The trades unions established in Germany by the agency and 
with the assistance of the International Working Men’s Association 
have furnished the chiefs of the iron trade in the Rhenish 
province, with an argument against the Prussian Government with 
regard to a reduction of the import duties on foreign iron. The 
Chamber of Commerce of Elberfeld and Barmen is of opinion 
that a reduction of the import duties on iron will completely ruin 
the Prussian iron masters. The English capitalists maintain that 
they must reduce the wages of their workmen to be able to cope 
with the foreigners. The German iron masters demand the 
continuance of protection against the English to save themselves 
from utter ruin; yet the wages received by the Prussian workmen 
are less than half what the British workman receives, and the 
hours of labour are more. In its report of April 14th to the 
Government, the Chamber of Commerce states: 


“The iron trade of Germany once prostrate a remedy is impossible. Much 
capital will then be lost, and thousands of working men deprived of the means of 
subsistence—a matter that would be the more critical, as the labour question 
becomes more and more serious, and the International Working Men’s Association 
assumes a more and more active and menacing attitude.” 

This statement proves that the Association has not laboured in 
vain. The capitalists demand a public inquiry into the present state 
of the Prussian iron trade. The workmen insist that the inquiry 
shall include an investigation of the condition of the workpeople 
employed in the trade.