The Owosso times., 1920-05-07

in behalf of the Osborne bill and ex-
presses the hope that "other men,
bers of the committee (the Ways and
Means) will soon show as friendly
an attitude as Mr.. Fordney."
Just why this frank statement of
fact by Mr.. Osborne should be dis
credited and the letter of Mr.. Garner
| Texas Democrat who acknowledges
that he "has not recently heard any
thing of the proposed bean tariff bill,
and does not know Mr.. Fordney's in
tentions or purposes" and that "it is
seldom that Democrats participate in
framing legislation of this kind"
should be featured as a contradiction
of Osborne undoubtedly Editor Lord
can explain, but it strikes us that
congressman like any other man is
entitled to be judged rather by the
| testimony of those who DO know than
those who confess that they do NOT,
rather by his own promises and life
long attitude toward protection legis-
lation than by reasons which Mr.. Lord
says he "can surmise."
In short Mr.. Garner, a political op-
ponent of Mr.. Fordney, who evidently
is not in favor of this or any other
"pop gun bill" as he calls it, except
for political purposes, is Mr.. Garner
to be given full credit as having set
tied the whole matter, when he frank
ly confesses he does not know.
Why should his word be accepted
and Osborne's repudiated. The latter
knows, the former does not know,
which in all justice should be ac-
cepted.
Of course, Herald readers will
readily see how our good friend, Lord,
lodges the general question on pro-
tective tariff.
We inquired, "Have' you ever seen
a single editorial in this paper advo-
eating protective tariff ?"
In reply Mr.. Lord tells how he
went down to Washington to get a
bean tariff bill through, good. But
does the statement that the editor
tavors bean tariff constitute an edi-
torial for the protective policy? We
maintain that no man is good pro-
tectionist who wants tariff on HIS
products, but is NOT willing that his
neighbor who may need protection as
much as he, shall also have tariff.
Brother Lord certainly does NOT
claim that editorials advocating a
protection on beans, pearl buttons or
any other one or half dozen commodi-
ties prove that the author favors
general policy of protection to
American industry.
There seems to have been a studied
effort in the discussion of this great
question to convey the idea that 9TH
ers ii. e. the pearl button, zinc, tung-
stein and dye stuffs, manufacturers
have "got what they want" while the
farmers have not.
1t is not true that any of these bills
have passed congress, yet there are
thousands of people who, carelessly,
perhaps, but none the less certainly,
have been led to think that these acts
are now laws. All the difference be-
| tween these special bills and the bean
bill is that they were passed by the
House and are now in the Senate
| which is at present q tie politically.
Whatever Mr.. Lord or Pres. Geo.
Slocum or Director Grant Slocum
may think of Mr.. Fordney personally,
whatever grievances if any, any OF
! them may have against him, certainly
they think he is gifted with some
degree of common sense and regard
for the future of his acts or failure
to act.
The assumption, then, that he has
| framed up sort of conspiracy
against the bean growers who consti-
tute probably three-ffths of his con-
stituents in the eighth district, is
ridiculous. They insinuate that while
he willingly lends his aid to pearl but
tons and zinc manufacturers who can
be of no possible service to him po-
litically, he deliberately sets up the
pins to beat the bean tariff.
Can you imagine anything more
prepostrous?
There is but one sequel that we can
see to Mr.. Lords attitude, "Beat Ford
ney." If not, why all this propagan-
da? Beat him for nomination if pos
sible, if not, then take sweet revenge
and beat him for election.
If you beat him for nomination.
what do not get? No one knows, but
to say the least an inexperienced
man. Can new man be any more
protectionist than Mr.. Fordney?
Can he accomplish any more at the
tail of some unimportant committee
than ]. w. FOrdney at the head of the
most powerful committee in con-
gress? If you beat him at the polls
you eject a Democrat. What can he
do for you, my friend? Don't you
know that such a course would help
to prevent any sort of protection leg
islation
The Herald has no animus against
Mr.. Lord. He has visited us here
several times and we like him very
much personally. We had no person
al feeling against Mr.. Slocum when
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