New-York tribune., 1901-11-11
DRINK AND COMMERCE.
WHY THE AMERICAN WORKINGMAN is SAID
TO BE SUPERIOR TO THE ENGLISH
AND THE GERMAN.

'A~AN--A-'-
| The article given below has appeared in papers
| in Belgium. France and England. and was sent
from this country for publication IN Europe py NJ
Rudolph Meyhoffer, who came from brussels as an
| international delegate to the Young Mems Chrls-
tian Association jubilee in Boston last June. lie
stayed long enough study industrial and educa-
tional conditions in the leading States. including
| the question of American trade supremacy:
England and other European countries are anx,
iousy asking for the causes of the commercial
supremacy of the United States recent nuinpe,
of the English edition of the Review OF reviews
:;Cassier's Magazine" (an English perodicaD con
interesting series of short articles by some
of the most prominent engineers and business men
in the United States upon the question OF American
Most Of the writer's agree in saying that the
American workman is the chief agent IN enabling
worid Waiter MacFariand Of PttsburE gives
| important reason for this He says; -,,r,or o-a
1T appears that the American worklnen are Re
disIIo tiep tban those in Great Britain one OF the
BEST arms Of British shipbuders recently stated
that there is loss OF time amounting 70 b;g
approachIng these figures is true generally. there
can be surprise that English! firms open 10
competition from well managed American WORKS
should have hard time, , .
xobretY in Of The American, the fact appears that
twenty years ago business interests II the nlted
Beverage use Of alcohol or Of tobacco working
ability About that time the now almost , qniveTsa oa6s
laws OF health az nee WGh Fsae d other 10 ths
the public schools this country.
During the last ten or fifteen years the children
have been carrying from the schools 10 me -;ies @
story OF the evil nature and bad effects of alcoholic
drinks and other narcotics .,-,- ,.,.,.
the railroads OF the United States now almost uni
versally refuse employment to men who drink
Carroll b. WrIght's Labor Bureau investigations
of skiied led labor in the United States require total
abstinence Of their employs and TO per cent % OF the
These requirements the cordial acquiescence IN
preInacy which this knowledge helped secure TO
the United States; have 9ecn promoted py y,E me
The different reception given by workrnen TO the
temperance IS not taught IN the public schools Is
VEL The msnafsr o & of IN
recently posted an order torbdGng the w1tkea
liquors, drink the same during working hours
meeting and oDjected q this order The
day they conspcu.ously carried IN their beer .o
p5phist n5hs aPf od
mental the laborers own interest. He referred
TO the cleverness and eobriety OF the American
and precise work. which he says is not possible in
The American workman does not resent the EN-
learned, often from his child in public school that
alcohol not only dulls the brain but weakens that
precision essential for fine work.
Maxim the American horn inventor for his work
IN England. was OF the last official acts of
Of he Word on Sir sm II he 1
direct testimony to the point While descrih-
ing results of the English unions. he says:
The English workman spends a great part of
his earnings beer tobacco and betting: he has
ambition" OF course not for beer in dulling
the brain dulls ambition. The American work
man.. he says. wishes to get on: he accomplishes
a great deal more work in day than any other
workman in the world
England is beginning to the difference in re-
suits between occasional talks by temperance ad-
vocates to school children and the systema tic
graded public school study of this topic required
by law in the United States.
At recent meeting in birmingham. addressed
by the Archbishop of Canterbury. the presiding OF
fCer. Edwin Smith. said
We are being beaten in skill by America
She has been lavish in spending money in educating
the brains of her people. while we have been lavish
cohol the America, drink bill would
be about G56000.6p1 less than II is. We can
not succeed commercially while hand'-
capped In this way the extent Of cent.
The great of the working people in this coun-
try totally ignorant of the effect of drink
He said that England ought not 70 leave the edu-
societies but that it should he Undertaken BY the
state. Surely If the State encourage the
traffic for revenue. 1t should in fairness educate
every child in government schools - the ma tlre
abstinence
He added in closing:
''If State will only educate the children
against strong drink England commercially
may even vet be saved
It has been wisely said that industrial suprem-
acy belongs TO that country which enjoys inc inc
chraTest materials. the most improved machinery
ard the most efficient labor"
As clear brains and steady nerves needed for
the prepa ration of both material and machinery as
well as for their in production that nation.
duiled hv alcohol and other narcotics VIII WIN IN
the worlds competitions.