New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-26
ADDRESS
To the Journeymen Printers of the United
By the Pr:aters Coarea;ios.

county [AW are Vi lGIS 4dCl, sLu psi tdAl6 h-S|
in the general desire, the Mons OF New-York,
Philadelphia and Boston, about month since,
Issued Circular requesting the different Societies
throughout the country, to send delegates to q
National Convention, to be held in New-York on
Monday Dec ., 1850. In consequence OF the
very short space of time in ervening between the
receipt of the Circular and the meeting of the
Convention, but FIVE States have sent delegates,
viz New. York, New-Jersey Pennsylvania Mary
land and Kentucky. These delegates met in
Convention at the time and place specified and,
through their committee now address you
1t is useless for as to disguise from ourselves
the fact that, under the present arrangement of
things, there exists a perpetual antagonism be-
tween Labor and Capital. The Tailors are in
voluntarily pitted against the Employers one
side striving to sell their labor for much, and
the other striving to buy it for as little, as they
can In this war of interests, Labor of itself,
stands no chance The power is all on the other
side Every addition to the number Of laborers
in the market decreases their power; while the
power of Capital grows in a ratio commensurate
with the increase of the Capital itself On
The one side the greater the number of dollars,
the greater the ability to succeed in the conflict
on the other, the greater the number of laborers
the less the ability to succeed Add to this, the
fact that wealth aCCumulates, on the one side,
much faster, as the laborers accumulate on the
other, and the utter impotency OF unorganzed
Labor in warfare against Capital IS already
manifest.
To remedy the many disastrous grievances
arising from this disparity OF power, Combination,
for mutual agreement In determining rates OF
wages and for concert of action IN maintaining
them, has been resorted to IN many Trades, and
principally in our own Its success has aoun'
dainty demonstrated its utility. Indeed, while
the present w ages System continues IN opera
ton, as an immediate protection from pressing
casmities it is clearly the only effective means
which Labor can adopt. So far as it extends, 1t
destroys Competition in the labor market, anltcs
the working people, and produces sort OF equl-
lbrium in the power OF the conflicting parties,
This being the ease, it appears evident that an
extensive Organization embracing the whole
country would secure to our own, or to any other
Trade, power which could be derived IRON no
her The RshS With this
viction They regard such an Orgenlz alton, nos
only as an agent ofimmediate relief, but also as
essential to the ultimate destruction OF those IN
natural relations at present subslsting between
the Interests OF the employing and the employed
classes All their actions have aeCOrdlng y been
regulated with view to the establishment OF
such an Organization They have recommended
the formation OF Societies in ali the cities and
towns throughout the country. They have rem
dered it obligatory upon all members OF the Pro.
fession travelling to any point embraced in the
representation here, for work, to have with them
Certificates OF Membership, from the Society To-
Gated in the place from which they come They
have established National Executive Commit
tee to urge the enforcement of their recommen
dations and requirements. They have also in
structed that Committee to use their utmost ex'
ertions to have full representation OF the Whole
country in the next National Convention which
they have ordered to be held in B Baltimore, Md
on the 18th OF next September
The members of the Convention are well aware
that to secure the adoption Of the measures they
recommend they must recommend those alone
which are best calculated to effect the immediate
well being Of the individual members OF the Trade
The establishment OF a general Organization
must be effective upon certain principles In pro
portion as the advantages of the operation Of those
principles are felt aud observed the establishment
of that Organization will be rendered certain er
doubtful. The principles therefore, recommended
BY the Conventions upon which 1t urges the lorna
tion OF Societies throughout the country, are such
as cannot fail TO enlist In their favor the most po
tent considerations OF self lntarest Among them
are
First An understanding in the regulation Of
Scales of Prices in different localities, so that
those in one place may not be permitted to be
come so comparatively high as to induce work to
be sent elsewhere.
Second The enforcement of the principle Of
limiting the number Of apprentices, by which
measure toorapid increase In the number OF work
men: TOO little care in the selection OF boys Tor
the business: and the employment OF herds Of
hall men at half wages, to the detriment oil good
workmen viii be efectUally prevented.
Third The issuing OF Travelling Certificates,
by which those disgresses OF brother craftsmen,
Incurred in ourneying from one place to another,
in search of work, may be relieved. In this we
have one OF those means OF attracting and attach
ing TO our Societies men who not troubled largely
with abstract principles OF strict dairy, are never
tbeless willing 10 become repentant prodigals'
for the sake OF the "tatted calf Beside, it Is
emineDtly calculated to produce warmer attach
lnent on the part Of superior men, lnasmuch as 1t
Will bind them in the ties of gratitude and in the
luxurions fellowship OF good deeds.
F0ua7h Measures 70 prevent disgraeed mem
bers OF the Profession from enjoying, anywhere
III the United States those privileges which be-
long exclusively to honorable Printers They
consist in keeping registry Of rata TO be sent
by the Executive Committee to every Union In
the country, for reference aad admitting TO mem
bershif no stranger, who foes noE produce eyl
dence OF his having been a member, in good
standing, OF the Society, II any exists, IN the
place from which he came
Fifth Tire gradual collectl0nof sum OF money
by each onion sufficient: TO enable 1t to mold out
succe sgiully against the employers, IN the event
Of contention for higher wages
Sirtb: The recognition of the right OF Union
to borrow rom any other, when necessary, sum
Of money to the amount Of one dollar for each
member thereof, to be repaid in manner pre-
scribed This is intended, II conjunction with
other measures proposed. to strengthen each in
dividua Society in the struggles which it may be
called on to make, from time to time, against IN
Just employers It's efficacy needs 10 explanation
/ Sere4ti Measures FOR the attainment OF ssve-
/ raj other objects OF less importance; which are
/ calculated TO give efficacy to the whole.
t Such has been the main work OF the Conyen-
ton; aud. while the members thereof are aware
nat il Is bat the commencement Of an undertak-
ing which N It's full completion, must necessarily
I.--.n-. NJ LIZ ...ot-a ctlza- taS Lnak with CONT