South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-20
LABOR PROBLEMS
BOTHER ENGLAND.
High Wages is Demand of All
Classes of Workers in
Great Britain.
ny Associated Press

ny Associated Press.
LONDON. July 19-Recent In
creases in wages Of British work
men have been the subject OF very
serious debate by economists. en-
ployers and others as one Of the
bedrock problems of reconstruction
in the sense that the nation may
stand or fall by IL
Some say the question which con-
fronts British industry is whether
the pendulum Of wages may not
swing so high that production FOR
competition with rival nations Will
become Improbable and then i'm
possible
"Higer wages for all" is the
demand Of the organized and unor-
ganized workers. With it is the cry
for shorter hours. better conditions
OF living. freedom 10 meet the en-
ployer on a plane of business equal
ity. az two business men meeting to-
gether"
Better and More Work
More concentrated work. more
intelligent work. and we will try TO
meet you" is the response from
many employers.
The question has been seriously
raised here whether England in the
past has owed her prominence IN
the worlds industrial markets TO
underpaid British labor. That view
was expressed by Frank Vanderbilt
New York banker. when he return
ed 20 America few weeks ago
after spending several months in
Europe.
There are shrewd business men
~'hO contend that British labor has
not been cheap but considered sole
~ ss an item in the cost Of produc-
ton has been relatively costly when
compared with the labor OF the
United States.
Manufacturer Troubled.
The topic came forward at a re-
cent informal gathering in London
OF American and British captains Of
industry. Some were men who
think in terms of millions OF pounds
and brigades Of wOrkmen. Their
talk dealt with the iron and steel
productions shipbuilding the vari-
Gus industries and manufactures Of
machinery. motors. sewing machines
and the like.
The concensus Of opinion among
them seemed 10 be that the average
skilled English workman OF pre-war
times paid a small wage. got mora
money for what he did than the
average American artisan, that the
labor cost or producing comm odities
in this country was greater than for
producing similar goods in the
United States.
Limitation OF output by trades
unions and obstruction against labor
saving machinery. not lack Of abil-
ity. were held to be the chief rea-
sons for smaller results by British
workingmen. Speed up the work
and YOU throw some OF US into the
street: more labor saving machines
and more men out or work 20 be
supported by union funds" was the
labor point or view.
Beer Another Problem.
There is Still another factor. the
cost OF beer. and that is rather n
delicate question in some quarters
If the United States goes dry, then
God save England" exclaimed a
British cabinet minister discussing
the industrial outlook.
The beer item is considered by
some economists Relatively heavy
enc in the personal budget of the
mass of British wOrkingmen and an
item that cannot be left out OF the
reckoning in striking a balance for
comparison 81 the workers Of Eng
land with those Of AmeSca.
. However. stands the dictum that
England owed her past trade su-
Premaoy tOcunderpaid labor, there
are many observers To-Day who de
clareNs-he outlook Aow is in the 90
posite direction