The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-16
BIDS REDFIELD TO
SEE SILENT PLANTS
Manufacturers Association in
Pennsylvania Challenges Sec
rotary to Make Visit.
1T HAS "PROOF" READY

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 1.-THE Manufac-
turcrs Association of Montgomery county
through its president. Charles r. WILL
Jams. who IL also president OF the Lees
Spinning Company of bridgeport. Pa, is
eager to have Secretary Redfeld OF the
Department of Commerce direct Gov
ornamental investigation of the causes OF
Industrial depression In the Schuylkill
Valley. Mr. Williams tonight said
I'VE would be very we'll pleased II
Secretary Redileld were to come here to
direct the investigation that he has prom
iHed OF conditions that now confront our
manufacturers and that have confronted
them since the passage OF tho Wilson
Underwood law.
I'VE will make n practical demonstra-
ton to him and to his agents that there
Ia real depression and that the tariff is
responsible. We prefer that the ablest
OF Investigators shall come, and we pre-
sumo that Mr. Redheld himself is the
most able"
Issues Challenge.
The Montgomery county association in
reply to Secretary Redheld's assertion
that he would send a special Investigator
into the county issued the following
sweeping challenge:
Your letter OF January II, for which
| thank you. lies before me Anticipating
somewhat the order OF your communica-
ton / hasten TO say that the members
Of the Manufacturers Association OF Mont
gomery county will, / am sure welcome
with every courtesy and all good will the
representative from your Department who
will come to us with the sincere and de-
termined purpose to make such investi-
cation as will result in giving relief to
the intolerable depression that now rests
upon our Industries. He may be as
sured that in the work before him he
will have without reserve our hearty CO.
operation.
Turning now 10 the suggestions which
YOU kindly offer as to the relation OF the
tariff 20 the prosperity OF this and one
other country at least. can only say
that. 50 far as a protective tariff in Brazil
is concerned I have not the data at hand
to enable me even to approximate sound
conclusion.
81 am not acquainted with either the
laws or the internal conditions OF our
South American neighbor.
80 far as the tariff relates to our own
country. We will have given you all the
assistance at our command when we shall
lay before your Department proof Of de-
peted sales. shorter hours OF labor and
Improbable business I'm Schuylklll Valley.
III we do submit this proof we will
have established depression. The relation
facts submitted to prove destructive i'm
portations OF the kind OF goods which
many of our industries produce. This
proof lies at our hand ready for your
examination.
And now will you permit me again TO
say that | most heartily welcome the in
vestigation you are about to maker As
the purpose of this investigation is to be
helpful rather than to buttress theory
IL ought to result In something being done
at once to restore confidence and move
merchandise.
IAN will end In helpless discussion and
worse than fruitless controversy which
does not end right there, move merchan-
disc and give work to the unemployed
Academic theories which still leave
smokeless chimneys and silent machinery
can have no place in the minds of vigorous
and practical men who are after this one
definite result--a chance to work and a
chance 90 live up 10 the level OF a decent
standard. In n work OF this kind all good
citizens stand ready 10 lend n hand.
I'VE are your servants. Sincerely yours.
&C.. +. WILLIAMS,
president Manufacturers Association OF
Montgomery County"