The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-12-30
Head Of U. s. Steel Corpora
tion Not in Harmony With
Industrial Confer
ence.
LAWS FOR PROTECTION
Comprehensive LAWS, Rather Than
Voluntary Arbitration as
Protection for Every
one.

rUnited Press Leased Wire Serylce.l
NEW YORK, Dec. 30.-Comprehen-
siye laws, rather than voluntary arDl-
tration are necessary to absolutely
protect everyone against imposition
on the part OF capital on labor.
Judge Elbert H. Gary, chairman OF
the United States Steel corporation
declared in a statement TODAY.
Judge Gary plainly intimated he
was not entirely in accord with the
recommendations made yesterday ny
President Wilson's Industrial confer
ence for settlement of disputes te'
tween capital and labor. He was
member of the previous group that
attempted to make recommen ia-'ons
for solution of the industrial preb-
lem. The steel magnaxe referred 10
the present labor troubles as disputes
between labor union leaders AMI maxi
ayers of business. He declared the
public must know" that labor unions
have decreased production, added
to costs and raised the expense OF
living"
II venture the assertion that If the
public is disposed to absolutely plo O.
tect everyone against Enpositlon on
the part of Capital or labor It SHOULD
not depend upon voluntary arDltfa-
ton. but should establish and std-
minister laws which should have COM
plete jurisdiction over both groups OF
citizens. he said. The public could
then rely upon the continuance with
out interruption OF, enforcement OF
law and order, SO that every indi-
yidual or interest shall be protected
in freedom OF action or non-ac'lon,
so long as there is no opposition 20
the statutes in force.
THE employers and the body OF
the employees clearly rec ,;snizc that
it is for the pecuniary interest of
both to maintain peaceful and 1ri.Ld-
Ily relations, and every honest minded
person admits this viii rsdouad tu
the benefit and comfort OF the gen.
eral public.
"At this time / think it essential
that the general public be given the
opportunity to clearly un iecstand
the exact labor situation. the
United States it is no so bad as 1t
is made to appear by some OF the
public speakers and writer's, particu-
lIarly those who are not by eXpeIl'
ence or otherwise qualified to testify
or TO EXPRESS OplulUnS.
There have been instituted in the
past year good many strikes and
there have been in places, disorder,
riot and injury to persons AMI prop
erty. These strikes did not represent
antagonism between capital and
labor so-called. In most, if rot ell
instances, they were precipitated by
union labor leaders acting on their
own initiative. The differences. dis
iputes and contests have been be
tween labor union leaders and rhe
managers Of business.
'1n few, if any cases. has there
been any serious trouble between
the managers OF industry and The
employees generally or any reasonable
claims on the part OF the majority o
the employees for higher wages o.
more favorable living condition.
which were not promptly and mutual
i " adjusted. In fact for a long time
| the employees in this country have
1 been receiving larger compensation
and better working and living condi
tions than ever before. The larg,
majority of the employees of thi
country, probably not less than 81
percent, are not members of labo
unions and are satisfied with thei
working conditions.
"If any have good reason for com
plant, the employers, when inform
/ ed, must and will furnish promp
and adequate remedy. do not wisl
at this time to discuss the merits O.
dement's of labor unions. The public
generally must know in the past the.
u
decreased production. added to cost
and raised the expense of living"
Judge Gary in his only direct refer
ence to the industrial commission
suggestions for tribunal to arbi
trate disputes and twelve regiona