The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1915-01-08
Discussed By Judge
Gary, Head Of U. S.
Steel Corpor-
alton
Blame Tariff; Predicts Better
Times

The tariff Is a greater cause than the
war for the business depression in the
United States" was the statement Of
Judge +. II. Gary, chairman of the
board Of directors OF the United States
Steel Corporation, to the New York
American in q discussion of the causes OF
the lack OF employment in this country
and the future of business in general in
the United States.
Judge Gsry's views were asked 10y The
American because he is not only the
head OF the greatest corporation i'm the
the world, with vast army Of employees,
but 10 also chairman Of the commission
appointed by Mayor Mitchell to investi-
gate the idle labor in this city. lie is
thus able to discuss the subject with an
thority from both the standpoint of
capital and labor. Judge Gary's opinion
on business, perhaps, carries more weight
than that Of any other man in the coun-
try because Of his judgment and his
'urces OF information.
Another fact of the greatest impor-
tance Is the enactment Of the tariff leg
islstion, which became a law effective
October 3, 1918. do not consider this
question to he a political one IL r.
economic 1t is one that should be con-
sidered from an unselfish standpoint. IL
is question Of the greatest good To the
greatest number. Ii is one OF facts and
figures IL cannot be properly disposed
OF by sssailIDg any political party, any
locality, any line Of business or any class
of people.
Adequate protection To the producers
of material for sale or labor are essentia'
to the highest prosperity OF the nation,
and believe will sooner or later firmly
be established in this country as the
basis Of prosperity.
M rates that are so high a. To-
furnish more than protection. and there
lore give AN opportunity T. oppress the
consumer, are wrong and unjustifed.
We should bound and maintain a line
that II fair and reasonable TO all
concerned, and in this way it may
lie exPected We shall reach the altitude
OF success which has, during the last
decade, been conspicuous in some OF the
other leading nations.
What have said in reference 70 the
tariff Is intended only ss claim that I
can speak Of the recent tariff act from an
unpr~judioed standpoint Nov believe
II TO he a fact that the law referred GO
went too far i'm redncing tariff rates. A.
previous laws IN some resIects had gone
"" lar in maintaining hig.er raie-.
BROUGHT IN CHEAP LABOR AND
CHEAP RAW MATERIALS
Certain It i that this Law decidedly
and adversely affected business condi-
tons IN this country. Soon after il came
into force foreign manufacturers having
cheap iaDor and cheap raw materials
began 70 dump their surplus products
into this country, and a. q result di-truse
and doubt in business lines we're increas-
ed, the area Of trade grew smaller and
prices were To low 70 permit fair return.
on invested capital. While much Of the
bushes offered by foreign countries was
not accepted, it was because tie domes-
tic producers reduced their price, - lo~
ss 70 prohibit the importation Of foreign
goods, bot often the sales BY the dom.-s-
nc manufacturer were down - or belo~
c,st
As result of the law the volume Of
busine-s and the financial re~ults we're
rinaterisily affected and busine-s suffered.
a. Il invariably suffered after similar
laws have be<n enacted.
'It is probably trne that bu-ine-s
IN this country has been worse ssnce
the war commenced than "a was BE-
fore, jet IL is donbtful II IL would
have been much improved without
the war.
1T = claimed BY many. and IL may
he true, that bushes can - accustomed
and adjusted 70 extreme changrs in leg
i-lstion, and it = r. be hoped that We
may become prosperous even with the
lac - 70 nov stands. IL -, however.
certain that busine~ has been depre--sI
during Tire lat wear, hundreds Of thous-
snds of men have become idle.
HOPE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
FOUND IN THIS MESSAGE
1 IT, - "a - O.