New-York tribune., 1919-03-07
Steel Men Act
10 Stabilize
L. S. Business
Committee to Secure Co.
operation With Govern
ment for Common Good
Gary Favors the League
Thinks Workable Agree
mcnt Of Nations Would
BE Approved Everywhere

Unanimous agreement to cooperate
with the government in its efforts to
stabilize business conditions in the
United States was reached yesterday
at meeting Of the spokcsmen for the
leading representatives. of the iron and
steel industry More than $50 leading
iron and steel men attended gather
ing at the Waldorf Astoria and took
this action after n fun discussion Of
the situation. A committee Of thirteen
was appointed, to which the whole mat
ter was referred, and the committee
was given full power to act
The mcctng held under the au-
spices Of thc American IRON and Steel
Institute, with Judge Ebert II. Gary
presiding, was called for the purpose
OF discussing the plan Of Secretary
Rcdlicld for ltabilizing business Mt
lower price levels.
Judge Gary issued formal state
mcnt after the meeting in which he
said:
at a meeting OF the representa-
tlvcs OF the iron and steel industry to-
day at the Waldorf-Astoria, after n
1ull discussion, it was unanimously
voted to accept the invitation Of the
Industrial Board Of the Department OF
Commerce, organized by approval Of
thc PRESIDENT, to cooperate in the en-
deaVor to stabilize business conditions,
ana the whole subject matter was re-
lerrcd, with power, to a committee.
Personnel of Committee
The members Of the committee fol-
low: Ebert II. Gary, James A. Farrell,
Charles NJ. Schwab, John A. Topping,
Alva c. Dinkey, L. L. Block, James A.
Burden, Z. G. Grace, c. II. Mccullough,
Jr, II. c. Dalton, a. F. Huston, James
a. Campbell and Willis l.. King"
George n. Peek, chairman of the
Industrial Board, told the meeting that
the plan of the board, OF which he is
,hc chairman, is to cooperate with
business. He compared the board with
the War Industries Board, which had
full jurisdiction during the war. He
made it plain that the whole idea Of
the government was cooperation rather
than coercion.
Judge Gary, in opening the meeting
outlined what the steel industry had
done during the war and the steps
which had been taken for the purpose
OF cooperation, and then recommended
that the invitation of the government
to cooperate be accepted
There Is ahead OF us large bust
ness prosperity" he said 1--WE NAV
hasten or retard its progress, depend
ing upon our attitude If we avail
ourselvea of the opportunities offered
we will succeed We must be rcso-
lutte, fairmindcd and confident. We
must apply the spirit of cooperation
whenever practicable. We must have
faith IN ourselves, in each other and
in our country. Peace has not yet
been established throughout the world,
and this fact more or less adversely
affects industry.
Favors League of Nations
still we have reason to expect an
early settlement of most, if not all,
OF the important differences between
nations. A league of nations Will soon
be agreed upon, for the sentiment in
it's favor is we'll nigh universal among
the civilized peoples Of all countries.
The criticisms which are found in the
speeches recently made in the Con-
gress of the United States, with pos
slbly slight exceptions, were not in
tended to be understood as opposing
practicable and workable agreement
between leading countries which will
result in preventing future prolonged
international conflicts. The objections
made relate to some of the conditions
and terms contained in the covenant,
or constitution, which has been re-
ported for consideration by the gen
eral council and, in most cases, to pro-
posed forms Of procedure.
Surely the great men who partici-
pate in the peace council will find
basis and method for carrying into ef-
feet what they, and the hundred mil
lions whom they represent, most
earnestly desire. And then after peace
is declared and made secure and with
n cordial and reasonable cooperation
between the government and business
interests, we should realize the great
est prosperity in our experience"
In speaking Of The conditions in the
industry, Judge Gary said: at is my
opinion, and believe the opinion Of
most Of the large number Of men who
arc assembled here to-day, that since
the armisticc was signed the iron and