The labor world., 1922-08-19
COMMUNISTS ARE AGAIN ROUTED
BY GARMENT WORKERS PRESIDENT
Schesmger Sustained and Ne Agreement IS Ratified by Ref
erendum Which QVeIwhems Destructive Campaign Of Reds.
International Labor New

International Labor News Service.
Communists have been routed
completely in their efforts to con-
duct a disruptive work within the
international Ladies Garment Work.
ers' union.
The International officers, led by
President BE njamin Schlesinger, ne
Eotiated new two-year agreement
with the employers This agreement
provided for a continuance of the
wage scale that has been in effect
for the last three years. 1t main
tanned the 4l-hOur week, ell of the
established conditions and secured
some important new concessions to
the workers.
1t was a better agreement than
the old one, which was negotiated
at the peak Of prosperity.
AS soon as the agreement was an
nounced the Communists began their
attack upon the agreement, upon
President Schlesinger and the other
officers. President Schlesinger was
charged with every crime in the
calendar, including betrayal of the
workers. His traducers cited his ac-
tion in the Cincinnati convention
where he refused to support the mi
nority resolution demanding recog-
milton Of soviet Russia.
Schlesinger met the attack
promptly and vigorously. He de-
manded a referendum vote on the
CT
been announced. 1t was:
Yes, 21,605.
No, 1919.
Void, 100
This is a Triumphant vindication
for President Schlesingtr and COM
plete defeat for tho Communists who
made the attack upon him.
The Communists staked everything
In their attack on Schlesinger. Their
newspapers and periodicals were
/ most bitter. They went into the fight
proclaiming it test of strength.
They have had their test. 1t finds
them with q handful of votes, not
all of which by any means called
Communist votes.
Again is the Communist strength
measured and found mostly noise.
In regard to the Russian question
President Schlesinger issued a for
NAL statement which has been wide
ly commented upon and which makes
clear President Schlesinger's oppo-
sitiOn to the soviet autocracy and
his reasons for that opposition. His
statement says:
My action in the convention of
the American Federation of Labor
In connection with the proposed res
olution on RUSSIA has been so per-
: sistentlt misrepresented Uncertain
quarters that l deem it advisable to
make public statement of the true
facts.
Il did not vote against the reso-
luton calling for the recognition of
Soviet Russia by the United States
government, nor did 7 vote for it.
AS Socialist and trade unionist,
/ am opposed to the terrorist meth
DDS of the soviet government, the
suppression of free press and speech
and the persecution of dissenting So
clallst groups. as we'll as to the dis
ruptlvc and rcactionary tactics of
the Communist Interna tionale. and
L consider it not only my good right,
but my positive duty to protest
against these methods and tactics in
all socialist and labor gatherings.
"On the other hand, fully realize
that the refusal 70 the United States
government to recognize the Soviet
government Of Russia has very little
to do with the above considerations,
but is based upon the fact that the
government Of Russia is anti capital
istic.
1T is therefore quite consistent in
my opinion for a Socialist and trade
unionist to condemn the Communist
dictatorship cf Russia and the de-
structivc tactics of the Communist
lnternationalc, while demanding the
formal recognition of the soviet GOV
eminent by the government of our
own country.
This is not only my personal view
on the subject, but also the attitude
of the International Ladies' Car
ment Workers union. clearly ex-
pressed in the two resolutions on
the subject adopted at the recent
Cleveland convention.
1T was this position which I
should have liked to see prevail in
the convention of the American, Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor, and with that OBJ
Ject in view. I suggested an amend
ment in the minority report. which,
If adopted, would have adequately
covered both aspects of the question.
My suggestion was ruled out of order