Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-11-04
ENCLAND'S LOSS OF MARKETS.

ENGLAND'S LOSS OF MARKETS.
The securing of large contracts by
American man nufacturers, and the keen
competition of American manufactured
articles in foreign countries, which have
heretofore been regarded as belonging to
English producers, has caused the manu-
facturers of that country to look around
for the cause. .....
1t is admitted that the Americans turn
out better made goods, and the fact tina
these goods find ready sale in forme
English markets is conclusive evidence
that they can be sold at a less price. And
the Englishmen are Investigating the
reasons therefor. Mr.. Hiram S. Maxim,
the gun maker, has arrived at the con-
clusion that the trade unions are the
cause. In fact he styles them the "blight
on mechanical progress" In an article
in the Engineering Magazine for Novem-
Der, in speaking of the English union
men, he says:
"The unIonist, as rule, is not think
ing man. If he were thinking man he
would not belong to the union. 1t ap-
pears to his clouded intellect that there is
certain amount of work that has to bt
done, anyway, and that this quantity is
fixed. Consequently, he looks upon work
as something that ought to be nursed and
Il. ca 10
pears to him that, the more he gets per
hour and the greater number of hours he
can be employed upon job, the greater
the yield TO his society. 1t never occurs
to him for moment that, If this were
carried to extremes in either direction,
the whole thing would be changed. For
instance, if the cost of mechanical work
should be increased 25 per cent in Eu
gland, the greater part of it would be
driven into foreign countries, whereas, if
it could be produced in England for 25
per cent less than in other countries, there
would be more than enough work for
everyone that could be employed in En-
gland
''If we consider rapidity as well as ex-
cellence of workmanship, think anyone
nust admit that the trade unions have 2
very detrimental effect upon the develop
ment of skilled mechanics. There can BE-
no question but what the value of a
mechanic to the country in which be lives
depends altogether upon the skill which
enables him to do work quickly. If we
are able in England to do better work
than is executed in the United States or
Germany, we can hold our own and keep
the trade, if we sell at the same price;
but, if our competitors produce an equally
good article and put in on the market at
lower price, they Will, IN time, capture the
trade and leave us out in the cold. It is
no use to shut our eyes to the fact that
good work is being done in other ooun-
tries, Notwithstanding the fact that the
trade unions would have US believe that
no mechanical work of any value can be
executed except in England"
He contrasts the skilled working men
of that country with the same class III
America, and in reference to the latter
says:
SIN the United States trade unionism
is confined for the most part to unskileo
i"ocieAo' hbu phou NCly low Va VII
irst'class mechanics employed in New
England, or even in New York, belong TO
any union. Each man relies upon him
self, and each. instead of attempting to
turn out as little work as possible, is re-
ally attempting to get ahead of his fell
low.workmen; in other words, each is at
tempting to beat all the others, either in
rapidity of excellence of workmanship,
and, IS rule, there is no standard OF
price, each man being paid in proper
tion to what he is able to do. The man
is considered the most skiilful who is able
to do the best work in the shortest time"
Mr.. Maxim undoubtedly attended
guessing school in his youth, for in the
above quoted paragraph lies in nut
shell, the reason for Americas success
full competition in the markets of the
world. American labor commands high
er wages it is true, but it is intelligent,
reliable and ambitious. In every big
concern, aud little ones too for that
matter, the men employed are anxious to
do "Kood job" Buuglers and shirks
stand no chance of advancement. This
the mon know, and resulting from that
condition the average American artisan
is satisfied with nothing but the best, and
that must be accom- plished in the fewest
possible hours. If Mr.. Maxim has really
struck upon the cause of England's loss
of trade, the question is, what can be
done about itP The labor system of that
country is the outgrowth of hundreds of
years of custom, prejudice and ignorance
and has become solidlv intrenched. AS
be ssye, the mechanic of that country is
not thinking man, and reasoning and
logic will have no effect on him.
While the English manufacturer is try
ing to solve the problem, the Americans
will, BY their energy and intelligence,
secure mortgage on foreign markets
which Mr.. Maxim and his associates can
not lift.