Lone Weir-Wolf

Ernest Tener Weir and his National Steel Corp., No. 5 U.S. producer, last week resigned from American Iron & Steel Institute. Mr. Weir gave no explanation. Explanation was superfluous, in view of the history of the past two months. In that period he had twice kicked the industry soundly in the rump and his competitors were angry.

First kick was delivered in April while the Steel Workers Organizing Committee was negotiating with U.S. Steel for a 10-c--an-hour raise. Just as a compromise seemed likely, non-union National gave its workers a voluntary 10-c- raise, thus forced U.S., Bethlehem, Republic, Otis, Youngstown Sheet & Tube, etc. to follow suit (TIME, April 21).

Two weeks later Weir kicked again. Having upped steel's operating costs by the wage increase, he sided with Leon Henderson in his effort to freeze prices at pre-raise levels.

In polite conversation, other steelmen call Ernest Weir "difficult"; they call him other things over drinks. Main fact about the relationship is that his mills are newer and his costs lower than most of the in dustry. Hence he has no more desire to cooperate with his rivals on price matters than had the young Henry Ford (who has not joined the Automobile Manufacturers Association to this day). For lone Weirwolves, the high-cost atmosphere of the A.I.S.I. is oppressive. But Mr. Weir will continue to confront Messrs. Fairless, Grace, Girdler, et al. at the councils of Steel's Defense Committee, the body which really represents steel in its dealings with Washington.

> An unfortunate (to economists) aspect of Mr. Weir's lone-wolfing: A.I.S.I. statistics will be that much less complete.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.