The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-25
WORK OF TARIFF REFORM
WHAT THE REFORM CLUB OF NEW
YORK IS DOING
To Educate the People in Every Part OF
the Union With View to an Agrees
sive Campaign for tho Congressional
Districts Next Year. ~
From the New York Times.

such activity shown by any political or
ganization in period OF partisan quiet as
is now shown by the Tariff Reform Com
mittee Of the Reform Club. 1t is doing
quite as vigorous work as it did during the
campaign, work along more lines, too, and
much OF it far better directed. 1t is done
with more precision, in larger volume, and
with greater economy than such work can
be done during time of excitement.
Since there is not man on the committee
or in its service, except to do such purely
clerical work as the addressing OF envel-
opes and the copying of names, who re-
ceives money for his labor, not one, in
decd, whose effort is not to use as wisely
as possible the small sum thatthe commit
tee has to spend, and since their enthu-
siasm is greater than it was before the
election, 1t is moderate statement to de-
clare that there has not been similar
spectacle in American politics in recent
times.>
At the first meeting Of the Tariff Reform
Committee after the Presidential election,
it was decided without a dissenting voice
that the agitation for tariff reduction
should not only be continued but contin-
ued with greater vigor than before. The
committee was Immediately reorganized,
all the members who had given proof OF
their zeal being retained and number OF
new members added. The working force
now numbers about thirty men. A report
in detail mo papers being burned) both OF
the work and OF the expenditures during
the campaign was published; every profit
able line OF activity was surveyed further;
new departments that the experience OF
the campaign had suggested were laid out;
the subcommittee were recognized and
Immediately submitted their plans; and
with no greater interruption than march
ing army suffers in a skirmish, the line OF
battle was reformed.
This conduct is the best demonstration
that could be given OF the determination
OF the resoruers and Of the continuity
and vitality OF the agitation. IL did not
occur TO any member oil the committee
10 ask whether the work should be con-
tinued without interruption; and II was
80 land out that II could be carried on with
greater or less volume, as the money that
could be got should be much or little. The
dominant conviction, conviction taken
for granted was that, this is no longer a
matter that demands attention only ON the
matter rather OF public education, and
that school should keep without holiday
or vacation. The demonstration by the
Reform Club that the agitation To-, tariff
reduction has reached This points be-
come a necessarily continuous agitation and
not proyocation merely OF partisan bat
Tie once in two years-is the best measure
OF progress; for, OF course, the members
OF the Reform Club do not and cannot
generate an unfailing enthusiasm.
Their activity is only a response 10
the popular demand for II, and this popu-
lar demand asserted itself Enthusiastically
with greater emphasis after the election
than before This evidence OF such a
popular demand Is the stronger because
the Reform Club is not a partisan orgnni.
zaiiOn, and lis Tariff Reform Committee is
made up Of men OF widely different opin-
ions on almost all other subjects than tar
III reduction. Indeed, on this subject
there is difference Of opinion as TO the
Tapidity and as TO the extent OF judicious
reduction. There is hardly better proof
that q zeal is genuine and made Of endear-
ing stuff than the fact that all possible con-
trovcrsies about creeds are set aside and a
willingness TO work is put up rs the only
standard Of judgment Of mems usefulness.
The time has come, then, when body oil
very busy men, nearly all men OF affairs,
who lead laborous lives, and who have NO
time 10 give 10 more sentimental reforms,
and are not professional "rciormen" any
morc than they are professional politicians,
devote their leisure TO the most painstak.
ing labor without chance OF individual re-
wand, and for no conceivable motive but
10 serve the public good, and when IN
every part OF the country they lind re-
Ep0nse 10 their own activity. Tariff re-
form has passed the period OF dependence
on campaign committees or on any politi.
chi party, aud has become distinctly an
agitation that IA recognized aud demanded
by the people for It's own sake, aud when
IN agitation reaches this point Il becomes
pady-movinc. or, II need be, n party
making enterprise. II Is for the Demo
cratic party 20 say which this shall be.
The sub committees OF the Tar1. Re.
form Committee are these: On New Iorl
CITY. ON New York State, ON other State
(nnd here the geographical principle Of
thc division OF labor ceases and the worl
l. divided by kind. on Industrial Stats
sics, on Congress and on the Press. Eacl
Subcommittee Is a complete working or
gnnizilion, which holds frequent meetings
keeps H. records, and reports 10 the gen
0ful committee ~ lb ftkulAF NuulNil
meetings. Most Of the subcommittee
have Offices Of their own, where member
do their work and where clerks are en-
ployed In classifying material, In doinl
correspondence, or IN sending out cam
paign literature. The latter ought, how
ever, 81 be called simply literature, as Il !
prepared without reference 90 amy partic
ulaf election, or TO any political party, an'
solely NJ n means oi public education.
The subcommittee on New York CIT
u engaged IN preparing fresh statistic
showing the bearing Of tho tariff on thos
industries that give employment 20 ~
largest numbers Of men IN the city, and o
bhoir wages, and on the price Of tho chic
articles that are consumed ~ necessities b
Wngr workers. These will be distribute
In simple and attractive form to the clnasC
oi men that have n personal Interest Ia ia
subject matter. The committee Is maxim
arrangements 10 hold meetings where Oh
tnfiH shall be- discussed 10y wOrkingmon,C
indeed by anybody II will rent halls
regular intervals whore addresses may |
made which shall be followed by debate
and open convenient little clubroom
where anybody may find good collcciio
OF literature about the tann. The cxpef
cncc OF the members Of this sub-c0mmitts
in city work has demonstrated that an ca
nest and interesting debate on the tariiic
be- provoked at almost any time IN almo
nuv part OF the city convenient 10 u
wa,s. workers. In fact. there is no oth'
sui lsct about which curiosiiyis 70 great
A. i