The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-10
REPUBLIC COMPANY PLANS BY-PRODUCT PLANT AT THOMAS BUT NOT THIS YEAR President Bray Says Devel- 0pments Completed Will
 Not Be Made Until
 Next Year HERE SEVERAL DAYS MAKING INSPECTION Says He Appeared As Witness Be- fore Recent Grand Jury In
 Youngstown Which Re-
 turned Indictments
HERE SEVERAL DAYS
 MAKING INSPECTION

The Republic Iron and Steel company contemplate important developments of considerable magnitude in the Bir- mingham district, according to a state ment made last night by T. J. Bray, president of the company, who is at the Tutwiler.
 MT. Bray stated, however that the developments would not take place be- fore next year. Among the improve ments contemplated, and which will be built in this district, according to the statement, will be large by product plant at Thomas
 MT Bray arrived in the city yes terday from his home in Youngstown, O., and spent sometime in consulta- tion With General Manager Fairbairn and other officials Of the Republic company. He will make an inspection tour of the plants of the company in the district and will remain in the city for several days
 "The Republic Iron and Steel com pany expects to make some important improvements in the Birmingham dis trict, but we will not begin work dur ing the present year," said MT. Bray. We are highly pleased With the con- ditions now existing throughout the this is true of our plants in the Bir- mingham district Among the devel- opments which we contemplate here in the future will be by-product plant at Thomas. Of course, from time to time now, we are improving our plants in this district and making ad- ditions, but we will not begin any big projects here during the present year.
 "Business in the iron and steel line throughout the country is splendid, and I understand that the Birmingham district is showing a big increase in recent months. The prospects for the future are splendid and we anticipate a continuation of present conditions' REGENT INDICTMENTS When asked regarding the indict- ment returned by the grand jury oi Mahoning county, Ohio, yesterday against the Republic Iron and Steel company, the United States Steel cor poration and five other large steel companies as well as against Judge Gary of the Steel corporation per sonally Mr. Bray stated that he could not make a definite statement at this time because of lack of information and the possibility that he might be called as a witness.
 T did not learn of these 1ndict- ments until read The Age-Herald this morning. said MT. Bray T would not care to make a specific statement, as I may be summoned. as a witness These indictments grew out of the riots in East Youngstown last month resulting from some labor trouble on the part of another steel company. notice that our company is charged with being in combintion to fix the price of labor as well as fix the price of iron and steel products. The Repub- lie company is entirely independent has no understanding or agreement with any other steel company, and we have entered into no agreement to fix the price of iron and steel products.
 INCREASED WAGES
 "We did follow the lead of the Steel corporation, which has plants in the Youngstown district and raised the wages of our men when the Steel cor poration did Quite naturally, when one company IdlScu llG Wer6So VI A~N men. all the other companies in the same district and operating under sim liar conditions followed suit The riots did not occur at our plants and we were not affected by them The indictment was made, it is reported under state law known as the Val entine act"
 MT. Bray stated that he had ap- ueared as a witness before the grand iury which returned the indictments He declared that the riots occurred when a number of men attempted to get into the plants of a steel company at East Youngstown and were prevent ed by the police of the company. Ihe town had but little police protection and the mob footed the city, lncludlne inc saloons, with all the resultant trouble. While he did not express an oninion as to the result of the indlct- mants MT. Bray did not seem to De worried over the fact that bill had been returned against the Repuplie company.