The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1915-06-10
Washington Letter

oil politica, afIiliation, manifest a will
ingness 20 stand by the president in
any aggressive action for the protection
Of American interests and for the main
tenance OF national honor in foreign
affairs, there is everywhere evident a
determination not TO let matters Of this
kind cloud or permanently displace the
discussion Of economic problems,
Democratic leaders realize that the
people will not abandon domestic issues
because Of temporary foreign problems.
Secretary Of Commerce Redfeld recog-
nized thls when he declared at Indian
apolis that the Democratic party had
brought the county through the most
terrible commercial shock in its history
and landed her safe and strong upon
the peaceful shores Of prosperity and
influence"
Hi, declaration is taken as a throw
ing down Of the guanilet to the Repub-
lican party and a challenge upon that
issue. His remark necessarily directs
attention 10 the great commercial shock
which this country suffered immediate
ly after the election OF Grover Cleve
land in 1892. He practically de
clared that the commercial shock which
this county suffered Immediately after
the election OF Woodrow Wilson is
more terrible shock than that which
was suffered after the election Of Grover
Cleveland. While this comparison is
one which it is needless to discuss so
far as the intensity Of the shock is con
cerned, most business men realize that
there is such close similarity that even
a democrat could not avoid discussing
the two catastrophes in connection
with each other.
But issue will be taken with Secre'
tary Redfeld's assumption that the
democratic party has landed the
country safe and strong upon the
peaceful shores Of prosperity" Busi-
ness men know that whatever degree
Of prosperity has been regained subse
quent to the terrible commercial
shock" 10 which Mr.. Redfeld refers
has Teen due 10 the enormous demands
for American products created by the
war in Europe. Every American farmer
who sold his wheat last fall and winter
for anywhere from $1.25 to Sl,50 per
bushel knows exactly why he got the
increased price. There is no Amer
ican farmer stupid enough to be misled
into the belief that it was the demo
cratic party that brought him this poT
ton Of prosperity. Every country
merchant who sells goods to the farmer
knows that when the farmer pays his
bill he is paying it largely with money
received from the purchasers OF wheat
in the warring nations OF Europe.
Every manufactures who is selling
goods 10 the merchants knows that the
merchants small portion OF regained
prosperity comes indirectly through
the farmer who sold his wheat at an
abnormally nigh price because Of the
great demand from Europe where war
had made production entirely made.
quate 10 the needs for immediate con.
sumption. Every producer Of raw
material who supplies the manufacturer
has sense enough TO know that the
manufacturer renewed activity is due
10 dtmlnds for his products ior export
to Europe, or is due to that increased
price which the farmer got Tor his
wheat.
When Secretary Redfeld asserted
that his party had thought the country
safe and strong through the most ter
rible commercial shock" which that
party had brought upon this country,
he not only threw down the gauntlet to
the republican party but challenged
the intelligence Of every American
citizen and invited a discussion Of the
accuracy Of his statement. While
s1me democrats would now like to
avoid a discussion OF economic prob
lens, this statement by Secretary Red
field, wlo has gone cut over the coun-
try as a defender Of the political acts
Of the ptesen, adminis,ia, on, makes it