The Industrial Pilgrims of Seattle

A party of fifty American workingmen, representing forty different trades and industries, returned to New York last week after a tour of observation in Europe. Their tour attracted much attention wherever they went. They made some very positive declarations about their observations as to the comparative condition of workingmen in this country and in those countries they have visited. Without a dissent, they agree that the condition of the American is vastly superior to that of the European workingman—that he is better fed, better clothed, better housed, holds a higher social position, has larger opportunities for mental improvement, and is an incomparably more important factor in the body politic. They also find that in the number and quality of labor-saving appliances, and in the general excellence of machinery, the New World far outstrips the Old. But their words are less eloquent than their actions: Not one of the fifty failed to return. Not one of them remained or has any idea of returning to reside in any of those countries wherein their condition would be 'better.' Thousands of workingmen come to the United States every year from England, Scotland, Wales, and all parts of Europe, and when they have had opportunity for comparison, encourage others to follow them, but there is no counter-current from this to any of those countries.