Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-11-01
HON. J. ". fORDNEY
ADDRESSED MEN
HERE SATURD DAY
IS CONFIDENT THAT REPUBLI-
CAN TICKET WILL BE VIC
TORIOUS

Congressman Joseph w. Fordney
sf the eighth district spoke to a good
crowd at Hotel Belding Saturday af-
ternoon at one o'clock. Mr.. Ford
oey was in his usual good humor and
presented the campaign issues, as he
viewed them, in a sane and logical
manner. He touched especially on
he. Adamson so-called eight-hour
hw, showing it up as a campaign US
sue. He said that the railroad men
did not go to congress and ask for
the wage increase, neither did they go
10 Wilson. But rather Wilson saw
h the issue chance to turn the thing
INTO a campaign issue and possibly
b secure votes by doing it. Wilson
therefore asked the men and the road
hangers to come to him and let him
settle the strike.
Mr.. Fordney asserted that it was
sot an eight-hour work day the men
we're wanting but more pay. He
pointed out the fact that many of the
men. are now making a days run in
from five to six hours and drawing a
full days pay. If the eight-hour law
k sustained by the courts" he said,
II imagine the railroads officials will
see that their men work a full eight
Ike the eight-hour law since they
have got it. But it is not really an
sight-hour law 1t is a law giving
certain few trainmen twenty-five
per cent increase in pay. They get
ben hours pay for eight hours work.
Then they get time and one-half for
overtime. The working schedule is
sut from twelve and one-haf miles
on hour TO ten miles an hour. Hence
1t will require the men more hours to
make their runs and hence their pay
will be much larger.
al would not object to the eight
hour law it is was made for all work
men. But it is class legislation in
favor of only twenty per cent of the
men employed by one particular in
sustry. 1t is class legislation in fav-
or of the highest paid workmen in the
world. How about the freight hand
lers, the section hands, the yard men
and others? How about the men en-
Dloyed in all other lines of business?
Where do they come in?
"The thing we most need in this
sountry is protection to American
labor. The industries of the United
States must be protected so they can
pay a living wage to the workmen
employed. What good is cheap mer-
Ahandise unless a man has job from
which he gets enough money to pay
for the merchandise he wishes to
buy? Suppose you let the bars down
and permit foreign countries to flood
the markets of the United States with
cheap goods. How is the laboring
employee is unable to pay him legi-
innate wage?
"You have heard the story about
the old man who was placed with his
head to the west in his grave. The
story reminds me of Wilson You
know some people came past that
grave and asserted that the man
would be compelled to get up in his
grave nda turn around when Gabriel
came from the east. yes, but he is
Woodrow Wilson," said one of the
party, he can shift his position at
any time Now do you think a man
who statistics show has taken over
$50 different positions on 240 distinct
issues in the past three and one-half
years, is a safe man to continue in the
White House. I say no, and every
sane thinking man says no. Don't
YOU know we can give the Democrats
the solid South which they claim,
and seven of the northern states that
are thought to be doubtful, and still
whip them on November q? There
has never been republican president
elected without the solid support of
New York and every time New York
goes for republican president he is
elected. And New York is going
solid and strong for Hughes on Nov
ember 4. and sure he viii be elected" "
Following the address here Fordney
and rest of the republican candid
ztes were driven to Saranac for a
meeting and finally to Portland for