The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-03-27
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New York.-William C. Redfeld,
secretary of commerce in President
Wilson's cabinet, has written human
document, an analysis of Washington
life. and complete description of how
the United States government oper-
ates. He calls his book with Con-
gress and Cabinet" Doubleday Page
& Co. Many people, who now lack
knowledge about their government at
Washington really want to know how
it is operated. But they hate to wade
through dry expositions on the sub
ject. For those, we recommend with
Congress and Cabinet" Redfeld's
description is entertaining yet concise
and only in a few pages does he seem
to allow some vague prejudice to dis
color his views. ...s .ds
Mr.. Redfeld did not devote his en-
tire work to eulogy of the late
President Wilson. In the main it is
"a description or exposition of the ma.
chinery of government. But he does
write of Wilson and helps to picture
him in a light little known by the
masses.
among the minor mistakes that
have been charged against Mr.. Will
son is that of being so opinionated
as to domineer over his associates"
Redfeld writes. $50 far as my own
experience goes, he sought earnestly
and with much patience for facts
which he weighed long and well. His
mind was open to truth from what
ever source it came
: with Congress and Cabinet" Incl
dentally, is the first work Of any of
Wilson's official family to come from
the press since the late presidents
death.
The book is spotted, happily, with
amusing incidents. During the war, an
inventor produced an all-metal air
plane and the president was asked to
see it at the Bureau of Standards.
With his wife the president journey
ed to the bureau one Sunday The
custodian had misunderstood orders
and the party was locked out.
Redfeld writes
A hasty search found an unfastened
window, and this served as a sufficient
entrace for the president and his wife.
l have always enjoyed the recollection
of the president of the United States
and the First Lady of the Land climb
ing in through half-opened window
rather than fail to carry out the pur-
pose of their visit"
Redfeld was Brooklyn IN. W
manufacturer before entering official
life. He is not, primarily, politician,
and in his book gives away many little
tricks of politicians, for which the
Washington gentlemen will not thank
him.
81 went one day to the Appropria-
tions Committee with the usus@ esti-
mate for an established service. |
received no criticism of the amount
asked Nevertheless the chairman
said:
We've got to make this bill small.
Therefore, we can't allow you the full
amount. You want, say, million and
quarter. We will give you 100000
now, and you come around next De-
cember for deficiency for the bal
ance."
The theory, of course, was that
the annual bill to which public at
tention was directed would be reduced
by considerable sum and that no one
would notice the deficiency bill in the
hurry of the short session later in the
year after election"
This is but one of the many secrets
of politicians Redfeld betrays.
Redfeld slaps the Washington
correspondents for placing
too much emphasis on the political
side of our government, which, he
says, concerns perhaps 10 per cent of
our government activities" He thinks
a press agent Che calls him govern
ment editor") should be appointed to
correctly give out information con-
corning the operations of the routine
machinery He thinks the spirit of
antagonism to the government is due
to ignorance of the wonderful bene-
fcence that our government brings to
bear on every life
Outside of his bitterness for gov
eminent red tape, which he acknowl-
edges, Redfeld seems to vent his
anger on the press. 1t SO happens this
writer has worked as correspondent