The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-03-28
HAVE COURAGE, PEACE
AND PROSPERITY NEAR,
SAYS GARY


in anticipation of possible future adj
verse conditions, was characterized as
tending to "affect business progress"
by Ebert H. Gary, chairman of the
United States Steel Corporation, in
an address here today before members
of the American Iron and Steel In
stitute. The manufacturers, however,
accepted the secretarys' invitation to
cooperate with his department.
Gary said that business in the steel
trade was much better than it had
been represented to be, and that he
had believed that it would return to
normal conditions eff business men
and others retain their composure and
courage"
The publication of Secretary Red
fields plan would naturally result, he
said, in affecting progress until there
could he "a cooperative movement
calculated to inspire confidence and
activity"
Gary, however, prophesied "large
business prosperity ahead and declared
for resolute, minded and con-
fident attitude on the part of Amer
lean business men," He said that the
spirit of cooperation must be APP
piled wherever possible"
He added that League of Nations
was bound to be agreed upon soon be-
cause sentiment in its favor is well
nigh universal among civilized people
of all countries"
Steel Trade Conditions Good
at is my opinion" said Gary, "and
| believe the poinion of most of the
large number of men who are assem-
bled here today, that since the armi-
stice was signed the iron and steel
trade, generally speaking, has been
better than it was represented to be
in some Of the publications; that it
has been better than we feared is
would be; that all things considered,
we have no reason to complain; and
that the number of unemployed has
been much less than one would sup
pose from some of the statements
which have been freely circulated.
"We know that, as matter of fact,
on account of the ordinary turnover
in labor, and other reasons which re-
suit in idlcncss, temporary or other
wise, there are always large numbers
of unemployed, and therefore it fire.
!quently happens that when people are
Expecting, in consequence Of unusual
conditions, an increase in uncmploy-
ment, exaggeratios are made.
personally, | have believed if bus
mess men and others who arc inter-
ested in business conditions and re-
suits would retain their composure and
courage, we would gradually, if mod
erately, return to condition normal
and satisfactory.
However, the secretary Of COM
merce, very wise and thoughtful
man, believed from his information
and advice that it was desirable to an
ticipate possible future adverse con-
idtions and therefore took the action
mentioned, and, of course, this having
been publiGhed, the natul al result has
been, or will be to temporarily affect
business progress until there can be
successful cooperative movement
which is calculated to inspire conf
dcnce and activity.
Barometer of Business
"The steel industry is still more or
less the barometer of trade. 1t in
wolves large production, large amounts
of working capital, large numbers of
employees and has a decided influence
upon the commercial and financial
interests of the country. We occupy
positions of great responsibility. What
we do at this meeting may have an
important bearing upon the whole
business situation. We must not in
tentionally make a mistake.
During the war we have been
called upon to do great things and we
have cheerfully and faithfully re-
sponded. | think we are bound to
say we have in the main been treated
fairly. We have served the govern
ment to the best of our ability, and
governmental representatives have,
in positive language, commended our
efforts.
"Now we are called upon again by
a government official to cooperate
with the government in the endeavor
to stabilize business conditions to pro-
tect so far as practicable and reason
able capital and labor, for they must
always go hand in hand if success for
either is achieved, and to bring about
results which no reasonable man will
deny are desirable. The methods
were not suggested by us. They orig
mated with disinterested, high
minded and capable public official
whose obligation and whose desire
are to best serve his country. We
must on this occasion rise to a high
plane of unSelfish observation and de-
tcrminc our course.
"There is ahead of US large bust
ness prosperity. We may hasten or
retard its progress, depending upon
our attitude. If we avail ourselves of
the opportunities offered we will sue
coed. We must be resolute, fair
minded and confident. We must ap-
ply the spirit of cooperation whenever
practicable. We must have faith in
ourselves, in each other and in our
country.
Expects World Peace Soon
"Peace has not yet been established
throughout the world, and this fact
more or less adversely affects indus
. try. Still we have reason to expect an
early settlement of most, if not all,
, of the imnortant differences hntween