The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-06-01
us. TO INVESTIGATE
CLOTHING INDUSTRY
Draft of Form Of Inquiry
Likely to Be Made in Wash
ington Tomorrow.
MOSES SEES SCANDAL
Disclosures Expected to
Rival Those Uncovered in
Building Trades.
STRIKE COMPROMISE FAILS
Secret Negotiations Continue,
but Litigation Will Con-
tinue Against Union.

Dispatches from Washington last
night said that an investigation into
the clothing industry may be ordered
! this week by the Senate Committee on
Education and Labor. Senator Ken
yon, chairman Of the committee. said
ne believed there should be an in
vestigaton and that he would bring
the matter up when his committee
meets tomorrow. The proposed in
vestigation has been authorized by the
Senate and approved by the Finance
Committee, which has appropriated the
necessary funds. 1t merely remains
for the Kenyon committee to draft the
final form the inquiry shall take.
Senator Kenyon said yesterday he
personally believes the sooner the in
vestigatior is taken up the better.
Senator Moses, who first proposed the
inquiry. told THE New YORK HERALD he
believes scandals rivalling those dis
closed in tho building trades investi-
CATION will be disclosed when the facts
behind the clothing situation are laid
bare.
..Doxen or More Grafters."
Il have believed for long time" said
Senator Moses. that the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers are using the same
methods as were used in the building
trades and that an investigation would
reveal the existence OF q dozen or more
grafters like the ringleader in the build
ing trades who is now in prison.
IL have no friends TO serve or foes to
punish in this matter, and L have advo-
Gated the clothing investigation merely
in order to have the facts revealed. That
| should be done regardless Of any report
ed settlement negotiations now proceed
! ing In New York. The recent disclos-
ures made by THE NEW YORK HERALD
concerning the clothing situation and the
inside history of the Amalgamated
Workers have confirmed my under
standing of the facts
| Conferences looking to a partial set
| Element Of the strike were resumed yes
/ terday. but despite the efforts Of attor-
neys representing some of the clothing
manufacturers who wish to bring the
strike to an end. and Sidney Hiilmsn.
president OF the Amalgamated Clothing
At further conferences to-day final eff
fort will be made to iron out the diff
ferences between the union and the
Clothing Manufacturers Association.
which is now composed only OF the man.
ufacturers anxious to end the strike and
avoid the proposed Senatorial investiga-
ton. What the nature OF these differ
! ences is could not be learned. as both
sides are preserving the utmost secrecy
| over their negotiations.
Independents Won't Interfere.
The independent manufacturers and
the Clothing Trade Association, whose
members will not negotiate in any way
with the Amalgamated, which they de-
nounce as an unlawful political conspir-
| acy rather than a labor union, an
nounced yesterday that they will not in
| terfere with the negotiations pending be-
tween the union and the other manufac-
turers, but will not participate in them
or in the outcome. The Clothing Trade
Associat ton. of which William A. Band
Ter Is now president. having resigned
! from the Manufacturers Association as
soon as negotiations were opened by
some of the members OF the association
with the officials Of the Amalgamated.
will continue to prosecute vigorously the
numerous actions begun by the clothing
manufa cturers against the Anlalgamated.
Harry A. Gordon. counsel for the
! Clothing Trade Association, said yester-
| day that none Of the litigation begun by
him in behalf OF the manufacturers had
been discontinued. In these suits the
Supreme Court Is asked to hold that the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers OF
America liz an unlawful conspiracy and
to enjoin permanently the union and its
officers from attempting to interfere
with the operation of the clothing firms
Damages amounting to many hundreds
OF thousands of dollars are also sought
in the suits against the Amalgamated.
Breach Among Lawyers.
one OF the peculiar features OF the
situation is that Max d. Steuer. who
was retained az counsel BY Mr. Gordon
! to argue the motions In these actions
against the union and who has appeared
in court for the plaintiff manufacturers
figure In the negotiations with the union
on behalf of some OF the manufacturers.
Mr.. Gordon has refused to continue TO
act as attorney for these manufacturers
and very strained relations now exist
between Mr.. Gordon and Mr.. Steuer.
The group which Mr. Steuer now repre-
sents In the negotiations are really job
bev who employ contractors TO manu-
facture their garments. while the manu-
facturers who make clothing in their
own shops are either banded together
in the Clothing Trade Association or
Independent. These latter include such
firms as Fruhauf Bros. Marks Arnheim,
Rogers. Peet & Co.. Heidelberg. Wolff
Co. NJ & Naufnburg & Co, Currick,
Leiken n Co. Cohen. Goldman & Co.
and many others of the best known
firms In the trade.
No matter what turn the negotiations
with the amalsamated take, these
manufacturers intend TO run their shops
Mt full blast from now on as open shops.
They reported yesterday that they were
finding less difficulty in getting help
now. though the amalgamatcd, despite
injunctIons obtained BY all Of these
firms, continues 10 picket their shops
and interfere with the workers. several
Of whom were assaulted during the last
few days.