The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-03-01
We Congratulate Mr.. Fordney.

Fordneys acts and poll
cies in frank and friendly spirit, and
when it disagreed with him it has not
hesitated to say 80. With many of his
political theories we are at variance,
but on the other hand. when he does
which The News believes is
for the best interests of Michigan and
its people. it likes to say so. 1t there
fore is a pleasure to commend Mr..
Fordney for the part he has taken be-
fore the Hardwick committee, which
has been investigating the sugar bust
ness, in protecting the beet sugar in
dustry of Michigan generally and the
Michigan Sugar company in particular
against what is to be regarded as an
unmerited and unwarranted attack.
Not only has Mr.. Fordney, after much
effort, persistence and patience, per-
suaded the committee to strike out all
reference in its report to tariff altera-
tions and other allegations held to be
inimical to the beet sugar industry, but
to eliminate carefully prepared as.
sault on the Michigan Sugar company.
This assault was in the form of a
charge that the Michigan Sugar COM
pany was an unlawful combination,
operating in violation of the antitrust
law, an accusation which The News is
convinced is without foundation and
which could be made only as the most
shameless of political pretenses. The
Michigan Sugar company is one of the
soundest and best managed corporations
in the state. The personnel of its man
agement is alone sufficient guarantee
of its integrity; IL such guarantee
were demanded. But the facts concern
ing its operations and the history of the
company give every assurance that IL
was organized for lawful and light
mate purposes, and that it is a law
abiding institution.
That the consolidate n of the owner
ship of the several factories which il
controls has been of benefit to the in
dustry, not only where the Michigan
Sugar company operates, but through
out the state, is perfectly clear to al
who are familiar with that industry
by combining their resources in the
interest of economy and in conformanct
to sound business principles, the own
ers of these plants haye created cor
poration which has brought grea
8 rength to the beet sugar industry il
Michigan and wholesome respect for il
all over the country. 1t has changed
the uncertainty regarding the fate o.
this industry few years ago into csr
tainty. 1t has made the manufacture
of beet sugar in Michigan permanen,
business. Wherever it operates it ha'
developed the business extensively. Il
has made improvements at every on,
Of its plants designed to make them
more efficient, to increase production
and to make the industry more valua
BILE to all interests concerned in it BY
utilizing to the fullest extent by-pro
ducts. 1t has brought increasing pros
perity to the farmers and to the Sag
inaw valley generally.
10 say that such q corporation, will
its record In the plain view of the pub
lie, controlling but minority Of TIT
beet sugar factories in Michigan, is al
illegal corporation aud is violating thu
law would not only seem to be absurd
but a grave reflection on we'll. man
aged and successful company, which
there is every reason to believe is mind
ing its business and behaving itself
We are glad the Hardwick committe
saw the wisdom of refraining from
what would have been gratuitou
and damaging attack and which coul
have been offered for no other than in
defensible political purposes. We ar
glad Mr.. Fordney was able to show
the error of its intention. We congrat
ulate him. He has performed an abb
and commendable service. -Sagina'
Daily News.
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