New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-26
Not on Regular Programme

war.
Not on Regular Programme
The presence of General Goethals at
the dinner Of the American Iron and
Steel Institute had not been announced,
and few in the banquet hall were aware
that he was there until Ebert H. Gary,
who presided, called upon him to say
few words. The man who built the
Panama Canal was greeted with ap-
plausc, and when he had finished those
present took part In demonstration
that lasted ff- several minutes.
Mr.. Gahy then called upon them for
the rising pledge of support.
Earlier in the day Mr.. Gary had made
a stirring appeal TO the members Of the
institute to pledge their full support
to the government, and the speakers
who had preceded General Goethals at
the dinner spoke on cooperation in the
/ nations war plans.
Goethals Tells His Troubles
"As need cooperation in my work, i
concluded ] would tell you my troubles
and ask your help" said General GOe-
thals. "0n the principle of selective
draft, have again been called to the
government service. | was confronted
with a programme of turning out 1000
S,000-ton ships in eighteen months.
They were going to be Of wood because
it WAS said steel was not procurable.
81 found when | attacked the propo-
sition that contracts to build these
ships had been promised in all direc-
tions, but when | looked for plans and
specifications / found none.
, Gentlemen, when we consider that
the birds are now nesting in the trees
that were to go into these ships, and
that these ships must have a speed OF
not less than ten and a half knots If
they are to escape the submarines, the
proposition was simply hopeless.
"In that contingency / came 10 New
York and saw Mr. Farrell president
of the United States Steel Corporation)
and was assured by him that steel was
procurable. | then announced the i'm
possibility of the wooden ship pro-
gramme and asked for permission to
change to steel. | finally succeeded in
getting it.
Campaign for Money
"For the building of these ships s50.-
100000 had been appropriated, to be
obtained by the sale of Panama Canal
bonds. No effort had yet been made
10 sell these bonds, so ! began cam
paign for money. As ] have FIRE,
uuently announced that | considered
all boards as long, narrow and wooden,
| wanted money and authority. Ny
money and authority are now being
discussed by the House Committee on
Appropriations and they promise that
in ten DAYS or two weeks ! will get my
money.
with the assurances Of Mr.. Farrell
that we could get steel, | went before
the committee and told it that wou Id
turn out 3.Oc0,0 900 tons of ships in eigh-
teen months. told them that so far
as possible these ships, which, il they
escape the submarines, would eventually
become part of our mercantile marine,
should be Of steel construction.
Right here | ask the American iron
and steel industry TO get back OF Mr..
Farrell and help make good his prom
ise to me and my promise to the com
mittee. ! want the cooperation OF the
structural steel people. have got TO
have the cooperation OF manuiact-
urers of machinery-in fact. the manu-
facturers Of everything that goes TO
make the completed ships.
VIII Help Win War
"Lloyd George has said ships will
uin the war. II he is right, then
every ono who helps complete these
ships will help US win the war.
When the cheering and waving Of
nags which greeted the end Of General
Goe.hars speech had subsided Mr.
II announced some days ago that
IN. United States Steel Corporation
would assist the government with all
IFS mower. nov ask every steel man
in The room who feels that way to
stand up
Mr.. Gary, who called the institute 20
order at the morning session. urged the
need of whoie-hearted national mooil-
ization TO oppose a powerful foe. Inc
government, he thought, was progress
inc in the right direction and at as sat
,sfsc,ory rate as was possible, con-
sidering its difficulties.
Its willingness TO enlist business
leaders as advisers Mr.: Gary consid-
cred a hopeful sign. He pledged the
s;d Of the iron and steel industry, and
announced the appointment OF a com.
mittee 10 cooperate with the Council OF
National Defence, consisting OF himself
LANES A. Farrell. James BURDEN z: A.
Clarke. A. c. Dinkey, Willis L. king'
Charles NJ. Sehwab and John a Top