The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-30

M. JOnn roster fraser. In JUS very
graphic book. America at Work." gave
a number or reasons why American
manufactures prosper. many OF which
may be summed up in the appropriate
word hustle The American manu-
facturer hustles. He will not consent
TO stand still. He considers himself a
failure II he has not at least trebled
the business his father left him. He
hoes not expect people to adapt their
requirements to his manufactures. hut
he seeks in every way 10 adapt MS
to the requirements OF
the people. Mr.. Fraser constantly COM
pares American methods with those he
is acquainted with in England. and
almost always to the disadvantage of
the British manufacturer. SO far as
push. energy. n adaptiveness ere
concerned. The British manufacI ure-
makes 1t his pride to hand dozen his
business to his son as IL came to him.
He thinks what was good enough I'm
Is fathers time was goed enough for
him. He has a high nrofitab,s con-
Germ In his hands, md he al.s not Gee
why he should follow the American
example ana hustle himself into the
srase" -niddle age in order 20 double
VI e 1t. A grea. many British con-
SUE reports from different parts Of
ne world back up Mr.. Fraser's view.
1 They assert that Americans and Ger
mans are extremely solicitous to adapt
their are to local requirements.
| They are eager to seize a new idea,
and are thankful for every suggestion
for improvement. But the Briton.
secure in a long experience Of manu-
| featuring p~re-eminence, does not push
his wares. and stolidly refuses to vary
his product to suit local conditions or
ideas. 1t is notorious in Australia that
We buy American implements. tools,
and machines, and discard British, not
from choice, and not because Of any
tariff pressure. but because they suit
our timber, our soils, and our styles of
cultivation. Now, strange to say, If
We may accept the conclusions of the
Chamberlain tariff commission, Mr..
Fraser, the British consular reports, and
our own local experience are all quite
at fault. The report, which deals with
the iron n steel industry, states that
the relative decline of the British m
duStry is not due to any natural British
disadvantages, any superior facilities
or advantages of foreign countries, or
any want of skill or enterprise on the
part of British manufacturers or
British workmen. 1t is due entirely to
the. high tariffs OF the United states
and Germany.
1n1S WOulu De = very SldTlltilS stiits
astonishing conclusion did the commits
sion not inform US that their report =
founded almost entirely on the eyt-
dence of the British manufacturers
themselves. How that cute ans
travelled observer, ar. Fraser, must
chuckle when he finds his own estimate
of the failings of the British manufac-
turerS confirmed from their own
mouths He says tnat they AVE De
come stolid and Self-SatiSfied, refusing
to admit that their methods can be inn
proved or that special local tastes aid
requirements should be studied, and
much less anticipated; and in denying
all this they give the strongest proof OF
his statements. ooh dear no." they
say in effect, there is nothing wrong
with us or u methods. Nor is there
any drawback in regard to t~ecln:ca,
education. You must look elsewhere
for all causes of failure, they canno'
be found in u.s." That is exactly n,
spirit Mr.. Fraser complains of. They
are too ~self-satisfied and conservative
They lack adaptiveneSS, and they viii
not hustle. An eminent English :,uthU.
rity asserts that 60, 000, 600 pounds OF tn,
increase of German manufactures l.
directly due to German m dis
coveries. But the British manufacture
will not admit that any nation know
more about chemistry than tn,
oAo AC u all "CIIuCI
full discoveries aside and says thar tn,
German tariff has done everything. l
might, one woul think, be adinitte,
without rashnes hat an imInens
territory like the United States, witt
incaluclable mineral and agriculture
resources, which received invent.
million immigrants from 1920 to III
end Of the century, has some spac!a
advantages in manufacturing over it
rivals. But the commission says no
Certainly the commission has done III
best to justify it's selection by MI
Chamberlain, n has made the repor
= it was appointed to make. Its Wort
seems to produce no effect on the mind.
of English electors, for every election
goes Enthusiastically against any cndng
in the British fiscal system.
The pretended anxiety which Il
manifested in some quarters in Aus
tralia about the future of British in.
dustries is very hypocritical. 1t is tbs
alleged ~decadence of the iron and stee
industry which is mourned just now
And at the very same time it is asserted
that u own iron Industries are beins
ruined by the import of iron.manufac.
lures, chiefly British. The statement
furnished by the Customs department
on the motion OF Seaator Pearce. shows
that, instead of the alleged grea. in.
crease of imports, there has been a re.
decrease, amounting to nc
less than 100000 pounds in value durins
the last two years. This shows tina
Mr.. Knox, NJ. H. R., was right when HI
said, in reply to Mr.. Mauger, that any
sickness in the local manufacturing
trade was not due to increased importa.
tions but to a lamentable falling off II
the demand for mining and other ma.
chinery. The almost fearful advocate.
of immediate preferential arrangement.
with England are those who demand
that the iron industry should be imme
diately established in Australia b,
means of heavy bonuses from the gov.
eminent. Mr.. Chamberlain hopes I,
compensate for diminished exports [.
foreign countries by largely increased
imports to Australia and other parts o
n empire. Hear, hear cry tn,
excited sym~pathisers with the Cham
beriain idea in Victoria. Let us hell