The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-12-12


| content arose among the workers. Al
! the same time Hillman and his gen
eral executive board adopted peace
full policy for the union. They made
settlements and signed agreements
with employers. Of course they al.
ways came out victorious! "Needlt
trades, workers, especially in the
Amalgamated never lost strike.
But in reality conditions in the in
dustry became worse year after year
along with Hillman's policy of in,
creased production every season and
reduction in wages and what not.
Left Wing Demands Reforms.
Under such deplorable conditions
/ the masses under the leadership of
the left wing in New York demanded
certain reforms in the organization.
( These were (1) amalgamation of the
two Joint boards (children's and mems
clothingl and local unions; (2) eco
nomy to reduce the office staff; (3\
/ a minimum wage and an aggressive
and a constructive policy against re-
duction in wages every season,
These demands were never carried
into effect until the Amalgamated
officials were forced into action by
the fight made by the "lefts." I am
aware of the fact that some people
blindly think that the officials ought
to get the credit for having one Joint
Board today. Let them have the
credit! The fact is, however, that the
group that has been expelled were
the only people who fought for these
reforms.
The Expulsion Policy.
The question is, why did Hillmar
adopt the expulsion policy against the
group who defended the New YorE
organization in 1921-22?- the very
time when inside and outside enemies
threatened to destroy the union il
/ New York. We must remember the
fight that took place in New York il
1922 when Harry Cohen, once
manager of the old children's clothing
workers joint board, left the organi
zation early in 1920 and engaged il
the business of selling sewing mate
rials to"the employers Of our mem
bers. The union which was unattrac
tive when private profits seemed il
sight became attractive when the pro.
! fits failed to materialize." (See AID
vance, Feb. 3, 1929.
More About Cohen.
'In September 1921 H. Cohen an
nounced his candidacy for office Of
manager Of the children's clothing de.
partment Of the New York Joint
Board H. Cohen was promptly in.
formed by the general office that hi:
name would not be placed before ths
members to be voted on unless he
cleared himself on certain charges
The charges involved checks which
H. Cohen had received from employ.
/ ers of our members. But H. Coher
failed to appear before an investiga.
ton committee. He fought against
an investigation. He created a false
issue of separate children's cloth.
ing workers joint board and opened
| fire upon the organization"
"The general office took the posi-
ton that in the labor movement pur'
/ ity must be even above unity. A labor
organization that is unable to keep it;
hands clean does not deserve to live
/ (See Advance editorial of Feb.
1929.
The Investigation Committees
Findings.
The investigation committee ais,
recommended a change in the consti
tuition or bylaws of the union, pro.
hibiting union officials from borrow
ing money from manufacturers. (SeC
report Of the investigation committee
in the Advance of Feb. 8, 1922, page!
40, signed Morris Rothenberg, B. c
Vladeck, Charles w. Erwin, and datec
Jan. %, 1922. For other reference:
see editorial, Advance, Jan. 10, 1926
and editorial Advance Dec. 10, 1921
This recommendation of the com
mittee was followed by change il
the constitution itself at the Chicago
convention in 1922 which states spe
officially in Article IS Sec. that PEG
pie who bave had dealings with EN-
ployers are not eligible for office be
fore the lapse of five years aftel
their return to the trade.
Evading the Constitution.
Did Hillman and Schlossberg live
up to this principle? No! Hillman
Just as most union chiefs, violated
the constitution and ought to be i'm
peached. H. Cohen sold cotton anC
,,ninrisrn To the clnthinO rnan1lfac