The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-12-18
Scheme To Revive
Swea+shops Seen
In Indictments
Kotters' Union Head Says
Certdin Manufacturers
In Conspiracy

New York City GLNS).-Federal
indictments returned at Philadelphia
against 16 manufacturers and the
United Hatters, Cap and Millinery
Workers. international Union are the
result of a conspiracy of certain
manufacturers to bring back sweat
shop conditions in the cap industry,
President Max Zaritsky of the inter-
national union charged at his head
quarters here.
In addition to the international
union and the manufacturers, four
local unions and six union officials
were indicted on charges of conspir-
ing to fix a price on hats manufac
tured for the Army. The charge re-
lates to one order placed last June.
Denying the truth of the charges
and denouncing instigators Of the
prosecution, President Zaritsky said:
"There has been a conspiracy, as
the Government charges, but instead
Of being a conspiracy on the part Of
the union, it has been conspiracy
on the part of certain manufacturers
who have sought to re-establish in
the cap industry sweatshop conditions
which our international union, one of
the oldest and most respected in the
American labor movement, has sue
ceeded in eliminating as a result of
35 years Of effort.
Officials Aid Enlisted
"These manufacturers have appar-
emily succeeded in enlisting the sup
port of some Government officials
who have repeatedly shown their hos
tility towards labor organizations,
and who resented the progress we had
made to provide living and decent
wage for the workers employed in the
cap industry.
"Their resentment is directed spe-
cifically to wage determination made
by the Secretary of Labor some years
ago under the provisions of the
Walsh-Healy Act. That determination
specified that the minimum wage for
experienced cap makers shall be 671a
cents per hour. Some manufacturers,
and some War Department officials,
considered that an excessive wage. In
order to evade this requirement made
in accordance with law, some manu-
facturers were making bids on quanti
ties that would bring the total amount
of the bid under $4,000, since the law
and the wage set under it does not
apply to contracts of less than $4,000.
Evasion OF Law Charged
"The ilagrancy with which the law
was being evaded is evidenced by the
fact that in some cases manufacturers
would set up subsidiaries, and each of
them would arrange to come within
one cent of the $4,000 minimum. We
called the attention of the War De-
partment officials to these evasions.
But instead of correcting the situa
ton, they became a party to them.
"Our international union thereupon
informed manufacturers that so far as
the workers are concerned the 6712
cent hourly minimum would have to
be paid on all Government work, re-
gardless of the subterfuges to which
the manufacturers resorted. They re-
sented this, and instituted the COM
plants which constitute the basis of
the present proceeding.
"We are pleased that the matter has
now come out in the open. For months
rumors were circulated, apparently at
the instigation Of Federal officials,
that our union was being investigated.
| They were intended to hamper our eff
forts to maintain decent standards for
the workers in our industry, and inn
pair the unions influence and pres
tige. These officials knew, from their
investigation, that everything we did
to help provide the Government with
the caps it required was done in con-
sultation with the officials in charge,
and with their consent
ArnOld's Defeat Seen
'If the charge is that we conspired
to prevent sweatshop employers from
imposing starvation wages and sub
standard conditions upon workers in
the cap industry, we plead guilty. It
was these employers, not we, who
violated the law The proceeding
now begun will offer US an oppor-
tunity to expose some weak spots in
certain governmental quarters
Enemies of the labor movement,
inside and outside of governmental
agencies, must be sorely put to it if
they must resort to this method Of
creating a feeling that they are look
ing out for the public's interest. Mr..
Thurman Arnold has not had much
difficulty getting indictments against
labor unions. So far every one that
he has gotten against labor organi-
zation has been thrown out by the
courts. / have no doubt that this at
tempt will meet with the same re-
suit"