New-York tribune., 1888-08-31
AMERICAN LABOR IN PERIL.
GENERAL SECRETARY LTTCHMAN DECLARES
FOR HARRISON AND MORTON.


FOR HARRISON AND MORTON.
PROMINENT LEADER OF THE KNIGHTS OF
| LABOR ALARMED AT THE DEMOCRATIC on
| SLAUGHT UPON ORGANIZED LABOR
| Washington, Aug Ex-senator Quay, chairman OF
the Republican National Committee furnishes the FOL
lowing letter, dated August %, and addressed to
him In his Official capacity for publication
Dear Sir: My connection with the labor movement
for the fourteen has made for
to bo close studcn Of Of labor depression and Of
the needs Of those toll! While q body labor
organization refrain from active participation In
politics. much OF what organized labor demands must
be obtained through legislation that the individual member
OF the abof organization must act politically rs In his
judgment will aid the aims and objects expressed
In the principles OF the organization he represents and
whose success he desires.
| In the russnts political struggle begun side
Issues nothing except to aid hinder OF the
principal the political However SIN
may be the advocates Of the measures To secure
which separate political organizations formed
| and whatever strength in votes may be shown at the
polls the fact remains that the candidate OF either the
Republican OF Democratic party will be the next
President Of the United States. Therefore to him who
has his country and the welfare OF her people
heart the necessity exists choose to which Of these
old party organizations shall be given his aid either
| directly indirectly, by voice or vote.
While 1t he that neither party Offers all that labor
organizations desire believe that The Republican party
In adopting and Advocating the American system OF en-
own land II nearer declarations and desires OF
than freetrade opponents the Democratic
| party
The conflict is between the American system. repre-
scnted hy tho Republican party which would oS'er ana
the labor people and retain for them
the market ami OF country and the British
system. represented by Democratic party. which
would break down the barriers OF protection and throw
open market the production Of foreign factories
and foreign abyr. making idle our own oicrs and
reducing lower leve the standard OF American wages
When the Knight, Of Labor and kindred organizations
shall obtained foreign lands the commanding
POSITION and influence enjoyed United States the in
equality will disappear. no, by l,velilng our
wage, down by levclling their wages 1t is far
letter level than level down. the larger the
income this larger the power to consume.
Until this equalization can BE- accomplished and until
abroad shall equal those at home there
nc proper restriction, 0t immigration that our
land may be the dumping ground Of the pauper and
degraded labor Of the basnce Of the world This restriction
supplemented ty continuation Of thorough, systematic
organization o, the labor already here in conjunction
tho idea OF Protection American labor
fail for people the best results VI
their toll and by example lift the labor Of the whole
world a higher and better plane Of existence.
Whichever party wins. something must be done TO reg
ulao strictly this importation Of foreign labor under
and immigration OF paupers and dependents
nothing should be done, then Democratic would
only FREQ Tiadc in goods made by paupe labor,
bus the Importation Of both the labor and the goods
whls under Free Trade goods be cheaper to the
certain lines the labor made idle In those
lines mus. Of employment and thus
by competition compel lower rate Of wages 10 those
already employed therein
Ths power OF Q workinRman to consume depends upon
what hs his labor. Unemployed his
to consume except charity In theft
fer that America should be land Of rather
Q land Of thieves and paupers
What is true Of the individual equally true Of the
Nation.
The primary elements OF National wealth and National
prosperity production. stiibuton and consumption.
Whatever affect, the Of Labor to consume affects ths
Interests OF the Nation Whatever lowers the wages
OF labor ancct, Its power to consume An average
reduction" OF per tn. of goods imported
compensate American labor for the loss Of 100
per the line, Affected and OF 10 TO so
per In wages in the lines OF employment By the
Of The free trade for the protective system
hold 1t be Tar wiser craftsmanship to build up and
market BY system that prot ct- American
labor than command market in foreign land, secured
10y wholesale degradation and paupezation OF
people.
Every dollars wortn Of labor imported by much
reduction OF home laborcrs This axiom IS not
that there goods In the
imported dollars w0!th The position OF the Protection
h'nci by p, lou, p'c-cn ation
Of the matter because thc question then instantly forced
upon every incg' NJ How Ainr can labor
dollars industry which he experienced l.
ferrcd o lands
The theory Protection advocated by Republican
pa:ty is the the underlying principle which
al abor organization, a foun1'd fcni o
labor that believes organization enhance
and maintain consistently Oplos, party
that applies all labor principle protection
from unfair cOmprtIt that the nt vidua tride
tOn gives TO the single trade Tralc organizions to
aid in advancing ia their respective trad and the
prot yem demanded by the Republican parry will
for all The toilets in the 10 similar foseri
That this is clearly understood By Of the link
ing leader, Of organized labor is proved by the declaration
recently favor OF the American system and
home market by the presiding officers ot orglniza
ling he ron the iudu
the United States There is better Organ alton Of
any trade than the Anal gamated Association Of
Iron and Steel Workers. There Is trade more
thoroughly organized better disciplined than that OF
the Window Glass Workers, In which higher
paid The warnings the officers representing
those trades against free trade very significant and
should D. needed.
careful consideration OF all these facts convlnces
present is grave crisis In the political affairs
u country and that have right to remain silent
Ny position general secretary Of the Knights OF
bor has given me intimate knowledge Of the various
phases Of labor question, and from the knowledge
nus gained 1 do hesitate say that the triumph
= The Democratic party dominated by ntoe rance
south British ce-trsie sentiment In the North
~ou.d the serious blow organized labor ir
could possibly receive
cannot r.nsn Inactive In such conflict. There
flre you your associates Of the National Rcpub
uczn Committee the representatives Of the Repub
party any position capacity
where they may desirable be thought useful
he representatives. thi, campa gn OF the American
IDA VI pgotcc don American labor
/ the honor remain,
Yours o command.
CHARLES II. LITCHMAN