The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-10
Jas. j. Hill Discusses Union La.
Dor Situation.
Says Unions VIII Bring About
Financial Reverses.
AMERICA IS LOSING.
Claims Unions Have Killed In
dustrial England.
Topeka Now the Scene of I'M
portant Struggle.

In view of the effort which union
labor is making for increase in wages
from the railways, and the general pub
lie sympathy which this movement
finds. It is interesting to observe the
views which the railway magnates take
of the situation.
James J. Hill is possibly about the
most popular of all great railway men.
He has made an especial effort to So
ndify himself with the people of the
northwest. and has succeeded to a con =
siderable extent. In the Chicago Rec
ord-Herald MI Hill has a significant in
terview on the question of union labor
demands.
Topeka is now the scene Of one Of the
most important labor conferences ever
held in the state All the chief officials
of the Santa Fe system from San Fran
cisco to Chicago and Kansas City to the
Gulf are representing the railway com
pany. and hfty-twO members of tn,
Order Of Railway Conductors and
brotherhood of Railway Trainmen ar
looking after the interests of thousands
of company employees.
Speaking Of Just such situation Mr..
Hill denied that the United States is
the leading manufacturing nation and
rapidly gathering to its bosom the man
kets Of the entire Wprld This niSap-
the fact that over one industrial victory
the country sets up a louder shout than
England Germany or France makes
over . dozen.
The truth is" said Mr.. Hill refiec-
lively, that this country is losing
ground in a manufacturing way. and
will do very well even to hold its own
markets. 1t is wrong impression that
we are sweeping all competitors aside
They are sweeping US aside and Why
Because OF the high cost of production
here. And the high cost Of production
is due to the growth of labor uniOnism
and the continued strife going on
among the unions as well as between
the men and their employers.
We can't meet the prices of German
and English manufacturers and pay the
wages which the unions compel So
long as the tariff is maintained we may
hold cur own markets. but some day
perhaps the people in the west, and they
represent a ma jCrity of the popula ton,
win kick over, will demand that the tar
if be lowered. This sentiment increases
the farther west one goes.
Germany IS leading the world now
and is making much swifter progress
than this country or any other Eng
land has dropped behind. Labor unions
aided in killing her industrially- France
is like a bee-alWays buzzing, always
hustlins. In France it is father and
son. and so on. But Germany is the
country that is forging ahead. Her Ia
/ bOrers work very cheaDly: they spend
Go hours in the factory each week where
we spend but a, and her mechanics are
superior In addition she has facilities
for transporting her products from anC
to every part OF the globe at very eheaI
rates Before we can get out and com
pete with her in the markets of the
world We must lower the cost Of pro-
ducing manufactured articles and must
elevate the quality Of the production.
AS labor unions killed industrial
/ England so they are destined to bring
about q grave financial reverse in tbs
United States. and the country is swift
4 ~ approaching that crisis. 1t may come
in year. it may be deferred till tbs
presidential year. but it is bound t,
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