The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-09-19
FAR IN THE LEAD,

The New York Press of last week,
says The Scripps League, composed of
fifty representative workingmen and
journalists, who went to Europe for the
purpose of studying the conditions of
their fellows in the older world, that
they might carry back with them such
impressions and suggestions as might be
of benefit to the toiers in this land, are
home again.
They found every one very kind to
them during their tour abroad. Courte-
sizes were extended to them by the large
manufacturers in England, France, Ger.
many and Belgium, with the single eX-
ception of the Krupp gun works at Es-
sen, Germany. They were admitted to
the Woolwich Arsenal, where they were
given all the information they desired.
At Paris they were made the special
guests of the city. Twice they were
breakfasted by Minister Whitelaw Reid,
NJ. Bartholdi, the designer of the great
Liberty Statue, gave to each of the men,
bers of the eXpt dition when they visited
his works 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 workmen 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 q
great measure tended to show that our
products are IN nearly every case supe-
riOr to foreign articles IN the same line.
This is especially 80 in the case of ma
chinery. Farming machinery princi-
pally stands out as an evidence of the
skill and ingenuity attained by Ameri-
cans over the rest of the world,
Mr., Cheney of the Washhurn Mills,
Minneapolis, Mimi, representing the
millers, 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, I. Anderson, the representative of
the tinsmiths, said he saw workmen in
Paris shaping metal for a buoy, and il
required nine processes 10 do what the
Americans do in three.
Joseph Thorpe, representing the engi-
neers, said son the other side ] talked
with number of the engineers, and
found they were not organized, The
wages so 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 60 to
sleep"
II saw nothing on the other side equal
to American workmanship" said Will
liam Delaney, representing the brick
layers. Men there work slower than
they do here. In Paris the men can
cement the front of brick house, Civ
ing it the appearance of stone, This
could be done in this country if it were
not for the damaging effects of our eli
mate"
Mrs. Barry, representing the depart
ment of women's work and the knights
of Labor, said the condition of the fe.
male wage workers on the other side is
very deplorabe, except in the field of
clerical work, in which they have the
advantage of working less hours than
their American sisters. They are also
paid less wages, and do not live or dress
as well. In the Black District in York
shire she saw women working at the
FORCES, Here the shops are in the houses,
the wife generally acting as helper to
her husband. The women make chains
anu Hdllss Out WUlildIl bIlt SAW tukdktd
at this work was sixty years old. 81
saw women make handmade shirts at
ninepence each, and machine-made at
one shilling and threepence dozen, "
she concluded.
Hugh Cavanaugh, who represented the
shOemakers, says the men on the other
side do not do within 25 per cent. what
the Americans do. There is an indispo.
sition to improve on machinery, and the
men are not tested to see just what they
are capable of doing. In France the
men only work fifty-four hours a week,
and have great many holidays. The
piece system prevails.
$50 far are we ahead of the irOnwOrk-
ers of Glasgow that | would break their
machinery for scrap" was the opinion
of Mr.. William Hanna, representing the
ironworkers.
The printers were represented by Mr..
Ogden. The mechanical work IN Eu.
rope is where ours was twenty years
ago." he said
The members Of the League went to
the Coleman House and will remain
there until 6 o'clock tonight, when they
will start for Cleveland, where public
reception will be held, at which they
will make their reports.
The Boston journal concludes an edi.
torial on this subject with this pertinent
paragraph:
"These fifty American workingmen
and women have returned, after their
stay in foreign lands, with greater con
tentment with their lot, higher appre'
citation of the progress and resources oil
their country and firmer belief thar
ever that in agriculture, manufacturing
and kindred arts it is destined to, if il
does not already, lead the world, They
all came back together. OF straRglerf
there was not one. How many does any
body suppose that similar company o.
English workingmen visiting the United
States would carry back home agar
across the water We venture to say
that not great number would be left e
make the return trip. Our Nationa
gates swing inward welcoming armie
of new corners to our workshops, field
and factories; they do not swing out
ward. The fact is one of obvious signif
icance."
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