The sun., 1901-06-02

Reform In Trades Union Methods -Their
Responsibility for the Cosntrys Deoiias -
a. Industrial aad Manufsctsrins Natisa.
Special Cas,, D1pa,eh 10 THE sun
LONDON. June lord George Hamilton
Secretary Of State for India. has COM
pleted the rousing Of Great Britain. His
letter to Sir Alfred Hickman. telling the
nation that American manufactures are
better and cheaper than British and why
they are SO Is like whip Of scorpions ap-
Piled to the back Of British pride. Instead
Of resenting his blows the country at urge
is ruefuly acknowledging the justice Of
the castigation. Early excuses. explana-
tions, denials and recriminations are
abandoned by the public commentators.
and everywhere. from the Times to the
smallest half-penny journal. 1t Is con-
ceded that Great Britain no longer leads
the world as an industrial and manufact-
uring nation.
Lord George Hamiltons bold. brutal
frankness Is initiated at last by a press
which until now has not dared to tell the
truth about the causes Of this national
disgrace. An attack Is made to-day openly
and valiantly against an evil which Ia 80
powerful that no great organ OF public
opinion has heretofore dared assail 1t.
Few would have believed some months ago
that the editorial columns OF the leading
London newspapers would to-day be filed
with such declarations as We affirm our
conviction that to the ignorance and tyranny
of trades unions the decline OF our manu-
featuring supremacy Is primarily due" and
we have no hesitation in saying that the
methods employed by trades unionsts to-
day are thoroughly INSCRIPTIONS and dis
honest"
Such outspoken language as this which
Is echoed and reechoed throughout England
to-day means the beginning Of campaign
OF reform. regeneration and rejuvenation
Of which America should take note. II
means that an awakening has come to this
country and that the opportunities now
available to its rivals will be curtailed. A
hard struggle must come first. for the ignor-
ance and folly which dominate trades union
councils are too firmly established to be
easily eradicated. 1t will probably require
a taste OF bitter adversely to accomplish
radical reformation, but there will no longer
be blindness to the real facts Of the situa-
ton.
This sudden realization OF danger and
the way to escape from 1t which has come
to the British people is Of the greatest I'M
portance to American commercial interests.
The immense advantage possessed by the
American manufacturers over those Of
Great Britain in competing, for the worlds
trade exists to-day. will \ i tomorrow.
and then it will disappear In 4 great part
He undertakes the stamina and resources
Of the British people who assumes that
they will fail under the spur Of adversely to
adapt themselves to new conditions and
abandon the fatal follies which have crippled
them. The present handicap will be re-
moved. and the trade which Americans
to-day can now have almost for the asking
must be struggled for hereafter.
The opportunities for American trade
In Great Britain have been freely discussed
in these dispatches during the past winter.
Consideration Of the subject has been dis
continued at present largely because 1t
Is the universal complaint OF American
agents here that they cannot obtain de-
liveries OF goods actually ordered from
home manufactures, and II Is useless to
point out the IA aciities Of trade under such
circums tances. 1t Is important TO make
clear TO American manufacturers, how
ever. that they are losing peculiarly valu-
uvhi ich
by failing to make the fullest response to
foreign demands. Tho agents complain
that the home houses fail to realize this
and give natural preference to the home
markets. whereas the wisest policy at the
present moment Is the reverse OF this
The following utterances from to-days
evening papers show how fully the situ-
alton here is understood now that the edi-
tors have the courage to speak out The
Globe says: I'VE do not hesitate to pre-
dict that In the next few years the contest
between British and American manufact-
urers will be OF the most stringent char
acter and unless the methods OF trade
unionism, as understood and practsed
In this country. are modified the Americans
Will Deat uS OUT OF tfls Hcll. ~ CdilflOt DO
otherwise so long as the leaders Of working
men persist in thinking that the way to
increase the profits OF labor Is by restrict-
ing the output and protecting the lazy
and inefficient. and hampering the free
dom alike Of the employers and those EN-
ployed by selfish. antiquated rules. A
capable, energetic. industrious workman.
is. in effect. discouraged and his superior
abilities secure but little advantage for
him over the skulker. In America It is
far otherwise. Trade unionlsm exists and
Is a power there undoubtedly. but It's aims
and methods are utterly different from
those favored by mouthing democrats
OF the John Burns-keir Hardio type. Ameri-
can trade societies desire the keeping Of
the wage rate. but they have the sense to
see that this can best be accomplished by
insuring that the higher the skill and tho
greater tho industry OF the individual
worker the larger Ia tho reward which he
obtains. They recognize that 1t Is not
by reducing the volume OF trade and the
putting OF premium upon mediocrity
that the commerce OF a country. and there