The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-23
The Steel Strike and the Future of
American Industry.
From the New York sun.


The strike ordered by the Amalgamated asso.
citation of iron, steel and tin workers for the
purpose Of coercing three Of the companies en-.
braced in the United States steel corporation
will be regarded with keen interest by all per.
sons acquainted with the grounds on which the
manufacturers OF the United States are able to
compete with those of Great Britain and other
European countries We do but state the naked
truth when we say that, il this strike should
prove successful, our employers Of skilled labor
would be gradually subjected to disabilities
which, ultimately would put an end to the
hope of competition with their trans Atlantic
rivals in the markets of the world.
The fundamental difference between the pow.
ers OF extensive, quick and improved produc.
tion possessed by American manufacturers, on
the one hand, and by British manufacturers, on
the other, is that, by comparison the latter are
now, and have been for a good many wears,
under the heel of the trade unions In almost
every branch Of British manufactures the trade
unions prescribe, not only the rate Of wages and
the hours OF labor, but also the amount Of work
to he performed by given workman in a given
time, and the kind Of machinery to be used.
Instead Of opening a career to energy, assiduity
and talent, the whole system Of British industry,
as organized by the trade unions, is adjusted to a
low average capacity of diligence and Of intelli.
gence. Far from being encouraged, vigorous
or a specially skilful workman is discouraged
from turning out more than the average amount
Of product during the fixed hours Of labor as
also from working overtime for extra pay.
Improvements in machinery intended to econo.
mize time or labor are eyed with suspicion and
can he introduced only after long delay and
with the utmost difficulty. In England, as com.
pared with the United States, the inventor finds
no incentive. The result is that now the British
manufacturer is unable to vie with his American
competitor in branches of industry where rapid.
ity of execution is essential, or where the EN-.
ployment Of the latest mechanical devices s
indispensable 10 the cheapnsss or the perfection
OF product.
1t is ndisputablc that American labor associa.
tions are organized on the same fundamental
principle which actuates the trade unions Of
Great Britain. That is 10 say, their aims, de.
mands and regulations are based on the primary
assumption that the whole industrial system
should steadily keep in view the interests, not
OF employers, nor OF workmcn exceptionally gift.
ed in intellect or character, but those Of the
great mass OF operatives possessed only Of aver
age physical, mental and moral qualities. The
inevitable outcome Of such a system where il is
carried out with completeness now approached
in Great Britain, is reduction Of a nations
industry TO dead level Of achievement, to a
status Of Chinese stagnation with respect both
TO quality and quantity Such would be the
drear and hopeless prospect which would con-
front our manufacturers, should our labor asso
Citations gain the nearly absolute mastery Of in.
dustrial conditions which the trade unions have
managed TO acquire in the United Kingdom.
Should the present steel strike prove success
full, our labor associations will have made a
long stride toward the requirement OF such mas
terry The strike has been ordered, not because
OF any disagreement between employers and en-.
poyed with regard TO wages or to the hours
Of labor, but because certain companies have re.
fused 10 put in the hands Of the Amalgamsted
association Of iron, steel and tin workers the
means Of forcing every nonunion workman EN-.
ployed by those companies TO join that society.
Were the principle asserted by the Amalgamsted
association to be accepted by the three com.
panies now subjected 10 coercion, il would pres.
entity he applied TO every constituent company
OF the United states steel corporation ard. this