The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-15

The seven seas. Everything about the
rporation---property holdings, ont.
put, money invested, dividends
to such an extent that the United
States Steel corporation came to be
regarded as greater than anything |
that had ever heen imagined, in the |
industrial world. At hearino before !
q congressional committee in Wash.
ington Mr.. Gary WIS quoted as saying |
that The assets of the corporation |.
could not be duplicated for $780, !,
100000.
Perhaps the one man to- whom, the |
growth Of the corporation was no
surprise was Gary. It was such, a
great concern ut It's organization that
he foresaw that it would be subject 10
attack. II was ti.,s foresight that
impelled him to insist upon the policy
that the corporation ut all times con-
duct itself in all dealings with COM
petitors and with the public in such
u manner that 1t could ut aRy time
show clean hands.
Policy Proves It's Worth n.
This policy in later years enabled
the corporation to emerge Triumph
ant in two events-the governments
suit for dissolution and the steel
strike-defeat in either Of which, the
former ut least. would have blasted
the foundation upon which the cor
poration was built and grew.
The governments suit. instituted in
1919, resulted from a series Of con-
gressional Investigations that began
two or three years before. 1t charged
the corporation with being a. comAin-
alton in restraint of trade and asked
for its dissolution. The litigation con-
tinued through nine years and threw
a threatening shadow over the steel
industry in America as we'll as Amer
lean business generally. The govern
ment's petitions was denied by the
United States district court il 1905,
and an appeal was taken TO the sn-
same year. 1t was not until March /,
1920. that the court Of last resort
finally acquitted the corporations. Of
the governments charge.
The steel strike had its inception
in resolution introduced by Will
! liam z. Foster ut the annual cOnven-
ton of the American Federation IF
Labor ut st. Paul in 1913. providing
| for the organization of the steel in.
dustry. After that convention, SAM
uel G0mpers sent letter to Mr..
Gary asking him to meet committee
to discuss questions affecting the
welfare of the workers Of the United
States Steel corporation. Mr.. Gary
did not answer the letter and sub.
sequent attempts to have him meet
committees were In vain... Thvests Of
strike continued until the 1919 con-
veMtion Of the American Federation
of Labor, when September 22 Of that
year was fixed az the date for the
! walk out. The strike Otder went in
to effect and while the industry was
hampered It was not entirely Grip
pied. The strike was afficially
called off in January. 1870, without
one Of the demands having been
complied with. - ma 800,
Known m HarmoAlzer
Mr.. Gary was known as harmon
izer in the. steel .indpAtry. When he
became leading figure in the work
there was bitter warfare among COM
petitors and between employers and
employees, but he worked instantly to
bring them closer together. In all
his efforts. no matter how great the
task, he was guided by . framed
motto that hung in his, office: ut
can be DONE"
One Of his suggestions that ME,
with bitter opposition from some OF
the directors in the early days Of thu
corporation was for complete pub
cOrporation-includ how its none,
was spent, the amount Of material.
manufactured and the number Of EN-
plsyes. Although the late George W
Perkins generally was given credit
for perfecting the system Of EN-
plOyes' benefits and pensions and en-
abling them to share in the profits
through stock subscriptions. Mr.. Per
kins declared that the credit for this
actually belonged TO Mr., Gary. Ap'
& prOximiately one third Of the 16O, 0O(
stockholders in the corporation are
fempl0yes.
! While Mr.. Gary was known as 4
;;foe to union labor, nevertheless HI
always was interested in the welfare
and human side Of the corporation,
employees. It was at his behest thai
!. the United States Steel corporation
4 adopted the plan Of voluntary COM
pensation to injured s0vknen lonl
!. before such action was made COM
pulsory W the laws Of many states
He also was largely TespoDsfbIe FOL
the. corporations extensive syaten
4 at welfare work for the. benefit o1
employees. In this work, which in
clsasd among other things. play
grounds, achoels,. clubs. gardsns ane
pensions. the CORPORATION IN the a.
years between l9t2 and lSS2' ekpend
i FED more than 1000 900. 81
4 Mr.. Gary was known ~ the father
Of the Industrial safety movement
and the steel corporation was enc Of
AI n - al As "a
4 10 jaaugurate safety first cam
paigns among. its employees. The cor
p0ration has spent, millions OF dollars
in accident prevention measures. Mr.
Gary served - chsirman of the com.
i America which inaugurated public
this work he was awarded the LOuia
Livingston Seaman medal.
4 Figuring five persons 10 the aver.
i age family Il was estimated that
nearly .2,0OO, 900 psflons were depend.
en- upon she c0rporation. Of which
Nj, Cary Mas. tha 4 head The. en-
! pleyes Of the Uaited States Steel Cor.
l,oratien were said to number. Gloss
70 3VO.OOO before the lx-hour day
4 was ab0lixhed. "a !,
!, go. H0fn In Illinois
Ebert Henry Gary was born on hil
|, father.1 farm near Wheaten. Ill.,, ana
was descended from old New Enelanc
i stock on one side, his father. Eras'
lns Gary, having sprung from thu
hardy tMrStans uho settled Missa
chas6tts. His mother. Ahiah vailettt
Il Gary. vas 4, descendant Of one q TIL
Officers in the army 81 Lafayette
i and lOunht With him for the freedom