ENGLISH versus AMERICAN WORKMEN.
[To DIE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In an excellent article on "The Ideas of the German Emperor," there is one statement, which you give on the authority of Lord Brassey, that, I think, requires confirma- tion. It is that the energy of the English workmen enables them "to do work faster than any other people." I have always understood that, though this may be true of European working men, it is not of Americans. I am a director of large engineering works in one of the Midland Counties, at Grantham, and two years ago we sent our general manager to America, to study the conditions under which work was done there. He came back astonished at the amount of work got out of an American, and at their superior energy. The amount paid for work was considerably above our prices, but the cost of production was less. It is true, labour-saving appliances are brought to greater perfection than is the case here, and perhaps the climate in America stimulates to greater exertion. To know the comparative death-rate of the working
men of England and'America would be very important. I cannot thinkithe working man would gain by trying to do ten hours' work in eight, though he would have more leisure; and if he does:not, production must fall. He may think be ought to share more largely in the capital he is told he "creates," but he is also a consumer, and wants the articles he uses cheap. —I am, Sir, &c., [An American is only an Englishman under new conditions. .—ED. Spectator.]
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