New Britain herald., 1915-05-28
BUSN|ESS MEN NOT
 ROCKING THE BOAT
Jglge ClTy Declares ia,AddTess on Business Conditions of CeualIy.

' as president of the American Iron and ssSel Institute at it's eignt general meeting. held hero today at the Wal dorf Astoria. Eabert H. Gary, chair man of the board of the United States Steel eosporation. said:
 There has recently been manifested . d1sposftion to blame the business men of the country for,not openly and S1gcrously protesting against in1u- ences which were calculated to pre- vent the natural and reasonable pro- Ersas of economic effort. Men of rrominence and recognized ability have stated in unmeasured terms that 1t is not only the right but the duty of the business fnen or this country to boldly and persistenrIy advocate Sthear claims and defend their rights They have been charged with undue tinidity for negleoting to appeal to the sense and fairness of the general public whenever assailed without good cauee.
 That there has been some ground for these criticisms will not be dcubted; but there Is another, side to this question. The business man has not been alone In his seeming cowar- dioG There arc others largely re- Eporstblc for the general conditions ! and therefore under obligations to work for tho advancement of the public interest, who have been re- ; luqtant to esgpress their real convic- ttona. RAference fs made to some of tf1e statesmen of prominence and baAty whose disposition Tor fair play iskunquestioned. On occasions when their voices, iftheard in legislative halls, would seem to have been in- iuential. they have remained silent. A Change for the Better.
 In times gone by there have been Teasons for the hesitancy of the busi- ness man in boldly proclaining his rights The conduct. of business by many men ftfaough small in number Lcnmpared with the total) has not always been up to the standard of This is notsa new subject; (it has been frequently adverted to by l1nany Of us during the last ten years As a consequence there has been con- Fiderable prejudice against business Eirterests. particularly the larger ones; 4rdeed, it has been worse than useless 10, speak in favor of the protection 8S growth of business, for. the words {Nseflld be. ineffective So it is not 6inicult, to understand why, x for, Ia psrfod of years, business men Tn this puntry suffered in silence.
 There Is nosintention at this time to nodify or minimize anything that has l eretofere 'beens said By waya,of ad- ndssions that there was need of reform nabusfness methods. On the contrary, IF Tact should be emphasized that we Spst be honest and fair in our. treat fnt of all questions supmftted to our onsid deration- and decision. Hut as I ave said before y more than once kere has been in this country a de- i&ed change for better business rethcds and, therefore, in the atti- uhe of the general public towards te men in control. There never was ny such disregard of the rights of khers by business men generally as Tas frequently charged It has al- avs been the effort of the large ma rity to be decent; but all suffered b@re or less for the, n,isconduct of T However, in recent years there IS been little couse for complaint: h the general. public understands fd appreciates these conditions.
 Now the time is come when the Isiness man, even if he represents rge interests. may speak frankly and reely about any of the important aestions which affect him or thosej Dom he represents. When and while "a attitude and conduct are above proach others will be willing to
 I'd what we may say concerning
 y qSestion in which they or we may
 interested. Indeed, as heretofore ggested, the leading newspapers of
 Is country have been fair and reason-
 Ie in their advocacy of whatever
 kkes for the advancement of the
 economic conditions of this coun-
 and, in their opposition to the
 orts of unwise or minimizing or elous men to the contrary. What
 lows in my remarks will be said
 m the viewpoint of those who may
 directly connected with and par
 lllarly interested in the considera-
 ofaeconomic questions.
 pc Hcasors for Lack of Prosperity.
 rhe material strength and growth
 tho country is of high importance.
 odyraim ent and shelter are abso-
 kly essential to the life and health
 he individual. This is interwoven
 all other questions. A nation of
 vidua1s who are poverty stricken
 little influence throughout the
 Id It cannot add much to the
 piness of its citizens. If they are
 lived of the necessities of life they
 not listen long to the advocate
 nere morals, nor to the speaker on
 stump who seeks political prefer
 It. It therefore benooves every
 occupying as position of influence
 i've his best thought and endeavor
 he promotion of business success
 hts country to the fullest extent
 ssstent with propriety.