New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-01-14
Garment Firms
Agree to Open
Shops at Once
Give In TO Strikers Pending
Outcome of Plea Against
Injunction; Demand Made
for + e deral Inquiry
Official Comedies Defeat
Schlesinger Won Fight by
Obtaining Sympathy of
Public, Employer Says

Captulatlon of the manufacturers to
the workers in tho garment strike. at
least pending the outcome of an appeal
from the union injunction against them
was announced last night at meet
ing of the executive committee of the
Cloak, Suit and Skirt Manufacturers
Protective Association in a letter to
Secretary OF Commerce Hoover and
Secretary Of Labor Davis. This said
the association members would imme-
lately open their shops and resume
operations in accordance with tho in
junction mandates.
The letter, which is in reply to one
from two Cabinet members asking that
work in the women's garment manufac
turing industry be resumed under the
terms Of the old agreement, also wei
comes. the investigation by Federal
commission proposed by the sccrc-
taries. and asks that study in this con
nection be "exhaustivc and complctc."
''Schlesingcr Won Fight"
In addition to announcement of this
the association definitely conceded the
defeat of the employers in statement
that benjamin Schlesinger, president of
the International Ladies' Garment
Workers. Union, "has won the fight"
he is the victor" said this official,
"becausc he is better publicity man
than any VIC have. He won public
opinion for the strikers and turned it
against US from the start. Now we
ToIo c% IL.
we can show the public the real condi-
tion in the industry and so that last
ing peace in it will be established"
However. the defeat of the manu-
facturers, if it can be definitely termed
defeat at this time, was by no means
an unconditional surrender. 1t is
Fighting capitulation," which, from the
wording of the letter to Washington,
makes clear the intention Of the asso-
citation to maintain the fight against
the union. whether the reopening of
the shops be temporary or permanent.
Another complication was that Mr..
Schlesinger last night would make no
announcement as to whether the strike
would be called off Immediate and
the strikers return to work, in ac-
cordance with the offer contained in
the letter.
Letter Termed Shrewd
"That letter." he said, after it had
been read to him over the telephone,
"was most evidently drawn up by a
shrewd and capable lawyer | want to
rave copy of it and consider it care
fully with the union executive board
before | say anything about the mat
ter"
1t was declared by Max D. Steuer,
counsel for the association, that it had
also been planned at the meeting to
draw up and send another letter to
the union, but that the action of Nor
ris Hilquit, counsel for the union, in
failing to serve the association repre-
sentatives with All official copy of JUS
tice Wagner's injunction until S
o'clock Yesterday afternoon had
blocked this plan.
Spokesman for the association
charged that this move was made in
an endeavor to block the filing of an
appeal for several days. 1t was also
looked upon as bit of reprisal be-
cause of the delay in serving the union
counsel with copies of the Justice
Hinkley injunction, obtained against
CONTINUED on page three)