The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-25
Thoughtful and WeII-Informed
People in Great Britain Urge
That Radical Changes Be
Brought About at Once
THE PAPERS CRY OUT
FOR "FAIR TRADE"
f Something Is Not Done the
United Kingdom Will Soon Be
RELOCATED to the Third Position
in Ranks of the Worlds Trade
and Commerce
and Commerce

Washington, Dec. 24.-There is a
large and ever-increasing number of
thoughtful and well-informed people in
Great Britain who express the serious
belief that if radical changes do not
come about in the near future, the
United Kingdom will be relegated to
the third position in the ranks of the
worlds trade and commerce. This
statement is made by United States
Consul Boyle at Liverpool, in his an
nual report, extracts from which were
made public today by the state depart
ment.
It is conceded, says Consul Boyle,
that in manufactures Great Britain
within the last few years has failed to
meet the competition of the United
States and Germany. Mr.. Boyle says
the optimistically inclined plead eXcep-
tional and marvellous natural ad-
vantages as far as the United States
is concerned, while as to Germany $
fierce competition the unsatisfactory
financial and commercial situation now
prevailing in that empire is cited as an
instance of a country booming itself
too rapidly.
The cry of something must he done"
says the consul, is going up from COM
mercial bodies political speakers, econ
omic writer's and from the newspapers
There are fears expressed, says Mr.
Boyle, that even in the carrying trade
the supremacy of Great Britain is
threatened. When the war in South
Africa is over, he says, there is GER
tain to be a popular demand for legis
lative action. and the indications are
that the British government will be
compelled to give more earnest con-
sideration to matters relating to trade
and commerce.
There is a strong sentiment among
the masses of Great Britain, and one
which appears to be gaining strength
as time goes on, in favor of bringing
about what has become popularity
known as fair trade" and which, says
Mr.. Boyle is nothing but reciprocity
Protection per Sc, he says, is not very
much advocated, but it is significant
that many of the most-widely circu-
lated papers of Great Britain are now
boldly advocating a policy of fair
trade" or do to others as they do to
you" Against this sentiment, however,
the consul says must be set the ma
tional dislike to change established in
sttutions, of which free trade is one
of the most fundamental.
In regard to the eduCa tional reforms
in the United Kingdom, Mr. Boyle says
the universally-aC acknowledged infeTiori-
ty of Great Britain to most of the
leading nations, particularly the United
States and Germany, is given fire.
quently as one of the chief reasons
why Great Britain is being outstripped
in her manufactures
The subject of education, he says, is
a very thorny one in England, owing
principally to the fact that here are
two systems of mana gement-One, the
board school management (similar to
the American public school systen)
and the denominational management
Efforts are now making by the re-
spective authorities to secure uni
fOrmity of methods and results, while
raising the standard at the same time
A particularly interesting portion of
Consul Boyle's report is that wherein
he compares the American and the
British workman. English manufac-
turers, he says. find it almost impOs-
sible to get the same amount of pro-
duct from machines as is obtained in
America. There are two reasons for
this. says Mr.. Boyle.
First, the average British workman
is not as adaptable as the American,
and does not so readily get command
Of new appliances; and, second, that it
is not the custom of the country for
an Englishman, whether mechanic,
CLERK or laborer, to work as hard as
an American.
Then, too, states Mr. Boyle, the
English workman is inclined to split
very fine hairs-he win often refuse to
do anything outside a certain line
rigidly laid down by the custom of his
craft generally, and by his trade
union in particular
The small extent IN which 1lD-tO-daf a
labor-saving machinery is used in
Great Britain. as compared with
America, and even Germany, Mr.. Boyle
says. is just now a fruitful topic Of
discussion. English manufacturers, he
says, are handicapped by reason of
their employment af an.tiquated plants
In THE meantime" says Consul
Boyle, in closing his report NOW is
the time for American manufacturers
to get a stronger foothold in this
country"