The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-19
STOCKHOLDERS OF
 STEEL CORPORATION
 WILL BACK UP GARY
Head of Corporation Has Pos SibIe Solution or Antidote of the Labor and Union
 Problems
By Associated Pres.


 the United States steel corporation. at their annual meeting here today, unanl. mously pledged their support to Ebert H. Gary and his associates, in tho man agement of the corporation, in any "fu. ture conflicts" with labor unions.
 we are prepared. said resolution adopted by the stockholders, "to accept, regardless of the sacrifices necessary thereto, whatever losses may be sus- tained in maintaining the right of eacs American citizen to enter into his indI- vidual contract, should it be his desire. without hindrance from any other human being .+5
 While the labor question was discussed at length, no mention was made of the new campaign to unionize the steel in- dustry set by organized forces to begin June 1S.
 We believe that in refusing to accept the terms dictated by nonemployes of tho company" said the resolution, the oft cals and directors of the United States Steel corporation have performed a sery- ice of inestimable value, not alone to the shareholders of the company, nor alone to the general citizenship of the United States, but to every fnhabitant of the civilized globe as well, through de- lending the widest individual liberty and maintaining that right and justice are not the property of any privileged class but the common heritage of all.
 We have no quarrel with union labor properly functioning in accordance with the principles of justice. liberty and law. We believe it Is not within the province of any men, however. to forbid and in tertere with the rights and desires or the company's employees to labor, and that such interference which denies their right to labor denies to them their free dom imposes condition of servitude, and Is. in effect. the embodiment of tho right to enslaven s
 MT. Gary's address, in which he urged '.publicity, regulation and reasonable con- troll of business through government agencies, as possible solution of or antidote of the labor union problems" was applauded by the stockholders.
 GRAY'S SUGGESTIONS
 Continuing his suggestion. he said:
 Laws clear, well-defined, practicable and easy of comprehenson--cov covering these matters might be passed. and 1t so they should apply to all economic or ganizations. groups or bodies exceedius certain specified numbers or amounts Both organized capital and organised labor should be placed under these laws i Each should be entitled to tho same pro tectien and be subject 10 the same re- strictiors and provisions. . "Will labor unions consent to this They have heretofore objected. Here would be a test Labor union leaders have before now asked and received dis crirninatory exemptions This is wrong and would be just as bad if tho sftua- ton were reversed Employees generally desire only the same treatment that is accorded to labor unions. The large ms jority of workmen also would ne saus- fled with this standard"
 Wage reductions have not been cOnn0- cred up to the present time. Mr. Gary ! said, adding that he thought when me high cost of living has been ruaterny reduced, it will only be question cR time when there will be sone xcad3ust- n1ent of wages.
 Asked as to his views regardmS rne report of the interchurch world move ment on the steel strike of 1913. Ax- Gary said:
 'I have my own notions resaFding tho man that got up that report do not care to talk about it. think it better not to-
 The steel head declined to make any predictions regarding future business conditions put assertcd ehat @'y other country can survive, the United States can prosper.
 T do not care to give you any advice in regard to your securities" he added. smilingly "but I am going to keep mmet at least for the present.
 A proposal that the surplus of the cor poration be limited to the $52S,oouO no" at hand. because this accumulation in vited monopolistic attacks and confsca- tory taxation" was defeated.
 .sWe want to keep the corporation m position said MT. Gary, where no harm can come to it, no matter whatever hap pens This is bad time to reduoo OUT surplus
 He said that the corporation could not sell it's s1f0.0Oo,0o0 worth<of government securities now without suffering loss and urged that they be held until ~we get as much as they cost us. or possinv little more"