The New York herald., 1921-05-27
CLOTHING STRIKERS
FIGHT senate PROBE
Would Block Action Pend
ing Efforts to Coerce
Manufacturers.
ARBITRARY POWER USED
Union Shop Closed When
Firm Refuses Private
Books to Outsiders.
ARBITRARY POWER USED
GOAL Is 40 HOURS A WEEK
Amalgamated in Five Years
Cuts Time and Increases Pay
Big Sum for Debs.

This Is the nth e. ne series OF
articles Of THE NEW YORK HERALD
analystn0 the clothing industrial
situation In Ne1o York The final
article iciH be published to-morro1c.
Despite rumors to the contrary,
nothing definite has yet been accom-
plished in the way Of effecting a set
tlement of the strike between the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers Of
America and those members Of the
Clothing Manufacturers Association
who have indicated a willingness to
end the long drawn out controversy.
Sidney Hillman, president OF the
union, Is seeking to have the manu-
facturers agree to a settlement based
upon a part reduction In the wage scale
and an increased standard of produc-
ton for each worker. but many of
the manufacturers are dissatisfied with
the plan. as they fear that 1t will be
only temporary and lead to even
greater trouble very soon.
These manufacturers are not con-
agreement to require the workers to
speed up their production, though they
know from past experience that the
union can and does possess the power
to reduce production by orders to the
workers. Negotiations on the part of
these manufacturers are continuing,
but there Is no prospect of any agree
ment being reached until next week, II
then.
In the meantime wires are being
pulled In Washington to delay the SEN
atorial investigation OF the clothing
situation and the strike and all the
influence which the union possesses
and that is by no means negligible
is being used to postpone action by the
Senate until the Amalgamated can
force as many as possible Of the manu-
facturers into line by promises OF re-
duced labor costs. AS matters stand
the manufacturers who are willing to
negotiate with the Amalgamated are
standing out for everything which the
union refused to concede to them when
the strike began last December.
An instance Of the power exercised by
the union developed yesterday when the
firm OF Finkelstein a Maisel. a union
shop. was called upon by the Amalga-
mated officials to throw open all its
books. ledgers and even bank accounts
to inspection by an Amalgamated "com-
mittec" In order that It might be learned
whether or not the firm had been manu-
featuring clothes for any firm against
which strike Is in force.
Abraham Finkelstein, head of the
firm. ordered the committee" out OF hts
office at $40 Broadway and declared
that he would never consent TO such ar
bitrary interference with his business
In consequence the union called out all
cutters and bushelmen In the firms re-
tail store and ordered all the outside
contractors making clothes for the firm
to close down. About 500 men. It was
said, were thrown out OF work by this
order.
eff we lived in Russia" said Mr..
Finkelstein yesterday. IT could under.
stand such high handed methods. But
here In New York city II would seem
impossible that such things could hap
pen. Why should I disclose all my bust
ness affairs TO men who may make use
of the Information they gather that way
TO destroy my business2 ! have always
employed union men and paid union
wages and better. This is nothing but
persecution, and / told Mr. Shiplacoff.
manager OF the Amalgamated. and his
business agents just what thought OF
the demand. Their only answer was 10
call out all my workmen, who haven't
the faintest idea why they are not al
lowed to work"
The personal benefits which some Of
the clothing workers have derived
through their membership In the Anal
gamated Clothing Workers of America
have been extensive and OF such char
acter as TO influence them strongly to
maintain a firm allegiance to the union
and its principles.
Big Change I'm working Hours.
Ten years ago the average number OF
hours that a clothing worker had TO put
in to make even less than a living wage
varied from fifty-eight to seventy a
week. When the Amalgamated was or
EAulZeus IN A5lot hlNS-tWO HDuIS Weth
was about the average. To-day, by
successive reductions compelled by the
unions demands on the manufacturers.
forced through by repeated strikes, the
maximum number of hours that an
Amalgamated worker Ia permitted TO
serve. under the rules of the union, is
forty-four a week--five days OF eight
hours each and four hours on Saturday
No work is permitted on holidays or
Sundays or Saturday afternoons. Over
time, paid at time and a half rate. has
to be authorized by direct action of the
joint board. the managing branch OF the
union.
At the last biennial convention. held
in Boston. In May, 1920. many demands
were heard for forty hour week, and
the general executive board was di-
rected to take under consideration means
for reducing the working hours to this
maximum.
Wages at the same time have been
increased at even a greater rate. Be
fore the Amalgamated was organized
maximum wages for skilled workers
rarely exceeded $50 week. and many
men. women and girls were paid less
than $40 week, though they worked
hard and long under what was known
as the task system" by which workers
on weekly wages we're required TO finish
IA specified number OF garments for a
g.