New-York tribune., 1901-02-18
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
AMERICAN TRADE SUPREMACY.
REASONS WHY ENGLAND AND GERMANY
CANNOT OVERCOME WESTERN
COMPETITION


To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: II appears from reports TO the Government
OF the United States by its Consular agents as
well as from various articles appearing IN the
foreign press. that the manufacturers OF Europe
are seriously disturbed the question Of Amer-
can competition and are seeking means which may
be taken 10 lessen such competition or ar any
rate, prevent its increase
An experience Of a considerable number of years
in Europe with European manufacturers satisfies
me that plan will be found and that competition
from this country will continue increase. It
has been an evident fact for many years that the
centre Of Anslo-SaxOn manufacturing activity
crossed the ocean number OF years ago and will
forever remain in the Western Hemisphere
Englands supremacy manufacturing nation
was dependent upon two factors: First her control
OF the shipbUilding industry Through such control
she able TO build and equip naval and trade
fleets much more rapidly than any other nation
and hence controlled foreign trade. Such no longer
is the case Second her capacity 10 obtain a profit
on All her manufactured goods the effect of which
was 10 make her the great creditor nation OF the
world. and give her control Of the finances Of the
world. To-day England has lost her manufacturing
supremacy and finds il extremely difficult TO sell
her manufactured goods at profit.
In conversation with n large manufacturer in
England last year. he made the following state
ment:
ENGLAND has been able TO retain her manufact-
uring supremacy for a number OF years by reason
OF the credits which she through her great wealth
has extended 10 purchasers. Just as soon as Amer
Tea give the same credits-and that time is rast
coinins-you VIII see the rapid decadence OF Eng
Inquiring further. I found that it was not un-
common tor English manufacturers 10 give credits
% rom three to four years on basis Of from
Ultra-eonseryatism has also been factor in the
Most OF the English manufacturing concerns have
=, l OotLt up piece by piece with the result that
a. ii alillosL eheIy department OF manufacture an
.IsIiSe amount OF nandhng is required 10 produce
that II is often much cheaper 10 take the loss in
VOWED BY destroying an old factory than con-
The conditions in Germany are not quite the
many has reached lis maximum in manufaetuSer
which viii. from nOw on. gradually decrease. This
condition in Germany is due, irst 20 foolish invest
ment OF the money acquired Immediately after the
FrancO-PrIssian war.
Every traveller through Germany must have no
ticed the tremendous change which has taken place
spent IN muni,ipal improvements and IN buildings
tor occupancy by the people. Most OF these build
a very small interest upon the invest
ment- such extravagant Investments have tied up
creates a money panic Hith the result that no
manufacturer knows where he STANDS and is a prey
10 nervous anxiety.
This condition seriously retards any manufactur-
tension of the foreisn trade. and Germany to-day
can be consumed within the country or its de-
Another stumbling block 10 Germany's progress
Is found IN the intense conservatism OF IT'S aboring
erred largely by tradition. and they resent any
attempt 10 alter their methods of work The aver
German workman under the best conditions.
and using the best American labor saving
machinery. will produce about O. per cent OF what
the average American labOrer Will produce under
similar conditions II IS almost impossible 20 get
a German manufacturer 20 use a piece OF labor
saving machinery a labor saver. He u
simply 10 increase his production For instance.
iu a first class German factory. ! personally saw
a bank % twelve screw cutting machines-usually
attended IN this country by skilled mechanic
and three four feeder girls-Operated by twelve
first class German machinlsts. A. labor charge
six times greater than that of the American force
What Is true OF EnEland and Germany Is true
% All Europe. and n VIII. n my opinion. take a
hundred years at least 20 get the average foreign
manufacture 10 understand thar he must burn
down his factories and change his labor system
f. he wishes 10 stand any chance IN competition.
Personally. / doubt much II even then he
could compete on even terms. For do not believe
that any country which has 70 import It's food can
compete with a country that grows It's food
GEORGE II. BENJAMIN.
New-York Feb. .. 1901.