Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-22
WAGE PROBLEM DISCUSSED.
Advancing Pay Of British Workmen
Subject Of Serious Debate.

Correspondence Associated Press.l
London, June 30.-Recent increases
in wages OF British workmen have
been the subject OF very serious de-
bate by economists, employers and
others as one OF the bedrock problems
Of reconstruction. in the sense that the
nation may stand or fall by 1t.
Some say that the question which
Confronts British industry is whether
the pendulum of wages may not swing
so high that production for compeu-
ton with rival nations will become UNI
profitable and then impossible.
Higher wages for all Is the de-
mand of the organized and morgan
ICED workers. With it is the cry for
shorter hours, better conditions OF
living. freedom to meet the employer
on a plane OF business equality, as tive
business men meeting together
More concentrated work, more IN
telligent work and we will try to meet
YOU" Is the response from many en-
ployers.
The question has been seriously
raised here whether England in the
past has wed her prominence in the
world industrial markets to underpaid
British labor. That view was eX-
pressed by Frank Vanderlip, New YORK
banker, when he returned to America
few weeks ago after having spent
several months in Europe.
There are shrewd business men who
contend that British labor has Het
been cheap, but considered solely as
an item in the cost OF production has
been relatlv ely costly when compared
with the labor of the United States.
The topic came forward at recent
informal gathering in London Of Am
eriCan and British captains of industry.
Some were men who command great
enterprises, who think in terms Of mill
lions of pounds and brigades OF work.
men. Their talk dealt with the iron
and steel productions. shipbuilding, the
various induCtries and maIufactures
OF machinery, motors, sewing machines
and the like.
The concensus of opinion among
them seemed to be that the average
skilled English workman of pre-war
times. paid small wage. got more
money for what he did than the aver
age American artisan, that the labor
cost Of producing commodities in this
country was greater than for produc-
ing similar goods in the United States.
Limitations of output by trade
unions and obstruction against labor
saving machinery, not lack Of ability.
were held 10 be the chief reasons for
smaller results by British workmen.
Speed up the work and you throw
some Of us into the street; more labor
saving machines and more men out OF
work to be supported by union funds"
was the labor point Of view.
There Is still another factor, the cost
Of beer, and that Is rather a delicate
question in SINE quarters. IF the
United States goes dry, then God save
England" exclaimed a British cabinet
minister discussing the industrial out
look.
The beer item is considered by some
economists a relatively heavy one in
the personal budget OF the mass Of
British workingmen and an item that
can not be left out Of the reckoning in
striking a balance for comparison Of
the workers Of England and those of
America
However, stands the dictum that
England mas owed her past trade
premacy to underpaid labor, there are
many observers here today who de-
clare the outlook now is in the oppo-
site direction.