The Washington herald., 1921-05-22
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Dor in revolt to such a degree that
our former commercial and indus
trial prosperity is passing from us
forever.
1T is easy to lose trade" he said.
There is nothing easier; but once
il is lost, IL is impossible to regain
il. During the continuance OF your
coal strike you have lost not only
millions in actual wealth, but many
great customers in foreign markets
who will not look your way again,
but who have already made new
contracts elsewhere.
Trade is very easily frightened,
and there must be a sense of secur-
ity in the minds of those you do
business with. The great asset of
England in the old days was this
sense of security. The world looked
to England as an immovable rock
of credit and safe business. When
the delivery Of goods was promised
at a certain time in any port OF the
world. foreign traders knew IL would
be shipped to come on a certain date
with the fulfillment of their order.
Now all your trade is uncertain
from month to month. Prices are
uncertain and production is not
guaranteed. l have a kind of feel
ing that your workmsn are lying
down on their jobs: that they are
not keen to work. to improve their
position in life or TO Increase their
output. but want to be lazy en- good
wages guaranteed by a government
riehtened at the political power in
the hands OF the labor leaders"
Is Compromise Daugeroust
This American. like other observ-
ers. is inclined to believe in coming
to grips with a dangerous situation
and in fighting labor in its strong
holds until its spirit is tanned. Any
thing is better, he thinks. than
drifting on from compromise to
compromise, always yielding lit
tie to trade union demands which
cial order.
Another American visitor, who
has been over here since the be-
ginning of the coal strike, has the
peculiar view that the strike has
been a blessing in disguise, because
owing to the present slump in for
eign markets. it was inevitable that
manufacturers should slow down in
production and cut down their wage
limits.
There would have been great trou-
BILE, he thinks, IL the employers had
been forced to take the Initiative
whereas, by the action of the miners
themselves. fuel could not be OBJ
tatned for factories of all kinds, and
the blame for the unemployment Is
thus taken from the manufacturers.
That view, however, leaves out OF
account the fact that the miners re-
pudiate the charge that they have
come out on strike, and they main
tain, not without reason. that they
were locked out because they re-
fused to accept wages below the
standard of decent subsistence.
Also I am inclined to think that
some of our American visitors who
are intolerant toward labor's posi-
ton and are apt to exaggerate the
revolutionary spirit of its demands.
do not remember that the power OF
the unions has. on the whole. been
Of great benefit TO the social life
here. raising the mass of the people
above conditions that were truly
disgraceful to a great nation, and
causing an Improvement in the
moral and physical welfare OF the
working classes which II truly mar
yelous 10 those WHO remember the
bad old days of slum life
Labor Not Revolutinsry.
working men in England are not
revolutionary at heart, although
they often are unwise to the ex-
treme in their methods of negotia-
ton. That they are ready to nght
with all their strength of passive
resistance Is not the authority OF
the government. bu: the dreadful
possibility of being thrust back into
a poverty and squalor such as they
remember in their childhood.
Nor do they yet understand that
ali the world over. even in America,
which they think is the paradise OF
labor the temporary collapse OF
many markets, owing to the ruin OF
the war in many countries. necessi-
tates a gradual reduction in wages.
They must be compensated by fall
ing prices. in cost OF living and a
closer understanding between capi-
tai and labor tSshare this trade de-
preston with equal sacrifice and
remedy IL as quickly as possible by
new methods OF efficiency and econ
omy.
To get back TO our American visi-
tors. am struck by their great ap-
preciation-of the efforts being made
England to extend hospitality and
to make them feel welcome. To be
quite frank. we are q people slow