The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-08
CHAMBERLAIN TO A WORKMAN
DEPENDS HIS TARIFF PLAN AND
RAPS UNION LEADERS.
Attaches no Import ance TO Their Attitude
Believes the NOrkingman Will Study
This QuestiOn for Himseif-if Price OF
Food Goes Up. Wages VIII Advance.

This QuestiOn for Himself-if Price OF
Food Goes Up. Wages VIII Advance.
Special cable Despatch 10 THE St'S.
LONDON June "A workman belonging
to a trades union recently wrote to Colonial
Secretary Chamberlain. quoting criticisms
Of his preferential tariff and old age pension
proposals by trades union leaders and
others. Mr. Chamberlain replied,
Il do not attach excessive Importance to
the opinion trades union leaders, because
they are almost without exception strong
Radical partisans Their opinions are not
necessarily shareG by working people
generally, nor even by trades unonists
who appoint their officers independently
of political considerations.
For instance, / may mention that in
Birmingham the members of the Trades
Council, almost to man, opposed me po-
ltically, notwithstanding which my ma
ority al the last election in purely work.
ing -class district was $500.
Il feel confident that in the matter of
preferential tariffs and commercial fair
play the workingmen will think for them
selves, and will not be dictated to by even
the most trusted trades unionst leaders.
1T will be impossible to secure prefer
entail treatment to the colonies without
some duty on corn, as well as on other
articles of food, because these are the chief
articles of colonial produce. Whether this
will raise the cost of living is a matter Of
opinion,
There is no doubt that in many cases
duty of this kind is paid by the exporter
and it really depends on the extent Of the
competition among exporting countries.
"For instance. l think 1t is established
that the shilling duty recently imposed
was met by reduction in price and freights
in the United States. and the tax did not,
therefore, fall in any way on the consumer
here.
But even if the price OF food is raised,
the rate Of wages will be certainly raised
in greater proportion. This has been the
case both in the United States and Ger
many. In the former country the available
balance left to the workingman after he
has paid for the necessaries is much larger
than it is here. These facts we have to
bring to the notice Of workingmen generally.
Another side OF the question requires
discussion. At present we go into nego-
tations with foreign countries empty
handed. We have nothing to give and have
to take what they are good enough to leave
for us.
rs we were able to bargain on equal
terms I believe the duties now imposed
on our produce would be generally reduced.
There would be competition among foreign
nations for our markets, which would bring
us nearer to real free trade than we ever
have been
As regards old-age pensions ! would
not look at the matter unless felt able to
promise that large scheme for the pro-
vision of such pensions TO all who have
been thrifty and well conducted would he
assured by a revision of our system Of
import duties.
THE corn and other food already sup
piled from the British possessions are very
important and are capable of rapid in
crease.
"The retur ns show that this has taken
place in the past even without preference,
while our exports of finished goods to for
eign countries have gradually given place
to exports of raw materials, which are
returned to IFS with the advantage to the
foreigner of increased employment of
labor and of trade profits on the business
thus secured
Mr.. Chamberlain concluded by asking
his correspondent to note especially the
following:
You are told by the opponents Of all
change that such a reform as contemplate
would involve the country in ruin, bring
starvation into the homes Of the working
people, and destroy our export trade.
IF these predictions have any foundation
| how are we to account for the fact that the
increase in exports and wages and general
| prosperity during the last twenty years
in the United States and Germany have
been greater than in the United Kingdom,
which is the only civilized country in the
world to enjoy the blessings of unrestricted
free imports?'
A society calling itself the Imperial
Tariff League has been formed to further
Mr.. Chamberlain's tariff proposals. A
number of commercial men, manufacturers
and members of Parliament are identified
with it. Its manifesto says:
What is now called free trade is a de-
fusion and a sham. Our free-trade policy
is tho main obstacle to a commercial union
within the empire, which ia 40 much de-
sired by the Colonies as we'll as by our
selves. 1t is obvious that the imposition
of customs duties by this country agains,
foreigners is necessarily the initial ster
toward the attainment of this end. We
have placed ourselves in position Of de
pendence upon foreign nations to such an
extent that We are no longer masters In
our own house"
MING AT 4 SPECIAL SERVICE