The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-26

New York, May 25.-(SpeciaL)-In nor nal times the action of the supreme court at Washington in ordering reargu- ment of the United States Steel corpora ton and the International Harvester company cases as well as others that have not been so prominent in the public eye, would have caused the belief to be entertained that the court was divided in these cases and, as in cases in the past, was anxious to obtain a decision by a substantial majority of the court.
 It may be that this was the exclusive reason why the supreme court ordered reargument of the cases to be made some months later, thereby undoubtedly post poning decision for at least year be- cause the court was not satisfied on all points presented by the counsel for the companies or for government when these cases were argued
 The reasons. however, are regarded here as well as In Washington as excel lent for surmising that the court had in view the abnormal conditions which now prevail throughout the United States. which have been occasioned by our enter. ing the war against Germany. For, if the court had handed down the decisions compelling the dissolution of the United States Steel corporation and the 1nterna- tional Harvester company, factor would have been infused into the situation which would have greatly complicated 1t.
 A few days ago, one of those who are in high authority in the United States Steel corporation, spoke earnestly, ans
 o;, ,oIx <,ff ho i,,,nn tance of the fact that this corporation ia not dissolved and scattered into fragmen- tary and independent elements at this time For it has been due chiefly to the high degree of efficiency, involving CO., operation but not unreasonable compe- tition, which has enabled this corpora ton to meet excessive and hidden de- mands for steel and iron products.
 Other steel and iron corporations, in dependent of the Steel company, are in like manner operating to their full ca- pacity, and there is no evidence that any unreasonable agreement which would re- suit in restrain of trade has been en- tered into by all the corporations whose output of steel and iron is contributing so greatly to facilitate the work of prep aration in the United States and in fur nishing needed supplies to the allies across the sea.
 A NEW OBJECT LESSON
 Should the rearguing, which the su- ~rep1e court at Washington has ordered in these two cases, be made late in the lall or sometime next winter, the prou- auIlitles are that the counsel who rep resent the government will find 1t diff cult to meet and reply to some concrete illustrat tions which will be possible for the counsel who represent the Steel com- pany and the Harvester company to call to the attention of the supreme court For, in the next six months or nine months, the advantages obtained by the United States, and therefore by the peo- pie, consequent upon the high develop ment of efficiency and of cooperation illustrated by the organization and oper- ating methods of these corporations, can be clearly set forth.
 On the other hand, very likely it will be possible to show that were these cor porations dissolved, production of one of the commodities greatly needed by. the United States would inevitably be consid- erably limited.
 Furthermore. when the war is ended, there is undoubtedly to be world-reach- ing struggle for command of trade. In that peaceful but strongly competitive battle for trade, the Steel corpora ton and the International Harvester com pany should take a leading part. But if these corporations be broken to frag- ments, their capacity to enter success fully upon the worlds struggle for trade