The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-04-16
PROTECTION JOE


(From the Gratiot County Herald.
The other day a good farmer said
in the hearing of the writer, "Down
here we have it in for Congressman
Fordney." When we said, "Why?"
he replied, Because he has not done
anything to get an increased tariff for
the bean raisers of Michigan" When
asked where he got his information
he said from Michigan Business
Farmer"
We can think of nothing more rio
iculous than the Michigan Business
Farmer, a paper owned and controll-
ed by Grant Slocum, a well known
Democrat and free trader, criticising
Joe Fordney for not being protec-
zionist. Such an attack on a congress
man who is known the world over as
one of the most ardent protectionists
should at once arouse suspicious of
the motives of those who attack him.
Mr.. Fordney has explained frankly
through the press of the entire state
that there are three bills before his
committee for an increased tariff on
beans and the only reason one of these
bills or substitute for all of them
has not been reported out is because
the democrats of the committee vot-
ing solidly with the republicans men,
bers from the large cities have been
able to defeat such action.
Piecemeal tariff legislation is al
ways difficult to secure. By this we
mean legislation designed to raise the
tariff on single article without ref
ierence to other articles. This is es-
pecially true when the article in ques-
ton is an article of food and raise in
tariff is supposed to effect directly the
cost of the article. AS these bills,
any one of which would product the
desired tariff on beans, are already
before Mr.. Fordney's committee,
would it not needlessly confuse the
matter and tend to lessen the chance
of legislation for Mr.. Fordney to put
in another bill?
The assertion that che gave up and
laid down on the job" coming from a
source that is opposed to any protec-
tion as a policy, ought not to be re-
garded seriously. Why do free trad
ers attack Fordney? Simply because
he is the foremost champion of pro-
lection in the nation. They are trying
to- lessen his influence andamislead
those who should be his staunchest
friends. - - -....,
Whenever you hear an honest man
say Joe Fordney is "lying down on
the tariff job" you may conclude that
he does not know Joe as he should
or he would never have given a sug-
gestion second thought.
Whenever you see such a statement
in any newspaper or magazine, just
ask yourself, is this paper FRIEND
or an ENEMY of the Protective poll
cy advocated by the Republican par
ty? Have you ever seen single edi-
torial in this paper advocating a pro-
tective policy? In fact have you
ever seen in it good square endorse
ment of protection in any form unless
it. was for the evident purpose of dis
crediting an advocate of protection?
Farmers of Gratiot County, we
don't believe you are going to allow
yourselves to be deceived by any per-
son or paper which tries to make you
believe that Joe Fordney is not a
from the crown of his
head to the soles of his feet or that
he ever "laid down" on any job whose
purpose was to secure better tariff
conditions for the farmers of the
eighth district, the state and the ma
ton. Fordney's other name is "Pro-
lection joe"
Why do all the Wilson Democrats
want the Republicans to nominate
Hoover?
When Congress discards the poll
cies of Washington for those of Will
son it should erect Wilson monu-
ment twice as high as that standing
at the National capital in honor Of
the Father of His Country.
National Republican = Attorney
General Palmer's scheme of stopping
the high cost of living by talking it
to death seems to be working about
like all the other administration rem
edies for what ails us.
Philadelphia North American-Is it
possible that politically Mr.. Hoover is
one of those, light GLOVES that could
be happy with either were t'other
dear charmer away?