Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1915 — SECRETARY REDFIELD. [ARTICLE]

SECRETARY REDFIELD.

As an answer to the depressed gentleman who can see nothing but darkness ahead, the speech of Secretary Redfield, delivered in this city last night, is effective. For there can be no doubt that business is slowly improving. The secretary made few extravagant claims, though he seemed somewhat disposed to anticipate the good times that we all hope are coming. We believe that the president of the New York Stock Exchange, who was one of Mr. Red'field’s witnesses, was right when he said that “American business life is today built on more solid foundations than ever it was.” It is certain that the nation was extraordinarily successful in withstanding the shock of the European war. Nor can it be denied that the administration: was. very, helpful. We 'have heard no serious criticism of the policies that it adopted at that time, Nor do' we think that Mr. Redfield went top far when he said that the. new federal reserve law had been agn-.Ahelp.' No matter which party wins next year, it is not probable that that law will be repealed, or seriously • modified. It is well, too,, that the prophets of evil should have been reminded of the panic of 1907, Which came while a high tariff law was in force. Surely people can not have: forgotten the hard times of the winter of 1907'1908. But there is one thing that, all—. except the professional croakers — agree in, and that is in hoping for the complete return of prosperity. The manufacturers and.business men are doing their utmost to make it a reality. There are no people who are deliberately working and. plotting against the well-being of the country. In view of our past history, it is surprising that there have been so few attempts to hold the new tariff responsible—or at least solely responsible—-for the depression from which we have suffered. On the contrary our manufacturers seem to be developing a spirit of self-reliance that promises much for the future. Of course the administration can not “wish'' prosperity on the cbuntrj That must come from hard work and intelligent management, and from a courageous utilization of opportunities that are opening on every side. If, as is believed, men are today counting on these things more than on tariffs, the fact is one of great significance.— Indianapolis News. '