Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-08
WORK|NGMEN SEE
PROTECTIVE RESULT
Sixty-Four Make Tour of Belgium
and Germany and Find
Conditions Good
HEARTY WELCOME ON RETURN
More Poverty in One District in
England Than in All
of Germany
HEARTY WELCOME ON RETURN

LONDON, May IA party of sixty
four workingmen who were sent to
Belgium and Germany by Alfred John
Bridge in order to investigate for
themselves the conditions prevailing
In those countries arrived back in
London after a tour extending over
twelve days. Before departing for
their homes in the country-they came
from all parts and were representa-
tive, officially and otherwise, of their
fellow workers in many of the chief
industries-they were entertained at
luncheon at the Hotel Cecil. While
none was expected at such stage to
state definite conclusions, resulting
from his study an opportunity was
afforded of testifying to the educa-
tional value of the tour and the good
that must result as the tariff contro-
versy is advanced. The knowledge
they have gained they will spread
among their fellows and the eyes of
the workingmen of England will be
opened to state of affairs that can
not fail to appeal with irresistible
force.
Viscout Ridley, who presided at the
luncheon, gave the party nearly
welcome on their return. They rep
resented the genuine British work
man, and he trusted that they had
had an instructive tour. This was not
a political move on the part of the
Tariff Reform league or any other
body. They owed it to the initiative
and enterprise of Mr.. Bridge. to whom
they had every rea1on to be grateful
From the point of view of those who
believed in tariff reform they vel
coined the idea, because the public
knew the kind of statements that
were circulated about the conditions
of the working classes under protec-
tion. They were told that the work
ing classes in a country with tarlHs
were forced to live on black bread.
horse flesh and offal. What the Tariff
Reform league desired was nothing
more than that men, whatever their
political views might be, should ascer-
tain the truth for themselves.
GERMANS LIVE WELL
Councillor Williamson, secretary of
the Hyde and District Operative Cot
ton Spinners society, said he was not
connected with either of the orthodox
political parties. but he should have
a report to present regarding tour
from which they had learned great
deal. AS to the conditions of the work
ing people in Germany, he had not
seen their like in this country. While
in Germany he had Jared as the people
Jared, and he wished for nothing bet
ter What had been said about the
cost of living was a bogey. During
the last election he saw a lot of stuff
exhibited as being the black bread
eaten by the Germans; he had found
that to have been an electioneering
fabrication. In his endeavors to get at
the truth of things respecting indus
trial conditions he went to trades
union offices and labor bureaus and
obtained valuable statistical informa-
ton. At the present moment he could
not enter into details, but the conclu-
sion he had arrived at was that those
conditions were far in advance of the
general conditions in England Whether
this was owing to tariffs or not, it did
not alter the fact that the conditions
of the people were better, Naturally,
from what had been said here, he
expected to find idle men standing at
the street corners. He visited all the
largest centers, but he looked in vain
for these examples of the voorhees,. 1t
was evident to all that the Germans
were not half so badly off as some
people had suggested.
Councillor Vernon, president of the
Ashton -under-Lyne branch of the
Amalgamated Society of Engineers,
said that the knowledge he had gained
of the conditions existing in Germany
led him to say that any man who will
character ought to be bounded out.
He had seen more poverty in Ashton
UNDERLINE than he had seen in the
whole of Germany. 1t was no use
trying to solve social problems until
we had regularity of employment
which would insure the prosperity OF
the country. He did not care what
they called it-tariff reform or any
thing else-only let them do something
and not perpetuate system that was
compelling good WOrkmen to leave
England for countries in which it was
possible to earn a living. 1t was time
there was a change.
Mr. levitt Darington) a member
of the Amalgamated Society of En-
gineers, said that he was a free trader
before he started on this tour. Now
he was in favor of protection. He had
been particularly impressed by the
large number of new factories he had
seen, proving concusiVely that the
Germans and Belgians were rapidly
overtaking England. If we did not
alter our system they would soon be
far ahead of us. He was also struck
by the sturdy appearance of the Ger
man people. He had not seen men
slouchng at street corners and never
once did he see child that was not
wearing shoes or boots.
A. Houlder, president of the Glouces-
ter branch of the Amalgamated Society
of Railway Servants. also spoke glow
ingly of the conditions of the people in
Germany. He had never been con-
nected with the Liberal or Tory party,
and he went on tour with a perfectly
open mind. He came back convinced
that the conditions in Germany We're
superior to the conditions in this coun-
try. Reference had been made to the
many new factories there. He noticed
the great extensions Of railway tracks
sidings and stations. The two things
must point to the prosperity of the
country. He was not convinced that
tariff reform was the right thing. But
on this question also he had an open
mind. Never yet had he been told
what tariff reform was, but when he
knew the exact position of tariff reform
he should be prepared TO consider it
seriously after what he had seen in
Germany. The tour had given him
much food for reflection.
SACRIFICE
at TiIt .,n l,aoIx fp tho ooi,y.