New-York tribune., 1912-01-17
GARY REPLIES TO CRITICS
Chairman of Steel Corporation
Defends Its Management.
TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES
Statement Explains What Is Be-
ing Done to Improve Their
Lot-Higher Wages.

The attention Of Judge Gary chairman
OF the United States Steel Corporation
was directed to the recent publications Of
portions Of public addresses made during
the last week dealing more or less wlth
the management of the Steel Corporation
and particularly its relations with employees,
and he was asked TO make some state
ment in regard to the same. He there
upon said
I'VE do not resent criticism On the con-
trary We endeavor to benefit by It when
we believe IT is deserved Many times
statements are made which are not based
upon the facts, and conclusions are drawn
which We think are not justified. We
would, of course, prefer TO have any one
interested in our affairs make inquiry Of
us in regard to the facts before indulging
in unfavorabe public criticism. II seems
TO us this would be fairer and wiser. How
ever, there appears to be two different
opinions with reference to this question
There should be a disposition on the part
of all thinking persons to avoid hasty con-
clusion TO refrain from unjust attack, TO
encourage friendly relations between all
classes, rather than to excite unnecessary
animOsities; and, more, to use every ree-
sonable effort to overcome and eliminate
any real and substantial abuses on the
part of any one or any interest.
Defends Treatment Of Employees.
81 am not satisfied that our management [
is wholly in accord with the sentiments
above expressed though such is our ir-
tention, and / trust will be recognized to
be our conduct. j believe, taking every
thing into account, the treatment accorded
by our corporation TO its employees COM
pares favorably with that Of any line Cf
industry in this country or any other
country at the present time. or any pc
riod in the history of the world. ! may be
mistaken but / believe not. We are pay
ing q per cent higher wages than we were
when the corporation was organized, and
we have spent and are spending millions
TO prevent accidents I'm the works. TO i'm
prove the sanitary conditions, 10 furnish
voluntary relief in case OF accident re-
gardless OF legal liability, and for pensions
TO superannuates.
I'VE have standing committees constantly
engaged in welfare work. We have largely
abandoned scven-day-week work and have
10 large extent eliminated twclve-hour a
day work. 1t is true there is considerable
Of the latter still in force, but this is
largely because the employees prefer twelve
hour a-day work I'm order to receive a
larger compensation. This question, there
fore, comes back 10 the amount paid for
labor. We could, of course, reduce the
hours Of labor by reducing the wages.
Whether or not We are paying as much as
we ought 10 pay is question always up for
consideration.
Il: is we'll known we have I'm the past
declined 10 reduce wages when many, II not
most, others were making reductions.
Above all. We are trying 10 satisfy our en-
ploycs that they are receiving fair and lib
cral treatment, and think they appreciate
our efforts. As To the disposition Of the
corporation toward Its employees, | would
refer 10 remarks made by me To the pr"si-
dents at one OF their meetings many months
ago. which were not made for publication.
but were given out by some Of our officials.
Quality Of Products Better.
AS TO the business success OF the cor
poraton since II was organized IT would
not be becoming for the MANAGEMENT to
say very much at this time. We publish
the facts and figures from time 10 time and
leave those who arc interested 10 determine.
We are making better quality Of products
at a less cost, considering everything. and
selling al lower prices on the average. and
are Taying higher wages than ever before
in the trade We have increased and are
increasing our exhibit business enormously.
and during the year 1911 IL amounted III
dollars and cents to not less than $ID.OhIC-
probably ten times as much as the SUD-
sidiary companies were doing AT the time
OF the organization of the corporation.
"Our CORPORATION and it's affairs have
been under investigation by various de-
partmcnts Of the government most OF the
time for many years, and the pending gov
ernment suit has brought into question our
organiZation and it's management since;
and we believe II every one Interested VIII
keep cool and postpone judgment until run
GevelopmCnt Of all the facts and conditions
is made there will be no good ground for
charging that the creation or the manage.
ment Of the corporation has been inimical
TO the public welfare.