The Owosso times., 1920-05-07

tons possible, and that this investment
is jeopardized by reason of the COM
petition Of pearl buttons manufactur-
ed by cheap Japanese laborers.
"Now, the bean industry of the
United States involves, should say,
approximately several hundred mil
lion dollars investment, to say moth
ing of the value of the harvested crop.
II it is important that the pearl but
ton industry of the country be pro-
tected, and if Mr.. Fordney used any
of his influence to secure a special
tariff on any of the above mentioned
commodities he should, we claim, use
every ounce Of his energy and influ-
ence to secure special tariff on
beans, which is one of the principal
agricultural crops grown in his dis
trict.
'T am merely stating facts, Mr.. Nc
Call, and you are free to draw your
own conclusions. The facts are that
the movement which was started last
fall to secure a special tariff on beans
has failed of results, and that either
Mr.. Fordney has, for centain reasons
with which we are not acquainted but
which we can surmise, either lost his
interest in the proposal or does not
this committee, which he is supposed
and ought to have.
"You ask the question, Have you
ever seen a single editorial in this
paper advocating protective tariff 2
In answer to this / can only say that
the writer was one of a committee of
three who went to Washington last
fall to plead for a special tariff on
beans, and that editorial after editor
ial has been published stating the
need of such tariff on not only beans
but certain other agricultural pro-
ducts as well.
"The issue in this case is not wheth-
er or not Mr.. Fordney is a good pro-
tectionist. No one could possibly
question his attitude on the principle
of protection, but although he has
been able to secure the support of his
committee on other special tariff bills,
he has not been successful in getting
any where with the bean tariff bill.
Is it not but natural that the farmers
and the farm press, published in states
where beans are grown, should ask
why, and endeavor to discover the
true facts? l realize, Mr.. Mccall,
that Congressman Fordney stands
very high in the estimation of good
many people in his district, and it is
but perhaps natural that they should
Immediately rise to his defense and
accuse those who criticise Mr.. Ford
ney of having ulterior motives. How
ever, l appeal to your fair-mindnesses
and good judgment to study all as
poets of this subject and to render
decision that will be fair not only to
yourself and Mr.. Fordney but also to
the bean growers and. the Business
Farmer as well.
81 am sure you will want to give
this communication a place in the
next issue of the Herald, so that read
ers, large number of whom are also
readers of the Business Farmer, may
hear our side of the case.
"With kindest personal regards, |
remain,
every truly yours,
FOREST LORD, Editor"
From his letter and a subsequent
conversation held with Bro. Lord on
his call, we infer that the part of the
editorial to which Bro. Lord particu-
larly objects is the statement that
the Business Farmer is "owned and
controlled by Grant Slocum, Demo-
crat."
Mr.. Lord insists that the Business
Farmer is owned by company and
controlled not by Mr.. Slocum but by
himself. The writer knows Mr.. Lord
personally and is ready to accept his
explanation of his relation to the
Business Farmer. Mr.. Lord ac-
knowledges, however, that Mr.. Slo-
cum is one of the owners and direc-
tor and that he was at one time pres
ident of the company, the latter place
being now held by George Slocum.
In an affidavit made by Mr.. Lord
April ID, 1920 and published in the
Business Farmer of that date, Mr.
Lord swears:
1. The names and addresses of the
publisher and editor are:
Publisher, Geo. M. Slocum, Mt
Clemens, Michigan.
Editor, Forrest Lord, Mt. Clemens,
Michigan.
2. That the owners are:
Rural Publishing Co., Mt. Clemens.
Geo. M. Slocum, Mt. Clemens, Mich
Grant Slocum, Mt. Clemens, No. A.
Forrest Lord, Mt. Clemens, Mich.
LYDIA r. Hampton, Detroit, Mich.
We are willing to accept Mr.. Lords
statement that what HE says goes,
and that no man on earth except him
self dictates the policy of the Michi-
gan Business Farmer.
We maintain, however, that it is
only fair inference, that any paper
in which one family holds so large
a share, should be influenced some
wbat bu tho parcnpo1 attitude &C that