The Daily Worker Newspaper, June 26, 1926, Page 9

rte gen camp By JACK JOHNSTONE, OD Save Radicalism— From the Radicals,” ig the title given a full page editorial in the Advance of June 4th, which is supposed to criticize and analyze my analysis of the Amalga- mated Clothing Workers’ Convention held in Montreal, May 10-15 of this year, which was published in The DAILY WORKER magazine section of May 28. The editorial, like the action of the administration in the convention, is an evasive, demagogic discussion of many vital problems affecting the wel- fare of the Union, agreeing sometimes on the principles, but fighting against all efforts to put them into effect, On the question of class collabora- tion .the writer of the editorial pre- tends that he does not know what is meant by this term. Standards of pro- duction which is the very basis of all Amalgamated Clothing Workers’ agreements was the forerunner of the B. & O. Plan. The class collabora- tion features of it were clearly expos- ed when production had reached such a high state of efficiency in Hart, Schaffner & Marx that by agreement between the union and the firm, the staff was reduced. One hundred and fifty cutters were dismissed from the service. Each of those who were laid off received the sum of $500.00, mak- ing a total of $75,000.00. The firm contributed $50,000.00 and the cutters who remained in the services of Hart Schaffner & Marx paid the other $25,- 000, dhis amount to come out of their unemployment fund, which means that they will not receive any un- employment benefit for the next two years. Here we have the clearest expres- sion and the effects of class collabora- tion upon the workers. They raise their efficiency, production is increas- ed, then the axe falls— instead of fisting for a shorter work day, the shorter week, a 36-weeks guarantee, ete., workers are thrown into the ever-growing permanent army of un- employed. This evasiveness of the writer of the editorial is additional proof that the administration cannot meet these issues in open discussion. The qués- tion of the Labor Party, world trade union unity, and many trade prob- lems could be taken up and shown that the “radical” policy 6f the ad- ministration is to sidetrack these Is- sues, Where Do You Stand on Amalga- mation? ANY are the differencés between the left wing and the adminis- tration. But I am going to take up only a couple of them and will ask the editor of the Advance to state clearly the policy of the administra- tion on these questions. On some questions the surface in- dications are, that both the left wing and the administration are ideological- ly in agreement, while on other points they are totally opposed to one an- other. I will give one instance of straight opposition in order to clear the situation, and then go into one in which the differences are not so ap- parent to the careless student. A guaranteed minimum of 36 weeks work per year is a left wing proposal. This the administration does not con- cur in, so it was defeated at the con- vention, Why they do not believe in this safeguard against chronic unem- Ployment, we will not discuss in this article. The point is, that here is a complete disagreement between the T. U. EB. L. and the administration on the vital problem of employment in the industry over which the Amal- gamated has jurisdiction. However, let us take the question of amalgamation. The difference here is not so clear as it is on the ques: tion of the 86.weeks’ guaranteed em: ployment. -In principle both the T. U. E. L. and the administration are fm favor of amalgamation. Not only that, but every union in the industry, excepting the United Garment Work- ers’ Union, are also in favor of amal- gamation, So we must find out ‘where the real difference lies. Now that the Amalgamated, the Ladies’ Garment Workers, the Cloth Hat and Cap Makers, the Furriers, and the Journeymen Tailors all agree ideologically for the amalgamation of all these unions into one organization covering the industry, the question is how shall it be realized? The T. U. E. L. says that the next step is or- ganizational. To simply continue to pass resolu- tions in favor of amalgamation in conventions that have already gone on record for it, is evading the issue. So the T, U. E. L. proposed the next prac- tical step, namely, that a eonference be held at which the various G. E. B.’s or their representatives, be invited to lay plans and set the date for an Amalgamation Convention, to which the local unions shall send delegates based upon proportional representa- tion. Here lies the fundamental .differ- ence ‘between the left wing and the Hillman administration. At the A. C. W. convention the administration de- feated this proposal and offered noth- ing in its place that would bring about the realization of amalgamation. Hill- man in opposing this proposal had this to say (His speech is here print- ed in full): “The Chair desires to state the position of our organization. It seems that somé people love to break into a place when the doors are wide open to them. It seems that no matter what the position of the organization may be, some change must be suggested even if the thing desired is recommended by your committee on behalf of the officers. It is said that the Amal- gamated should take the initiative. The Amalgamated has not waited until 1926 to take the initiative. We took initiative in 1922 and it is be- cause of that move that ultimate- ly—and I am speaking now in geo- logical terms—in the -near. future, amalgamation will become a real- ity. “I ‘believe that there is no room for separate organization in the needle trades. The problems of the needle trades can be handled more effectively and better thru one or- ganization than thru many organ- izations. The convention took that position in 1922. The other or- ganizations have met since and it would be up to them in convention to accept or reject the position of the Amalgamated. The recommend- ation of the committee is that stand- fing for one organization in the needle trades be the position of the Amalgamated, but if some delegates have it in mind that we should be- come one organization before we amalgamate, and that we should try to break up the ofher organiza- tions, I want to say that is not the position of the Amalgamated. For us to call for a convention for other organizations would be to assume responsibilities and power that we neither have nor desire. The Amal- gamated will call conventions for the Amalgamated and the Amalga- mated only. And if there is a ma- jority in the other organizations that desire amalgamation it is up to them to fight it out in their or ganizations and not at this conven- tion. The contribution of the Amal- gamated to the labor movement should be a message of unity and not dissension. Our position in this as in many other matters has proved to be the right one. Even those who were opposed to it are changing their minds, and I believe that what this cnovention should do is to act in a manner that will bring those organizations closer to our point of view. By accepting the report you will restate the position of the Amalgamated which wag in- itiated ata time when it, was not popular to initiate it, when it took courage to call for. ation, Nothing should be done by this convention that will tend to bring about dissension in other organ- izations, We have taken our stand and when they are ready we will be with them. When you vote on the motion I want you to understand that you are voting to state again as clearly as possible that we in the Amalgamated stand by our po- sition for one organization in the needle trades.” Hillman’s speech is not only a com- plete evasion of the issue, but it even distorts the facts. The left wing did not ask the Amalgamated to call a convention over the heads of the oth- er unions. The following are the two “Resolves”, of the resolution present- ed to the A. C. W. convention by the left wing delegates: “Resolved, That the A. C. W. of A. in convention assembled, here- with goes on record for the calling of a general amalgamation conven- tion, based upon representatives from the local unions of all needle trades international unions, for the purpose of amalgamating all or as many as possible of these interna- tional unions into one compact in- dustrial union, this amalgamation convention to take place within six months’ time; and be it further “Resolved, That in order to pre- pare for the calling of this Amal- gamation convention, the incoming G. E. B. stands instructed to invite the G. E. B.’s, or théTtr representa- tives, of all other needle trades unions to meet with them in a pre- liminary amalgamation conference. This conference to take place with- in two months after the adjourn- ment of this A. C. W. of A. conven- tion.” This proposal is the only step that could have been taken to bring about the desired end, namely, amalgama- tion. In opposition to this practical plan, Hillman says, “We have taken our stand and when they are ready we will be with them.” What does he mean be “ready”? All the unions Have taken the same stand on amal- gamation as the A. C. W. In fact the representatives to the A. C. W. convention of the Ladies’ Garment Wotkéfs" dnd’ the Cap ‘Makers asked thé” Amaleatiated to” take steps to bring about amalgamation, and the striking Furriers of New York made the same request by telegram. To this Hillman says, “and if there is a majority in other organizations that desire amalgamation, it is up to them to fight it out in their organizations and not at this convention.” Ex-President Taft once said, “God Evading the Issue--As Usual A Reply to Hillman on the Amalgamation of the Needle Trades Unions. knows,” in answer to the question, “What must a worker do when he 1s hungry, has no job, and is willing to work?” But this did not solve the hunger problem. And the slogan rais- ed by the editor of the Advance, “God Save Radicalism from the Radicals” does not answer the question, “When all unions are in favor of amalgama- tion what must the honest-to-goodness radicals do to help to bring it about?” Hillman says that all the Amalga- mated can do, under the ciroumstanc- es, is “to state again as clearly as possible that we in the Amalgamated stand by our position for one organ- ization in the needle trades.” Thig is pure demagogy. If this policy of merely beating one’s breast and proclaiming, “I am for amalgamation” is pursued by all the unions in the needle trades, who, like the Amalgamated, are on record for amalgamation, then of course, amalgamation will never come about. I have purposely taken up the ques- tion of amalgamation, because on amalgamation depends greatly the winning of many of the everyday. de- mands of the workers, The. further advancement of the needle trades workers as a whole depends upon the solidification of. their ranks through amalgamation into one industrial union, The ideological struggle for amal- gamation in the needle trades unions has been successful. The next step is organizational. The proposal of the left wing, namely, to call an Amal- gamation conference at which plans shall be drawn up for an Amalgama- tion convention, is the only practical method by which this objective can be reached. The Hillman administration has the wonderful opportunity to lead the amalgamation movement into being. If they do not take this lead, it may hinder but it will not stop amalga- mation. The rank and Tile i all the unions understand pretty well what it means to them, and they will find ways and means of bringing the neces- sary pressure, that will in the near future bring into being one union cov- ering the clothing industry, and they will leave the editor of the Advance and God to save radicalism from the radicals. Proletarian Art A Review of “Red Cartoons”* William Randolph Hearst, Joseph Medill Patterson, Adolph Ochs or any other wealthy publisher of capitalist newspapers would give a lot of money for the services of any one of the car- toonists whose creations have been brought together by The DAILY WORKER Publishing Co. in a big book of working-class drawings called “Red Cartoons.” Providing—they would draw what the managing editor told them to. It is just this that makes these cartoon- ists something more than mere car- toonists: their devotion to the interests of the working class. They are not “free” artists, Nor are they freak artists. They are artists who have given the fruit of their pens and brushes to the working class. This alone does not make them good art- ists. No, they have, besides their convictions, a skill and an art that make them exceptional craftsmen. “Red Cartoons” will become histori- cal. Because of the remarkable draw- ings, the cutting satire and their ad- vocacy of the new society, yes, but more so because they will constitute a living record—a slice of ten years or so out of a period that marks the active beginning of a revolutionary movement—destined for a@ glorious future, The cartoons to be found in this book are fearless. But protest is not their only tune, It is easy to protest. They build also, Before the eyes of the working class audience they shatter the falseness, the hypoc- risy and the brutatity of capitalism and its ‘minions in the ranks of the workers. But theirs is not black art. They let the sun shine thru. They -~- show the workers a way out. They penetrate the picture of dark despair with a million candlepower light that gives off courage and leads to heroic struggle. Included in the collection are some of the best works of the two old vet- erans—Robt. Minor and Art Young. These artists have ‘-zilt for them- selves world reputations, Wherever working-class journals are published their work is revered. Then there is the younger group who began their training in the old “Masses” days: Hugo Gellert, Wil- liam Gropper, Maurice Becker, Lydia Gibson, Adolph Dehn and Clive Wood. Fre@ Ellis, in the comparatively few years his work has been before the readers of worker publications, has carved a solid place for himself by the forcefulness and skilled draughts- manship of his cartoons. Many of the drawings in the book are repro- ductions of his excellent dry-brush work, New names are here: Wm. 8. Fan- ning, Hay Bales, Juanita Prevat, K. A. Suvanto, A. L. Pollock, G. Piccoli, O. R. Zimmerman, F. Kluge. But there must always be new names. There must always be fresh and new mate- rial for a movement so virile as Amer- ican working-class cartooning. It is futile to attempt a description of the power of the dfawing and the play of ideas to be found in the sixty- five drawings in “Red Cartoons.” It is enough to say that hours and hours can be spent turning over and over again the big pages inside the sturdy brown cover with a big fist on it. T. & *Published by The DAILY WORKER Pub. Co., $1.00. Size 9x12.