New-York tribune., 1919-09-06
Secretary of Com m cree
Sends Resignation to Pres
ident, but Will Not Retire
sahln
From Post Until October
Denies Friction Is Cause
Brooklynite Says He Plans to
ssRe-enter Business World:
No Definite Arrangements

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5.-William c..
Redi'eld, Secretary of Commerce, has
rendered his resignation to President
Wilson and it has been accepted, ef-
fective November /. This was an
nounced to-day officially.
MIR. Redfeld- in announcing his
resignation said he found it necessary
to give immediate attention to personal
business affairs, adding that he was
anxious to return to private life after
spending more than eight years in
Washington
The Secretary said he wrote Presi-
dent Wilson August asking him to
accept his resignation as of October
To-. When he found the President was
to be away on his speaking tour during
September he agreed to remain until
the last of October.
Sequel of Hines Dispute
Announcement of Mr.. Redfield's resie-
nation did not come as surprise
Since his disagreement with Director
General of Railroads Hines regarding
prices for steel several months ago it
nad been almost common gossip that
he contemplated early retirement from
the Presidents Cabinet.
President Wilson was in Europe
when Mr.. Rediield, with the approval
OF the Executive, set up a board to
agree upon fair prices for necessities
With a view to stimulating production.
MIR. Hines refused to accept the price
for. steel agreed upon between the
board and the industry, contending
that it was too high. The controversy
hnaliy was referred to the President
at Paris. No formal announcement of
the result was made, but soon after
ward the board was dissolved and Mr.
Hines proceeded to buy steel for the
railroad administration in the open
market on competitive bids.
Mr.. Redfeld denied that his resigna-
tlon was the result of friction between
himself and other administration Off
cials.
Denies Any Dispute
a. "My esignation," he says. ''is not
TIC result of any quarrel, disagree
-ment, chagrin or any other unpleasant
occurrence, but is caused solely and
entirely by my desire to return to busi-
ness and give my attention once more
10 my personal affairs, which for more
than ight years have been subord-
mated o the public interests"
There was little gossip to-day as to
the probable successor to Mr.. Redfeld
SO far as could be learned the Presi-
dent had not expressed any views 20
his advisers.
Discussing his resignation. Mr.. Red
field said he had made no plans for
tho ~im mediate future. but was consd-
crlns several business opportunities
He said that upon leaving Office he
wor'j return 30 New York City, but
probably would not be identified with
business interests with which he was
allied before coming to Washington.
Is Resident of Brooklyn
M Ecdficd has been resident
Of Brooklyn since 1888. and as rep
rcsentativc Of the Fifth District of
that borough stepped from Congress
into office as Secretary of Commerce
when Mr.. Wilson was inaugurated.
His congressional term had ended the
previous midnight, and he had not
been ronominated by the Democratic
managers of Brooklyn
1t is said Mr. Wilson was attracted
toward Mr.. Redfield by his views on
downward tariff viss1on, formulated on
the basis OF his experience as a manu-
facturer and a student of world com
mevce. Prior to the 1912 conventions
M. Redficld was an open candidate for
the Democratic Vice President NOM
inat;on, but did not receive much at
tention from party leaders.
Mr. Rcdfield was born In Albany in
1873, and was educated at Plttsfield,