Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-15
AMERICAN COMPETITION
Foreign Manufacturers Are Much Alarmed
by Recent Results
Some Causes of Failing British Trade
and of Our Own Success
Pointed Out.


compete successfully with those of Great
Britain can be assertively answered in a
paragraph: 1t is because of better organi-
cation: more complete adaptability of sys-
tenn, greater incentive; higher or broader
development of engineering as a profess
sion; ready fexiblity to meet new condi-
tons. and because low-priced craftsmen in
Great Britain may and do more quickly
become more high-priced master workmen,
or forenen, or superintendent and pro-
prietors when transferred to America. But
assertions are not reasons. 1t Is the ex-
animation of those causes which, in the
opinion of the writer, permit this condition
to exist which must constitute an answer
to the query propounded
I.ow-priced labor is not necessarily nor
is it as a rule, the least expensive. The
lower the price paid for a defined term of
service the less is the incentive to pro-
duce greater results within that term This
Is Unborn; it is human nature; the principle
is correct; It will outIive trades unions and
harsh masters. The more effective the ma
chine or process Of plant the better
should be the man who responsibility con-
trolls or operates it and the greater should
be his recompense. And the corolary to
this is: The better the man, the more &C
curate and the keener his intelligence, the
better will be the thing which he will fash
ion every time.
British, Swedish, German. French and
Swiss mechanics-that is to say skilled hand
workers. dextrous through long, careful
apprenticed training in the use of hand and
Of machine TOOLS have been largely the
foundation and the manstay of the sue
cess of American manufacturers. To a con-
siderable extent they occupy that position
today. You teach the kindergarten princi-
pies; we compete OF develop that training
and quite properly derive the benefit. Do
you begrudge such a result when derived
from such a cause?
Environment, in its broadcast aspect,
should be given. it is believed, the first
place among the reasons for American con-
structive success. 1t is quite possible that
an engraver or matchmaker could ply his
handicraft in the depths of coal pit
lighted by a tallow dip, but it is beyond dis
pute that the quality of his work and the
degree OF its excellence would be much
greater were the operations prformed at
the surface in the full volume and stea diness
of the north light Would auld Scotia have
mad that proud distinction never con-
Quered' had the national tippIe been less
inspiring than usquebaugh? Think of
fording Highland burns or trudging miles
IN moorland mists on diet of dough and
beer. These simple illustrations mus, suf-
flee as well for the Intellectual and the
moral for the physical
Closely allied to this phase of the matter
Is freedom of exercise of ambition upon the
part Of the operator, and neasurably pro-
portionate pay for the results obtained.
This covers the great principle of incentive
and apples both TO the operator and to the
proprietor. Americans can in nowise claim
to have reached an ideal position IN this re-
spect, but 1t is maintained that this prin-
clple mas been carried further in America
and has produced better effects than the
system in vogue in Great Britain and else
where, the consequence of which is to pro-
duce an average result equal TO that of the
least efficient member
Inc position, as manufacturing nation,
OF Great Britain Is that derived from dear
bought and long time developed experience
May 1t not be accepted as an axiom that
that which is obtained slowly and by ardu-
Gus effort will be the longer cherished and
retained? Experience is the most yalua-
Die asset OF civilization 1t is also, too fire.
quently, the greatest bar to progress. Pig
Medicines, obtuseness and stupidity are
often excused on the plea Of experience"
1t Is mainly from too firmly anchored opin-
ions which have sprung that conservatism
which fights all innovations, simply be-
cause they contravene present ideas and
practices, and against which advancement
must ever contend On the other hand
the relatively high place occupied BY the
United States in all except the heaviest
classes of machinery forgings, etc has re-
suited to considerable degree from sue
cessful experimentation, the consequence
being greater and better output in less
time, or with less labor, than is possible by
old methods. 1t is confidently asserted as a
a fact Of common knowledge that the
necessity or the desire or the spirit which
conceived the vision of an improvement in
process or method. and then promptly car
r1es 1t through to successful practical
demonstration, is the most likely to be
eager and ready to improve upon the i'm
provement If the opportunity is prezented
Every undertaking properly executed
lshoulol prng about improvements in the
process OF execution
There Is no doubt that the interchangea-
Die, or, more properly, the duplicate system
OF construction of the component parts of
machinery and structural steel members
mas been carrier a higher CT Of do
Eelopment with us than elsewhere The
contingent advantages arising from this
development could hardly have been fore
seen Dy the early promoters of the system
1t undoubtedly has had much to do in
generallZing the practice of paying for con-
structlon by the piece, or to base the per
diem wage upon the number of parts or
operations produced In a given time with
given facilities. 1t is only by the proper
carrying out of this method that the ability
OF the operator can be ascertained and OBJ
tanned; 1t Is only by this method, too that
the operator can obtain increased wages
for the higher cultivation of his skill
Moreover, 1t is only by this method that
the fuli capacity Of the improved machine.
or special tools or fixtures can be derived
Thus, the engineer who designs a tool
whose output of a certain kind is increased
over previous practice, Is entitled to that
increase. Again, the operator who by dill
gence and the exercise of his ambition oh
tains the greater output from that tool is
entitled to the larger remuneration
ledLy soccessIul Oupllcate system of con-
struction involves intelligent cooperation.
The consequence of this coaction with us
and there has been much of 1T, has been
higher average Of wages to the workman.
and greater or a better land hence more
salable or more profitable) output for the
proprietor. This would seem to come fairly
close to the business end" of the matter.
This inquiry can also be well answered
from another point of view-one which.
because both complimentary and truthful
may be the more gracefully received The
condition indicated has been largely PRO-
duced or made possible from those splen-
old British haracteristics-tenacity of pur-
pose. perseverance, stubbornness patience
loyalty, respect for usage and maintained
performance of duty according to the con-
science or under orders. These attributes
when applied to new fields OF progress
mean slowness of change from existing
methods mofe or less of defiant, crusty OBJ
position to modification, satisfaction with
that which has been accomplished in the
past and stolid confidence or Indifference
as to the results of the future. Great may
be the impetus due to environment: much
greater may be the restraint of precedent
And just how this may operate in prac-
teal life may best be illustrated by the
presentation of an imaginary case. Thus
assume two engineers, British born and
bred. each the equal of the other in techni-
rail-