New Britain herald., 1919-03-08
Chairman Gary of U. $. brporation in New ofk

Brporation in New Aork
 Have had no meeting nor
 Ss for a meeting of the iron
 eel industry generally Slhce
 her last when VIC gathered
 Ikcuss and decide what recOm-
 4ation to make to the War h.
 Krfes board concerning prices, pur-
 (af to the request of that board or
 price fixing committed. bc'Neeh
 (e time the request was made and
 IN day fixed for the meeting in Washington conditions changed, and " a conseouence our report to the NNar industries board was made un knecessary, although the committee Rtyhich had been designated by the Esteel interests appeared in Washing Eton at the appointed time and place. Notwithstanding at our meeting here @there were at the beginning, differ ences of opinion concerning our pro- posed action. I think time has dem onstrated that our final conclusion was wise Circumstances justified the decision to recommend moderate re- auctions in prices Of our commodi- ties. and perhaps the fact we volun- tariIy made reductions tended to stabilize business conditions generally.
 At any rate the disposition of the large number of men who attended the meeting. tO harmonize their views and to place their interests in the hands of a few men who had proved their efficiency by hard work. con- tinued patience and painstalIing ef- fort. redounded to the credit of all who participated. Consideration bv each for the welfare of all others and an effort to cooperate in ad- Vancing and protecting the interests of every one, so far as practicable and right, are connected with our industry and have dominated the minds of those who have been and will continue to he of great benefit so long as we are controlled bv these principles.
 TO Consider Corporation
 ''On this occasion we have met to discuss and consider the question of cooperation as presented to us by the industrial board of the depart ment of commerce. This board has been appointed hy the secretary of commerce for the purpose of confer ring with the different lines of in dustry in the effort to stabilize busi- ness conditions generally through out the country. The secretary or commerce, after conside ton and investigation. reached the conclusion that during the transition period from war basis to peace basis there might be disturbances in busi- ness. with possible reactions if not depress'ons. decreases in or intorrup- tions to employment and delays in extending enterprises: and after con- ferrtng with other members of the cabinet and the president of the United States. he appointed Inc in dust rial board referred to- The sec retary of commerce. a few days since, l addrcsScd letter 10 the president | of the American Iron and Steel insti- ! tute in which the secretary stated 1 his plans and requested co-opera tion 1 by our industry. and also opportunity on the part of Mr. George N. Peck. 1 chairman of the board to explain in | detail what was proposed The nresi-, | dent of the institute thereupon called | together some of the leadins manu ] lecturers who were readily accessible before whom Mr Peck appeared and 1 discussed at considerable length his ! plans and reasons for their adOption ] alter which the present meeting was 1 called.
 It is my opinion. and believe l the opinion of most of the large n11n, l Der of men who are assem bled here 1 today, that since the armistdcc was 1 signed the Iron and steel trade, gen 1 eradly speaking. has been better 1 than it was represented to be in some of tl1o l,1
 1 better than we feared it would be: l that all things considered, we have ] no reason to complain; and that the l number of unemployed has been r much less than one would suppose l from some of the statements which l have been freely circulated. We know ] that, as q matter of fact, on account l of the ordinary turnover in labor, and 1 other reasons which result in idle 1 ness, temporary or otherwise there | are always large mum bcrs of uncm- i ploycd, and therefore it freuucnt]v happens that when people are expect 1 ing, in consequence of unusual con ] ditions, an increase in unemplovn1ent 1 congregations arc made.
 l 'Personally, l have believed if bus 1 mess mon and others who are inter- ested in business conditions and re- l suits would retain their composure and courage we would gradually, if l moderately, return to a condition 1 normal and satisfa ctorN. However.
 the secretary of commerce. very
 wise and thoughtful man, believed, l from his information and advice, that 1 1t was desirab ble to anticipate DOS l sible future adverse conditions, and 1 therefore took the action mentioned 1 and, of course, this having been pub 1 hshed. the natural result has been
 or will be to temporarily affect bus l mess progress until there can be a l successful cO-ODeratiVe noxa,,o,+