The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-20
HOW NOT TO DO
ANY ORGANIZING
OF NEEDLE TRADE
Lesson by Sigman of the
!. L. G. w.
BY A Left Wing Rebel.


To what straights once militant
union, by its war upon the left wing
can be reduced was demonstrated at
the membership meeting called re-
Gently in Philadelphia by the Interna-
ton Ladies' Garment Workers Local
Union so. This meeting of waist and
dressmakers was called to start a
drive for organization amongst the
many open shops of the trade in Phil
adelphia.
That the bureaucrats at the head of
the l. L. G. w. u, have completely
lost the confidence Of the rank and
file of the union was made very clear
by this meeting About two hundred
were present. The chairman was
Elias Reisberg, the speakers were A.
Baroff and Max Amadur.
Reisberg spoke for an hour, said
but little. He dwelt at great length
on the good old days when we had
strong union" A goodly portion of his
talk was given over to a recital of
how the union" bosses were "suf-
fering" and how they were being fore
ed to cut the rates by the "non-union
BOSSES" No plan of organization was
presented, tho one was expected be-
cause of the rumors emanating from
the conference held by the officers a
few days previously at which Sigman
was present. Reisberg's line was the
usual bunk handed out by the average
labor skate.
Marshal, Sigman and Foch.
Following Reisberg, Brother" ANA
dur took the floor and spoke along the
same line. The high spot III Amadur's
talk was when he referred to the con-
ference with Sigman. He said: "The
executive board laid out a plan just
like Marshal Foch laid out his plan
to attack the central powers"
This caused some of the startled
members to ask about the wonderful
plan. Reisberg came to the rescue and
explained that they had changed their
mind about the plan: Anyway it is a
simple affair wen take down the
shops and organize mass meetings."
Finally, 'Comrade" Baroff was intro
duced. Just previous to his speech.
Questions were asked him by several
in the audience: "What will you do
il in the course of the organization
drive we organize an open shop that
has several expelled members work
ing in it? And what are you doing
to reinstate the expelled members?"
Before Baroff could answer, REFS
berg slammed his gavel down and
said 'these questions do not belong to
Baroff. will answer on the first ques-
ton at the meeting of the organiza-
ton and on the second the general
executive board win answer"
The asking of these questions caus-
ed the only real interest displayed by
the members turnout the meeting and
plainly indicated how deeply the
membership feels about the ruinous
tactics of the international bureau
Gratis in expelling the militants who
have always been the life and spirit
Of every Philadelphia organization
campaign.
"No Strike" Pleads 6aroff.
Baroff's speech was a colorless plea
for mo strikes" He reiterated this
and proposed that the individual
shops be organized and that If the
organization committee (of rank and
hlers) worked hard and taught the
workers the lesson Of solidarity, no
strikes would be needed.
This is sample of the bankruptcy
Of an organization whose middle name
once was eight" This deplorable
condition is brought about by the
policy of the offlcialdom and their
war upon the left wing. The militants
in the l. L. G. W. U. will shortly de-
monstrate that they are the only
group who are capable OF mapping
out the policies that will organize the
unorganized and lead the workers in
the fight on the basis OF the class
struggle.
They and the expelled members
have the confidence Of the rank and
file and 1t is for this reason that the
bureaucrats cannot enthuse the Nom.
bership at such meetings as the one
just held in Philadelphia. The fight
against the bureaucrats in the Inter
national" and for the reinstatement
OF the expelled members will 90 on
IL