The New York herald., 1921-11-15
Manufacturers Assert That
Demand for Lower Prices
Must Be Met.
BITTER FIGHT PROMISED
Labor Officials Say Men Can
Make 500 a Week, but the
Pace Is Killing.


From $500 shops In the metropoli-
tan district yesterday morning at 10
o'clock there poured out uncounted
thousands Of garment cutters, pressers,
nnishers, operators and sample makers,
units In the second largest industry In
this State. bent upon q strike which
win cost them and their employers
S1S.0o0.000 week.
Just how many Of the $4,000 union
workers engaged in the making Of
women's garments left their machines
was still matter OF acrimonious dis
cussion between union leaders and
employers at nightfal!. The labor
leaders claimed 100 per cent. walk
out; the manufacturers, that 40 per
cent. Of the workers remained at their
places and accepted piece work at
forty-nine hours q week in place Of
weekly wages on forty-four hour
basis. It is a fact, however. that in
previous strikes most Of the union
workers have responded promptly to
a strike call. ~
It was announced by J. Rubin, vice
chairman Of the settlement committee of
tho international Ladies Garment
Workers Union. the parent organization
OF the striking unions. that six hundred
applications for settlement had been
made by manufacturers. These. for the
far greater part were from small in
dependent manufacturers not members
of either the Cloak, Suit and Skirt Man
ufacturers' Protective Association, con-
sisting OF 800 larger manufacturers, or
the American Cloak and Suit Manufac-
turers' Association, of which 900 manu-
facturers. sub-contractors Of the larger
employers. are members.
Calls Piece Work Slavery.
At present there is no hope OF media-
ton In sight. offers by twelve United
States Senators and by Secretary Of
Labor Davis having failed. Both sides
are grimly determined to fight 1t out to
the finish. and both sides have reputa-
tion for hard lighting In strikes. The
last conflict. In 1919. In which piece
work was downed by the union, lasted
from four to seven weeks, according to
the temper. of individual manufacturers !;
the battle Of 1916 from twelve to seven
teen weeks, and the struggle OF 1910
from ten to fifteen weeks. The union
claims. too, that It was never so well
provided for in the matter of money for
strike benefits as 1t Is to-day.
Piece work is slavery and it must
not com, back" Benjamin Schlesinger.
presiden of the union, said yesterday.
"A piece worker can earn 500 a week.
but he does not last long. The average
life Of a piece worker Is 2S years. Then
tuberculosis or some other disease gets
him."
The manufacturers said in their strike
statement: 'The first day OF the strike
has convinced US of one big fact. and
that Is before the end OF the week we
win have over so per cent. Of our COM
plenent working under piece work. They
have wanted piece work right along and
only the unions method OF cramming
something down their throats they didn't
want forced week work upon them"
No Sign of Violence.
The walkout yesterday was most
peaceable. There was some cheering as
the workers poured out OF the big cloth
ing factories, which are in great num-
bers between Thirty-fourth street and
red were waved upon yardsticks, but the
parades TO the nearby hRlls---twenty-f
OF them In the greater city-were
orderly. Disorder. II 1t comes, will come
later, when funds of the strikers grow
low and manufacturers attempt to
operate their plants with other labor.
The union leaders were emphatic yes
terday in their instructions to strikers
not TO start trouble. One instruction
u,-l kax I.I a.. sL1xr laff A
plants said:
when piclSeting keep walking back
and forth. Obey police when ordered to
move on. Try to avoid arguments Also
see that you instruct the shop pickets
not to raise arguments or cause dis
turbance Of any kind"
A law committee has been formed to
protect the rights OF strikers should any
be arrested.
A letter signed by Benjamin schIesin.
ger was sent yesterday to Mayor Hylan
and Police Commissioner Enright stating
that the $4,000 men and women on strike
have been ordered TO refrain from
pickering and alteration. Coopera tion
in the enforcement of reasonable"
picketing rules is offered. The charge
IS made that the nlanufacturers' organi-
zation has In former labor conflicts
hired private guards. 'often irrespon-
slbie and unprincipled individuals with
criminal records, to browbeat and as
sault the striking workers" Protection
from these Is requested. Picketing will
start to-day or tomorrow. and strikers
will gather at their various halls, includ-
ing strike headquarters. at Beethoven
Hall, 210 Fifth street.
In a statement last night for the man
ufacturers, A. II. Lefcourt. declared that
the manufacturers are prepared to pro-
tect loyal workers at all costs. The
workers who stuck to their posts. no
said, represent the major portion of the
efficient operatives who are DESTROYS OF
piece work, and the first to lay down
sheir tools were the inefflcients, the
slothful and incompetent. Tho decision
10 return to piece work Is due to the
realization of tho manufacturers that