The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-05
JUDGE GARY PUTS TARIFF'
ABOVE WAR AS CAUSE OF|
BUSINESS DEPRESSION
Adequate Protection to the Producers Of
Material for Sale or Labor is the Basis Of
y. s. Prosperity Says Chairman Of the
U.S.aSteelCo.

a y Z
NEW YORK CITY, Jan. 5.-"The
tariff Is q greater cause than the
war for the business depression in
the United States,@ was the state
ment Of Judge 3. H. Gary, chairman
ofthe board Of directors OF the Uni.
ted States Steel Corporation in dis.
cussion Of the causes of the lack OF
employment in this country and the
future Of business In general in the
United States.
Judge Gary's views were asked be.
cause he Is not only, the head OF the
greatest corporation in the world,
with q vast army Of employees. but
Is also chairman of the commission
appointed by Mayor Mitchell to inves-
ttgate the idle labor in this city. He
% thus able to discuss the subject
with authority from both the stand.
point Of capital and labor. Judge
Gary's opinion on business, perhaps,
carries more weight than that OF my
other man In this country because
OF his Judgment and his sources OF
Information.
Judge Gary says in part:
eeut this country was affected by
Two different Influences. First was
the attitude Of public officials and
public administrations toward capt.
TAI, which had been persistent for
many years, and had resulted In at.
taeks on buslness--sometimes with
cause, ltimust be admitted, but often
without Just cause, and more fro.
quently without reason or justice.
.Rightfully or wrongfully. capital
had become impressed with the idea
that business was not as a rule re.
ceiying, and could not expect to re-
ceiye fair treatment. 1t was com.
mon thing for men Of large means
70 discuss these questions, and al.
most Invariably the statement was
made that until public sentiment
forced O change in the attitude men.
toned capital would be withheld
from Investment In enterprises calcu
lated % restore business to twhat
had been for many prosperous years.
its normal standard.
"The push and energy peculiar to
the American business man lost its
vim. He was dismayed and discon.
solate. The situation was unnatural
TO the American people and there
seemed osbe a general feeling on the
part Of capitalists to wait until the
atmosphere was cleared, so that one
could look further into future pros.
poets and probabilities. Capital al.
ways Is timid, and for several years
Cuntils recent period, at least) there
hassbeen; little in this country to give
Il confidence.
Tariff Question Should Not Be Cali
ed a Political One.
another fact of the greatest i'm.
portance Is the enactment of the tar.
M legislation, which became a law
effective October 8, 1913. l do not
consider this question to be poll.
teal one. 1t Is economic. 1t is one
that should be considered from IN
unselfish standpoint. 1t is question
OF the greatest good to the greatest
number. It As one of facts and fig.
ures; Itscannot be properly disposed
of by assailing any political party,
any locality, any line of business, or
any class of people.
Adequate protection to the pro!
dueers Of material for sale or labor
are essential TO the highest prosper.
ity OF the nation, and believe will
sooner or later firmly be established
in this country as the basls Of pros.
perlty.
Tariff rates that are SO high as
10 furnish more than protection,
Ind therefore give an opportunity to
oppress the consumers, are wrong
pnd unjustifed. We should bound
end maintain line that is fair and