American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-01-04
SOUNDING A

c. NJ Schwab of Bethlehem Steel is the great ironmas-
Ter. AS a working man he made the first steel beam that
went in TO building.
AS a king Of industry he has changed the town of Beth
,enem WIN its thirteen thousand people to a city of one
And he, Schwab, has working for him seventy thousand
human beings.
The average pay for those that work for him-men.
women ana the Few children that works. twelve hundred
dollars a year.
Every man, woman and child averages a hundred dollars
amonth on the Schwab payroll. Later we shall probably
tell you more about Mr.. Schwabs big dinner party at the
L0tos club Thursday.
Today we invite you, our readers and the editors of the
country, big and little, and especially the working men,
10 read what was said at Mr.. Schwabs dinner by r. G.
Grace, president of the Bethlehem Steel company, Mr..
Schwabs chief assistant and, according to Mr.. Schwab,
the wisest iron man in the world"
Mr.. Grace made a fine speech about his associate Mr.
schwab, and about the greatness Of America, ct cetera.
Apart from his speech he said to this writer-with per-
mission 10 quote him:
AS soon as the war ends this country has got to have
tariff protection, or the iron and steel industry will be
ruined. This means that the hundreds of millions paid
cut IN wages now to Americans will be paid out TO work
ers living abroad. ~
Under the tariff now existing in this country no man
IN the iron or steel industry could live. He could not nav
ms workmen, TO say nothing of earning a profit.
Before the war 1t was bad enough with Germany the
only important competitor in the iron and steel business
mere. Tier competition was enough-if the war had not
tariff that we have. ~ Wv
Dut shve the war began France and England have de-
voted all their energies to iron and steel production.
ana now they know how to compete as well as Ger
many"
Our readers will remember a recent statement bv .Judoe
gary; mead OF the greatest steel concern in the world. pub
hshed IN TINS column. He warned the people that indus
trlal disaster must overtake the country if it did not pro
tect itself with an adequate tariff at the close of the war
just now ending.
He reminded the country Of the bad industrial condi-
uons after 1913 and before the war had begun and when
TINS country was without adequate tariff protection.
Said Judge Gary:
lhrmly believe, if the present unprotective tariff laws
remain unchanged, we shall probably meet with competi- i
ton from foreign sources after the war closes which will
adversely and perhaps disastrously affect American in
dustry and American labor. /;
Conditions will be even worse than they were between
october l 1913 and the beginning of the war
Now comes Mr. Grace. president Of the Bethlehem Steel I
company and warns the country that peace without tariff S
protection viii ruin the steel industry of this country. the {
greatest individual product Of the country. |
This interests every human being in the United States
For peace is coming.
The end Of this war is in sight. 1t is only matter of o
terms. The war is over. k
The war Of soldiers in Europe will be followed by indus IS
trial war In the United States-the industries of Europe {
warning upon the industries, the payrolls, the workmen f
Of this country. u
At the great complimentary dinner given to him on Il
Thursday Mr.. Schwab told his hearers, "the cost of steel "
Is Ii
"One-third labor,
"One-third material,
"One-third transportation" a
Without tariff protection the greatest individual bust II
ness and product of the United States would be wiped out. s
Millions Of workers will first be called upon to endure @
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