The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-27
JOBLESS RELIEF
IN A. C. ". DEALT
WITH BY 7. U. Ell.
National Needle Trades
Section Statement

The National Committee of the
Needle Trades Section of the Trade
Union Educational League has issued
the following statement setting forth
the position of that organization on
the unemployment relief program in
the Amalgamated Clothing Workers.
The Needle Trades section Of the
League brands as false certain ru-
mors circulated by its enemies con-
icerning its activities in connection
with the plan for the relief of unem-
ployed members of the Amalgamated
and gives detailed exposition of its
attitude towards this and similar pro-
jects.
The League Statement.
Rumors are current in the New
York organization Of the Amalgamat-
ed that the T. U. E. L. is responsible
for the fact that the contemplated
plan for unemployment relief in the
Amalgamated did not materialize.
These rumors are to the effect that
the decision for five per cent as
sessment on the workers wages for
an unemployment fund was not car
ried thru because Of the opposition of
the League. The Needle Trades Sec
ton of the 7. u. E. L. deems it neces-
sary to clarity its position on the
question and to characterize as false
all such rumors.
UnfOunded Accusation.
How unfounded the accusation
against the League is can be def
nitely proved by the fact, well-known
among the workers in the industry,
that the plan for such an assessment
was originally proposed and accepted
at a well-attended meeting of the
Amalgamated League before SINH
lar plan was adopted by the Joint
Board of the union. When Sidney
.Hillman, president of the Amalga-
mated later came to the Joint Board
with similar proposition, it was
heartily supported by all League
members at that meeting.
Real Reason.
The real reason why the plan has
not as yet been put into effect must
be sought elsewhere. In the New
York section of the Amalgamated
there has recently developed a deep
distrust on the part of the member
ship towards the leaders of the Joint
Board. This alone was the cause for
the strong sentiment which developed
against contributing to the fund. The
opinion prevailed amongst the mem
bers that the fund will be used not
alone to aid the unemployed but also
for other purposes. This, in our
opinion, is the only reason why the
decision has net yet been carried out.
Examine Facts.
If we are to establish responsibility
for the failure of this plan, we must
examine the facts which caused the
growth Of mistrust among the men,
bership. The League surely cannot
be accused for the existing condi-
tions, as the basis for this mistrust
was not laid by the League but came
as a result of the tactics pursued by
the leaders Of the organization.
In all the recent activities of the
AAmalgamated it has been quite evil
dent that they have not reckoned with
the membership. Certain individuals
who consider themselves the Lords
anointed maintain that they alone
are fit to lead and contro. the organ
ization. The false basis of their tao
tics lies in this-that in their activi-
ties they place all their confidence not
in the collective strength Of the en-
tire membership but in that of few
chosen individuals. The workers in
the shops are seriously concerned
with the conditions in the union are
denied every opportunity to partici-
pate in the activities or control of
the union. Such an attitude cannot
create healthy basis for union ac-
tivity, but can only result in sowing
the seeds of distrust which lead to
complete Generalization.
League Favors Jobless Relief.
Unemployment relief is one of the
most important features in the pro-
gram advocated by the League. It
is quite true that from our point of
view the five per cent assessment
does not solve the unemployment sit