The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-07-16
Mr.. REDfIELD'S
ABSURD CONTENTION
If the War Has Cured Bad Bust.
ness, Then the War Did Not
Make Business Bad.

When a man has a theory which
he applies to the solution on any
given economic situation he natural
ly looks about for facts to confirm ii
and he is fortunate indeed If he
finds them. Secretary of Commerce
Redfield finds it a part of his duty
to insist upon the fact that prosper
ity has returned to this fortunate
country and that it is here to stay
and to work for the rehabilitation
and to work for the rehabilitation of
whatever has been lost in the SLACK
ing up of industries and the falling
off of employment tor the workers
Singularly forgetting the fact that
the slowing up of business began a
number of months before the Euro
pean war war, he still attributes that
depression to the war which has
since wrought cure in the ire
mendous demand for certain lines of
our Manufactured goods and for the
making of others which the fighting
nations need. Wherever that in
fiuence prevails, Mr.. Redfeld sees
the evidences of permanent prosper
ity, and even should the war stop
next week he would expect the same
cause to produce the same effect in
definitely and to continue to shed
abroad the luster of glory in the
light which his department basks.
Every fresh order from Europe is
a new evidence to Secretary Red
fields logical mind that the success
of the new economic plan adopted
early in the year is assured, and that
the war which at first appeared as
bird of prey turns out to be the bear
er of benefits and to come with heal
ing on its wings. The change in the
Tariff has not depressed business he
thinks, even though we had business
depression Immediately following its
going into operation, and that condi-
ton was intensified by the uncertain
ties of the early months of war. But
now that change has come he feels
that it justifies his assumption that
prosperity was on the way, waited
hither by the new Tariff arrangement
and is now driven in and clinched
by the orders for war material and
the surplus food which we have to
send abroad.
1t is a little singular that the war
which caused the business depression
should later have cured it,, as Mr..
Redfield seems to believe, but pro-
badly he finds warrant in the old
prescription of "a hair of the same
dog" to cure his bite. We are well
aware that there has been a quicken
ing in certain lines of trade and
commerce and we, of course. know
whence that impulse comes. More
over, we believe that it is a good
policy to make out of that improve
ment all that we legitimately can,
for we certainly need whatever of
benefit it will bring. We will make
hay while this incidental sun of un-
usual commercial activity shines up
on us. knowing that its beams may
not long coatinue to afford us ind rs
trial warmth and that when it pales
ia the dawn of peace we shall he
compelled to fall back upon our Cr-
binary ana everyday resources.
Notwithstanding the assistance
which the war has given to our trade
and commerce. there are still COM
plants of the lack of employment in
some of the cities, and one of sIr.
Redfield's fellow members of the Cab
met. Secretary Wilson of the Depart
ment of Labor, says that there are
more than $4,000 idle people in
New York City who have not been
yet supplied with work by the pre-
vailing prosperity which Secretary
Redfield sees SO plainly. We sincere
ly trust that the supplying of the
wants of the 100000 900 people of
this country who must after some
fashion be fed and clothed. will grad
ually bring back our home industries
upon a solid basis. even II II is not
SO fevertshly brilliant as the pros
perity from rush orders and double
shifts working night and day. We
shall make what we can Of that sort
of thing while 1t lasts. but we dis
trust its premanency and prefer the
more normal conditions which pos
sess the greater staying power.