The Labor enquirer., 1883-10-13
The TARIFF.

One Which Should Not be Al
lowed to Divide Our
Forces.
... .~.. ,-l5re,rII[ faz2. 7l.4't
1t will be remembered that the iron
and steel ASSOCIATION, represented by
John Jarrett, declined to send a represen-
tation to the recent Labor Congress, held
in New York city, alleging as reason
for such course that the Federation of
Trade and Labor Unions, at the last an
nual session at Cleveland, Ohio, had COM
mited itself to the doctrine of free, or, at
least, hostile to protective tariff That
the iron and steel men were laboring
under a misapprehension OF the facts in
the case will be readily seen from a pc
rusal Of the following open letter from
the secretary of the federated trades to
the association ofiron and steel workers:
John Jarrett, Esq.-Dear Sir: I am
instructed by the legislative committee
of the federation of trades to acknowledge
the receipt ofyour ,Il1cationi cf & Aug.
q, and also to correct slight misunder-
standing, entertained by the association
to which you belong, as to the course pur-
sued by the federation in regard to the
tariff. You say, in substance, that if the
federation of trades had not severely
censured the doctrine of high tariff, it is
probable thst the A. A. O. |. & S. w.
would have been represented at our New
York session. We certainly should have
been higly kratitied if our forces had
been strengthened byso powerful'an aux
iliary, and we regret exceedingly the
evident misinformation upon which
your action was based.
The proceedings of the Cleveland ses-
sion of the federation, to which you re-
fer, contain no 'censures on tariff" 1t
was the unanimous desire of the dele
gates composing that convention that
the federation should remain unpedged
upon this vexed question, and protec-
tionists as we'll as free traders voted for
a motion to place the congress upon a
neutral footing in this matter. 1t was
believed that the tariff was political is
sue, and one upon which men equally
honest in the labor movement might al
ways differ. 1t was thought best, there
fore, while so large field for harmoni-
ous and united action remained open for
trade unionists, that the tariff plank
should not be forced upon those who
could otherwise subscribe to our plat
form and principles.
l send you a copy Of the report of our
last years action, and you will find there
in no evidence of the assumption you
have made that the convention was
body of free traders. On the contrary,
large proportion of the delegates were
believers in the efficacy of high tariff
| do not hesitate to ackno wledge that,
as an individual, believe in free trade,
but l should be among the first to oppose
any project making our trades unions
agents in furthering that creed. Are we
not right in thinking that questions of
this nature, upon which there is no pos
sibility of uniting workingmen, should
not be used as wedges in keeping them
apart
You and myself, and those we repre-
rent, are practically agreed as to the ne
cessity of the work of our organizations
are formed to accomplish. We think
alike as to the ends to be arrived at, and
as to the value of our societies as agents
in improving the social condition of our
class We realize, also, the magnitude
of the labor required, the power of the
common foe opposing us, and the neces-
sity for unity of thought and action
among all those who espouse our cause.
| submit to your own judgement, there
fore, that we should studiously avoid all
paths that lead to dissension.
The federation of trades believes that
the concentration of our forces is imper-
ative, if we are in a full measure
to accomplish the aimed-at indus
trial and social reforms.
We, therefore-while recognizing the
undoubted right of all organizations to
choose their own course,-urge upon our
fellow-laborers the Importance of ANAL
gamation. We cordially inYite the iron
and steel workers to stand in line with
us, and can safely assure them that moth
ing in the platform of the federated
trades can be construed as interfering
with their right to take such action as
they please, as an individual association,
in the matter of the tariff.
Hoping that you will lay this commu-
nication before your associates, l am,
with the heartiest wishes for the pros
perity of yourself and society, fraternally
yours, FRANK K. FOSTER,
Secretary Federated Trades.
Trades Assembly.
| The Trades Assemh1y will meet at Jus-