The New York herald., 1921-05-23


has grown through contributions from
other unions and assessments on all
workers in the industry throughout the
country, to more than 81 100000. an un-
precedented sum to BE- spent for strike
defence purposes On the other hand,
the trade losses of several firms reach
into millions OF dollars.
Output Cut to a Quarter. r.
Since the strike began it is estimated
that not more than 26 per cent of the
normal output has been produced In this
market or district. That has been manu-
factured in the shops Of the smaller, un-
organized manufacturers, who have ac-
CT pied the terms of the Amalgamated.
Some OF the clothing usually manufac-
tured Eere-but a very small quantity
has been made in other cities In
non-union shops or secretly in union
shops and sent here for final disposal
The consequence Is that a return
to normal conditions of cost and
selling prices has been impossible. Most
of the clothing now being sold In New
York city Is manufactured by the Chi
cago, Baltimore. Philadelphia and other
markets. thereby seriously injuring the
metropolitan trade. The acknowledged
supremacy of New York city in this
trade Is seriously menaced il not already
wiped out
United States Senator Moses. in intro
ducing his resolution to investigate tho
clothing trade situation at Washington
on April 2S sati:
These conditions constitute vital
factor In maintaining the high cost Of
clothing to the people of the United
States. The manufacture of mems cloth
ing in New York. Boston. Philadelphia.
Baltimore and other cities for the past
Ave months has been seriously hampered
and curtailed by strikes"
The Moses resolution called for a
Senatorial investigation, through the
Committee on Education and Labor Of
"the conditions In the clothing industry
of the United States. the working condl-
tions therein. the causes Of industrial
unrest and its bearing upon the cost of
clothing to the public: the purposes. OBJ
jects. methods and tactics of the Anal
gamated Clothing Workers of America
and it's relations IL any, with other polit-
ical organizations and : quasi-political
groups"
Manu- In acturers Back Moses.
1t Is an open secret that the resolu-
tion introduced by Senator Moses was
welcomed by some of the Clothing
Manufacturers Association members who
furnished Senator Moses with state
ments and evidental material which he
deemed sufficient TO justify an investi-
getion.
The day afty the Moses resolution
was introduced the Senate was literally
besieged by Representatives of the
Amalgamated. who had hurried there to
find some Senator willing to propose an
tvat ftat da hi IN
more than merely bring out into the sun
light the theories, practices and plans Of
the Amalgamated Clothing Workers,
both as a union and as a political or
ouasi-political organization"
Senator Borah, who, while admitting
that he was approached by friends OF
the Amalgamated. will not disclose their
identity, framed a resolution which would
embrace the whole field OF controversy"
as he remarked. The Borah resolution
retains the wording OF the Moses
resolutil with the addition that, as
bearing upon the high cost OF clothing.
the methods and costs Of manufactur-
Ing, the cost and selling price of woollen
clothing and the methods of sale and
distribution OF woollen cloth and other
material. the cost and selling price OF
retailers OF clothing the causes thereof /;
sale OF clothing. both retail and
wholesale, by years during the last
seven years" shall also be investigated
by the Senate cor, nittee.
"The reason lor tne present Industrial
dispute in New York city and the pres
ence or absence OF any dispute In other
large cities the conditions of labor. with
srecial reference 10 the contracting sys-
tenn and sweatshops prior TO the organi-
zation OF the workers and since." should
be inquired into. the Idaho Senator be-
lieves. and II the purposes, oS. ~
methods and tactics' OF the Amalsa-
mated Clothing Workers OF America and
its political relations are to be investl-
gated, the same course should be pur-
sued, he considers. In reference TO all
clothing manufa cturers' associations.
Their relations. and the relations OF the
retailers OF clothing. TO the "so-called
open shop campaign" are to be thor
oughly ventilated.
Senator Borahs resolution has been
favorably reported out OF committee. and
action upon Il by the Senate as whole
Is expected soon.
Senator Moses offered no opposition
to the substitution OF the Borah resoiu-
tion for his own and expressed his views
In the matter to THE NEW YORK HgRALp
as follows
Some manufacturers say they are
being forced out OF business others as
sert that eventually they must retire un-
ess conditions now existing change. The