Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-12-04
.FORDNEY STRONG
ON AMEk..lN|SM
Chairman of Ways and Means
Committee Spoke at the
GratiOt Club.
SPOKE ON PEACE TREATY
Other Important Matters, Including
Pending Legislation We're Taken
Up by Him.


were taken up Friday evening by the
Honorable Joseph w. Fordney, con-
/ gresham of the eighth district, and
chairman of the ways and means
committee in the lower house Of con-
gress, i'm his address to the members
of the Gratiot club. 1t held a vital in
terest for tht large audience that
greeted the lawmaker, and followed
his address with the greatest Of in
terest. SO strong was the impression
that Mr.. Fordney created that he
was made an honorably member IF
the club.
Following the Introduction to the
members of the club by K. l.. Smith,
president of the organization Con-
gresham Fordney stated that there
was no place under the stars and
stripes for members of the /. W. W..
for anarchy, or for Bolshevicism,
and questioned as to why some of the
radical leaders who had been sent to
Ellis Isle had not been deported. He
spoke of the congressional investi-
cation, which is now sitting this af-
fair to the bottom, with view of
promulgating such corrective meas
ures as may be needed.
The great cost of the war in lives
and in money, to the United States
and to the world was taken up brief
ly, and glowing tribute TO the
bravery Of the American soldiers.
was given when he told Of a speech
by a Frenchman recently, in which
the great work of the Americans in
driving the Germans out of the Ar
gonne was given, The Frenchman
had stated that the work of the
American soldiers in that district
must stand out as the greatest job
ever done on any battle field in any
war.
The peace treaty and the league of
nations was taken up, but details
could not be given in the address.
MIR. Fordney stated that he was sorry
that the treaty had failed but that
had he been in the senate, he could
not have voted for it because of the
fact that the league Of nations was
to his mind unconstitutional, as it
placed the war making power with
the league, and not with congress, as
is done by the constitution. He said
that the treaty would probably be
taken up again very soon, and that
if it did not then pass, congress un-
doubtedly would adopt the Lodge
resolution declaring the war at an
end. 1t was his hope. he said, that
his would come quickly, so that the
country might sooner get back to
lormal conditions.
Mr.. Fordney expressed himself as
against legislating to regulate prices,
and lower costs, as this could only
ome about through greater produc-
ion TO meet the demands. He gave
t as his opinion that high prices
would prevail for some time yet, as
here was evidently no immediate
prospect OF production increasing
to meet the demands for
PRODUCTS.
The need Of protective legislation
o take care of the produce rasers. {
vho constitute about one-third of ;
he people of the country, who must
OF only feed themselves. but the I
ther two-thirds: and to protect new !
and prevent unfair foreign v
ompetition. was also brought out. I
In giving his audience an idea of
he great cost Of the world war 10 n
ne United States Congressman Ford i
ey stated that during the past two G
ears one and one-half as much p
loney had been spent by the govern c
lent. as had been spent during all !
ne previous years Of the nations's o
fe. s
The need of doing something for
he returned soldiers was emphasized :.
rongly, and bill that Mr.. Fordney u
ecently introduced to this end was -
Doken of. II will carry a bonus of =
Loo per day for each day that each
IAN was in the service, and it was
r. Fordney's estimate that two bill \
on dollars would do this. y
In bringing his address to close " "
r. Fordney took up the matter of v
overnment ownership Of railroads, ic
lephone and telegraph lines. etc,
nd stated that he was very much
'posed to government ownership.
blowing a deep study of the ques- f.
on. He told of the great financial s
sses that the government had sus- m
ined through the taking over of the W
ilroads, telegraph and cable service, in
Id steamship lines during the war. w
Immediately following the close of m
e address motion was made and
laminously carried, making J. w. m
'rdney, congressman of the eighth in
strict, the first honorary member of or
e Gratiot club. tn
Previous to the address by Mr.. fl,
'rdney +. l.. Smith, the newly Ell
,cted president of the club, was in cl,
'duced by the retiring president,
M. Crooks. in few well chosen
'rds. I'll