The Denver Jewish news., 1923-01-24
BY GERHON AGRONsKY

Copyright 1923, Jewish Correspondence
Bureau.)
A movement which il technically per
laps not Jewish hut which is OF para
mount Importance to literally hun
dre,ls of thousands of Jews In this
country. has been re-launched this week
by the United Cloth Hat and Cape
makers of North America. This body
has addressed II communication to the
General Executive Board of The Anal
gamnted Clothing Workers of America.
the international Fur Workers Union.
the International Ladies' Garment
Workers Union and the .IOurncymen
Tnilors Union. urging the formation of
n Needle Trades Workers Alliance of
the 4OO.OOO organized workers in these
trades.
Restnted briefly. the objects of the
Alliance are to promote solidarity and
cooperation on the part Of the needle
trades unions TO promote the unioniza-
tiOn of the unOrganizet needle workers:
to give financial assistance and advice
to the affiliated unions during strikes.
lockouts and negotiations with employ
ers : to investigate and compile infor-
nation covering Industrial and work.
ing conditions. wHges. cost of living: to
Investigate and effect state. national or
municipal labor legislation. and to rep
resent the workers views such pend
ing legislation: to arrange for coinpet-
pnt legal advice for the afiilinted I'M
ions. respectfully in eases of injiInctiOns
and matters affecting the right of the
workers to orsnnization and collective
bargaining"
What IL proposed here IL an alliance
of allies, and not an nmalEnmatiOn of
foreign bodies. From what the writer
was told 10y j. ii. Budish. editor Of
Readywear Worker, he gathered that
not step towards economy of effort.
towards nbolishing of avoidnble dup
licatiOn. towards intensive cooperation
and further consolidation. 1t is not n
movement to set up super federation
of labor. nor even to establish II fed
Grafton within the American Federation
of Labor. with which three of the un-
ions whose cooperation Is sought are af-
filiated. 1t Is in fact nm extension Of
the mutual aid so readily given when
ever and wherever these individual un-
ions face an emergency. The aim
seems to be to make this aid permn-
nent. to assure concerted action al
year around for both offensive and
defensive purposes" where hitherto it
had been rendered only in times Of
crisis and for defensive purposes.
1t is n matter of some Jewish concern
that this Alliance shall succeed. Per-
haps 3OO,OOO OF the 4OO.OOO workers in
these trades are Jewish men and
women. These Jewish laborers repre-
sent the sum total of the Jewish labor
force. in this cOuntry-a very decisive
and extraordinarily cohesive force. The
present position of Jewish labor is the
more remarkable in the light of the
not too distant past, when, in the Ian
guage Of Mr.. Budisch, it was stain"
on Americas social structure. The
sweat shop system with its sinister ex-
ploitation and notorious unhygienic con-
ditions were proverbial. The stand
ards obtaining in the Jewish needle
industry today are second to none. This
should he cause of pride not only
to the workers. hut also to the employ
ers. who are also predOminatnly Jew
ish. 1t should he matter of pride to
Jews in general that unions largely
comprised of Jews and led by Jews.
have been the initiatOrs in this coun-
try of collective bargaining, the chal-
lengers of the injunction, in the van
guard of the progressive labor forces.
The advancement and development of
Jewish labor has its implications far
and beyond those Immediately concern
ed. 1t furnishes n ready answer to
those who cuvil because Jews lack dis
cipline. who rant about the low stand
ards tolerated and fostered by Jews.
who ute. all that drivel. now so com
mon about the inferiority of the for
eign-born, and who would bar the door
in the face of the ."low type immi-
grants" who lack the acumen and the
endurance of the NOrtlic races, from