Evening journal., 1915-12-13
REDFIELD ADMITS TEMPORARY PROSPERITY
DUE TO WAR

wwrITH unconscious candor Secretary Redhed FREE
wv quently drops into admission of the error he
committed in saying that prosperity Is not due
chiefly TO orders. In recent speech before the
Chamber Of Commerce of New York city, he said that
there danger that the sudden turning Of the scales
Of international trade in direction and the apparent
access OF wealth and profit arising from it turn
the heads Of Of u.s.
His reference to the sudden turning" is necessarily
an admission that the drift decidedly against us
until the sudden outbreak Of turned it in our
favor His further reference the apparent access
wealth and profit carried with the implication that
the wealth is not so real it appears. We have a
species OF temporary and spotted prosperity which de-
pends for continuance upon the continuance of war
Of that class OF prosperity which existed when
the industries of this country we're conducted under
the sound economic policies of protective tariff
Under the tariff policy the balance of trade in
our the prosperity real it was APP
parent Then there need TO warn the American
business man that his head likely to be turned by
an apparent access Of wealth and profit SO long as
American business men had confidence In the contnu-
anco OF a policy OF protection to American industry
they not only ready but anxious to go ahead
with legitimate enterprise which gave employment TO
American labor and American capital, assured profits
in all lines enterprise. and provided adequate eve
nues with which TO conduct the business Of the gov
cnmont.
Secretary Redfeld alarmed lest the enormous
trade balance in our favor shall bring harm,
seems rather inconsistent with his frequently paraded
efforts TO enlarge foreign trade through the en-
ploymont special agents in foreign countries 1t is
reported that his department will ask for increased
appropriations for the employment Of such agents to
continue to secure foreign markets for our goods and
this at a time when he says the trade balance in our
favor is cause for alarm lest It work to our injury
Probably as a result OF the persistent hammering he
has received from the Republican press. Mr.. Rodheld
has finally acquired slight understanding of the
unsound basis upon which prosperity rests. He
recognizes this as an abnormal prosperity which viii
fall as soon as the basis which founded has
ceased to exist An unpreiudiced mind, in seeking for
a remedy would turn to the conditions which prevailed
before the war suddenly" turned it again in our
favor
II Mr. Redheld were not bound by the free trade
principles of his political party and free 10 con
slider our economic position the light OF history. he
would acknowledge that the only precaution against
the dange- which he foresees is the reestabshment OF
the principles of protection basis approximately
the same as that which in effect when the Re
publican party was in power But partisan loyalty and
prejudice based upon years OF party afhliaton prevent
his taking a view sufficiently broad to enable him tc
sec the wisdom OF such policy. This is more char
| table view than TO assume that he realizes wha
remedy would place a safe and sound economic
foundation but is not patriotic enough to acknowledg
his past errors and aid in the enactment OF Legislation
| and the adoption OF policies which would relieve Il
from the dangers he acknowledges 20 exist and assur
us continued prosperity whether the war shall contnu
or not