ENGLAND ADMIRES

The thriving American prosperity and the causes thereof are painted in glowing colors by two English writers in a book written after a tour of investigation in the United States. A leading editorial in The Observer enumerates nine reasons accounting for this condition. They include many of the ideals for which labor reformers have long striven without knowing they have been attained until apprised of the fact by an English book. Promotion in America is by merit; employers are, not hostile tonight wages and they seek continually to surround their workers with cleanliness and right. Every effort is made to provide conveniences which will increase the satisfaction of the employee.

Such an optimistic view would indeed be surprising did it not come from foreign observers who are endeavoring to establish better conditions in their own country. Something of the old human tendency to desire the other child's toy may be discerned as an explanation. But even dissenting such motives two Britons would hardly have made an extremely favorable report of American manufacturing conditions without some valid grounds.

In America much criticism is directed at existing industrial relations and much, no doubt, is deserved; but it is so easy to gain a distorted idea of the situation by broadly generalising isolated cases that a comprehensive, detached foreign view is needed as a corrective. It is at least reassuring to note that conditions here appear to advantage when compared with those in a long industrialized country like England. To be set up as an example is gratifying and in a measure vindicates American industrialism. The conduct of big interests, however much it is maligned at home, is not without wistful admirers abroad.