The New York herald., 1921-01-24
BLAME FOR FIGHT
IN CLOTHING TRADE
DIVIDED In REPORT
Neither Side Sought War,
Says DR.. LeisterSOn, as
Arbitrator.
WAY TO PEACE OPEN
Settlement Blocked by En-
ployers' Action, He
Points Out.
BOTH SIDES INSINCERE
Original Demand of Unions
and Manufacturers Are
Reviewed.
WAY TO PEACE OPEN
BOTH SIDES INSINCERE

Reviewed.
DR.. William NJ. Leisterson's report on
the WINS and wherefores OF the current
warfare in New York city between the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers OF
America and the New Ycrk Ciothlne
Manufacturers Association has II tnat
neltber side wanted a fight; that the
matters over which the disagreement
arose were relatively trivial and easily
negotiable and that the trouble was pre-
ciptated by small faction in the mar
ket committee of the Manufacturers AS
sociation.
The report was made public yester-
day. Copies were forwarded TO GOV.
Miller. Mayor Hylan. Secretary OF Lapor
Wilson and other public officials. Inc
strike OF lockout (terminology depend
ing upon individual allegiance) has peen
In progress for seven weeks. few OF
the manufacturers reaching agreements
with the union DR. Leisterson was
chosen as arbiter by both sides ana
hands down his decision under the desig-
nation OF Impartial Arbitrator for the
Mems and Boys Clothing Industry
Incidentally, DR.. Leisterson was
named as one of the defendants IN the
suit recently instituted by j. Frieoman
& co. and other New York manufac-
,urers to force the dissolution Of the
mathematician action that Sidney
Hfllnan and Joseph Schlossberg. respec-
tiyely president and secretary-treasurer
OF the union. refuse to take seriously.
DR.. Leisterson sees error on both SIDES,
but laments that he found fnsincerity.
The warfare is limited to New YORK
city. Peace exists in Baltimore, Chi
cago and Rochester.
what 10th Sides Sought.
"The employers wanted their labor
costs reduced In order to enable them
70 compete with other clothing markets
and to attract business TO New York.
The union proposed joint investigating
committee to find out what the labor
costs actually were. TO determine wnat
a proper labor cost would be and to
make such adjustments as might be
necessary to reduce labor costs TO this
proper basis.
..In this issue no farminded person
who has the interests of the community
and the industry whole at heart can
find anything that may not be settled
by negotiation and adjustment. More
over. n majority OF the employers In the
Manufacturers Association. as well as
the union and it's officials, we're anxious
10 avoid n strike or lockout and desired
10 continue peaceful relations. Under
such circumstances labor war such as
Is now going on with all that II involves
for the community and the industry has
no justification.
The doctor then says that a plan had
been worked out whereby production
ir, various shops might be increased from
10 TO 20 per cent. Representatives OF
both the employers and the union agreed
TO IL and undertook to submit II to their
respective sides with favorable recon-
rnendations The statement then reads ::
Just as this plan was about to be
presented to the membership of the
union and the manufacturers associa-
ton for their approval 1t was side
tracked BY new movement which sud-
denly appeared in the market committee
of the employers association. This
movement was engineered from the out
side and only a few OF the fourteen
members OF the market committee were
won over to IL.
Prevented Settlement.
They. however. took advantage OF
some dissatisfaction with Major Gitchell.
labor manager for the manufacturers.
TO have the entire staff OF labor man
ayers who were representing the en-
ployers discharged. so they. with the
assistance of an outside lawyer. couio
get control OF the manufacturers asso-
citation and thus prevent any peaceful
settlement from being made. In this
plan they succeeded complete
ly. and on them and their lawyer. Henry
A. Gordon. whom they forced in as
counsel for the association. must rest
the responsibility for having prevented
peaceful settlement OF the dispute
'Of course the manufacturers had
the workers. Costs were too high In
many plants and production was too
low. Discipline In the shops was often
not what II should be. Union officials,
labor managers and the impartial chair
men were not acting as efficiently as In
other clothing markets.. But every one
engaged In the negotiations knew that
the union alone was not responsible for
these conditions. The manufacturers are
equally to blame. and the differences In
labor relations between New York and
the other markets are to be explained
by the different history OF clothing
manufacturing in New FORK.
Fear to state views.
Nevertheless the majority of the
manufacturers do not approve of his
methods even now. Most OF tho manu-
fecturers, however. fear 10 express their
opinions openly and do not want to bs
put IN the position OF breaking up the
association by opposing the plans OF
the leaders who have gotten control
Indeed the vast majority OF the
employers had no desire to give up the
agreements. They we're forced into a
fight with the union by the small group
IN the market committee and their law
yer. A just public opinion will con
denim these men for having deliberately
planned and forced on the community
a bitter labor war which neither the
employers nor the wage earners wanted.
which Is cngendering hate and strife
among a large mass OF our population.
and the cost OF which the public will
ultimately have to pay, either in higher
prices OF clothing made In New York
or In the elimination OF New York city
as n leading clothing market"