The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-14
STEEL TRADE HIT BY
TARIFF, SAYS MABEN
ElOss-Sheffield Head Finds Con-
ditiOns in South Almost
Hopeless.
POLITICAL IDEAS CHANGING
Looks for Defeat Of Democrats
in Congress Elections,
He Asserts.

J. c. Maben, president OF the Sloss-
Sheffield steel and Iron Company. yester-
day said that the outlook In the steel
industry is devoid of hope for even mod.
crate return of activity in the near future,
as a result of the tariff. and that fact,
coupled with the widespread business
depression, in his opinion, would make II
impossible for the Democrats to elect even
ono man to Congress north OF the Mason
and Dixon line In the November elections.
except possibly In the Tainmany strong
holds.
Mr.. Maben has just returned from an
inspection Of the companys plants at Br-
The company Ia a Southern company. Mr..
Naben 10 a Southerner and served as an
officer In the Confederate army under Lee.
He said that business depression, which Is
Just beginning to be felt in the South. is
having its effect on the political-hnan
ideas of the Southern business man whose
pocket il being touched. Southerners, he
said, are talking with less ardor and en-
thusiasm of tariff reductions and radical
anti-busness policies of the Government
Canadian pig iron importations, the first
shipment OF which came in last week I'M
der q broad arrangement with the lead
ing iron agent In this country, Mr.. Maben
said, II a sign of the trend of the times
and q serious factor as rival OF South
eYn and other iron. 1t indicated to him
largo importations from Canada, he said.
Locking TO China ~ Field.
Steel manufacturers all over the coun-
ny. as the result of the tariff depression.
according to Mr.. Maben. are keeping their
eyes closely fixed on China as a field of
establishment of steel plants because Of
its exceptional opportunities in cheap
labor and its remarkable resources.
MANY manufacturers Of steel In this
country would make immediate plans to
produce steel In China because of the
low wages and the wonderful resources
Of the country" he said. IF they did not
feel that the Democratic Administration
will be turned out at the end OF Its
term, and that the Republicans will put
the tarifr up.
'Tndian and Chinese steel is beginning
- take all the business Of the Pacific
coast. They will continue to do so under
low tariffs China, with its great re-
sources, labor at 10 cents a day, against
our wages Of S1.75. will become increas-
Ugly inviting to American steel makers.
"The steel business hardly could be
more cast down. Until the depression
In Germany and Europe generally is over
there can be no recovery here.
'sThis Is the trouble with the new tariff.
Il makes this country subservient to
Europe. The minute business picks up
here the European manufacturers will
ship goods In and undefbid us until
their home market improves There can
be no independent steel market movement
in this country under the new tariff. Just
now the markets abroad are at low
ebb. and we shall have to suffer for H.
Start Canadian Agency.
''The Canadians are beginning TO take
"a ~ hA co. t nd hiv,t,. v,p
In pig iron. Rogers. Brown & Co, pig
Iron agents and brokers' have started an
agency here for the Dominion Steel Com
pany of Canada. They imported $500
tons Of pig iron at Philadelphia last week
and l understand that they have mad,
arrangements for storing pig iron at many
New England ports at two cents TOY
. month. which viii enable them to max,
QNick deliveries.
''This undoubtedly means the beginning
Of big import movement from Canada
because Rogers. Brown q Co would no
enter into contract unless il meant biz
business.
1T 10 essential to the welfare OF tn
steel companies Of the country that tn
railroads get the proposed per cent
increase In rates. This will help the stee
industry to large degree, but the in
dications are that the boom will be onl!
temporary. The retrenchment of tn
railroads has closed lot of coal mine
In the Birmingham district, ! found oil
my trip, because OF the heavy decrcas
tn the number Of trains.
Plants Partly shut Down.
''Our own coal mines are closed thre
days a week and our ore mines two day
each week. Our steel plant and furnace
are working on only Al of capacity.
"Steel men recognize that buyers ar
down to the point OF exhaustion of stocks
In January there was real rush q
buying. But 1t has now been demon
Strated to the satisfaction of buyers tina
they can get what they want at thei
own prices either here or abroad and tina
there is no need of hurry in replenishn
stocks"
A president OF one OF the largest OF IN
Independent steel companies said yester
day that there had been no formal con
ference regarding the reduction of wage
for employees. 1t was admitted that tn
matter had been considered by heads q
several OF the independents in an informs
manner but no definite action had bee
taken.
II was generally conceded. however. o
the part of the presidents OF the ste'
companies that a reduction In wage
would not he put into effect immedatel,
Many of the men already are workin
on q part time, IL said.