A transformative strike that kick started the unionization of an industry as 40,000 garment workers, largely immigrant women and girls, mostly Jewish, against Hart, Schaffner & Marx. Beginning on September 22, 1910 with just sixteen workers, the walkout quickly grew to tens of thousands, and would last throughout the winter. Until his criticism of the union bureaucracy (and their Socialist supporters) got him removed, Robert Dvorak was the strike’s lead reporter for the Chicago Daily Socialist, and as such an essential chronicler of the struggle.

‘Ranks of Strikers are Growing Fast’ by Robert Dvorak from The Chicago Daily Socialist. Vol. 4 No. 301. October 15, 1910.

Socialist Women Appoint Committee to Aid Garment Workers; Over 300 More Join Union.

Over three hundred additional clothing workers employed in the establishment of Hart, Schaffner & Marx and by Hirsch, Wickwire & Co. joined the 2,500 men and women already on strike: at a monster mass meeting of the strikers in Hod Carriers hall. Committees from seven of the West Side Hart, Schaffner & Marx shops are now negotiating with the union officials for & further tie-up of the Hart, Schaffner & Marx shops.

Two men were discharged from a Harrt, Schaffner & Marx shop yesterday because they had joined the union. When they reported for work they were told they were no longer needed.

L. Haskins of the United Garment Workers, who has organized thousands of the garment workers in various cities, is in the city. He has come to stay until the end of the strike and is pleased with the outlook. He has consulted with committees of workers from the various shops and declares he has them prepared for a general walkout at any time. He is positive that over one half, if not all, of the shops in Chicago will be tied up before the week ends.

The Socialist Woman’s Agitation Committee has chosen three of its members to act with the strikers.

Manager Strauss of the Hart, Schaffner & Marx concern is still blustering. He still repeats his previous assertion that only a few hundred are on strike and that the other employes of the firm are perfectly satisfied with present shop conditions. Mr. Strauss was very emphatic in his declaration, but did not accept the challenge made by the strikers who, through the Daily Socialist, yesterday requested that he make the assertion of no strike in their presence, so that he might convince himself as to the number of men and women on strike.

Firm Is Worried

The Hart, Schaffner & Marx concern is becoming worried over the accuracy of the statements published in the Daily Socialist, so the managers have called employe after employe to the office, “trying to find where the leak is.” The employes have stood fast, however, and none were discharged.

The company is very slow to discharge its employes at the present time. On the contrary, it is making every effort to hold them.

Those at work are offered every possible convenience and many of the sympathizers still at work tell how they are allowed to loaf almost all day and they marvel at the courtesy of the straw bosses and managers.

A report was circulated that Hirsch, Wickwire & Co, had increased the wages of its employes since the strike started and that an attempt will be made to aid Hart, Schaffner & Marx by making some of its garments at the Hirsch-Wickwire shops. The general manager of the Hirsch-Wickwire concern, when asked about the report, did not deny it, but stated that the firm’s employes are making more money now than they ever made before. He refused to give his name and refused also to be quoted directly.

I. Haskins, an organizer for the garment workers, when told of the rumor about the aid said to be given Hart, Schaffner & Marx said he would investigate it and put an immediate and effective stop to it. Haskins declared it will be a simple matter to tie up the concern.

Big Rally Held

The meeting in Hod Carriers hall last night was the biggest held so far during the strike. The main floor, was packed so tightly that the doors could not be opened. The gallery was loaded with humanity. The hallway was jammed. Even the smaller ante rooms were filled and the four secretaries accepting the half dollars tendered them by the applicants for membership in the union did a rushing business.

Promptly at 8 o’clock the meeting began. The first speaker was Chairman Robert Noren, president of District Council 6 of the Garment Workers, who gave a brief outline of the workers’ grievances. After stirring the garment workers with a vivid account of the insufferable conditions in the Hart, Schaffner & Marx shops he asked for applications to the union. Groups of men and women arose and when later in the evening the names were counted, it was found that 362 had joined.

Others Speak

Noren was followed by Morris Siskind, who spoke in Jewish; Attorney Jacob Lebosky, who spoke in English; A. Hinkleman, in Polish; Isane Haskins, in Jewish; A. Novak, in Bohemian; M. Pitus, in Polish, and A. Marotta, in Italian. All of the speakers urged the workers to join with their class against the capitalist class, both on the industrial field and on the political field. The applause was deafening throughout the evening. The meeting adjourned shortly after 11 o’clock to meet again this afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Noghiloff Progressive, society passed resolutions to aid the strikers in every possible way.

The Chicago Socialist, sometimes daily sometimes weekly, was published from 1902 until 1912 as the paper of the Chicago Socialist Party. The roots of the paper lie with Workers Call, published from 1899 as a Socialist Labor Party publication, becoming a voice of the Springfield Social Democratic Party after splitting with De Leon in July, 1901. It became the Chicago Socialist Party paper with the SDP’s adherence and changed its name to the Chicago Socialist in March, 1902. In 1906 it became a daily and published until 1912 by Local Cook County of the Socialist Party and was edited by A.M. Simons if the International Socialist Review. A cornucopia of historical information on the Chicago workers movements lies within its pages.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/chicago-daily-socialist/1910/101015-chicagodailysocialist-v04n301.pdf