Evening star., 1884-01-12
A CARD.
In men this error still you find.
Each thinks his little set mankind"
o District Assembly, No. es, K. Of Labor

GENTLEMEN: thus address you publicly because it
Is the oply means have Of reaching you and believe
sha be able to show that your declaration that
you VIII not purchase Of those advertising in
newspapers You choose to consider adverse to your
tersts founded upon false estimate Of your rights
and advertisers privileges have been worker myself
anu esteemng that know the reasons that acuste
Your course feel that somewhat, though ever
poorly qualified, TO put myself in your place
Come then, let together Your present quar-
rel IS with the Washington Post and if that quarrel
aquestlon Of apprenticeship regulation shall treat
that subject here that matter worthy of chapter
by ITSELF only suggesting that the time is not far distant
when the right Of every boy learn trade desires
Will be as fully recognized his privilege to study any
profession he pleases
IL 1t be question Of remuneration then think the
proprietor OF that paper ha always found it
e1pelent to employ the best worken at the highest
wages and have generally pursued that policy as many
oi you Know. But have proceeded step further
ana say yol VII not buy of any who advertis that
paper How will you ascertain that facts Your policy
iofods you to buy it, and none of you would demean
yourselves to borrow it for that purpose No gentle
men, Will not for one moment entertain any such ale
CATION to your dscret; but suppose you have gained
your information lestimatey, and pursue the logical
outoe OF your proposition. If advertisers under
the obligation to consult your association what con-
tracts could be made to avoid your future hos
UNITY You can readily that but few persons would
advertise at all As view it, this would scarcely be
ecourSRln4 TO your owcraftsmen, the printers II
Is mistake to and this necessarily the logical
assumption from your position, that advertisements
given to newspapers solely for their benefit 1t is true
hat government advertisements partake largely of this
sort OK Den hcence. but such motives have auy
influence in commercial transactions Rusiness is busi
ness Is altogether selfish. only advertises itself for
lsen; ana any benefit the newspapers compositors
derive thererom is altogether secondary in character
and intent
In looking over my books for the past wear do NOT
find the names of twelve of your number who have left
orders Tor custom-made garments. have all such
ders completed here by best arzans pay the high
est prices-over $1,000 per annum to one cutter-and
yet twelve of your whole organization in year
not patronlzed your fellow workmen through the me-
dunn OF your humble servant 1t is no answer to say
you cannot afford it. because You cannot afford to be in
consistent in vital matter from your standpoint
ana You should determine to purchase nothing unless
produced by union hands Many of YOU yes most of
you ouy ready made clothes not caring VIII re they
made, by whom they made, nor asking any ques-
tlons, am persuaded for conscience sake and very
many OF you, I'm afraid, purchase garments of such
character that momentary reflection would suffice to
show were made on starvation wages
Would any of You walk hire conveyance for long
Journey because forsooth the railway companies adver
tlse IN the POST If Of you should suddenly become ill
ope so unfortunate as to meet with a serious nishap
would he first inquire if the physician or surgeon called
subscribed to the POST 1 am afraid that you would
scarcely refuse the patent medicines advertised in that
paper yet that no doubt would be highly your adj
vantage you refuse to patroniz the theaers on that
account you may save money If lotteries should lose
their attraction because thereof indeed for any other
reason that would be matter for rather
than condemnation
But why confne your objurgatton to the Postl lam
informed good authority that not one lob printing
Office in the whole city is by the rules of the Typo
graphical Association have had Job of printing
done outside the city union office yet know of
many who have without a remonstrance from the
printers union. ha e before a newspaper, filled
with advertisements set entirely by noyice and that
BODY has go far seemed unconscious of its
lstence. Gentlemen of the Federation of Labor the
printers have the advantage here nasmuch as the ma
Jorty OF the whole number being in government em-
pioy they are in position to their own compen
saon by fixing the in private Offices This anoma-
ous position the rest of you expect to enoy
But seriously don't you think You carrying this
matter too far! Are not likely to wound yourselves
III the houses Of friendse Can you afford to def
pubic opinion and sympathy? Did you hear that
the blood Of the martyrs the seed of the church
nave become acquainted with the fact that because of
Your action number Of persons, hostile in politics
have recently taken the Post who took it before
others Tor the same reason continue to advertise /
think it Is time to call halt in this sort of business
when so respectable body the Liquor Dealers Asso-
citation determine to boycott the Independent Ice
Company because one of its officers acting his ndi-
Vldai capacity refused his assent permit one of its
number to sell spirituous liquors
so the combinations proceed and not unlikely event
OF the near future is combination of advertisers and
~hen all the possible combinations effected every
business man will be compelled to hire an EXPERT to
guide him through the labyrinth of resolutions pat
termed after the manner of this order:
EVERY KNIGHT OF LABOI.
belonging to Local Assemblies within the Jurisdiction
OF District Assembly. No &C,
BOYCOTT
the said publication its proprietor and all persons who
through trade or otherwise sympathze with or assist
the same, until the revocation OF this order
JOSEPH TANNING, D. NJ VIZ
Having shown. I think, the untenableness of your
POSITION beg to call your attention to another mistake
You make and that is in rating all your workmen as of
equal ability.
In the nature Of things all have not ecus skill or tal
en and yet you reduce all to level and herewith
let me say lies hndrance to promotion and advance
ment No superior excellence be obtained in any,
thing without competition and opportunity compar
lson and these You virtually prohibit Your cast-irou
trades union rules put premium on ineficency and
your best mechanics tell me is all done in the interest
OF the Incompetence who unfortunately in every pro
fesslon constitute the majority and they regret while
they feel themselves poweess to correct the evil The
unwllingness of to admit his inferorty enhances
the difficulty of the situation but you have under
taken the regulation Of the whole matter the necessity
OF overcoming the absurdity Of such condition is
thrust upon you.
In 1873 published in the g s Economist an article
to show
How nations sink by darling schemes oppressedn
ana III TINT article iponted out that private corpora
tons have overshaowed the land and because of the
iiited liability OF the stockholders, they enter upon
specuations without foundation compete with leait
mate private enterprise to the ultimate destruction of
both and by aggregation OF wealth capital WELD au
tholty IN legislation to the detriment of the public well
fare The true wealth Of every manufacturing commu-
nifty consists rath in the number than in the immen
slty OF Its manufacturing establishments can it be
other things being equal that that state
OF society answers best the condition of individual hap
pness and the public welfare where there greatest
of wealth Under system Of huge corpo
ratlons general distribution is impossible aud were
wise to correct 1t in time All acts Of general ncorpora
ton must be repealed and there should be no corpor
tloEs with limited liability the part the stockhod
ers unless beyond the possibilities of private enterprise
and none should be permitted to issue bonds but COM
PEELED to work on their own capital We need but few
private corporations, and no Credit Mobiliers"
About the same time the learned blacksmith Elihu
Burrit discussed this subject at large though was
not aware Of it until a subsequent period
Here think is suitable field for the exercise of your
peculiar power i'll organization From the very nature
OF the case corporation has recourse but to treat
men machines. They crush that individuality which