Archive Transcript: Letters
Letter from Rose Pesotta to David Dubinsky
Rose Pesotta to David Dubinsky, [1938 or 1939?]
But off the record, I wish to make a few observations, with your permission, Brother Dubinsky, simply to get it off my chest and air the views of a woman member whom you glorified in the "Story of David Dubinsky of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union" yesterday, November 6th in the N.Y. Journal-American. May I state at the out-set, that I always regarded the Hearst press as yellow, violently anti-labor and reactionary? In the course of my organizing activities in several parts of this country, the Hearst press consistently attacked us, blaming the ILG and its organizers for instigating strikes, causing people to lose their jobs, livelihoods, homes, etc. As last as 1936, the Hearst press, writing about the leadership of the CIO in the Roosevelt campaign attacked our ILG and its leadership, including yourself, as Communists. (I was given the distinction of being an Anarchist and a friend of Emma Goldman, an honor I shall never deny.) I recall that in 1927 a similar stunt was performed by Hearst in printing the story of the lives of Sacco-Vanzetti, who were electrocuted, the articles notwithstanding. The Hearst press has already been on the decline for several years because the awakened labor rank and file refused to be bull-dozed any longer. Today, the printing of your story in the classic Hearst sensational style, is simply giving his yellow, reactionary press a new lease on life, to say the least. I followed the articles and must admit that Mr. Joseph Mulvaney, the fellow who induced you to consent to his writing these stories, will be handsomely rewarded by Hearst, for the circulation will surely jump a score of thousands or more. do not know what objectives you aim to reach in consenting to be publicized in such a fashion, save one-to give the writer a chance to earn a living (is he at least a Union man?) But one thing is certain, it will not add any more to our prestige than what we can accomplish with our own efforts and without the benefit of William Randolph Hearst. As a rank and file member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union I wish to tell you, Brother President, that I do not approve of this kind of publicity. I am confident, and it is quite possible, that this opinion is shared by many thousands of our organization, but mine may be the only one expressed so bluntly to you directly; in view of the fact that I was always considered a "shaigitz" when I was young and as a militant out-spoken trade-unionist during my activities in the labor movement, I am not afraid of telling the truth to you now.
Brother President, I am very apprehensive of the state of affairs in our organization and the present moral disintegration within our ranks. In recent years it came to pass in our International to mistake servility for service; sensationalism for fame and one-man-rule for statesmanship, genius or outstanding leadership. That the Communists became servile was their game to gain a foot-hold in the organization, but in several instances, I found that the head of the organization becomes the one-man-rule, and the members, for fear of losing his favors, refrain from expressing an honest opinion. Moreover, we have developed what is ordinarily known as "cliques" who keep within themselves and who rule from above. Only when some of them leave the organization (which happens very seldom-unless they are found out) the truth is revealed that he was incompetent, mediocre, a bureaucrat, simply dishonest or too ill to perform his duties. But the irreparable damage done to the union can not so easily be lived down by a successor, moreover, the partisanship built up during his tenure of office invariably persists for some time. Because of that, I, for one, favor a limited tenure of office to get new and dynamic forces to the forefront, to gain a stronger morale for the members.
Our recent entrance into politics, which in my mind is the bane of the Union, has added more woes. Most of the paid officers and active members became politicians, calously [sic] neglecting the duties for which they were elected. Getting wages weekly by the union, a paid officer can abuse his duties more freely now than heretofore, the excuse-elections campaign. I could give you enumerable examples, as for instance, the election for Governorship in 1938. Here in Mass. the candidate was James M. Curley, a known crook, but being a New Deal Democratic candidate, endorsed by Labors Non-Partisan League, with Brother Philip Kramer as Chairman, the stamp of approval was given and our membership had no choice in the matter. From other sections of the country I do not have to give you information-you are aware of it. In N.Y. proper you, yourself, are involved, but I trust and know for a fact that you do not neglect your duties, but other do. I am still in doubt as to how much good to labor, Michael Quill was, serving as Labor Party Councilman, before you denounced him as a communist, and how much harm he can do now after your dissertation. One thing is certain, the N.Y. membership voted for him at your request and will not vote for him now, after your statement. Not being a particular partisan of Michael Quill, I feel that our members are given the run-around-politically speaking. Whether we like it or not, everything is being handed down these days and the members must swallow hook, line and sinker what is offered. A member fears nowadays to express an honest opinion, in some locals, for fear of being hooted down or even losing a job.
Last Spring at the G.E.B. meeting, I watched with interest the election of Anthony Cotone. When his name was suggested, it was to me another Italian name, a member of Local #48. I have never met the man, hence, I watched the faces of the N.Y. Vice Presidents and had hoped that those representing the Joint Board would have something to say. None said a thing and only after the adjournment, when you mentioned to me, on the boardwalk, "You sent me Cotone for Vice President" I realized that it was a trick but I could not tell you how ignorant most of the out of town members were kept of internal politics by the N.Y. representatives. Had I known in advance, I most certainly would have spoken up, regardless of their opinion of me.
Although you mention the fact that the 200,000 women members are really the backbone of our organization (November 6th installment-Journal-American) this fact is consistently pussy-footed by our leadership, who because of this formidable backbone are comfortable in the saddle today. It is true that the leadership of Newark, Kansas City and San Francisco is exclusively women, but do some of their superiors, save yourself recognize all of the? In our own press, I noticed the name of a Sirota of Newark, mentioned on several occasions in Wander's reports and where the name of Saide Reisch should have appeared, space did not permit it. Jennie Matyas is recognized by the outside Labor and Education Movement, because she is a leader in her own rights, while countless others remain obscure through the good graces of the men whom they have helped into office. Only a negligible few sometimes get a mention, some because of outstanding achievements, others because of personal pull with the upper brackets. Fannia Cohn's service to our organization is only recognized by those on the outside who can dispassionately evaluate such unselfish efforts on the part of one person, for the cause of worker's education. But most of the credit is now the heritage of the director who has entered the field after the thorns were weeded out, the marshes dried and all other obstacles removed. She remains a tragic figured amidst her own fellow workers, whom she helped to gain prestige with the outside educational world. Were she a man, it would have been entirely different. I know several top leaders who are worse "noodnicks" but who nevertheless, get too much recognition at time. It came to a point when even my reports to Justice (and I am Vice President, not just a plain member) were given under the name of the local manager, at times, whereupon, I refused to be a ghost writer (I am paid to organize) and a number of good reports went to the waste basket instead of to print. The Jewish publication found space though, and printed some of the material.
It is my honest belief that unless we restore the former confidence and free expression, when rank and file members could without fear voice their opinions about the conduct of their elected leaders and the policies pursued, when self-discipline, competence will once again become the prerogative of eligibility for office instead of the three R's; when servility, bootlicking, personal favoritism and above all sensationalism will be wiped off as obstacles to real progress, I am afraid that we are coming closer in our own might, like Lewis, Tobin, Tracy, Hutchins and their ilk who have long ago forgotten the responsible debts to their own membership. No pictures of pretty girls, baby kissing, trophy-giving for sports, banquets or the like can give our vast membership more aid and comfort (and goodness knows in these difficult times they need it badly) than the feeling that the elected leadership is honest, efficient and sincerely rendering a service for which they were placed in office.
I am taking the liberty of writing this instead of the usual report, which lately, became so stereotyped, that one can not any longer report anything but successes and colossal achievements for fear that the next Vice President may outshine you. I have deliberated for a long while, feeling that some day I shall have to write you in this heart-to-heart matter. Your story in the Journal-American gave me the incentive to do it now. Please take it in the same spirit as it is written, with malice toward none, with the hope that some good will come of it later.
While organizing new members we preach to them to be independent, to lose their fears and openly express themselves and demand their rights; so here I am practicing what I am preaching and am openly expressing my views to you, Mr. President. I feel that the position I hold now as Vice President was gained, not by my looks, but through my service to the movement. Some of the rank and file members come to me with their troubles, not only in this part of the country, but from other sections as far West as Los Angeles. I am therefore fulfilling my duty as one of their leaders.
Fraternally yours,
Rose Pesotta
Vice President-General Organizer