The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-17
REDF1EID NOW sTARrLEs.

Washington Wednesday, Is as important In its
way as vioe-President Marshali's famous warn
Ing to big wealth, delivered in New York What
Mr.. Redneld said, like what Mr. Marshall said.
will please nobody, but viii give everybody
subject for serious thinking. 1t will tend to
arouse the general public to the fact that 1t has
direct and vital interest In our economic and
Industrial questions.
The text was circular issued by the en-
plcying photographers TO their workmen sug-
gesting that II tho new Democratic tariff be-
comes effective some establishments may be
closed. wages may be cut and hours of work
Heightened. Secretary Redfed said II at
tempt Is made to punish workmen for the re-
duction OF import duties, the public and the
government will demand to know why. In
auiry viii be made to discover whether the
lfthographing industry does not need improved
and modern methods, better efficiency and saga
cious management rather than protective tariff
duties Such enquiry may hit both ends of the
line. Its results may disconcert some employers
ty showing attempts to dividends on over
capitalization, economies at the expense of the
employees neglect of proper equipment 1t may
displease the labor unions by proving that the
product per man should be increased to enable
the American photographer to compete success
fully with his foreign rival. The Iithographng
industry, of course. is but Instance Mr.
Redneid evidently intends that what he said
shall be applied to every branch of manufac
tire; it may be extsaSded further to apply even
70 the farmer.
Direct publjE interest and investment in pri.
vate and corporate business is nothing new and
need NET startle anybody as a novelty. During
E Ii. tie years of prevalence of Republican policies
the public has been forced into partnership with
American industries In congress and on the
hastings We have been invited to study the
American working and factory and urged to
agree that they cannot compete with the pau
per labor of Europe and should not be asked to
attempt TO do IT, Now We are to go a little
further with the same study along the same
lines and inquire why our manufacturers and
working men cannot compete with those OF
Europe or anywhere else. The public has been
required to pay heavily. in higher prices to the
consumer. to protest capital and labor against
competition. II has had direct interest In man
ufactures forced upon It, 1t has the right to
inquire and to know whether applied brains
fair returns on money and skill and labor &C
tually invested and alert attention to discovery,
Invention and scientific teaching will not be
better protection than the tariff. will not en-
able the American to meet competition In open
r,arket against the world.
We have fallen into a dreary rut with two
edges and apparently endless and holding the
wheels OF progress to some destination un-
known and dangerous. One edge is the EN-
rloyer. intent taking from labor the last
possible ounce and cent of product while al
lowing 1t the least possible share of the re-
sult The other edge is the organized employee
Insisting that every job be made to employ the
greatest possible number of hands and that the
& required product per hand be reduced to the
lcwest value that strikes, rules and agreements
can be made to fix. An illustration of this is
given by the active or sullen hostility with which
both capital and labor met Mr.. Brandeis' scien
the efficiency theory. Mr.. Brandeis is one of
The citizens hold under observation and some
suspicion as we do any citizen who elbows
his way TO the front rank Of claimants for pub
lie attention and tries to shout down the en-
tire chorus with his single voice. Nevertheless
there seems to be the germ OF a valuable dis.
covery In what he suggests. supposing il lis
possible, by methods and ways OF working
tor hricklayer to lay In day fifty per cent
more brick than he now lays simply by avoid.
!. 1rE lost motion and making each motion count
The public has the right to know why the new
methods and ways are not used More pro.
duct to the day by the working bricklayer
Should mean better wages for the man. cheaper
factory buildings: therefore less interest on cost
os plant for the manufacturer to carry; there
fore cheaper goods to the public and better
chance for the manufacturer to compete with
the foreigner.
We American people have been doing business
b tens Of dollars. in days and months. in plan
tAtions. farms and forests. and in human beings
40 droves. We must come down to cents and
fsactoion Of cents. to minutes and halfminutes,
s q seeing that each square foot Of ground yields
/ ~ share. 10 giving each individual tree its
sssls5 # = put to TIE best pos.
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