The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-09-21
A Survey of the Union in its Princi
pal Centers-Facts Speak Louder
Than Beautiful Words.
RY 8. TAYLOR.


expression of the officials Of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of
America. Everything is in fine or
der. The membership is contended;
the officers are happy and the or
ganization is in a state of tranquility
thanks to the abilities Of Sydney Hill
man, its president, and his able as
sociates, the General Executive
Board
Such is the picture one gets by read
ing the Amalgamated weekly organs
the Advance, Fortshrit, etc. That
impression is also being conveyed
through numerous other publications.
For instance, Ben Stollberg writing
in the Nation about the needle in
dustry has only laudable comments
for the leaders of the Amalgamated.
He compliments Hillman upon his
executive abilities and attributes the
soundness Of that organization to his
keen foresight and native ingenuity.
Such rose-colorcd pictures are also
presented by various other liberal
writers in the Survey Graphic, -
AONQdLG LyGcl4 sAAlNA ~ AOA bAAe
Below the Surface.
If we assume that the foregoing
description Of the Amalgamated tells
a true story a closer observation of
a more factual character reveals an
entirely different condition. Before
going further it might be in place to
ask a few questions so as to get an
70
l. Why were such drastic measures
resorted to when the administration
policy-that of fighting the insurg-
ents-was put through in the New
York market,
2. Why was man like Becker
man, who is undisputably disliked and
mistrusted by nearly all needle
workers placed in charge of the New
York Joint Board.
3. Why were a number Of able or
ganizers dropped from the staff and
a few trusted" ones remained?
4. Why are the members in num-
erous markets constantly in revolt
against their puppet administrations
which are being kept up by the in
fluence of the National Office?
We could ask more, questions but
these will suffice to clarity our con-
tention for the present. 1t is, how
ever, within reason to state that if
conditions are as pleasant as the Of
fetal family of the Amalgamated con-
tend that they are, then the existence
Of these evils gives the lie to the
story they tell.
arAGe we justified in asking the
s.,e questions? Let US see. 1t
seems hardly necessary to substan-
aaee the statement that the most
brutal and indecent tactics were used,
under the supervision of Beckerman
and the approval of the National Of
ficers, when putting the so-called ma
tional policy in force against the
revolving rank and file in the New
York market. One only needs to re-
fresh his memory a bit.
Recall to mind the forceful
measures resorted to; the use of
gangsters and underworld characters
to break up protest meetings and to
beat up the workers who attended
them; the force and coercion employed
when collecting dues and assessments
forcing the workers to leave the
shop, admitting them only after their
obligations had been paid; the dis
elimination against active union
members, expelling them on some
false charge, or depriving them of
their jobs through various infamous
C h e m e IS the alignment of dis
reputable and mistrusted elements,
Harry Cohen, to wit, who was Off
cially found guilty of accepting graft
from an employer; and Beckerman,
a tool of the Forward clique; all for
the sake of unity" against the
groaning rank and file who revolted
against the ruthlessness of the Off
Gals.
These are facts and their proof
is easily available to anyone who is
afflicted with a doubling complex.
They Hate Beckerman.
That Beckerman is despised and
Instructed by the rank and file of the
Amalgamated is an undisputed fact.
The mere mention of his name among
workers in New York is enough to
generate suspicion and disgust. Not
only are the New York members in
dignant over Beckerman's czaristic
behavior but his infamy has spread
to practically all Amalgamated
clothing centers.
In Rochester a demonstration
against him was staged on the first
of May. He encountered similar
fate in Toronto a few weeks later.
In Chicago, too, his visit created I'M
pleasant manifestations. There is,
Furthermore, no love lost between
Beekerman and the executives of the
Amalgamated.
Beckerman, as indicated previous
~, is part Of the Forward machine.
Beckerman was brought into the or
ganization to serve a purpose. Times
were turbulent Official power was
lettering and someone with a stern
nature was needed to quell the riot
Gus insurgents. Beckerman's natural
qualities admirably fitted him for the
iOb His connection 1vitb +ba ,1ndor