The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-11-07
The Congressional Situation.

have smashed all precedents in the re-
election of Congressman Fordney for a
third term. Before Congressman Ford
ney ran for the first term the district
was regarded as an extremely doubtful
one His predecessor was a democrat
who had every expectation of defeat
ing Mr.. Fordney against whom he was
candidate for reelection. All con,
gressmen from this district proceeding
Mr.. Fordney had fallen by the wayside
either when nominated for the second
or the third term and while the names
of Linton, Bliss and Horr are associated
with the memory of good work done in
congress there is also the memory of the
democratic names of Youmans and
Brucker which somehow broke in on the
republican congressional history of this
district. The result had become that 1t
was thought impossible to elect repub-
lican congressman in the eighth dis
trict for more than two terms at the
outside while it was even regarded
doubtful whether a second term was a
safe thing to venture on. The resulting
standing of the district among other
districts at Washington can be better
imagined than described. 1t was felt
that this district would not return its
representative anyway, or at least not
more than once, and the positions of
importance on committees went some
where else. Two years ago when Con-
gresham Fordhey was reelected by a
majority much larger than the one he
had received the first time, signs of en-
couragement began to be seen and when
the time came for the nominations to
take place last summer his work had at
tracted so much attention to himself
and the district represented by him,
and was so eminently satisfactory
to his constituents that they threw
over the old two-term- enough boyle
with a cheerfulness quite marked
and nominated him for third term by
reclamation. The result has amply
justified their course. His majority in
this, an off year, is almost fifty per cent
greater than it was two years ago dur
ing presidential campaign, although
that too was over one hundred fifty per
cent greater than it was the first time.
The fact is that the people of this dis
trict have begun to realize that to get
the same sort of work done and to hold
the same important position in congress
that is held by other districts in the
state and in other states they cannot be
continually making changes no matter
how good men they may send each
time. The district now occupies
more commanding position in the eyes
of the country than it has ever held be-
fore because of It's action Tuesday in re-
electing Congressman Fordney for the
third term. Any person from the eighth
district going to any part of the United
States and most of all to Washington
finds at once that people, know who is
his congressman and appreciate what
he did for the country in his stands
against monopolistic privileges and
most of all in what he did for the beet
sugar industry in the United States.
The district has entered on new era so
far as its recognized political import
ance is concerned and while it is too
early to predict the successes which
Fordney will score for the
country, the state, the district, and
himself during the coming two years,
it is not too early to say that judging
by his past the next two years will show
a record that the district will be proud
to continue as long as Congressman
Fordney can be induced by the voters
of this district to continue it for them.
The old boyle relative to the impossible
ity of returning congressman from the
eighth district for more than one or two
terms has been dispelled. The district
should now have its eye on Congress-
man Fordney during his third term and
if his record is in harmony with the
splendid record which he has made in
his first two terms. or even as it has a
right to expect, still better, he should
be returned again and as long as he
gives the same better and better service
and brings the district into a more and
more important position in COMPRESSION
al councils and the eyes Of the country.
AnnroxImato 91uralIti0s