The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-03-11
HILLMAN WARNED
THAT BETRAYAL
CANNOT LAST
c | a s s Collaboration
Condemned
BY TURKHANsK.

There was time when the Amalga,
mated Clothing Workers of America
really conducted a revolutionary strug
gle against the "open shop" and the
unbearable slavery in the tailoring in
dustry. After the we'll known Rick
ert's regime had been disposed Of,
the Chicago mems clothing industry
was organized.
There followed a few successful
years of cooperation between and
advancement of the clothing workers.
But it didn't take long for the Chicago
clothing manufacturers, thru their
high-paid diplomats, to influence the
leaders of our organization.
The First Betrayal.
In 1922 they accepted the first gen.
eral reduction in wages without giving
the membership chance to vote on
the question. Since then the wishes
and desires of the membership have
been put in cold storage.
The more advanced workers thot it
impossible for such thing to happen
in the Amalgamated Clothing Workers
Of America. When such an act is
committed only once or twice, the
workers forget it readily. And so it
was in this first instance. The mem
bership rallied to the call of the gen
eral executive board for an organiza-
ton fund, every member was taxed
from $50 to $50, making total of
over $1,000,00O raised in Chicago with
in short period Of time.
A Million Wasted.
This gigantic sum was supposed to
protect the general membership from
future reductions in wages. But what
do we see? Instead Of showing the
! power of our organization, our lead
ers have accepted a second reduction
in wages. This second betrayal brot a
storm of criticism and condemnation
upon the heads of these high paid off.
Gals who have forsaken the class
struggle for class collaboration.
Reactionary machine rule is at last
established in the A. C. w. Of A
The president of our union has forgot
ten his duty to the membership. In
stead of carrying on the revolution
airy education of the workers in the
industry, our ex-revolutionist and pres
ent class pacifist officials are playing
regular A. F. of L. politics Every 10
cal in the organization has an organ
lied section of their machine, and
everything is done according to the
orders of the higher officials.
Workers Democracy Abolished.
The rank and file workers voice il
the A. c. W. of A. is no longer the rul
ing force in the affairs of the organ
ization. Democracy has been abolish
ed. A powerful labor aristocracy, in
terested in labor banks, ETC., has beer
built up and is taking away the revo
lutionary foundation of the A. c. w
of A. The victims are the poor work
ers who toll in the shops.
The officials say, boastingly, that the
membership knows no better. While
it is these same officials who keep the
rank and file in ignorance so thai
they can control and exploit that lacl
of knowledge.
| Not ForeVerl
There are shops where a shop meet
ing is called only once a year, ant
then only in order that the business
agents may appoint shop chairman
But this period of luxury and power al
the expense of the rank and file work
ers in the industry will not last for
ever.
The clothing workers of Chicago ant
many other cities are waking up t.
the fact that they have been led
blindly, into swamp. The spirit o
revolt against our class collaboration
list leaders is increasing. The last &C
Of betrayal by the general executive
board, against Local in New York
has proven to the general member
ship that the general executive boart
of the A. c. w. of A. is no longer en-
titled to represent the organized men,
tailoring industry of America.
With or Without or Against You'll
The time is near, Brother Hillman
| u,bar x,n,, mill have - foao a