The New York herald., 1921-05-24
WORKERS ARE WARNED
Told New York Fight Goes
On Relentlessly Planned
Truce Called Fake.
SoyIETISM is BEHIND ALL
Unions Constitution Makes
Labor's Ownership Of All
Shops Ultimate Aim.

This Is the second OF the
series of articles Of THE New
Ycrx HERALD analyzing the cloth
ing situation in New York City.
The articles Will be continued
throughout the week.
When the 10000 members Of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
America received last week the regular
Issue Of their official organ, Advance,
dated Friday, May 20, they read in
IT.: 1.-THE fight in New York goes on
relentlessly." Beneath that headline
they read also:
"Rumors are being circulated that
4 settlement has been reached. These
rumors can have 10 other purpose
than to discourage payments to the
international lockout resistance fund.
Members of the organization are
warned against taking any stock in
these rumors. The struggle is still
on, without let up. Defence funds
are needed. Picketing must continue
as heretofore. Contributions and ac-
tive workers are necessary now as
they have been for the last five and
a half months
But 1t was the same Friday eve
ming, May 20, that Sidney Hillman,
general president Of the Amalgamated.
sent word to the newspapers that a
settlement OF the strike was about
to be negotiated and that many OF
the members of the Clothing Manu-
facturers Association had agreed to
settle on a compromise basis. Others,
who are now leagued under the title
of the Clothing Trade Association,
will not agree to any compromise,
but propose to carry on the fight
against the Anal gamated to a finish.
Senate Action Concealed.
What Mr.. Hillman did not inform
either his union members or the pub
lie was that on Friday the Finance
Committee of the United States Sen
ate had favorably reported the resolu-
tion Of Senator Borah for n sweeping
invest ;ga tion Of the clothing industry
and of the political activities of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
America This action makes funds
available for the proposed investiga-
fion. and it only remains now for the
Committee on Education and Labor
TO map out the programme for the In
vestigation SO that it can be presented
before the Senate body for final
action.
Nor did Mr.. IIillman inform his
union members that the proposed set
tlement with the manufacturers in
wolves what he and his fellow leaders
OF the organization have declared
would never be permitted, what in
fact they positively refused to con-
slider last December, when negotia-
tions were broken off and the strike
or lockout began. The conditions OF
the new settlement are TO include
reduction of the wage scale and an
Increase in the standard of production
of the workers. this increase to he
guaranteed by the union. How Presi-
workers with these utter populations
of his former attitude of no compro-
mise on such questions remains to
be seen.
Yesterday one OF the largest cloth
Ing manufacturers in the city told
his friends gleefully that he was dick
ering" with Hlllman over the new con-
ditions. and tbot HilIman had offered
him wage reductions and production
Increases that would mean a saving
Of at least is per cent in labor cost.
II told him l must have 20 per
cent" said this manufacturer, who
makes clothing for two of the bcnt
known chain shops throughout the
country, "and : think heu come
through. Even IL II only last. TIL the
season rush Is over I'm satisfied"
other Employers stand Firm.
This Is the situation that lmpels tho
clothing manufacturers who have de-
cided not to make any settlement with
the Amalgamated to stand firm.
I'VE know" said William A. Band
Ter. who yesterday accepted the presi-
dency OF the Clothing Trade Associa-
ton. "by long experience that no such
settlement will be lived up 20. II viii
be repudiated by the workers within
a few weeks, if not earlier. for they
have been taught that all movements
IN wages must be upward and that no
Increase must ever be lost, even
Enough IL be granted In an emergency.
And we know that the union leaders
cannot, IL they would. make the work
ers live up TO standards or production
which are uniform and set by the
usion. There is only ono standard OF
production. That is tho individual
daily standard for each worker
III we thought for a moment Hill
man or the Amalgamated workers
could or would live M TO any such
agreement as they are now proposing
our attitude might lie different But
II lis because we have learned bv Bit