The New York herald., 1922-05-27
PITY the Blind, Deaf and
Foolish Pessimist,' He Says
in Optimistic Address.
CONDITIONS GROW BETTER
Committee Is Named to Act on
Harding's Suggestion About
Reduction Of IL Hour Day.


American Iron and Steel Institute, in
session at the Commodore Hotel yes
terday, advocated that Congress take
the tariff out of politics.: that it play
no favorites in its tendency to regu-
late things: that it substitute a sales
tax for the income tax and that it for
get the soldier bonus until the nation
is less severely burdened financially.
AS for the. business future of
America, Mr.. Gary described himself
and steel industry, he said, "the profits
are not satisfactory. but few, if any
ought to be doing business at loss"
"Pity the blind. deaf and foolish pes
simist of the United States" he ad-
jured members of the institute.
Judge Gary departed from his set
speech to announce that he would up
point a committee OF members of the
institute to make an investigation look
ing toward the abolition of the twelve
hour day in the steel industry. as pro-
posed by President Harding at the re-
cent conference with steel men in Wash
ington.
IL Hour Day Committee.
The members of the committee are
Chairman. Elbert III. Gary. chairman OF
the board of the United States Steel
Corporation Charles M. Schwab, chair
man OF the board of the Bethlehem
Steel Corporation James A. Farrell
president OF the United States Steel
Corporation Willis l.. King Of the Jones
& Laughlin Steel Company, Pitts
burgh A. c. Dinkey, president of the
Midvale Steel and Ordnance Company
James A. Campbell. president Of the
Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company
James A. Burden of the Burden Iron
Company, Troy, N Y; J.. E. Block
vice president of the Inland Steel Com
pany, Chicago. and John A. Topping,
chairman Of the board Of the Republic
Iron and Steel Company.
In his speech Judge Gary called on al
present to furnish the committee infor
nation that is honest, intelligent ano
based on fact. He urged them not to SET
out with the purpose of finding a way
not to abolish the twelve hour day, FOL
then they surely would not And way
to get rid of it, He advised the institute
to work out plan for reduction in hours
$50 there will be no good reason for any
publication or individual to assail us
for the twelve hour day.
Judge Gary in his address said:
Revision of tariff laws is an inter-
n1ittent disease. 1t appears, f not with
every session of Congress, certainly with
every change of administration. II
seems to be considered an important
political question though it ought not to
be. 1t should be discussed and decided
strictly upon scientific principles and
from the standpoint of fairness to every
4. xtrx- to 6oya ay-fyr mi
of human Industry. to every line OF en-
ployment and to the public welfare.
Tariff rates should be high enough
10 protect all producers in this country.
including capital and labor. against de-
structive foreign competition. which may
come from cheap labor or otherwise, and
might drive both domestic capital and
labor out Of employment They should
protect domestic production fully up to
the point of being on a parity with all
foreigners as to selling prices in the
United States but they should not be
high enough to permit producers to OPP
press consumers by unreasonable and
uncomfortable prices.
"The determination. from time to
time, of this basis. that Is. the full and
fair application of the principle stated.
would involve careful and scientific
study and be more or less difficult. but
It would not be political. There should
be n commission of well paid, high
minded. intelligent, competent and nom
partisan appointees, authorized to ascer-
tain and communicate the facts and fig
ures. and their reports should be fire.
uuent so that, IL deemed necessary. a
change In or amendment to the tariff
laws or any of them could be made at
any time Congress is In session.
Legislative enactments or the modifi-
cation or extension of existing avs for
the regulation of industry are being
frequently debated in and out Of Con-
gress and. personally, / welcome this IN
so far as 1t Is sincere. unselfish and non-
partisan.
Opposed to Determination.
"The progress and prosperity OF no
nation can long endure IL any single
factor In economic life shall be espe-
cialy favored or punished or exempted.
Equality before the law Is fundamental
to industrial peace and prosperity.
THE thoughts suggested arise from
the disposition during the last few years
TO pass laws which measurably exempt
labor organizations, and recently farmer
associations. from governmental inves-
tgation. supervision and control against
wrong. Not only are they exempted
from certain restrictive provisions OF the
eAlHtl1b STATUTES, Dut tnty arc diIlTInd-
lively permitted to do certain things pro-
hibited as to others.
ITO permit labor associations or
farmer organizations to do, as the result
OF combination. things that are claimed
to be beneficial to them which are de-
MED to others Is to create classes, to
favor some of them and to injure the
whole body polite. It tends to array
class against class. and II adds TO the
cost of production. And be 1t remem-
bered the general purchasing public, In
the end, must pay the bills.
IF 1t is necessary in order to protect
worlxmen against imposition to perm,,
them to organize into associations and
thus act collectively, let II be done under
and by virtue Of the general laws. suo-
ject in management to Governmental In
vaetigation and supervision and control
against wrong. oppression and vioIence.
Let them account under direction of the
Government for moneys received and
disbursed. And the same argument APP
plies to farmers.
For many months last past there has
been much discussion In the public
\. press. In the halls OF Congress. and
elsewhere relating to bonus 10 taose
who served in the late war. There has
been considerable propaganda u bcrs
pf this proposal. Personalities and