The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-22
big BUSINESS"
WILL Be PROBED,
SAYS REDFIELD
Economic Rules Governing Pro
ductiOn Under Trust Opera
ton to Be Looked Into
SECRETARY is REAL
PROPHET OF OPTIMISM
Tells Board of Commerce De.
partment's Plans for Devel-
Opment of Foreign Trade

An Investigation or the fundamental
laws Of big business" Of the eco
nomic rules that govern production
under trust" operation, was promised
by William c. Redfield, secretary OF
commerce, in an address before the
Board Of Commerce, Tuesday after
| noon, under the auspices OF the ways
and means committee of the board.
Secretary Redfeld said that the
plan has the sanction Of President
| Wilson, and that the department OF
commerce Is merely waiting for con-
gress to vote the necessary appropria-
ton before undertaking the work.
There are wise men," said the Sec
rotary. who begin to feel that the
popular sense Of dread Of the great
overshadowing trust Is perhaps only
the instructive expression Of an eco
nomic law, felt rather than under.
stood, that these aggregations are
economically unsound as we'll as so
cially dangerous
Secretary Redheld arrived at 7:15,
Tuesday morning. over the Michigan
Central. He was met at the station
by Postmaster Nagel. Probate Judge
Hanley. Democratic County Chairman
Crosse, Frank ID. Eaman and Secretary
Gitchell, Of the Board OF Commerce.
He was invited to breakfast, but the
secretary had already eaten. He went
to the Detroit club, where he spent the
morning talking with several callers,
including James Inglis, president OF
the American Blower Co., OF which
Mr.. Redfleld is second vice-president.
What do you hear Of the effects OF
the tariff" Secretary Redfeld was
asked.
I'm view of the fact that 1t has only
been In effect about ten days, isn't
that a peculiar question:" replied the
secret y. with a laugh. Business
men expected the passage OF the bill
and had prepared for it. haven't
heard of any serious results and
don't expect any. heard of one fail
ure that they endeavored to attribute
to the tariff. but l don't take much
stock In the report.
Tho sugar men of Michigan have
protested against free sugar, but they
have been given three years, and. GER
tainly, the business men Of Michigan
are as good as those of any other part
Of the country. In the business world.
man is likely to get hold OF good
thing any day. and his competitors
have to make readjustments to COM
pete with him. on a moments notice.
They'd be glad to get three years In
which to work out their plans.
Il don't believe In taxing my break
fast table to help out somebody else.
| I don't believe in making a man in
Louisiana or In California pay taxes
80 that another man in a different
part OF the country can get rich. l
believe in giving all men just as fair
conditions as possible, SO that their
opportunities shall be as equal as pos
sible."
"Have you heard any rumors Of
panic? Do you know that banks in
several cities are cutting down on
their loans?" was asked.
Huh" laughed the secretary, just
like that. Banks make money
through loans. It's the only way they
can. I don't believe that the bankers
faces. Men don't Intentionally ruin
themselves.
You can scare some Of the people,
but you can't scare them ali. In the
last analysis, it's the American man
and the American woman that this
nation depends on, and they're not
doing any worrying. They're too
busy. Our foreign trade. which Is q
good barometer of the nations cOndi-
ton. IL increasing half q million dol.
lars q day. It is going up at the ratio
of 10 per cent year. The balance
Of trade IL vastly In omr favor. There
isn't q sign "a panic anywhere
How will the Mexican situation at
feet trader"
THAT is hard to tell. We must
be patient. Patience and waiting
must be the attitude"
isn't the attitude OF big bu mess
toward the administration changing?'
HUH" laughed the secretary
again. THE National Associa ion Of
Manufacturers did try to sit all over
me, didn't they? But the Chamber
Of Commerce Of the United States Is
cooperating with the department,
and we are getting along very nice
IT,"
Mr.. Redheld appeared the spokes.
man Of optimism and the herald of
prosperity. His blue eyes twinkled
as he talked his red whiskers, which
curve into gray mustache on his
upper lip, bristled with the energy OF
one who faces a cloudless future and
means to take advantage of it to
build up the nations commerce.
At 11:45, Secretary 2edfield went
to the Board of Commerce building,
where he met several hundred men,
bers at q buffet luncheon. An hour
later, he addressed the. board In the
big auditorium. II was crowded when
John Trix. chairman Of the ways and