The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-02-26
LOWER BEEFAND \
CORNPR|CES RESULT
OF THE new TARIFF
So Declares Secretary
Redfield in Speech
Last Night.
FOOD PRICES CUT
Importation of Argentine Pro-
ducts Credited-Return of
Prosperity Is Predicted.

Wheeling, w. Va.-Marked i'm
provcment in conditions in the in
dustrial aud commercial region of
the country has come, reviving cour-l
age and destroying alarm; removal
of tariff duties has resulted in a
tendency clearly and openly in the
direction of a reduction in the cost
of food and clothing; and climatic
conditions, not business depression.
are responsible for the number OF
unemployed in New York City and
other large Industrial centers.
This was the message delivered to-
the nation last night by William c..
Redfield, the administrations spokes-
man on commercial and Industrial
problems, before the Wheeling Board
of Trade. Every statement the
speaker made was fortified by Off
cial statistics and reports.
Mr.. Redtield defended the tariff
act. lauded the currency law and
! with decided emphasis, assured his
audience that the government intends
TO help and not hinder legitimate
business.
at was not strange that the SER
ious depression all over Europe as
we'll as South America should have
been slightly reflected upon us in
the latter part of last year" he said.
at is not surprising that careful men
moved cautiously in business matters
pending the necessary readjustments
from the new tariff, or hat they
should have hcsitated until the final
form of the currency bill was kaown.
1t is not strange either that men
should want to know the attitude OF
the government toward legitimate,
business.
More Cars i'll Use.
But there is no ground here now
for worry. The surplus OF freight
cars has ceased TO grow. 1t COM
menced about the middle of Janu-
airy to decline and has decreased by
about five thousand cars. 1t would
be easy to add from numerous
sources to these favorable state
ments. l have found in the last fort
night the reports of improving bust
ness SO many and so general thu. it
has been impossible for me to IN
slider them all.
1.-The tendency is clearly and
openly in the direction of a reduc-
ton in the cost of food and clothing
through the removal of the tariff
tax. 1t may be we'll to point out,
however, that the costly processes OF
distribution lay a tremendous tax
upon our consumers, and that in my
judgement the single and little dis.
cussed factor of carriage alone lays
a heavier burden upon IL people
than the total amount paid for rail-
way frcights.
THE new tariff has not thus far
resulted in any material increase of
importations of manufactured arti-
cles to compete with the products of
our own factories. but rather its I'M
portant effect has been to add to u
food supply.
sit remains to discuss briefly two
other elements of the existing situa-
ton, the prices of commodities and
the matter of unemployment. Dur
ing the winter months thousands of
laborcrs are thrown out of work for
climatic reasons in all our northern
states aud it is normal that they
should concentrate as for years past
tlty nave uOUc III OuT ldISe CLUES
and industrial centers. Statements
have been made and denied to the
effect that there were more unem-
ployed in New York this year than
usual. This may be true without
meaning hat there is any abnormal
excess of unemployed in the whole
country. New York City is known
to be in the act of spending several
hundred millions upon subway con
struction.
New York Attracts Unemployed.
Furthermore it is we'll known
that New York provides literally for
the unemployed through the vast
private and public charities, ana this
is an attractive factor to some out
of work. All these factors would
naturally draw the unemployed to
that city in numbers even in excess
of possible employment. The fact
that they have so gathered there or
in other cities in large numbers this
year may or may not have direct
bearing upon the prosperity Of in
dustry. A large part OF the mem
.ployed are probably not those who
work in f%actoreis but rather those
who follow the Kinds of labor which
the inclemency of the seaso forbids
continuing and which are always sus-
pended at this time of the year.