The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-11-28
BfaIoA Monument to the Official Policy Of the Amaganated

and consciously maltreated. They
have no say and receive no considera-
ton. They are unorganized,
The Open Shop.
Buffalo is a real scab nest. When
Boston workers strike for recognition
or better wages the workers of Buff
falo are forced to come to the rescue
of the Boston clothing manufacture
ers. When in Baltimore a lockout
of tailors takes place the Buffalo en-
ployers are busy working their help
overtime making the work of the dis
puted house. In short, clothing
manufacturers from far and wide
find it profitable, particularly during
trouble with the union, to send theil
work to Buffalo where high produc-
ton and low wages are the order
of the day. Silently and docilily the
workers trudge back and forth, to
the shop and home, with their backs
bent, cursing, dreaming and hoping
for better days to come.
Once Had a Union.
These workers once had a union
During the pell-mell of war frenzy
they succeeded in forming an organ
ization and they became part of the
Amalgamated. Under the direction
Of general organizer Curci everything
went well" for the duration of and
a few months after the war period
But Curci carried his organizing
abilities too far when through his
efforts the employers formed an as
soication; for Immediately after they
locked the tailOrs out and in a few
weeks the war-baby union was
smashed completely.
Hard times set in. The union gone
conditions became intolerably bad
The bosses reaped the harvest. The
tailors felt very keenly the loss Of
the union. They still remembered
union conditions. The difference be-
tween union and non-union treat,
ment was still fresh in their minds
The tailors wanted an organization
But no one was there to help then
organize. The office was still there
that is true, But aside from keeping
one snobbish girl in that office, wht
was mere tool of the various liberia
organizations in the city; and but fo1
an occasional visit from a high-pres
sured organizer who came to Buffalo
to recuperate and spend his leisur,
hours in the hotel or at Magyar;
Falls, the union office might lust a.
well not have been there at all.
-Four Hard Years.
Thus, four drudging, trying, bite:
years for the Buffalo tailors wen
slowly by. These lapsing years wer,
a great success to the bosses of tina
city. Seeing the benefits of unity
among themselves they overhauleC
and strengthened their line of of
Tense. Checklists were established
Workers were forced to remain OF
one job so long as. the boss needed
them. No other employer would hir,
them. Those who couldn't stand tn,
abuse any longer left the trade en-
tlrely. Those that remained grum
bled, kicked and hoped.
But it was a far cry from Buffalo
to New York. The National Offic,
wasn't ready yet. The tailors hac
to wait and how enduringly the,
waited!
Organization.
Finally the cry reached the ear,
OF the powers that be. General or
ganizer Wertheimer, who is some
times dubbed the miracle man" O.
the Amalgamated, appeared on thu
scene. For six months he and abour
a dozen assistants did the prepare
tory campaign work in a most i'm
pressive style. Money was not lack
ing. The most expensive hotels were
hired for meeting places. Promises
were not wanting. If a worker show.
ed reluctance to join the union he
was bribed with promises-that
spelled money. In short things werf
done in big way. "The end iusti.
fled all MEANS" as our friend Becker.
man would have said.
The Strike.
In due time a strike was called
The response was splendid. Who
from among the tailors in Buffalo
Will ever forget the wonderful demon
stration on that memorable June day
when the strike was called? 1t was
a beautiful sight to behold.
Who wcuid have believed such q
thing? Only a few weeks before
these same workers were pent up in
the factories Ike slaves fearing to
utter whisper against their miser-
able conditions.
Splendid Spirit.
For six weeks the struggle went
on. The city, during all this time