The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-07-03
ST. JOHNS NEWS RETRACIS
Humbly Acknowledges That il Wronged
Congressman Fordney by Attempting
10 Connect Him With West.
ern Land Frauds.
Now Admits Its Statement to be
"Wlthout Foundation In Truth"
The End Not Yet.

est OF the candluacy or d. w. FltZ'
! gerald for congressman from this
district made charges that Cong. Ford
ney had been engaged in some western
land transactions which were decidedly
shady and that certified copies of papers
relating to the same were in the hands
of members of his party to be used at
the right time in the campaign. I'm
mediately upon his return from Wash
ington after the adjournment of Con.
gress Mr.. Fordney made demand
upon the editor of the News for re-
traction of the statments contained in
the article referred to and in its last
issue the following strong apology and
complete denial of its former statement
appeared:
Since the publication of the above
article, Hon. Joseph w. Fordney has
demanded a retraction from us of all
| allegations and statements contained
| in the above article which in any way
reflect upon his integrity or reputa-
ton either as a representative in
congress or citizen, and that We
retract every allegation therein in
| any way indicating he had any con-
nection whatever with western land
| frauds. We are now satisfied that in
| the publication of the above article
we have done Mr.. Fordney a gross
and unwarranted injustice, and here
by publicly state that each, every and
all allegations contained in said ar
ticle that in any way reflect upon the
honesty, business integrity, reputa-
ton or character of Hon. Jos. w.
Fordney in any manner whatever, is
without foundation in truth, and we
give this retraction as prominent a
place in our paper as the article first
published had with view of MAX
ing our retraction as far-reaching as
possible.
Lew F. Cutcheon,
Editor and Publisher of the ST Johns
News, st. Johns, Mich.
Dated, st. Johns, June 22nd, 1908.
1t is now to be hoped that Cong.
Fordney will insist upon knowing who
it was that first gave the statement to
the News and that he will call the
party to account in a manner which
will long be remembered.
1t is stated that story to this effect
has been spread broadcast in this county
by parties who are attempting to push
the candidacy of Mr. Fordney's COM
petitor and to injure the former. 1t is
the lowest kind of political dishonesty
and anyone who will resort to such
trickery deserves to be rebuked by
being ostracized politically and Stunned
by all men who believe in fair play
and decency in politics.
Commenting upon the retraction of
the News the Saginaw Courier Herald
says:
A few weeks ago the st. Johns News
a weekly paper published in ST. Johns,
Clinton county, made vicious attack
upon Congressman Fordney, impugn-
ing his connection with business en-
wise making number of reckless
statements for the purpose of lending
whatever influence or assistance it
might give to the congressional can
didacy of j. w. Fitzgerald of that
county. This paper printed a number
of extra copies, which were marked and
distributed throughout the county and
district, evidently for the purpose of
embarrassing Mr.. Fordneys candidacy
and to assist Mr.. Fitzgerald
1t was a bold scheme to fool the
public and was nipped in the bud. Ev-
eryone knowing Congressman Fordney
appreciates that his career has always
been perfectly upright and honorable
and his name in business and personal
dealings is synonymous with honesty
and square. dealing. Evidently the st.
Johns News has lear ned that its con.
duct was unjust, for in this weeks
issue is printed full and abject re-
traction, generating Mr.. Fordney
from every inference or insinuation
made in its previous articles.
1t is possible that political writers,
who make it practice to misstate and
malign officials will regard the truth
hereafter, and avoid this humiliation.
The Press American says:
The publication of the original ar
ticle was unfortunate, since mud
singing has gone out of fashion in
decent politics, and was never indulg-
ed in or countenanced by Mr.. Ford
ney. His comment on Mr.. Fitzger-
aid, as it has been on opponents in |
the past, takes invariably this form: |
Mr.. Fitzgerald is a fine gentleman"
While Mr.. Fitzgerald was undoubt- J
edly not responsible for the article |
in the News, it cannot help but act |
somewhat as a boomerang. The in
cident is regretable, and the News |
did the handsome thing in making
Mr.. and Mrs. Clare Brewster were