The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-22
IN THE FIELD OF LABOR
CoMPARISoN Of AMERICAN AND
ENGLISH WORkMEN.
Reason Why the Former Leads All
CompctitOrs-LOcaI and GeneraI
Labor News.

In point OF numbers prOpOrtionate 10 the
population. perhaps this is true, but III
other respects the Englishman is not COM
plimented in the comparison. It has been
demonstrated that the American workman
IS much sDeedier taan the Englishman.
This was recently made more clear to the
trades unionists OF the other side when
an American contractor. with American Ia
Dor. completed a large Office building in
a few months that would have taken over
a year had EngIishmen lone it. Thomas
j. Fenton not long ago discussed the work
Ing capacity OF the labOrers OF the two
nations IN the Union Boot and Shoe Work
~ers. under the title. Why Mechanics DO
More Work in America than in European
Industries" He said: "The reason me
chanics do more work in America than in
European industries is because in
the former there is superior special
~ization. The contention that the
slowness Of the English workman
Is due to trades unions restricting output
cannot be maintained. The Englishman is
the fastest OF European workmen and yet
IS the one accused Of restriction; logically.
IL should be the continental workman.
Trade union restriction is beside the ques-
ton. The matter rests upon the unscien-
tiic conduct Of European as compared with
American industry.
THE great feature OF modern history
industry. on which it's high productiveness
depends, is Observation-Disclosures Of Ia
Dor. Without it machinery and motor
power might be used but not to one-tenth
the advantage. Though the immense value
OF specialization is admitted, 1t is realized
by very. few or it would be introduced de-
1Fh--nF-T-r - II - =
casually, as it is in most instances; it
would show a forced instead Of mainly a
natural growth and would be much finer
than it now is One of the great gains due
TO subdivision OF labor, one which is al
most entirely neglected. and yet fully ac-
counts for the difference between rapid
and slow %workmen. is the requirement of
what is called gait
THE branches Of labor have been in some
instances divided by a process of natural
selection in a way to give a workman a
steady routine of motions which are al
most identically the same on each article
which goes through his hands. When the
movements necessary to perform his part
form a series. every movement of which
is in accord, they become rhythmic. An i'm
mense amount Of jar and friction to the
body is thus saved. Notice a rapid work
man whose work is mechanical-he is gent
~ swaying backwards and forwards or
from side to side like a pendulum. He is,
as 1t were, beating time for himself. and
each OF his movements comes in its proper
place In the measure. His movements have
a graceful, easy swing. 1t is clock work
His body becomes accustomed 70 the
rhythm; its motions have become more
accurate; and the speed accelerates with
OUT eHoTt on his part He has become al
most an autOmaton-almOs uuscOncious
tnat ne IS working. His mind wanders 10
other things, and yet he is turning out
as muCn work as IL he were carefully
using his brain to direct his movements.
IF anything be added to his work which
necessltates a new movement not in ac-
cord with his other ones, he loses his
speed TO no slight extent, and if a number
or such motions be added, he will become
a very slow workman. If workers can be
made slow in this manner, they can be
made rapid by pursuing the opposite course
-by eliminating, as far as possible. mo-
tons which hinder the requirement of gait.
Ihis points the way to a scientific subdi-
vision OF labor to suDersede the present
more or less haphazard method.
The extent to which the labor saving
advantage of gait has been secured has
not been the result of any perception Of it's
value, but 10 blinCly drifting into it. Econ
omists did not point il out, nor did factory
managers divide the branches of labor in
a way, or for the purpose of securing its
advantage; on the contrary, they often in
terfered, and still continue to Interfere
with the work I'm a way to make gait i'm
possible, sending IL around in small guam
titles. shifting workers without cOnsidera-
ton from one kind Of work to the other.
stopping them in full career to attend to
something of no Importance. making them
do carrying 10 and fro. in short, interfer-
Ing with their productive capacity in all
sorts or nOnsensical ways against their
lound and continued protests.
This Is genuine restriction Of output.
Such restrictions as the state or labor or
ganizations place upon hours of labor
or amount of work narfOrmnd for tho mr.
pose OF protecting the health Of the work
err should be considered as effecting an
economy instead Of an expense.
The competition between laborers for
positions and the self-interest OF foremen
brings out Of the worker all the bodily
exerton mere Is In him. whatever the
country or Industry in which he may work.
IL is. therefore, not the difference in the
bodily exertion OF workers, but In the
effectiveness or 1t which makes the differ
ence IN capacity. Put the question to any
rapid workman why he does more work
than the others, and he will say that il is
not because he works harder. but because
he makes fewer false notions
" Gait has been evolved by the workers
themselves and is the result Of a process
ally hired helpers. and taking the Iightest.
cleanest and most skilled part TO them
selves. divided the work in a way which
experience led them TO believe the most
practicable. Other wOrkmen copied the
method which proved the most productive
and the result was the unconscious de-
- EAANa AAAL - Il Il<R
quence. seen at its best in particular To-
~celities, because its requirement was not
due 10 a deliberate purpose, but merely to
imitation.
when rapid workmen are to be found
only IN certain localities their superior
speed is likely TO be attributed to the in
herent qualities Of a certain race. without
considering how rapid working is deveI-
oped; but IN the New England States where
gait In some industries has reached n
high development. the English. Scotch
Irish, Americans and French Canadian
have become equal in the competition.
Manufactures In the Western part Of
the United states have had the idea that
the superior capacity OF the New England
worker in certain industries was due to
superior skill, and many OF them have. at
no little expense brought Eastern work
men TO the West 10 teach their 'quick way
OF working 10 the Western mechanics.
but the New EnglanGers were found TO be
not nearly so rapid as at home. the reason
being that the difference is almost entirely
in factory methods instead Of in the men.
Factory methods and MANAGEMENT.
down TO the slightest details. are of very
great Importance. The ADLER manufac-
tureTs understand this well. having a grasp
OF the principles OF industrial organiza-
ton. Some employers are wise enough to
furnish their wOTkmen with what they
need while working. so as TO keep them
steadily at work; others, through ignorance
OF the laws which control the labor mark
CT, assume that the workman is always q
loser when extra work - put upon him
without raising his price per article. and
not only let him provide for himself, but
deliberately cause breaks In his rouffna