Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-06-06
DEMOCRATS PLAN TO
EDUCATE INDUSTRY
Greater Efficiency, Intelligence
and Training Will Make Ma
ton the Mightiest.

PITTSFIELD, Mass, June 6.-Sec-
retary Redfield of the department OF
commerce, speaking at banquet here
Saturday given by the Democratic
city committee, denied the contention
that American manufacturers could
not compete successfully abroad and
declared that, on the other hand, they
are doing so more and more success
fully. He pointed to a continuous
growth in the business of American
manufacturers abroad, beginning with
total of $443,OO0,OOO in 1892 to All
estimated total of $1,5O0,OOO.OOO in
1918. He predicted a still greater
growth with the elimination of what
he termed "unsystematized manage
ment"
"A new freedom for American indus
tries,' he said, was the effective test
to which the Democratic party had set
its hand.
ut stands for industrial education
and for federal aid to It," he added. ut
stands for the reduction of the taxes
not only upon food, but upon the
means of earning; that is to say, upon
buildings, upon machinery and upon
materials, which together compose the
fundamentals of our industrial life. 1t
does not stand for q reduction of wag-
es, because it knows that American
economic history has taught US per-
haps its greatest lesson that the high.
ly-paid workman, well equipped and
well treated and well fed, is the cheap.
est producer in the world, else with
our handicaps we should not be SELL
ing $1.50O.O0O.00O abroad now.
"All through the ten years since
1902 there has existed a high tariff in
this country. No one will deny that
this has kept prices of buildings, ma.
chinery and materials at a much
higher level than they are abroad. The
owner of great woolen mill in pro-
testing against the reduction Of the
tariff now proposed, has urged that
each of these three items cost him
great deal more here than in Europe.
How is 1t that, in spite of greater
expense in these three important di.
rections, we have yet managed to sell
goods abroad, in competition with the
world, at the rate of about $1,500, ,000,-
900 year in manufactured goods
alone. this year?
ut is because of the high efficiency
of our well-paid labor when combined
with the fine mechanical equipment of
many Of our factories. Observe, do
not say Of all our factories, for 1t is
unfortunately not true of all our fac
tories.
"If for condition In which most of
our industrial plants come under the
head of what is called 'unsystematized
management we substitute another
where, merely in order to exist plants
must become systematic in their meth.
ods; IL for the ignorance as to cost and
the carelessness as to waste which still
prevails too much in many a factory,
there shall be substituted intelligent
care in both directions; IL for the tay-
es which have made the cost of ma.
chinery and buildings and materials
excessive we may substitute a system
which shall reduce these costs; If for
the general ignorance of our young
working people Of any definite occu-
patton we may substitute the trained
hand and instructed mind of inteli-
gent young men and women; If, say,
we may do all these things, why may
not our commercial position in the
world. already mighty, become the
mightiest?"