You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Wednesday December 30, 1914
New York, New York - Garment Workers Choose a Grand Industrial Organization
Delegates representing some 100,000 garment workers met at Webster Hall in New York City this past week. They are referred to, by the newspapers of New York (see below), as the "seceding" faction of the United Garment Workers of American. However, according to the "seceders," it is their "faction" which constituted the majority of that organization. In the two days of the convention, December 26th and 28th, these delegates voted for amalgamation with the tailors and renamed themselves the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.
From the New York Tribune of December 27, 1914:
GARMENT WORKERS IN BIG CONVENTION
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Amalgamation with Tailors for Great Industrial Body
to Be Discussed
The seceding faction of the United Garment Workers of America began yesterday the largest convention of its kind held in this city for several years. Webster Hall, 119 East 11th st., was crowded with about 1,800 people, of whom 150 were delegates from Chicago, Boston, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Syracuse, Philadelphia, Rochester, Woodbine, N. J., and Montreal, Can.
After the secession suits were instituted to decide which faction had the right to the name and property of the organization. The courts decided in favor of the regular body.
The seceders have called the convention to outline a policy, to consider the question of amalgamating with the Tailors' Industrial Union and to adopt a name, which will probably be the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.
The two bodies would have a combined membership of more than 100,000. The tailors' union has already voted in favor of amalgamation and the convention has been empowered to decide for or against the plan. The delegates from New York sections paraded to the hall from Rutgers Square, carrying wreaths of flowers.
Sidney Hillman, former chief clerk of the Clockmakers' Union and now the head of the seceding garment workers, presided at the convention. The first session was taken up in the hearing of reports and the appointment of committees.
From The New York Times of December 27, 1914:
TAILORS IN NEW UNION.
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Seceders from Garment Workers Hold Big Convention.
About 1,800 garment workers form the seceding faction of the United Garment Workers met in Webster Hall, 119 East Eleventh Street, yesterday to decide on the question of amalgamation with the Tailors' Industrial Union. Of those who attended yesterday's session 150 were delegates from the sections of the seceders in many cities outside of New York, including Chicago, Boston, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Rochester, and Montreal, Canada. The New York delegated, numbering 500, paraded from Rutgers Square to the hall.
The Tailors' Industrial Union is composed of the tailors who make clothing to order, while most of the seceding faction of the United Garment Workers is composed of tailors who make ready-made garments. The union has a charter from the American Federation of Labor under the name of the Journeymen Tailors' Union of America and has been notified to resume that name. Sidney Hillman, former Chief Clerk of the Clockmakers' Union, who is President of the seceding faction of the garment workers and who presided at yesterday's session of the convention, said last evening that the Tailors' Industrial Union has voted for amalgamation.
[Hillman said:]
There is no doubt..that the amalgamation will take place, and the united bodies will apply to the American Federation for a charter as the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.
Note: Amalgamation did indeed take place and the new organization of 100,000 garment workers was named as Hillman predicted. Whether or not the A. C. W. of A. will be recognized by the A. F. of L. remains to be seen.
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