The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-24

have been held by three unions
in the needle trades. The Information
al Ladies' Garment Workers Union
e. L. G. w. ID held its convention
in Boston, May 9Th to 18th. 1t was
the seventeenth convention of the
union coinciding with the 25th an
niversary of that organization. The
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
America CA. C. w. of Al held its
sixth biennial convention in Phila-
delphia, May 18th to 18th. And the
International Fur Workers Union e..
F. w. I'd held its sixth convention
in Chicago. May 18th to 18th.
Three national conventions of the
three most important unions in the
garment industry of the United
States. An important event in the
lives not only of the workers of that
industry but of the American labor
movement as whole. For the result
of these conventions mark an epoch
in the development of the Left Wing
in the needle trades section Of our
labor movement and opens up a new
chapter i'll the struggle for revolution
airy unionism in the United States.
From Abstract Propaganda to Leader
ship in the Struggle.
THE above describes the path OF
| development of the Left Wing
in the needle trades unions from its
inception up to today 1t started
out some six or seven years ago in
a small, unassuming and modest way.
Here and there an individual OF two
were preaching industrial unionism
to little groups of garment workers,
creating converts to the idea and in
stilling a spirit of general restlessness
among the more advanced workers
of that industry. 1t was slow pro-
cess. 1t altogether escaped the mas
ses.
Revolution, and Immediately the
whole thing became prevailed with
new spirit and a stronger vitality.
The idea of Industrial Unionism
preached to the garment workers so.
consistently and patiently by the few
isolated left wingers-this idea took
on new flesh and appeared in more
concrete and practical form. Larger
groups Of garment workers have be-
gun to lend sympathetic ears to the
left wing propaganda, this fact mark
ing the beginning of real broad
movement against the old Anticipated
form of trade union organization.
But it was only after the formation
of the Workers (Communist) Party of
America and the Trade Union Educa-
tional League that the Left Wing in
the needle trades unions began to
functional first, slowly and clumsily
las living, creating force in the
everyday lives of the garment work
ers. 1t was no longer abstract propa-
ganda of the abstract ideal of indus
trial unionisM, nor was it mere agita-
ton in favor of the Shop Delegates
System. These larger organizational
aims of the Left Wing became linked
up with the concrete, day-by-day af-
ldllO VI Tic uc NCly lCAAu
LeftWinger has assumed new mean
ing. A Left Winger is not merely
an idealist or a dreamer of rosy
dreams, but practical active trade
unionist who knows better than the
Right Winger how to run union in
the interests of the rank and file.
During the last two years the Left
Wing in the needle trades has definite
ly established itself as a positive.
creative force in the class-struggle
and in the unions of the industry. 1t
not only raised the banner Of re-
evolutionary unionism and Of the Red
Labor Union International, but it has
also challenged in practical and inn
mediate fashion The Right Wing lead
ership Of the union. The three needle
trades conventions just held offer suf-
ficient proof that the Left Wing is
well on its road toward final victory.
The Convention Of the |. L. G. W. U.
PRACTICALLY and morally the