The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-24
THEIR EYES OPENED
RUDOLPH SCHIFFMASY JR. SAYS
ENGLISHMEN ARE BEGIN
MING TO HUSTLE
AMERICAN IDEAS IN DEMAND
Larger manufacturers and IntelJi-
gent Business SIen Rapidly intro
ducing American Machinery
Progress Retarded by Unions.

Rudolph Schiffmann Jr., who returned
Friday from an extended stay in Europe.
IN the interest of the firm in which he
Is associated with his father, saw many
signs OF an industrial awakening ,herc.
Discussing with T h g G OF e yester-
day his impressions of present conditions
in Europe, Mr. Schiffmann said:
II was particularly impressed while in
England by the general discussion iii the
press and among the larger manufacture
ers and more intelligent working people
OF the American industrial invasion, as II
is termed. l had occasion to visit many Of
the principal cities Of England. and every
where ! went l found this topic under
consideration. The principal newspapers
of all portions Of England have it under
discussion as a serious problem In econ
omics, and the manufacturers and WAGE
earners are considering it from their own
respective StandpOints OF course NV
ideas Of the status Of this question were
naturally cleaned very largely from what
| read in the newspapers and periodicals.
but many persons whom | met knowing
me TO be an American. would discuss 1T
with me, and in that manner / presume
] got more or less clear conception
Of general public sentiment OF course We
all know that in the course of the past
few years particularly the success which
has come to American bidders for Eng
lish contracts has been 50 marked and
SO general in its extent as to cause our
English cousins to open their eyes to
the fact that there was something IN
the American methods in manufacturing
which they might copy to advantage. and
the result has been something Of a revolu-
ton in the industrial world over there
THE superiority of American methods
in foundry work and of American appli-
ances for conducting heavy structural
work such as is required in bridge build
ing and the erection Of large buildings
has, it appears, been particularly appar-
emit and expert American workmen have
been Sc cured by many of the more pro-
gressive concerns to Americanize their
shops.
Hampered by Trades Unions.
This movement among the mauufac-
tuTers has, however, been greatly re
tarded by the working people who, be
ing impressed with the idea that machiu-
cry Will dspIace manual labor entirely
wherever ii is permitted 10 get a fOOtholi
are cOntending against it with all the
power they can command And / can tell
you that the trades unions are 50 strong
in England as to present powerful OPP
position to this progressive movement.
Many Of the manufacturers who would
otherwise have adopted the American
methods have been 50 hampered by the
opposition of tleir employees as to give
up the idea for the present at least.
THE English papers do not. Of course,
admit the superiority Of the American
products they would not be English If
they debut they do tacitIy concede that
the application of some of the American
ideas to some forms of English manu-
featuring operations would be beneficial
One thing has been clearly demonstrated
in the competition between American and
English manufacturers for contract work
and that is that even if our work is not
superior in quality, we have the facilities
for getting it out very much more rapidly
and as time is a highly essential element
in all such work the American bidders
have had an important advantage
Il happened to be in England during
the visit Of Schwab, the great American
captain of industry, and it was very plain
from the general sentiment caused by mis-