The sun., 1903-03-22

A british View Of American Industrial
Problems.

~o welcome the book entitled American
Imdusfridi Problems, by W. r. LAWSON
edinburgh, Blaokwood 4 Sons). We well
come IL, although we do not by any means
accept all Of its conclusions or share its
msgivings. What we recognize with satis-
faction Is the authors endoavor to acquire
accurate information, and his effort to main
tain an impart ial attitude. though. Of course
he cannot escape from the British point OF
view. It Is true. as he says In his intro
duction that he has tried TO give the citi-
Iens OF the United States full ere dit for every
good quality OF their Industrial system
The workmen, the mana gers, the organizers,
the fnanciers, the banks. the railroads,
the tariff makers and even the spectators,
are treated with a studious attempt at
fairness. II not sympatbetically.
What are the problems Of American in
Siustry which are here discussed? Tho
main problem, around which the others
revolve, is thus propounded. "Given an
indust rial army OF ~ millions Of men. all
more OF less trained. and many highly
trained; an Industrial fund of nearly 5000
million dollars; vast command OF capital
and financial skill; the best-known or
Ranization. both for production and dis
tribut ion; special gifts Of industrial leader
ship and political conditions Of the most
favorable character-given all these ad-
vanta ges, what is likely to be the ultimate
effect on International trade OF such formid-
able rivalry?- Many subsidiary questions
are grouped around this primary inquiry.
For example: Are the vast supplies OF
food and raw materials now available for
American industry to be maintained in
definitelyp Are Americans likely to retain
much longer their advantages of relative
cheapness, wide distribution and easy
command of foreign markets. May not
equally cheap and abundant supplies be
found in other parts of the world? Are
American workmen certain to continue,
As they have been hitherto, more intelli-
gent, industrious and tractabe than any
other? Are American employers and
managers to be always superior in point
Of skill and energy TO those OF other coun-
triesP Are not the great advantages Of
cheap living hitherto enjoyed by Ameri-
cans, especially in the West, rapidly dis
appearing1 Has not the cost Of American
labor Of all kinds advanced considerably
IN the last five years, and is it not still
rising? Are not American labor unions
growing more powerful and exacting than
not also won Of late some signal victories
In stand-up fights with the best organized
Is not. finally, the new or
ganization Of industrial capital. repre-
sented by trusts and combines, already
In open conflict with the Government. the
Legislature. the bench and public opinion'
To many. II not most, OF these questions
the author returns answers favorable to
At IL - Ill
do not want to be ousted from
the worlds markets by American COM
petitors.
Let us glance at some Of the answers
given to the inquiries just recited Mr..
lawson Ia one Of those observers who
believe that the export Of American
food products. which. including tobacco,
amounted In 1900 to $40 900 900, In destined
10 diminish rather than expand. He points
but that. In any estimate OF the future de-
velopment Of this branch Of American
lndustry-much the largest and most i'm
portant branch-it "a the 10000 900 OF home
consumers that will have to be first con-
sidered. They far outnumber the foreign
buysrs Of American food supplies, and In
money value their consumption (S2,SiS.-
DO .ooo) is as nearly four to one. They also
Increase moro rapidly than the foreign
buyers. and. unless the food production
of the United States should grow much
faster than the population-of which there
b no immediate prospect-the percentage
of It consumed at home will every year be
larger. Home consumption will become
more and moro predominant.
until the food exports sink into compare
tive insignifcance. This reasoning pro-
ceeeds on the assumption that American
food products will be no more stringently
debarred from European markets than they
Are now. 1t Is not certain that this will
be the case. II stin import duties on
American foodstuhs were to be imposed
In the United Kingdom, as they are imposed
On the European Continent their effect
Dn the American growers might be serious.
The returns realized on the foodstuffs
exported might be reduced by the amount
NJ the duties. and the injury might not end
here. The export prices, as they fell,
might drag down domestic prices with
hem. and there would he a loss. not alone
On the Ss+0 900 600 worth exported. but. on
Ihe whole S3.05s 900 900 worth produced.
Should Engiand's new colonial policy re-
suit In q substantial increase Of the food
supplies forwarded from her colonies.
, preferential duty against foreign food
stufis would hit American producers harder
than any other foreign exporters Of such
In connection with foodstufs Mr.. Law
bon considers the three or four valuable
.pecie- of exports which may he described
m industrial materials. The bulk ~ the
notion grown In the United States Is shipped
lo kurope in the raw state. Of the 40