The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-17
SAYS STEEL TRUST
IS PHA.AAIHORP|C
Judge Gary Tells How It
Works for Welfare of
Its Employees
REPLIES TO CHARGES
MADE BY BRANDElS
Men Put in Twelve Hours
Daily Because They Want
to Earn Extra Pay,
He Declares

he Declares
NEW YORK, Jan. 16.-In . care.
fully prepared statement Hilbert H.
Gary. executive head OF the Uniteo
States Steel Corporation. defended that
giant trust to0Ay from the spirited at
tack made upon 1t last SATURDAY ny
Louis d. Branoeis. the Boston lawyer
and economist In an address at the
Republican Club In New York.
Judge Gary I. warmly denies Mr..
Branaeis charge that the steel cor
pOration u making slaves OF its work.
men and Forcing them 70 worK twetvs
hours q day seven days In the week.
tie declares the object has been to
better the condition OF the workers,
and that wages are now 20 per cent.
higher than wnen the corporation WAS
lows:
I'VE do not resent criticism. On the
contrary. We enoeavor to benent by
II when We believe 1t IL deserved.
Many times statements are made
which are mot based upon the facts,
and conclusions are drawn which We
think are not justified. We would,
Of course. prefer 10 have any one in
terested in our affairs make inquiry
OF us in regard TO the facts before
INDUCING In unfayorable puniic criti-
cisms- It seems TO us this would be
fair and wiser.
However, there appear to be two
different opinions wi,h reference to
thfs question. There should tie aIs--
position on the part of all thinking
persons against hasty conclusions; 6.
refrain from unjust attack, 10 epcvur-
age friendly relations between all
classes. rather than 10 excite unnec-
essary animosity and. more. To Use
every reasonable effort 70 overcome
end eliminate any real and substantial
abuses on the part OK Any one or any
interests.
Compares With Any In. History.
an not sattslr. thai our man
aGsm<ut u wh0ity ~ accord win sns
sentiments above AxpreaSed, though
! such ID our intention, and trust Will
be recognized to be our conduct.
Il believe. taking everything into
account. rhe treatment accorded by
our corporation to It's employees COM
pares favorahly with that Of any iil..
Of industry In this country, or any
other country at the present time or
any period in the history of the world.
l may be mistaken but l believe not.
We are paying Is per cent. higher
wages than We were when the cor
poration was organized: and we have
spent and are spen ling millions TO
prevent accidents In the works. to i'm
prove the sanitary conditions, to fur
nlsh voluntary relief in case of acct
dent. regardless OF legal liability. and
for pensions to supperannuates. We
have standing committees constantly
engaged In welfare work.
We have largely abandoned seven
day week work and have to a large
extent eliminated twelve hour a day
work. It Is true there Ii considerable
OF the latter still in force. but this
| n largely hcc1use the employees pre-
fer twelve hour 4 day work In or
der to receive q larger compensa-
ton.
Question Of Wages.
This question. therefore. comes
back to the amount paid for labor.
We could, Of course. reduce tho hours
OF labor by reducing the wages.
Whether or not We are paying az
much as we ought TO pay Is a Ques-
ton always up for consideration. II
IL well known we have in the past
declined to reduce wages when many.
II not most, others were making re-
auctions
above all. we are trying to salts
~ our employees that they are re-
ceiving fair and liberal treatment, and
think they appreciate our efforts
'As to the disposition Of the cor
porations towards its employees,
would refer to remarks made by me
to the president OF one Of the meet
tngs many months since. which were
not made for publication. but were
Eiven ont by some OF our officials.
As to the business success Of the
corporation since It was organized.
It would not he becoming for the
management to say very much at this
time. We publish the facts and the
dgures from time to time and leave
those who are interested to deter
Business on Increase.
Eve are making better quality Of
products at \ less cost. considering
everything. and selling at lower prices
on the average, and are paying high
or wages than ever before in the
trade. We have Increased and are
Increasing our export business enEr-
mously. and during the year 1911 II
amounts IN dutiarz -And rertx- to no.
less than seventy mi1lion--probably
ten times AZ much as It's smbsidiarv
companies were doing at the time OF
the organization Of the corporation.
Our corporation and it, affairs
have been under investigation by va
rfous departments OF the government
most Of the time for many years. and
the pending government suit has
brought into question our organtxa-
ton and its management since, and
We believe. n every one interested
will keep cool and postpone judg-
ment until full developments Of al,
the facts and conditions IL made.
there VIII be no good ground for
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