The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-01-22
LEFT WINCERS
PRESENT CASE
TO CITY CLUB
While ST g m a n Sings
Mud on Another Eve
BY MARGARET LARkiN.
Especial to The Daily Worker)


NEW YORK, Jan. 20.-The appear
ance of Louis Hyman and Julius Port
noy of the joint board of Cloak and
Dressmakers and Of Morris Slgman
and julius HICKMAN of the Interna-
tional in the staid meeting hall of the
Civic Club of New York City this
week offered clear demonstration to
the liberal members of the club of the
difference between militant and hon.
est left wing leadership and the reac-
tionary keep our jobs" attitude OF
the right wing leaders.
The two opposing forces in the pres
ent garment dispute in New York adj
dressed the members OF the Civic Club
on two different nights, because of the
refusal of Morris Sigman to speak at
the same meeting with Lyman. Both
meetings jammed the hall, and on IRE
dictionary" night it was further jam
med by large delegation of Sigmans
followers who acted as a "claque" for
their leader.
Mud Singing.
Repeated questions from the floor
on pertinent matters brot only eva
sions from Sigman and HICKMAN, UNI
til prominent members Of the audi
ence, including Arthur Garfield Hays,
labor attorney, protested that nothing
was being gained by the discussion.
Mr.. Hays attempted to bring out the
attitude Of the International in re-
fusing to allow a referendum to the
workers on the issues involved in the
present dispute, but only succeeded
in getting a vague reply to the effect
that the International's registration,
at which workers receive a new card
for fifty cents, is being substituted for
a secret vote at the polls. Other ques-
lions requested information on the
policy Of liberation of political views
adopted by the International as part
of it's peace treaty when defeated BY
the left wing leadership in the fight of
1925. This question was evaded, as
were others on proportional represent
alton, responsibility for framing OF
strike demands, agreements, and 50
forth.
Fully Discussed.
These issues, on the other hand
were taken up and fully discussed by
the two left wing leaders. Julius Port
noy, treasurer of the joint board, re-
counted his eleven years service in
the union and emphasized the train Of
i events that had led up to the present
struggle. The speech of Louis Hyman
also dealt with the policies of both
right and left leaders as a background
for what is taking place in the union
today.
He told of the long series of expul-
sions from the union whenever pro-
gressive elements attempted to oppose
the power of the International. He
explained the issues of the fight of
1925 in which three locals were ex-
PEELED on flimsy charges of Commu-
nism and were finally reinstated upon
their own terms. Particularly valu.
able to his hearers was his explana-
ton of the problems in the industry
which the union is trying to solve and
which were at issue II the strike.
Issue is Unionism.
Mr.. Hyman was questioned at
length by members of the club and re-
piled to the questions in straight
forward, clear cut answers. Right
wing hecklers attempted to fasten
"the dangers of Communistic interior
ence" upon his cause. He replied by
| pointing out that not Communism
but trade unionism was the issue in
the garment industry.
The interest Of the members Of the
Civic Club in the discussions was
great, since 1t has been impossible to
obtain accurate information thru the
press, and the Committee for the
Prevention of Trade Unions" has brot
the struggle sharply to their attention.