CAUSES OF MANUFACTURERS' SUCCESS 293 



manufacturers against the loom was that the English warp 

 was so fine it would not bear the strain of the automatic 

 mechanism, and the reason its use has been possible in the 

 States is that the warp is rough and stronger. But it should 

 not be forgotten that when the loom was first taken to America 

 it was by no means perfect, even for rough and strong warp. 

 There was no doubt, however, about the invention being of 

 use the moment it was adapted. English manufacturers hung 

 back from any attempt at adaptation, and only now, when 

 improvements have been effected by the Americans, are our 

 own manufacturers waking to the possibility — probability, 

 maybe, very likely — that the Northrop loom can be made 

 serviceable in the Lancashire mills. 



Now, whatever trade union leaders say to the contrary, 

 there is in the mind of the British workman an objection to 

 labor saving machinery. The motive of resistance, from his 

 limited point of view, is not altogether unworthy. He has 

 a wife and children to keep, and increased machinery may 

 throw him out of work. Certainly it will reduce the number 

 of workmen, and if he himself does not suffer, then his fellows 

 are likely to be dismissed. It is the same feeling which causes 

 him to u ca' canny," to work much slower than he can work. 

 If he does twice as much work as he has been doing, that im- 

 plies, to his mind, he is keeping some other chap out of a job. 

 "Live and let live" is his easy philosophy. Trade unions 

 have laws which absolutely restrict the output, most perni- 

 cious in effect on trade and bad for the good worker, because 

 they make him set his pace to that of the slow man, and keep 

 his earnings down though they help up the wages of the 

 incompetent. Already in America there are signs of the trade 

 unions urging restriction of output. But there is no ani- 

 mosity to labor saving machinery. 



The British workman is the most intelligent of his class 

 in the world. Give him time, and he will turn out a better 

 article than anybody else. Send him to America, and, when 

 he has got rid of his sluggishness, the American worker be- 

 comes but a boastful second rater alongside him. But the 

 American is alert, and does not feel that new machinery is 

 going to displace him. It is exceptional indeed for a British 



