You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Friday January 1, 1915
New York, New York - Report on Last Day of Founding Convention of the A. C. W. of A.
Monday December 28th, the second and last day of the Founding Convention of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, was a very productive day. The delegates who were gathered at Webster Hall in New York City formally re-named their faction of the United Garment Workers of America. The Hillman faction will now be an independent union, known and acknowledged as such by the name: Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.
Many greetings from various union and socialist locals were read, and resolutions were adopted, many of them indicating that Socialism would be strongly advocated by the new union.
A Constitution was adopted and officers and an executive board formally elected and installed. The Convention was adjourned with Rochester, New York, chosen as the site for the next Convention, to be held in May 1916.
The Preamble of the Constitution puts forth a view of unionism which envisions Industrial Unionism as a potent fighting force in the never-ending
Class Struggle:
The economic organization of Labor has been called into existence by the capitalist system of production, under which the division between the ruling class and the ruled class is based upon the ownership of the means of production. The class owning those means is the one that is ruling, the class that possess nothing but its labor power, which is always on the market as a commodity, is the one that is being ruled.
A constant and unceasing struggle is being waged between these two classes.
In this struggle the economic organization of Labor, the Union, is a natural weapon of offense and defense in the hands of the working class.
But in order to be efficient, and effectively serve its purpose, the Union must in its structure correspond to the prevailing system of the organization of industry.
Modern industrial methods are very rapidly wiping out the old craft demarcations, and the resultant conditions dictate the organization of Labor along industrial lines.
The history of the Class struggle in this country for the past two decades amply testifies to the ineffectiveness of the form, methods and spirit of craft unionism. It also shows how dearly the working class has paid for its failure to keep apace with industrial development.
The working class must accept the principles of Industrial Unionism or it is doomed to impotence.
[emphasis added]
DAY TWO: Founding Convention of
THE AMALGAMATED CLOTHING WORKERS OF AMERICA
The Morning Session
During the morning session the delegates formally renamed their organization, discussed the establishment of official weekly newspapers, and adopted a constitution:
The convention was called to order by President Hillman,
Monday, December 28th, 10 A. M.
`
Report of Committee on Reports of Officers
Brother Silverstein of Boston re-ported for the Committee on Reports of Officers.
The Committee recommended the acceptance of the agreement with the Tailors' Industrial Union, as submitted in the officers' report.
Upon motion this part of the committee's report was unanimously accepted.
The President then greeted the delegates as the Convention of the AMALGAMATED CLOTHING WORKERS OF AMERICA, and was enthusiastically applauded.
Recommendation regarding weekly papers:
The committee further recommended that weekly papers be published as soon as possible, in languages mostly used by our members, and that such publications be the property of the General Executive Board.
Adoption of the Constitution:
Report of Committee on Law
Delegate Rosenblum submitted the following report for the Committee on Law:
PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE A. C. W. OF A.
The economic organization of Labor has been called into existence by the capitalist system of production, under which the division between the ruling class and the ruled class is based upon the ownership of the means of production. The class owning those means is the one that is ruling, the class that possess nothing but its labor power, which is always on the market as a commodity, is the one that is being ruled.
A constant and unceasing struggle is being waged between these two classes.
In this struggle the economic organization of Labor, the Union, is a natural weapon of offense and defense in the hands of the working class.
But in order to be efficient, and effectively serve its purpose, the Union must in its structure correspond to the prevailing system of the organization of industry.
Modern industrial methods are very rapidly wiping out the old craft demarcations, and the resultant conditions dictate the organization of Labor along industrial lines.
The history of the Class struggle in this country for the past two decades amply testifies to the ineffectiveness of the form, methods and spirit of craft unionism. It also shows how dearly the working" class has paid for its failure to keep apace with industrial development.
The working class must accept the principles of Industrial Unionism or it is doomed to impotence.
The same forces that have been making for Industrial Unionism are likewise making for a close inter-industrial alliance of the working class.
This inevitable process will eventually lead to a universal working class organization, united along the entire line of the class struggle, economically and politically, instead of being split up and divided against itself, as it unfortunately is at present, under the antiquated teachings and methods.
For the consummation of this great end the education of the working class is most essential. This must, therefore, be a very important part of the mission of the Labor Movement.
Every oppressed class in history achieved its emancipation only upon its attaining economic supremacy. The same law operates also in the struggle between Capital and Labor.
The industrial and inter-industrial organization built upon the solid rock of clear knowledge and class consciousness will put the organized working class in actual control of the system of production, and the working class will then be ready to take possession of it..
[The report continued with a long discussion of constitution's articles, but finally:]
Upon motion regularly made and seconded the Constitution as a whole was accepted unanimously by a rising vote.
At two o'clock the President announced a recess for one hour.
Afternoon Session
During the afternoon session greetings to the Convention were read, resolutions were adopted and officers were formally elected:
President Hillman called the Convention to order,
Monday, December 28, 3 P.M.
Messages of Greeting
The Secretary read the following messages.
New York, Dec. 26, 1914.
The General Executive Committee of the Jewish Federation of the Socialist Labor Party, in its semi-annual session in Casino Hall, is congratulating the tailors on their first step against the old form of trade unionism and wishes you success in paving the way for an honest industrial union of the clothing industry.
J. Rosenfeld,
General Secretary.
New York, Dec. 26, 1914.
Chairman and delegates. Accept our hearty congratulations on the present occasion and our ardent wish that you may have a future before you more glorious even than your past Executive Board.
Ladies' Waist and Dressmakers' Union, Local 25.
J. Wagman
Recording Secretary.
Many more greetings from various union and socialist locals were read into the record. Resolutions were the next item of business brought before the Convention. We offer a few of them below which we find to be of particular interest:
RESOLUTION NO. 7
May Day
RESOLVED, That the First of May is hereby declared to be a legal holiday of this organization, and all members are called upon to stop work on that day, in order to celebrate it.
I. Goldstein, Local No. 2.
Wm. Eisenberg, Local No. 2.
Your committee deems it necessary to modify this resolution so as to make it a moral instead of a legal obligation upon our membership to stop work on May First, and we recommend accordingly. Concurred in.
RESOLUTION NO. 8
New York Call
WHEREAS, the New York Call is the only daily paper, published in the City of New York and circulated throughout the Eastern States, in the English language, representing the interests of the working class generally and always expressing the needs of Organized Labor; be it, therefore,
RESOLVED, That this convention advises its constituent locals to support the "Call" financially and morally. And be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be published in the "Call," "Forward," "Freie Arbeiter Stimme" and the Socialist Press generally.
Jacob Friedman, Local No. 4
Jos. Goodmam " " 2
Morris Schultz " " 4
Samuel Zorn " " 1
Augusta Bellanca " " 63
Your committee recommends to concur in this resolution and advise Local Unions to support the "New York Call" morally and financially. Concurred in....
RESOLUTION NO. 10
Political Action of the Working Class
WHEREAS, in the class struggle raging throughout the country, the powers of local, State and National governments are being used by the employing class against the workingmen;
WHEREAS, the working class cannot entirely succeed on the economic field so long as the governmental powers remain in the hands of the capitalist class; be it, therefore,
RESOLVED, that this convention advises the members of this organization to support their own political party, which stands loyal to the working class, and whose aim is the emancipation of the working class from wage slavery.
J. S. Rieger, Local 12.
Committee reports favorably. Concurred in....
RESOLUTION NO. 43
Appreciation of Assistance Rendered by Labor Press
RESOLVED that this convention express its appreciation and gratitude to the "Jewish Daily Forward," for its splendid work in the interests of the organized tailors before and after the Nashville convention; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the convention acknowledge its gratitude for the valuable services to the cause of our organization to the "Freie Arbeiter Stimme," "The Jewish Labor World," "The Jewish Socialist" and all the labor papers that stood by us.
Saul Riger, Local 12.
Philip Klivansky, Local 12.
Committee recommends favorably. Recommendation accepted.
THANKS TO THE JEWISH SOCIALIST FEDERATION
A motion was made by Delegate Rabkin to thank the Jewish Socialist Federation for relieving Brother Max Goldfarb from his duties in that Federation, so that he may assist our organization for a number of weeks. The motion was unanimously carried.
The Convention next turned its attention to the formal election of officers:
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
President Sidney Hillman
Under the head of Election of Officers a motion was made and unanimously carried that the entire staff of officers elected by the Convention at Duncan Hotel, Nashville, Tenn., shall continue in office until the next convention, subject to such changes as may become necessary as a result of the working out of the details in the Amalgamation with the ' Industrial Union.
The President then announced that as one of the members of the General Executive Board, who was elected at the last convention to represent the Overall Makers, as provided for by the old Constitution, has refused to serve, there is now a vacancy on the General Executive Board which must be filled by this convention.
[Nominations were put forward and Delegate David Wolf of New York was elected.]
A motion was made by Delegate Blumberg and seconded by Delegate Israel Levine to make the election of David Wolf unanimous. The motion was unanimously carried.
Note: The officers as elected at Nashville:
Sidney Hillman, General President;
Joseph Schlossberg, General Secretary;
Tobias Lapan, General Treasurer;
Isidor Kantrowitz, General Auditor.
The Convention Closes
SEAT FOR THE NEXT CONVENTION
The President then called for nominations for the city for the next Biennial Convention. Delegate B. Cohen of Baltimore nominated Baltimore. Delegate Ph. Gilberg of Rochester nominated Rochester.
After some discussion the President appointed Delegate Zorn of Local 1 of Boston and Delegate Miller of Local 244 of New York, as tellers. A vote was then taken and resulted as follows:
For Baltimore 32 votes; for Rochester 59 votes.
Delegate B. Cohen of Baltimore moved that the selection of Rochester as the Convention city for the next Biennial Convention be made unanimous by a rising vote. The motion was seconded and carried.
Closing addresses were made by General Secretary Joseph Schlossberg and General President Sidney Hillman.
The Convention was then adjourned to meet again on the second Monday in May, 1916, in Rochester.
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SOURCE
Documentary History of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, 1914-1916
"The New York Convention", pages 43-108
http://babel.hathitrust.org/...
See also:
"Union That Grew in the Triangle Fire’s Ashes Is
Now Nearly Gone A Century Later"
-By Josh Nathan-Kazis
From The Jewish Daily Forward
Published March 09, 2011, issue of March 18, 2011
http://forward.com/...
IMAGES
Garment Worker at Sewing Machine
http://www.irs.princeton.edu/...
Garment Workers, Webster Hall, New York City, ca 1914
(Very possibly the founding convention of
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America)
http://keithyorkcity.wordpress.com/...
Sidney Hillman
http://darrow.law.umn.edu/...
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Bread and Roses-Kate Vikstrom
As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: "Bread and roses! Bread and roses!"
-James Oppenheim
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