in the garment industry
this morning. This attempt of the
manufacturers to restore the system
will be the signal for the strike.
The last hope the strike might be
averted vanished last night when
Louis Lustig, president of the Cloak,
Suit and Skirt Manufacturers Pro-
tective Association, announced that the
employers were firm in their intention
to- restore the piecework system "for
the good of the industry and the bene-
fit of the public
Benjamin Schlesinger. president Of the
International Ladies' Garment Workers
Union, was marshalling his forces for
the conflict. He said he was confident
the workers would win; that they had a
fund of S3,000.000 which they were will
and that they were prepared to hold ou,
twenty weeks, IL necessary. against the
restoration of the piecework system. The
employers, on the other hand insisted
that most Of the workers would stick to
their jobs because they could make
more money under the piecework system
Headquarters of the strikers were es-
tablished late last night In Beethoven
Hall. 210 Fifth street Committees were
scheduled to leave the hall before dawn
with circulars and leaflets for distribu-
ton among the workers. Mrs Schles-
tnger personally will direct the walk
out. He will have the support not only
Of his own organization, but also of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers OF
America, of which Sidney Hillman. re-
Gently returned from Russia, is presi-
dent. 1t is largely his connection with
the strike that has given rise to the
cKerse cnat the strike is little short Of
q Communistic movement.
Statement by Employers.
The statement of the Cloak. Suit and
Skirt Manufacturers Protective Associa-
ton was not given out until late last
night, despite the fact the members of
the executive committee returned from
Washington twenty-four hours previous
ly. The statement, signed by Mr. Lus-
tig, sets forth the purpose of the visit
to Washington and adds to the charges
which already have been made against
the union.
IF it had not been for the deliberate
misstatement and slanderous accusation
on the part of President Schlesinger the
strike might have been averted alto
gether." says the statement However,,
Schlesinger accused US of having been
responsible for the proposal to declare
a two weeks truce which had been made
by the twelve United States Senators
who have used their good Offices to inter-
vene in this situation. Schlesinger as
serted that such a truce would enable
the manufacturers to finish millions OF
dollars worth of work which has been
begun in the hundreds of shops In New
York city. He said that after the COM
pletion of this work the manufacturers
would be In a position to 'strangle the
workers This amounts TO a charge of
conspiracy against u.s. How could we
go into conference and permit work to
60 on at the same time. thereby SUBJ
stantiating the charge that we had con-
spired to trick the workers into complet-
ing the unfinished work now In our
shops?
AS matters now stand the piecework
system and its resultant decreased prices
for the consumer will be reintroduced
into the industry in New York city this
morning"
Mr.. Lustig in his statement then sets
out, under twelve different headings, the
arguments which the committee of manu-
facturers presented to Secretary of
Labor Davis in an attempt to convince
him of the soundness Of the employers
attitude.