Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-09-28

MEET FRENCH
MEETING is HELD
WEDNESDAY, NIGHT AT THE
REX THEATER
DISCUSSED NATIONAL PROBLEMS
Tells OF Accomplishments and Con-
structiye Policies OF Congress.

The address of Congressman Burton
L. French, the republican nominee for
reelection, given at the Rex theatre
last Wednesday evening. was heard by
an enthusiastic audience that nearly
filled the theatre although the weather
was threatening and prevented many
from attending.
Congressman French is very popu-
lar in Boundary county and he spent
q busy day here meeting old friends
and folks who desired his help in an
official way. He was the guest of
local people at noon at luncheon
held at the international banquet
room and in the afternoon he adj
dressed the students of the high
school,
Major w. s. Walker was master OF
ceremonies at the noon luncheon and
presided at the meeting in the evening
Congressman Frenchs speech was
confined largely to the congressional
record of the last four years and was
replete with figures and facts. He
showed that while the democratic
candidate for president had criti-
cized from the stump the last con-
bltSN as tAtIdNdSt0ls lnt republican
congress had saved the nation from
adding to its national debt and in fact
cut it down three-quarters of a billion,
while If il had given President Wilson
and the democrat office-holders what
they had asked it would have been
two billions in excess of the final fig
ure and represented an increased ma
tional debt by one and a quarter bill
lions.
Congressman French stated that lie
/ had voted for the Esch- Townsend
bill on its final passage though not
entirely in accord with its every feat
ure. He discussed the Plumb plan
bill at length and indicated wherein
it did not appeal to the majority OF
members. He explained that it would
take from twelve to nineteen billions
of the taxpayers money to buy the
railroads; that the classified group
of railroad workers would appoint five
of the national board the official
railroaders five and that the president
would appoint five. giving the rail-
roads a voice of ten. The country
was to be divided into districts and
the governors of these districts in
turn named, one-third by the classi-
fled group of railroaders, one-third by
the official group and one-third by the
national board of governors. thus
turning over to the railroad employees
the whole district government. The
Plumb plan made provision that the
adjudication of wages board should
comprise one-half membership ap-
pointed by railroad employees and one
half by the governors, which would
make all questions of wages passed
on by the directing power of the en-
ployes themselves. Mr.. French ques-~
toned the right of one side to the
controversy having the power to ad-.
judicate their own affairs. Mr. French
said that he opposed the government
of railroads as a general principle.
The railroads, if government owned,
would pay no taxes and the railroads
now were heavy taxpayers. In Idaho
they paid 20 per cent of the taxes on
an average and in some of the coun-
ties they paid one-third of all the
taxes, state, county and school. The
railroads could conduct their affairs
much cheaper than could the govern
ment and pay their taxes besides and
the idea that fares and freight rates
would be reduced in sufficient amount
to make up for the amount paid by
the railroads in taxation under pri-
vate ownership was a fallacy
Congressman French touched upon
the Capper-French Truth in Fabric"
bill now before congress and said that
it had received the endorsement of
three state political platforms, 40 or
ganizations, and had caused more
public movements in its favor of any
contemplated congressional action
: since the pure food law was enacted.
He explained the use of shoddy in the
I manufacture of "all wool" garments
I and that the bill with which his name
was associated would mean that the
purchaser of wooden goods would be
! given the right to know the amount OF
n virgin wool in the articles he bought
r 1t was a protection to the retail mer-
chant as we'll as the buying public
l and retail dealers generally wanted
the bill passed. It was being opposed
/. very bitterly, Mr.. French stated, by
r wooden manufacturers, but he felt the
+ public sentiment was so much aroused
+ in its favor that the bill would be
passed at the coming session.
: In closing Mr.. French paid tribute
Y to Frank R. Gooding, urged his elec.
/ ton to the United States senate both
d as citizen wao fought or good gov
r ernment and as a means of securing
il republican control of the senate Sc
e that with the election of Harding
s president the administration would
not be harassed with an opposition
i majority in the senate. The speaker
a also touched upon his visit to the bat
e tlefields of Europe and made vigorous
.e, appeal for united effort upon the par
d of all citizens regardless of party II
J. save to the nation what the boys wht
IS fought in France gave their lives t.
e perpetuate.
% Those who heard Congressman
d French were highly complimentary o
3 his speech. 1t contained solid mea
te and gave new insight into the bil
tissues OF the day.