The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-10-06
SEES MENACE
in POLITICIANS
Judge Gary Expresses Some
Frank Views on Condi-
tons in America.
OPTIMISTIC FOR FUTURE
People Becoming Less Likely to Be
Stampeded by Demogogues,
He Says.
BY b. G. Forbes.

I've" 10TH. OcI- Ho.-Ine american 10
morrow will print the following copy
righted story:
had a long heart to heart talk yester
day with Judge Gary, commander-in-chie
Of the greatest Industrial army in the
world; perhaps the hardest, and certainly
one of the best-fille6. positions II
America.
Judge Gary is Democratic rather thar
autocratic. He has always favored a
vigorous campaign against the Overwork'
ing and underpaying of his employees
against all dangerous phases OF work
and in favor of enabling workers to be-
come personally interested in the annual
profits. With a frankness that startled
his political inquisitors at Washington
sometime ago. Judge Gary declared he
had not the slightest objection to having
the government regulate industry even
TO the length of limiting prices in GER
tain cases and under certain conditions.
He is not bigoted as you will thus see.
Before quoting what Judge Gary said
to me, l should explain that our talk
was strictly confidential and that not one
word of it was meant for publication. 1
was so impressed, however, with some of
the judges statements that 1 succeeded
in persuading him to allow me to print
them. He said for example:
Politicians a Menace.
The gravest menace to this country
is that the politicians who rule affairs
today have so little at stake in the out
come of their acts. They are little af-
feCted if they turn prosperity into de-
preston. Few of them have large bodies
OF employees dependent on them for reg
ular work at living wages. II they had
they would count the cost OF action. and
they would feel heavier weight of re-
sponsibility.
After all, a nation is dependent upon the
business activities and success Unless
you can fill a mans stomach it is useless
10 talk about nonmaterial things. You
cannot build on an empty stomach. This
applies to both nation and man.
During my vacation | have had time
I" think things over. to study the general
trend. As you know, | have felt uneasy
for the last two years. | could see many
dangerous elements in our social and
political life.
Views Are OptImistIc.
But I have somewhat changed my
views. / now feel more optimistic more
like my old self. / believe the public is
beginning to see things in the right light
The people are less ready to be STAN
peded by demagOgues. They are getting
tired of cooperation batting. of senseless
attacks upon capital. They are beginning
10 realize that their own welfare is bound
uI with the welfare of general business
more than with the seditious demo-
Sogues. The great majority of the people
have stopped listening to revolutionary
They don't want to turn our
upside down. We have. I
hope. passed the outburst Of hysteria
that at one time threatened to be fright
fully disa strOus.
What has all the political clamor
against our company amounted to?
What have all the investigations re-
vealed? Has anything whatever OF an
nnderhand nature or of a detrimental
nature been discovered?
This corporation early in its history
aid down these maxims:
We are very big. The only way We
Fan succeed is by being absolutely fair
and above sOard. fair to our men fair
70 competitors. fair to consumers. and
rank with the public
We have tried honestly and conscien-
iously to live up to that standard And
nave you heard. in all the noise raised
against us by the politicians, one word
II condemnation by any competitor,
or employe? Have they COM
planned of unjust methods? Have they
Tot testified that we have conducted our
business on fair and reasonable lines?
We may not be entitled to praise for
his, but we certainly do not deserve
ensure"
Questioned on the business outlook, |
Judge Gary referred to the damage sus- |
aimed by the crops and to TIE uncer.
ainty that would unavoidabIy attend |
he initiation of the new tariff law, but |
aid that, nevertheless, he was hopeful |
hat general trade would be of satisfac- |
DRY volume. Concerning conditions and |
prospects in the steel industry. he said: |
With the basic conditions good. and |
n view of the present attitude of the |
as / understand il, we |
ave reason to be very hopeful Of the |
BUSINESS prospects"