The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-10-30

rom the Saginaw Courier Herald.

Mr.. Fordney Is Stand Patter.
From the Saginaw Courier Herald
Michigan has at least one congress
man who stands pat to the limit on tn
protective policy and principle of tn
party as applied to the building up 0
home industry. A few days ago a mem
Der of congress from the western par
of the state, and very able and infuen
tial member of the house, returned from
visit to the national capital and i'm
mediately gave it out that he did not in
tend to longer fight the ratification o
the Cuban reciprocity treaty, reducing
the tariff duties on sugar, in so far as it
approval rested in the action of tn,
house.
Joseph w. Fordney, representative o.
the Eighth district, comes home from 6
business trip, in the west and state.
squarely where he stands on the Cuban
tariff question. He says:
Il am going to fight the thing to the
end"
This is characteristic of Mr.. Fordney,
but it is in line with the principle and
platform declarations of the republican
party. Mr.. Fordney believes there is a
chance to win out, although he does not
minimize the strength of the opposition.
He believes, with many other republi-
cans, that the house can neither approve
or dislpprove of the Cuban reciprocity
measure, constitutionally, that under
the constitution all revenue measures
must originate by bill in the house. A
strong contest will be put up along
that line and if it fail the supreme court
will be asked to pass upon the constitu-
bionality of the treaty in 80 far as the
action of the house is concerned and the
jurisdiction of the senate in pushing
through revenue tariff measure in
violation of the express provision of the
organic law
Mr.. Fordney is consistent. He holds
to the principle of the republican party
from its foundation, that reciprocity in
competitive products by treaty is I'M
sound in principle, pernicious in prac-
tice and condemned by all experience.
He holds that it is contrary alike to the
principle of protection, to the fair treat
ment of domestic producers and to
friendly relations with foreign produc-
ers. He holds to the principle that it is
pernicious to reduce or injure the in
dustry of the country by removing the
protection to which the party in its
platforms at st. Louis in 1896 and again
in 1900 at Philadelphia pledged itself;
that it is not the true policy of republi-
cans who stand by the tenets of the
party to favor the admission under any
so.ealled reciprocity treaty of competi-
dive commodities in conflict with our
hone products, whether they consist of
sugar, tobacco, wool or any other home
product.
Mr.. FOrdney is consistent in the faith
that no commercial advantage can OBJ
lain by reciprocity treaties which would
offset the advantage of home production
by and through which we derive wealth.
He will make his objection to the ap-
prevail Of any resolution in the interest
Of the Cuban reciprocity measure on
constitutional ground, and the or
ganic law of the land specifically re-
quires that all legislation affecting
revenue shall originate in the house,
and his contention will be supported by
the fact that there is not an instance on
record where legislation affecting reve-
nne has originated in the senate and has
been subsequently approved by the
house. He will take the position, and
it is impregnable as to logic that it is
neither equitable, fair, nor politically
expedient that American farmers who
grow tobacco and sugar beets and the !
American labor and capital invested in
those industries should alone be select |
I'd to bear the burdens of Cuban reci- |
procity, the chief benefciaries of which |
would be trusts in the United States.
The constituents of Congressman |
Fordney, many of whom are vitality |
concerned in the development Of ), the
'ugar industry in this district and in |
Michigan, are to be congratulated |
,pon the fact that he will stand square
v upon the platform and ayOwed nrin
'iples of the party and oppose to the
md any expedient that is calculated to
njure the interests of those whom he
epresents in the halls of legislation.
Sugar Beet Joe" Fordney will stand
pat in opposing the approval by the
louse Of the proposed Cuban reciprocity
treaty. And he is everlastingly right
n doing so.