The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-11-04
Tho Reelection of Congressman
Joseph w. Eordney.

The reelection of Congressman
Joseph w. Fordney occurs next Tuesday
To hundreds of friends of the congress
man one of the most enjoyable events
of election day will be the casting of
their votes for the able and genial con-
gresham, who is admitted on all sides
to he one of the most influential members
of congress and who has redeemed this
district from the columns of the doubt
full districts in Michigan. And the
pleasure is not going to be confined to
republicans in this election either.
While there has never been a more
answering republican congressman
sent from Michigan to the national
house of representatives than Joseph
Warren Fordney yet at the same time
there has never been sent congress
man who had the respect of his demo.
crat colleagues to as great an extent as
he. Genial, with always story which
fits into the situation little better than
any which any other person can tell, he
has made himself liked by almost every
congressman in the capital, republican
and democrat alike, until it has become
a common saying that if there are any
favors which the republican members
wish from the democrats, Fordney is
the man to send after them. And the
hundreds of friends of Mr.. Fordney
about this county and the entire district
do not have to be told the reason why,
1t is indeed not at all strange that Joe
Fordney should be one of the best liked
men in public life in Washington for he
is, without trying to be So one of the
most likeable men there. Sturdy and
absolutely unmoveable from the position
which he believes is the right one, he
nevertheless has the warmest considera-
ton for his opponents and unless he
has reason to believe that they are in
sincere in their statement of their posi-
tions he is one of the most generous OPP
ponents, and yet one of the most untir-
ing. But if he has reason to doubt the
oihSCiiof u ehy OPPOhOho WOO 10 UNIV
him. The attack is then one to be long
remembered by the man so unfortunate
as to be pitted against him and he is
lucky man indeed who does not get the
laughter and derision of the house turn
ed on him by the quick, witty sallies of
the congressman from Michigan.
In his own district the same generous
disposition is always in evidence in
every campaign. No one hears any
thing said of anything in one of Con-
gresham Fordney's speeches or in his
conversation which would hurt the
feelings of single one of the honest
democrat voters of the district. If the
democratic policies which he discusses
are bad, so bad that even the democrats
of this district should be ashamed of
them, they do not find him berating
them for what they are not to blame
for His consideration for their feelings
has brought things to point where
many democrats of the district rightly
feel that they have almost as great
personal claim on Congressman Fordney
as do the republicans themselves. And
they are right too as many have already
found out to their own pleasure. The
district never had so entirely represen-
tative and so democratic a congressman
as Mr.. Fordney and the democrat who
goes to him with any request for in
formation or help is as readily accorded
all the assistance within his power as
would be one of his warmest personal
friends.
In the matter of fastening and ex
tending the benefits among the farmers
of his district and the entire country of
the free rural delivery system there has
been no more tireless worker in congress.
Not only has he labored necessarily to
get as near a complete service for his
own district as is possible but he has al
ways been in favor of the payment of
salary which would command the SER
vices of men to whom any person would
be willing to trust their mail. His APP
probation of the benefits of thefree de-
livery to the farmers of the country and
the hard work which he is constantly
doing to perfect the service is in mark
ed contrast to the course pursued by
the entire democratic party which re-
fused to establish the service because
they believed, without trying.it, that it
would not be success. Years from the
present time the work done during
these years to aid in the establishment
of rural delivery on permanent basis
will continue to be commented on and
appreciated.
Another matter of vital interest to
the district and the state which is still
hanging in the balances is the beet
sugar industry. There has not been
more staunch supporter Of this most
purely American industry in America
than Congressman Fordney, Sugar
Beet Joe, as they have called him. In
the years to come, if the American peo-
pie do not permit the gigantic sugar
truet to throttle This MAGNIFICENT new