The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-25
STEEL STRIKE is
FAST CRUMBLING
BY HOLL AND

New York. October 24-(Special)
Whatever msW be the outcome of the
conference at Washington in which rep
resentatives of capital, of labor and of
the public are taking part, there appears
to be no doubt that, so far as the steel
industry is commemorative strike, if not
completely ended nevertheless is rapidly
crumbling. Leaders in the steel indus
try say that if the increase in the re-
turn of the employed is continued for
two or three weeks, substantially all of
the plants will be working at almost full
capacity.
Gradually but surely those who took
part at first in the strike are beginning
to realize apparently that this demonstra-
ton Cannot succeed. There may be GER
tain agreements. reached at Washington
which will furnish plausible pretext
for complete abandonment of the strikes.
1t is permissible now to report that some
of those who shave taken part in the
conferences We're. when they went TO
Washington, suspicious that the confer
ence was not to represent entire good
faith. In fact, some of them spoke OF
it as being in the nature Of frame
up" the purpose being so to act as to give
greater power to Mr.. Gompers and the
American Federation of Labor. while
greatly4~limiting the ability of employers
to decide upon matters affecting the in
terests of their corporation as their best
judgment suggested.
Several leaders who were in Washing
ton during the first week of the confer
ence returned to New York a day or two
ago and they are persuaded that the
leaders who are responsible for this strike
are now ready to accept some device or
method whereby it can be called off with
out involving any sense of humiliation
or defeat at least on the part of the
leaders One thing is certain, and that is
that the employers will not agree to any
resolution which is aimed at the estab-
lishment of the closed shop.
HOW GARY is SUPPORTED
From every section in the United states
there come each day letters and tele-
grams the aggregate volume of which is
enormous which are directed to Judge
Gary With hardly an exception they
appear to represent the sentiment of
business men, not only manufacturers
but also merchants, which, as expressed
in these communications, emphatically
approve the course taken by Judge Gary
at least as far as the closed shop issue
is concerned. OF course these commune
cations tend to fortify Judge Gary in the
position he has already taken. But as
he had the unanimous support of his as
pcration he unquestionably would main
tain that position even if he had not re-
ceived such evidence of approving pub
lie opinion throughout the United States
BUSINESS MAN FOR PRESIDENT
One of the unexpected snd yet highly
Interesting incidents associated with this
controversy is the suggestion which
comes from many parts of the country
that in view of the meeting in June OF
Of ha national conventions OF
each party which are to be held for the
purpose of nominating candidates for
President and vice president the delegates
be urged by public sentiment to make
choice of business man who has al
ready gained high reputation for organ
ization ability. executive capacity and
profound understanding of the Industrial
and commercial conditions as these have
been developed since the European war
was ended.
In fact. men of influence in the west
have already suggested in private and in
informal communications with some OF
the leaders of the republican organiza-
ton that If it were possible to find
man of the business type which Judge
Gary in his career represents. then earn
ost effort should be made to place him
in nomination for President OF course
Judge Gary himself for many reasons
would not be considered available as a
candidate for President While still Wig
orous in mind and body yet he is APP
preaching the age limit as that seems to
have been established by unwritten law.
Furthermore no has been so conspicu,
ousiy identified with the establishment
and direction of the greatest American
corporation. in fact the GREATEST In the
world. as to rnaks 1t seem inexpedient
even to consider his name, Nevertheless.
1t is a fact that man of very great in
4. t. r. Il 1.
public opinion mas already suggested that
some consideration be given to Judge
GaFy's name.
Businss men all over the United States
realize that the important question of the
next 10 years, and especially of the next
four years, are to be chiefly industrial.
commercial ande financial. If it were
possible to fin upon a man of recognized
business achievements who Is also thor