The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-09-25
Americans Far in the Lead.

Americans Far in the Lead.
The Scripps League. composed Of fifty
representative workingmen and Journal
lists, who went to Europe for the purpose
of Studying the conditions ftheir fellows
in the older world, that they might carry
back with them such impressions and
suggestions as might be benefit to the
toilers IN this land, are home again.
They arrived yesterday on the City of
Rome.
They found every enc very kind to
them during their tour abroad. Courte-
sizes were extended to them by number
Of manufacturers in England, France, Ger
many and Belgium, with the single ex-
ception Of the Krupp gun works at Essen.
Germany. They were admitted TO the
Woolwieh Arsenal, where they we're
given ali the information they desired.
At Paris they were made the special
guests Of the city. Twice the, were break
tasted by Minister Whitelaw Reid. NJ.
Bzrtholdi, the designer Of the great Lib
erty Statue, gave to each Of the members
Of the expedition when they visited his
works a specimen of the metal from
which the Statue Of Liberty is made,
bearing an appropriate inscription
The members of the league do not
think that the workingmen on the other
side can compare with American toilers
either in dress, method Of living, rate of
remuneration or results accomplished.
The observation Of the members in a
great measure tended to show that our
products are in nearly every case superior
to fo-eign articles in the same line. This
IS especially 50 in the case of machinery.
Farming machinery principally stands
out as an evidence Of the skill and in
senuity attained by Americans over the
rest Of the world.
BEHIND THE AGE IN EUROPE.
Mr. Cheney Of the Washburn Mills,
Minneapolis, Mimi, representing the
miilers, in examining the exhibit in the
Paris Exposition, said he had Just taken
out from his mills as unfit for use the
same kind Of machinery that the French
are now exhibiting.
A. T. Anderson, the representative of
the tinsmiths, said ne saw workmen in
Paris shaping metal for buoy, and it re-
quired nine processes TO do what the
Americans do in three.
Joseph Thorpe, representing the en-
gineers, said ~On the other side talk
ed with number of the engineers, and
found they were not organized. The
wages are 80 per cent. lower than in this
country. They still use the open cabs
in the engines The seats have been
taken away, because it is supposed that
without them the men will not go to
sleep"
Il saw nothing on the other side equal
to American workmanship, said William
Delaney, representing the bricklayers.
Men there work slower than they do
here. In Paris the men can cement the
front Of brick house, giving it the ap-
pearanoe Of stone. This could be done
in this country ifit were not for the
damaging effects Of our climate"
WOMEN woRx1SG As BlAcKsxErHs.
Mrs. Barry, representing the depart
mrut Of womens work and the Knights
Of Labor, said the condition ofthe female
wage workers on the other side is very
deplorable, except in the field Of clerical
work, in which they have the advantage
of working less hours than their Ameri-
czn sisters They fare also paid less
wages. and do not live or dress as we'll
In the Black District in Yorkshire saw
women working at the f1rges. Hsre the /
shops are ia houses, the wife generally 1
acting as helper 70 her husband The 4
women make chains and nails One 4
woman she saw engaged at this work was I
% years old Il saw women make hand 4
made shirts At ninepenee each, and ma
At one shilling and three
pence a dozen. she concluded.
Hugh Cayanzugh. who represented the 4
says the men on the other
u y do not do within p per cent. what
he Americans DO. There is an indispo-
iitiOn to improve on machinery, and the
men are not tested to see just what they /
are capable OF doing. In France the men
1nly work tffy-fOur hours a week, and
have a great many holidays. The piece
system prevails
$50 far are We ahead of the ironwork-
RS Of Glasgow that would break their
for scrap" was the opinion
of Mr.. William Hanna, representing the
The printers were represented by Mr.
Ogden. The mechanical work in Eu-
'ope is where ours was twenty years ago."
be said.