New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-21
Tell Stockholders That La
Dor Conditions Are
Satisfactory.
PRAYER OFFERED AT
THE ANNUAL SESSION
Workmen Are Large Holders of
StOck-Cabot Makes No Pro.
test This Year.

r General approval OF labor conditions at
the various plants OF the United States
Steel Corporation was expressed by
large representation OF stockhoding en-
ployes at the annual meeting I'm Hoboken
yesterday. Their chief spokesman was
Samuel Wilkerson, a pattern maker, en-
ployed by the Shelby Tube Company. who
voted 1872 shares for himself and 92l fell
low workmen. There were 4SS7, 367 shares
represented at the meeting OF which the
management held proxies for ASS. 433
Asserting that he was not present as an
agitator. Wlkerson described the condi-
tons at the Steel Corporations mills IS
excellent. Commenting the efforts of the
management toward safety and SANTA
ton, he suggested that a plan be devised
for bringing out the hidden talents of the
workmen. Chairman Gary said that last
year committee had been appointed TO
take up the question OF developing work
mems ideas
Samuel r. Maitland. a boiler tender. for
eighteen years employed at the Carnegie
Steel Company's plant at Newcastle,
Penn, declared the employees had always
received square deal from the Steel
Corporation. The Carnegie workmen. he
said, we're pleased with the conditions o.
their employment
The Steel Corporation" he remarked,
rs doing more for humanity than the
United States. This company keeps men
from being paupers." Maitland estab-
lished precedent In the manner OF con-
Quoting corporation meetings BY closing
his speech with prayer for the officers
and workmen, in which he asked all pres
ent to Join.
IF public speakers would investigate"
said y. *. Smith. a twelve-hour-a-day
workman, they would not make the
statements they sometimes do. and which
often result in legislation injuring the
worker. Demagogues who pretend to be
the friends OF labor are often its greatest
enemies"
In answer 10 an inquiry from f. n.
Gary, Smith asserted that labor condl-
lions since the organization OF the Steel
Corporation had improved 100 per cent.
The twelve-hour man. ne declared. was
not as a rule hard worked, and he did
not work at all fully one-third OF the
time. Moreover. he pointed out, It was
the workmen themselves who had estab-
llshed the twelve-hour day.
Judge Gary. reading from the report Of
the special committee on conditions of
employment, etc, in the Steel Corpora
TONS plants. said that the issuance OF
quarterly bulletins on matters pertaining
to the employees had been considered too
expensive. Such q plan, he declared,
would necessitate the distribution or
about 10000 pamphlets. Foreign compet-
ton and the attitude OF the men them
selves. said the report. made lnadyisabie
the change from twelve-hour TO an
eight hour day. The report estimated to-
tai expenditures in 1913 for improving tie
condition of the workmen at S,Ioos9.
subscriptions showed that 46,4sS employees
last year subscribed for total of 1856
shares of stock.
Charles NJ. Cabot, Of Boston, who has
appeared at the annual meetings or the
steel Corporation for several years TO ad-
vocate better labor conditions for the
employcs expressed approval OF the work
of the committee.
J. s. Phipps was elected a director at
yesterdays meeting to succeed his father
Henry G. Phipps. Other directors were
reelected.
The total number Of shares on the
books Of the corporation at the present
time. including foreign holdings, amount
to S6Sj.S26 Of which S,602Sll shares arc
preferred and 5,CS3.o25 common. Foreign
stockholders own 21SS+l preferred stock
.,,a , OF 100 common Some of the largest
individual and corporate holdings follow