The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-01-12
FORDNEY HEARD
IN THE HOUSE
Saginaw Congressman Vigor-
ously Opposed the Tariff
Measure.
SAID WAYS AND MEANS
WAS a PACKED JURY
Declares the Pending Bill is in
the Interest OF the Sugar
Trust.
Special to the Saginaw Courier Herald.

Special to the Saginaw Courier Herald.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 5.-Repre-
sentative Fordney spoke in the house
for an hour and fifty minutes this af-
ternoon in opposition to the pending
Philippine tariff reduction bill He
spoke extemporaneously, having copi-
Gus data, but not a prepared speech,
and he did himself and district he rep
resents great credit. He held the clos
est attention of every member in the
house until the last sentence had been
uttered, and made most favorable
impression upon republicans and demo
Gratis alike. At the close of his speech
he received hearty congratulations from
many members, who crowded around to
shake his hand.
REPUBLICAN PARTY PLEDGES
Mr.. Fordnev said at the outset that
he wanted to announce his unqualified
opposition to the measure, which he
styled ''the Philippine free trade bill. -
He had, he said, always understood that
the republican party, to which he be-
longs, stood for protection to American
industries, and in support of that be.
lief he quoted from the republican
national platforms of 1896 and 1900,
wherein the party pledged itself to foster
the sugar and all other American indus
tries "Have they done it?" he asked.
He was Disguised at the talk about
reciprocity and did not believe those
who talk it really know the meaning
of reciprocity as advocated by Blaine
and Mckinley. When he accepted
nomination for congress from his dis
trict he pledged himself to support
the republican platform, and now he
proposes to stand for its support if he
stands alone as 4 the last man in con
gress to oppose the pending measure
Mr.. Fordney told how the beet sugar
industry grew by leaps and bounds in
Michigan, as elsewhere, until the Gu
ban reciprocity measure was enacted
and how it has languished since and
how many factories have been aban
doned or torn down. In support oil
his statements he gave many fact:
and figures regarding the various fac
tories in Michigan.
COMMITTEE WAS A PACKED JURY.
Mr. Fordney denounced the recent
hearings given by the ways and mean:
committee to the beet sugar interests
as useless waste of time, because the
committee was "a packed jury" before
the hearing began. The pending bill
he said, is in the interest of the sugar
trust, which he termed hydra ahead
ed, damnable institution" which, il
order to cripple the beet sugar interests
has bought half interest in six Mich
gan factories and third interest il
another.
Representative Payne was severely
scored for his criticism of the testi
mony of Messrs. Hathaway and Hum
phrey and Mr.. Fordney vigorously de
Tended them both as honorable and fail
men and good citizens, whose wore
could always be relied upon.
In reply to question by Chairman
Payne regarding what Mr.. Humphrey
had said about alcohol made from by
products of sugar factories, Mr.. Ford
ney said: "Mr. Humphrey is not al
alcohol expert, but lawyer and {
mighty good one, too, and would lik'
to come to congress sometime.
eff you want to do something t.
benefit the American farmers" sale
Representative Fordney, toward TIT
close of his able and instructive speech
put this bill in the waste basket as sooi
as God will let you do it, and then re
peal the Cuban reciprocity law"
HoSKINS.