New-York tribune., 1921-06-10
Clothing Union
Leader Denies
Graft Charges
Tendency Toward Radical
ism Also Disclaimed by
President Hillman Before
Committee of Senate
Undecided as TO Inquiry
Legislators Are Confused by
Conflicting Testimony on
The GARNER Industry

From The TYibune's Washington Bnrcaa
WASHINGTON, June 9.-Confronted
by conflicting testimony regarding the
garment workers strike and the aims
and purposes of tho Amalgamated
Clothing Workers Of America. the Sem
ate Committee on Education was still
undecided tonight whether it would
propose an investigation into all phases
of the clothing industry.
The committee took further preliml-
nary testimony to-day to find out
whether searching investigation un-
der Senate authority is warranted.
The principal witness was President
Sidney Hillman Of the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers of America on the
side Of the employees and William A.
Bandler, of New York, president of the
Clothing Trades Association; A. E..
Stevenson, counsel of that association,
and Luther White, of Boston, employ
ment manager for the clothing manu-
facturers of Boston.
Mr.. Hillman opposed an investiga-
ton. He denied that the clothing
workers. organization was un-Amer-
lean, that it had sought underproduc
ton, that the workers had been guilty
OF violence, or that they were seeking
the overthrow of the government. In
short, he sought to refute all the criti-
cisms which have been made of the
Amalgamated.
Mr.. Hillman said that charges had
been made to the committee by Mr.
Bandler and Mr.. Stevenson that the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers. OF
were seeking overthrow of the govern
ment and were responsible for higher
cost Of clothing. He denied these
charges.
every statement made in that con
nection," said Mr.. Hiliman, "was ar
absolute falsehood. Mr.. Bandler said
he had refused to deal with our or
ganization. That also is false, for he
did try to deal with us and we re-
fused"
Mr.. Hillman went into the organiza-
tion and character of the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers Of America. He re.
ferred to it's withdrawal from the
American Federation of Labor sever
years ago or the ground it had VIC
lated it's constitution. He denied that
the American Federation of Labor op
posed affiliation with the Amalgamated
organization because it was too radica
and was filled with radical members.
Eighty per cent of the Amalgamated'.
llO,O0O members, MI. Hlliman asserted
were intensely American He denied
they had international affiliations.
Senators Shortridge of Californi;
and Sterling of South Dakota ques
toned the witness closely about hi!
beliefs as to loyalty to government
support of court DEGREES, capture o,
the clothing industry by the worker:
and enforcing underproduction.
He denied the Amalgamated support
ed publication called The Messenger
Senator Shortridge then read from the
organ of the Amalgamated, The Ad
vance. showing contributions to Th,
Messengers support. The witness sale
the contribution was made not because
the Amalgamated indorsed the editoris
policy of the paper, but because asket
to help "a worthy cause"
Senator Sterling read from II La
Vora, one of the organs of the cloth
ing workers, the following paragraph
to indicate that the Amalgamated zen
couraged violence"
"Our life must be rendered less pain,
full and more secure and our future
better, and if this is not possible te
get by legal and peaceful means we
must get it by force"
Denying this was correct transla-
tion Mr.. Hillman said labor could not