The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-12-26
LOSING HER PRESTIGE
GREAT BRITAIN BECOMING CON-
CERNED IN REGARD TO HER
COMMERCE.
MAY DROP TO THIRD PLACE
Has Failed to Meet the Connetition OF

Has Failed to Meet the Connection of
the United States and Germany.
Fears Expressed That Even Her
Carrying Trade Is Threatened-Sen-
timent Among the Masses in Favor
of What Is Known as "Fair Trade.v
Washington,- Dec. 25.-There is a
large and ever increasing number of
thoughtful and well informed people
in Great Britain who express the Sc
rlous 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 trace and commerce.
This statement is made by United
States Consul Boyle at Liverpool, in
his annual report, extracts from which
were made public by the state depart
ment. 1t is conceded, says Consul
Boyle, that in manufactures Great Britt
ain Within the past few years has
failed to meet the competition of the
United States and Germany. Mr..
Boyle says the enthusiastically inclined
plead exceptional and marvellous nat.
Cral advantages as far as the United
States is concerned, while as to Ger
many's fierce competition the unsat-
isfactOry financial and commercial sit.
uation now prevailing in that empire
is cited as an 1nstnce of a country
booming itself too rapidly. The cry OF
something must be done," says the
consul, is going up from commercial
bodies, political speakers, economic
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 popular demand for legis-
fatlve action and the indications are
that the British government will be
compelled to give more earnest con-
slderation to matters relating to trade
and commerce.
"Do to Others as They Do to YOU"
There is 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 flair 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 now arc
boldly advocating a policy CT flair
trade" or "do to others as they do to
YOU"
Against this sentiment, however,
the consul says, NUT be set the ma
tlOnal dislike to change established
institutions, of which free trade is one
Of the most fundamental.
A particularly interesting portion of
Consul Boyle's report is that wherein
he places the American and the Brit
ish workman side by side in a COM
parison which places the American
far to the fore. English manufacture
ers, he says, find it almost impossible
to get the same amount of product
from machines as is obtained in Amer
lea. 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 read
lily 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.