The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-07-31
THE OWOSSO TIMES
EDMUND o. DEWEY, EDITOR.
OWOSSO, FRIDAY, JULY 81, zoos

Some of the supporters of j. W. FitZ
gerald of st. Johns, have been tryins
to win votes for their candidates a
the primaries on September LIST, by
falsely claiming that Congressman
Fordney has not been an ardent sup
porter of Roosevelt policies. Sucf
claims are absolutely unfounded anC
unfair as Mr.. Fordney's votes in Con
gress show. Of course, as is vel
known, Congressman Fordney is q
man who has the courage of his cen
victions, he is not me to" politician
but strong, capable, thoughtful bust
ness man, who studies q subject, forms
his own conclusions, and votes as his
own conscience dictates. In one CT
two instances he did not see public
questions in just the same way as
President Roosevelt and when he did
not he had the manhood to vote ac-
oording to his judgement. For in
stance, President Roosevelt fought
hard to have congress appropriate
$12,000,000 for each of four battle
ships, making $4S,OO0,OOO that he rec.
commended congress to appropriate
last session to build battle ships.
Mr.. Fordney with his usual good
business judgement did not believe
that it was advisable for congress to
appropriate $48, 100000 for battle ships
at the present time when the eXpendi-
lures during the year already exceed
ed the receipts by S60,000,000, and he
took the position that two battle ships
were all that ought to be provided for
this year, in other words, he took the
baf he
ury could be saved S24, 100000 by only
building two battle ships this year in
stead of four and although President
Roosevelt tried hard to get enough
votes to provide for four battle ships,
the congress finally concluded in the
interests Of economy that two were
enough and Mr.. Fordney's ideas in
that regard prevailed. A congressman
with less lime in his spinal column
might have Immediately fallen into
line with Roosevelt's recommendation
in order to curry favor with the Presi-
dent, but Mr.. Fordney voted according
20 his own convictions and a majority
Of congress agreed with him.
Two other matters on which Mr. |
Fordney has not been in entire accord |
with the President were the matters
relating to Cuba and the Philip
pines. AS is well known, President
Roosevelt desires practically free
trade between Cuba and the United
States and the United States and the
Philippine Islands. He thinks that the
United States ought to continue to
help Cuba and the Philippines and that
the United States is big enough to
stand the drain for at least few
years more. Mr.. Fordney has taken
The position and consistently adhered
10 it, that the United States has done
enough for Cuba and enough for the
Philippine Islands and that there is no
reason why the United States should
longer continue to favor Cuba and the
Philippine Islands at the expense Of
he people of the United States. He
kinks that Cuba and the Philippine
Stands should now take care of them
'elyes and particularly that the inter-
,sts Of the beet growers of the United
states should not be jeopardized by
to Cuba the right to pour r
Is sugar into the United States with il
nut paying the regular duty for the +
'rfvilege. In other words, Congress- [
nan Fordney has been in favor of TAX h
ng care of the beet growers of Michi- b
AN and the other states first. He be- c
Ieyes that the duty of Congressman c
to look after his home industries o
lrst and as a matter of fact in the a
iatform adopted at Chicago at the e
rational Convention, the party has s.
one pretty nearly to Mr.. Fordney's "