Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-04-21
CARY SUGGESTS
|. LIMITED CONTROL
steel Trust Head Would Have
New Laws to Protect La
Dor and Capital.
SEES DANGER IN UNI0NISK
Tells the Stockholders at Their Annual
Meeting That He Favors Publicity
Regulation and Reasonable Gov
eminent Control of Business.

nNHhiahiOIl FS0SN'ahiN NV
eminent Control Of Business.
New York, April 19.-Elbert II
Gary, chairman of the United States
Steel corporation, told the stockhold
ers at their annual meeting here he
was in favor of publicity, regulation
and reasonable control of business
through government agencies, as a
possible solution Of or antidOte TO the
labor union problem
Declaring he did not believe in so
cialism nor in governmental manage.
ment or operation, he suggested that
nonpartisan, nOnsectarian commissions
or departments render decisions, sub
ject TO review by the highest courts.
Entitled to Equal Protection.
Continuing his suggestion, he said
"Laws-clear well-defincd, practicable
and easy of rehension-covering
these matters, might be passed, and
if so they should apply to all econom-
ic organization, groups or bodies ex-
ceeding certain specified numbers or
amounts. Both organized capital and
organized labor should be placed I'M
der these laws. Each should be en-.
titled to the same protection and be
subject to the same restrictions and
provisions.
'Will labor unions consent to thisi
They have heretofore objected. Here
would be test. Labor union lead.
ers have before now asked and re.
ceived discriminatory exemptions. This
is wrong and 1t would be just as bad
las II the situation were reversed. EN-
ployers/ generally desire only the same
treatment that Is accorded to labor
unions. The large majority of work
men also would be satisfied with this
standard"
Mr.. Gary devoted considerable
portion of his address to labor unions,
and said "the natural and certain eff
fects of labor unionlsm are expressed
by three words: deficiency, high
costs"
II would not Intentionally do an in
justice to any union labor leader, nor
to a labor union" he continued, but
| firmly believe complete unionization
of the industry of this country would
be the beginning of industrial de.
cay.
1T seems to me-" he explained,
that the natural If not the neces-
sary. result of the contemplated pro.
gress of labor unions, If successful,
would he control of shops, then of the
general management of the business,
then of capital and finally the govern
nent."
Admitting that unions may have
been justified in the long past" be.
cause workmen were not treated Just.
ly, he declared there is now mo ne.
cessity" for labor unions, lin the opin'
ion of the large majority of both
employers and employees"
viii Reduce Working Hours.
Turning to the subject of possible
reduction of working hours for EN-.
ployees of the Steel corporation. Mr..
Gary said: THE officers of this cor.
poration, the presidents of subsidiary
companies and majority of others in
positions of responsibility are in favor
of abollShing the 12-hour day, and for
this reason and because of the puhli,
sentiment, IL is our endeavor and ex.
pectaton To decrease the working
hours-we hope in the comparatively
near future"
Concerning the corporations deal.
ing with its employees, he asserted
Adverse, even harsh, criticism have
sometimes been made. hut In this con
nection' II is noticeable that these
criticisms have generally originated
with or been supported ny nl-adviset
or vicious-minded outsiders and no,
by the workmen themselves"
He maintained that the corporation
had been very successful I'm cult
waiting the feeling of amity among III,
employees.
He declared the employees, ON III,
average, have received as high. 4
not the highest, compensation, and a,
generous, II not the most generous
treatment accorded by any basic In
dustry nj any period In this or an,
other country,
WORKERS. PIE lS DENIEr