The Washington times., 1901-09-01
TO STUDY LABOR'S STATUS
British WOrkmen Comparing Con
ditions Here and at Home.
The American TOiier Regarded ns n
strenuous observation-disclosures Dis
approval of the Unions - work
Done in Better style in England.

Twelve British workmen who are in
Washington for a few days, are on their
way about the country on an extended
tour of observation. Their expenses are
paid by a London magazine and each day
after carefully jottins down their obser-
Vations on labor questions. these deduc-
tions are forwarded to the periodical.
TIE party arrived at New York on Mon
day from Liverpool. on the steamer
Ethiopia, and after passing few days
in Philadelphia they reached Washington
yesterday morning. So far less than
week has been spent in observing the
condition of the American laboring man
and drawing comparisons with the lot of
the British toiler. Two months, however.
has been allowed for the trip.
Considering the brief time the dozen
workmen have been in America, great
progress has been made in the acquisi-
tion of information. Already a conclusion
has been reached in regard to one aspect
of the American labor. The party has
been particularly impressed with the
strenuous life of Americans. According
to the statement made by George Nutley.
one of their number, the conclusion has
been reached by the entire contingent
that labor unions are bad thing and
Americans work too hard.
Il wouldn't belong to a labor union, "
declared Mr.. Nutley. giving an English
view of the question. "A member of the
whenever he is bid. That would not be
tolerated in England. There are few un-
ions in the British Isles. and they are not
held in good favor. don't like the unions
i prefer to be independent
During the short time that | have been
here, about a week. l have noticed one
thing-the American laborer is more care
less than the British. | refer to skilled
la I'M la
today. When an engine, or a machine, or
an implement of any sort is worn out it
is thrown away and another is made in
its place.
In Great Britain we make things to
last forever. We are not careless. We
make things to last. | noticed the same
thing in the painting trade. Painters in
my country, | think, take greater pains to
give their work a finish than is done in
this country. Work done in England of
this sort seems to be more finished than
it is here. l have noticed this in all 4the
trades which | have had an opportunity
to study since have been here"
The party is composed of twelve men.
elected by ballot from their various
trades, and they are supposed to repre-
sent the best which Great Britain has to
send 10 this country to study the Ameri-
can industries at the Buffalo Exposition.
The members are II. ]. Humphrey. coach
potter, of StafforGshire; F. A. Scott, cleo
trical and mechanical engineer, of Glas-
gov: J. c. Jackson, engineer. Strafford:
Thomas Graham. miner. of Rotterdam:
Thomas Flemming, mason. of PEBBLES:
George Nutley, painter, of Kingston Hill.
Surrey: John Suter, engine-driver, of
Motherwell; Kenneth Mckenzie. uphol-
sterer, of Inverness; George I;tchells,
weaver. of Stockport, and j. c. Cowen.
Zimmerman, of Gateshead. The investi-
gators of American industries are accom-
panied by A. Niehol Simpson. of Dundee.
Conductor of the Expedition" a friend
of the editor of the London magazine.
who IS looking out for the welfare of the
men during the jaunt of investigation.
''Tbe condition of the American laborer
is not much different from that of the
British mechanic" said one of the dele
gates last night. In England we work
ff;y-four hours per week. This means
a halliday on Saturday. The American
laborer Is in too much of a hurry. He
doesn't know how to enjoy himself or
what TO do with his leisure. He doesn't
get sufficient pleasure out of life
The route marked out for the tour in
cludes New York. Fall River, Providence.
Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburg.
Cleveland. the pottery districts, Buffalo.
Exposition. Niagara. Toronto. Ottawa.
Montreal, and other centres of industry.