New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-23
PUBLICITY, GARY
REMEDY FOR WAR
1.-THE Public Be Damned
No Longer Holds, Says
Steel Chairman.
fBy Telegraph 70 The Tribune. J

Cleveland, Oct 22.-Asserting that
the principle of "the public 5e
damned" had produced antagonism
which materially interrupted the ror-
nal and legitimate progress Of b.T
business, Judge Ebert H. Gary, chair
m n of the board OF directors Of the
United States Steel Corporation, made
plea for proper publicity" in a
speech before the fall meeting of the
American Iron and Steel institute here
to-day.
Five hundred leaders in the see
industry heard Judge Gary declare that
"the general public and private indi-
viduals have been in the past too far
apart for both" and that proper pub
Lefty would have prevented the pres
ent war.
Foresees Industrial Peace.
Judge Gary foressw a period Of in
dustrial peace in America. There were
other reasons than the purchasing ne
cessities of the war, ne thought, for
the sudden and marked improvement
in business during the last six months.
While he found it impracticable to
determine a publicity standard appli-
cable to all cases, he stated this gen
eral rule:
There should be published what
ever of business matters the public is
legally entitled to know, and also
whatever may affect the public inter
est and may be exposed without detri-
ment to the corporation OF individual
concerned.
Legislation or administration of
laws or any practice of governmental
agencies that seeks 70 go further than
this rule is vicious and should be CON
demned," continued Judge Gary. 81
believe thoroughly in publicity, so far
as it is practicable and proper. We
should not be like owls. 1t should 20
without saying that the officials of a
Corporation ought to keep the stock
holders promptly and fully informed,
so far as possible, without damage to
its current business. They have no
moral right to profit individually to
the detriment of other stockholders as
the result Of information officially OBJ
tanned"
During the present decade there had
been a pronounced change in the atti-
tude Of business men, with a resultant
growth Of confidence on the part of
the public, Judge Gary said. Pub
Lefty has never done as much harm
as secrecy. Is it too much to insist
that publicity Is the cure for many Of
the Ills from which the country has
been suffering in the past"
Thinks Publicity Would Stop War.
This idea has peculiar application
70 the present situation in Europe"
Judge Gary went on. IF the masses
Of the people OF the different nations
engaged in the terrible conflicts that
are now waging in Europe were fully
informed of all the facts, is it to be
supposed the war would be much long
or continued?
III all the startling facts and fe-
ures were of universal knowledge
would not the masses Of the people.
including the soldiers In the ranks,
rise up in such vigorous protest
against a continuance of the conflict
az 10 compel the men in cortro, TO
find some way of bringing it to a sat
isfactory termination and for the es
Enlistment Of a basis which would
prevent future, prolonged wars?
"lf, indeed, before the wars were
started, the masses of the people OF
the different countries had been in
formed that wars were 10 be started.
and the reasons or lack of reasons
for starting them, would they have
submitted TO their precipitation ,"
A million dollar advertising cam
paign, stimulating a demand for steel
products and opening new selling
fields, was urged as cure for business
depressions by George II. Jones, Of
Chicago.