The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-12-01
A BUSINESS LIKE POSITION.


Representative Fordney Expresses Views
which show a Liberal and Broad yet
Safe and Even Conservative Policy.
The Sunday Free Press contained state
msnts from number of the different repre-
sentativeS and the senators from Michigan
as to their respective positions on certain
important issues now before the American
people. These were divided under three
heads: 1st, financial Legislation, End,
Trust Legislation, Sd, The Conduct of the
War, and Legislation for the colonies es.
peciaIly Cuba and Porto Rico.
In discussing the subject Of financial
legislation 1t Is easy to see that Mr.. Ford
ney is inclined to the belief that the people
at large are beginning to lose their fear for
the gold standard under which we have just
experienced such prosperity, and that they
are coming to point where they may even
demand Its continuance to keep the money
which the American laborer has to receive
for his days work the equal of the money
paid to any other worker on earth.
The position taken on trusts shows that
he fully realizes the distinction which must
be made between the great corporations
which are the legitimate growth of our time
and are organized to lessen the expense of
production, and must therefore benefit both
employers and employees, and those which
a-e organized to throttle trade.
The position on the last question Is care.
fully taken with the full realization that
America has had wonderful opportunity
for commercial progress opened up before
her, coupled also with q wonderful oppor.
tunity for extending the blessings of good
government and enlightenment to down
trodden race. The position on Cuba Is ex.
plicit and realizes the necessity of our keep.
ing faith with the world In the position we
took at the beginning Of the war. The
letter to the Free Press is as follows:
Editor of The Detroit Free Press:
favor the kind of financial legislation
which makes the money Of America equal
to the best In the world. If.the gold stand
ard Is required to do this, then favor that
standard. The good times experienced 10
the past two years under the gold stand
ard have undoubtedly taught the people at
large to put faith In in 1t, instead of being
fearful of predicted bad results.
When trusts prove oppressive to either
the laboring man or the consumer their
powers should be curbed or crushed. When,
by consolidation OF forces and the minmiz.
ing OF expenses, corporations are enabled
to, and do divide the benefits arising from
amalgamation with the laboring man by
Increasing his wages aud with the consumer
by reducing the level of prices, or improv-
Ing the quality of their product, then trusts,
30 called, are not Objectionable.
favor carrying out the original PROPOSE
tion in regard to Cuba, until majority Of
the natives make demand for annexation,
which, in my opinion, will be at no distant
date. and Is desirable. Porto Rico, and
possibly the Philippines, should be gov
ernei similar to Alaska. The conduct of
the war has my endorsement. 1t was forced
upon US unexpectedly and the mistakes
that were made were soon lost in q laby
rinth OF brilliant achievements and amidst
an array Of world renowned heroes.
The control of the Philippines by the
United States, In my judgmt nj, means
greater benfts to America and Americans
than now lies In our power to conceive Of.
As SION as affairs there become normal and
che intelligence of the islands Is permitted
to assert itself then will the people realize
what unthought-of benefits will accrue by
being linked to the foremost nation on the
globe. As this realization spreads, helped
on by American enterprise, the manufacture
Ing interests of this country will avail
themselves of the many opportunities pre-
sented. whereby our trade can be enlarged
and our Importance expanded.
Thus has war forced upon us and pros.
ecutedsin the interests Of civlliz alton, pre-
scented the century's greatest opening for
commercial development and long contin.
ued prosperity. With Aguinaldo's end in
sight this condition is near ct hand.
The foregoing, taken with the continue
ton of the protective policy and the
prospective construction of the Mica.
ragua canal, present to the laboring
and business men Of this country such q
rosy outlook for an extensive period OF com.
merc,al supremacy as was never In sight
before. J. w. FoRDNEY.
J Sale-Pair of heavy horses, one Berk-
shi oar, some young pigs. on lrlaud farm