The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-06-29
u. S. STEEL CORPORATION
IS DULUTH'S BEST FRIEND
: presses Opinion That the Pittsburgh Plus
Crusade Is Tactical Error.

1uCIt SCCuS SIoFO uohSSA CA"o
conflicting interests in the
"Square Deal'' crusade to elm
mate the pittsburgh Plus pol
icy of the u. S. Steel Corpora
ton will become over-heated,
with the natural result that
strained relations will follow
where amity and concord should
exist.
Many on the bleachers, so to
speak, have wondered greatly
speak, have wondered greatly why
more bankers, jobbers, maDufac-
turers and capitalists were rot on
the "Square Deal" committee and
fewer real estate men. Some, at
least, have believed that men
representing the larger lines Of
endeavor at the Head of the
Lakes were purposely excluded
from the committee. Still others
have wondered why Superior
was ignored in the recent confer
ence with the steel Mountain
that came to see the local Ma
homet.
'The "Square Deal" folk deny
that they failed to consider local
fabricators and distributors Of
steel and iron products. They
state that Mr.. Seth Marshall,
president Of the powerful Mar
shall-Wells company, was ap-
preached and every effort made
to have him work with the COM
mittee but that he side stepped
the matter.
|: A. M. Marshall's Address.
At the regular monthly meet
ing Of the Commercial club last
Monday evening. A. NJ. Mar
shall read from manuscript an
appeal to Duluthians to cease
what he termed an unjustified
attack on the U. S. Steel Cor
poration. He declared that this
big corporation is Duluth's best
friend and that this community
should work shoulder to shoulder
with Judge E. H. Gary and asso-
ciates.
The address was presented
after the club s representative on
the basic price for steel commit
tee had reported that Duluth s
fight for a base rate on steel and
emancipation from the Pittsburgh
plus condition would be pushed
theoretically.
The Rip-saw hoped to publish
Mr.. Marshall's address in full,
but because of it's length and the
further fact that a copy of the
manuscript has not been avail
able for this great family journal,
it has become necessary to fall
back on a synopsis printed by
the Duluth Herald, Wednesday
evening. With thanks to the
great evening paper, the material
portion of the article follows,
viz:
The report, after reviewing the
situation which had led to the call
ning of conference of leaders here in
the steel industry and local commit
teemen seeking the adjustment of
pittsburgh plus" asserted that the
conference" had resolved itself into
fishing excursion to find out what
we wanted, or rather how we were
prepared to argue our case" and
concluded with the question: Are
we to be satisfied with distant prom
ises dependent on our patience and
good conduct, or shall we adopt the
A.won't be happy or let others be
happy until we get it. policy? That
is a matter for you to decide" No
specific action was taken in regard
to the last question.
Gets No Concession.
Mr.. Marshall prefaced his argu-
ment in favor of the Steel corpora
ton policy as regards existing rates
by the statement that neither he nor
his firm is receiving a concession in
> price or freight allowance beyond
what is accorded any other customer.
''The Steel corporation plays no
favorites," Mr.. Marshall asserted.
"No company would be more bene-
fitted by a Pittsburgh base price for
steel in Duluth than would the Mar
shall-Wells company. am speak
ing as a loyal citizen of Duluth and
I have no financial interest in the
steel company. I and members of my
firm have purchased no outside Sc
curities save Liberty bonds.'
Mr.. Marshall reviewed the railway
controversy, which ended in Duluth's
gaining the concessions sought, and
asserted that no parallel can be
drawn between the railway situation
as 1t existed before the favorable de-
cision of the railway and warehouse
commission and the present situa-
ton as regards steel.
In that case," asserted Mr.. Mar
shall, Duluth had been sinned
against, treated unjustly. There was
obviously discrimination against
the city in favor of st. Paul and Min
neapolis, which was working toward
the Sitting of our industrial growth,
But this is not true of the policies
of tho IInifod Cfofoc Cfoo1 o,n...