The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-05
MENTAL MOURNING
Is WHAT AILS US
Secretary Redfield Explains
President Wilson's "Psycho-
logical Depression"
HAS A MAP TO PROVE
Western, Southern and Middle
States All Right, but North
eastern All Wrong.

RALEIGH, N. C.. June "A detailed de-
scription OF the psychological business
repression now confronting the country
was given here to-day before the Cham
Der OF Commerce by william C. Redaeld
President Wilson's Secretary of Com
merce.
Mr.. Redfeld completed the picture
which was only roughly sketcned nv
President Wilson himself when be toll,
the Illinois manufacturers several days
ago that the ills OF business vera
altogether the result Of their own mental
tendencies
Mr.. Wilson's Cabinet officer, who. by
the way. is his chief adviser on business
conditions, went little further than the
President in describing business men who
are complaining OF hard times Not only
are they victims OF psychological tenden-
cles but they are mental mourners."
They are the men who are looking
sadly at dead past. who Worship ghos.s
and FEAR readjustment to the living
present. The light, thank goodness. is
breaking upon them, but they are not yet
fully illuminated.
""ere tne nope Lies.
But to get down to Secretary Red
fields description OF the present depres
sion:
"one does not mean" said he. "to IA.
ride depressed state OF mind in speak,
ing or II as psychological condition.
The people who feel that way feel lust as
bad about II as IL the condition were
physical rather than psychological. The
nope lies In the fact that the realities OF
the physical condition may so assert
themselves ere long that the mental state
will adjust itself to them and be re-
lieved."
Secretary Redfeld drew a verbal man
OF the business conditions OF the country,
plotting in colors the various degrees OF
blues" which the psychology OF the
situation has imposed.
"1f we would place the business atmos-
phere OF the country on sort of COM
mercial weather map such as is used by
the weather service" said he, I'VE should
md curious condition. In the extreme
southeast and Southwest would be areas
where the business barometer is high.
"All through the great central part of
the country where the bulk OF our wheat
10 grown would be another great area Of
fair weather and high pressure.
over the great cotton areas OF the
South would be no depression. not even
unsettled conditions. but normal, look
ing for great agricultural favors expected
TO come. High barometer also prevails
where automobiles are made, in and
about the lake area.
Over the Northeastern States would be
found section OF low barometer and
marked depression. II the state o. mind
of the different parts of our country
could be shaded in colors the great
body Of the West would be white, while
AN area OF dull gray would represent
our Northeastern States"
A More Minute Analysis.
A little later Secretary Redneld under
took more minute analysis OF the
situation
1T is true" said he, "that q psycholog-
ical depression Is none the less a de-
preston because II Is psychological. We
may therefore fairly look into other con-
ditions to see whether the mental state
that exists has justification in solid fact
1T Is true, Is 1t not? as one looks
over the country that all the conditions
upon which sound business should res,
exist In full force and Ngor. Few will
contend that merchants are overstocked
Rather Is the reverse true
None are so rash as TO say over.
speculation exists. Nay, on the con-
trary. the brokers complain OF lack OF
commissions. Money Is not so scarce thai
banks refuse legitimate borrowings. The
reverse is true.
We have sent large sums abroad oil
late without cramping our financial re-
sources. II comes to me from more
than one quarter OF the country thai
men who are pesstnistic In speech ar,
prosperous In pocket
Things are not tied up tight wher
New York registers more automobile:
than ever before and when the grea
industry is pushed to the full. Tho twin,
IN 10,
70 furnish the exceptional quantity o
binding twines that this years whea
crop will require.
And while We cannot emulate tn,
mental gymnastics OF those critics VIII,
would see in a single brief period the IN
or The tariff. by claiming on our par
that natures RIGHTEOUSNESS is due to thu
absence of excessive duties, we may we
be glad that the minds of the menta
r1ourners are 10 be cheered that tn
fields are open to the employment o
willing thousands; that the railways sc
great business already at their hands
perhaps TO such degree as to overta.
their powers"
Trade Under New Tariff.
IN discussing the import and expor
trade under the new tarifr Mr.. Redfiel,
said
IF we look at the full period OF sever
months since the new tariff went int
erect we md the situation even les
comforting TO our critics. The import
have indeed increased. II was meant the
should. They have grown compared wit
the same seven months last year by no
quite 100000.
THE largest Item OF the increase-i
fact an Increase OF over $50 900 900 1,
itself alone-is In crude foodstufYs. TIL
further increase OF sl2. 000, 900 Is In partI
manufactured foods. The only other iten
or Increase IL In fully finished rnanufac
lures, SlS,50O,0O0. which Is Offset by
decrease In partly finished manufacture
for the period OF over $50 900 900 and b
further decrease in materials for manu-
features OF $4,000. 900.
$50 for the entire period, taking a
manufactures together the record unde
the new tariff shows total importat ton
for seven months OF 1857. 900, 900 In roun
Numbers, as compared with total for tn
same seven months last year before III
new tariff went into effect OF 1858. OO0, 90,
the increase In fully finished manufac
lures and In manufactured foodstuf
being offset by n decrease In partl
finished manufactures Imported. TheI
is here no sign of any excessive foodin
of our markets through the period nance
Looking now at the exports over III
entire period since the tariff came INT
effect there IL decrease of $4,000, 90
or this over s67 900, 900 Is In crude foo,
stuffs and S24.500,000 more In part
manufactured foodstuffs.
Thus these Two Items Of foodstuffs a.