The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-21
FOrdney Charges American I'M
porters Fight New Schedule.
Are Injuring Not Only Home
Business But Labor.
ARE MAKING HUGE PROFITS
Sell Cheap Foreign Goods at
Enormous Prices.
One Department Store Sells 8
Cent Knives at SIS.

| washington, Dec. 21.-Charges that
| importers, thru misleading propaganda,
were attempting to delay or defeat"
tariff legislation and to accomplish
this end were centering an attack on
the American valuation plan, were
made today in the house by Chairman
Fordney of the ways and means COM
mittee, who declared American valu-
alton was the logical solution of the
| present day economic conditions.
Opposition to the pending tariff
measure is readily traced" asserted
Mr.. Fordney, mot to the American
producer, not to the man VINO dealS
chiefly in American made products,
but to the man who produces abroad
and the man whose chief interest is
in bringing the product of cheap for
eign labor to the American market.
Spend Propaganda Cash.
''Those interested in importing en-
terprises are well organized and spend
| ing large sums of money in an effort
| to make you and me believe that what
they seek is for the country's general
welfare. The importer is working to
delay or defeat tariff legislation and
to accomplish his end is centering his
criticism on the American valuation
plan, without which, on account OF
present chaotic world conditions, It
will be most difficult to write a tariff
/
l. the slightest degree of protection
against countries where protection is
most needed"
| Declaring that he had examined the
propaganda in opposition to American
valuation, Mr.. Fordney contended that
a valid argument against the prln-
ciple involved is lacking"
Make Big Profits.
The whole opposition is founded
on the question of rates and on al
| legged increases in prices to the con-
| sumers they persist will result from
the new rates, the house was told Nc
Fordney declared he had discovered
that the department store leading the
| fight against American valuation and
one of Americas largest importing es-
| Establishments retailed at IS each
knives bought in Germany at nine
| cents
Tremendous profits also are made
on a variety of other articles imported
| from countries where production costs
are low" said Mr.. Fordney, who
pleaded with members of the house
mot to be led astray by the importers
propaganda"
at is true" the committee chair
man continued that the importer is
exerting a tremendous influence on
| the retailer thru misrepresentation
| and otherwise and the retailer is ex-
erting a tremendous influence on the
press of the country.
Not Americans at Heart.
Congress is endeavoring to write a
| tariff law and the declared object is
| to protect American Industries, and
| our efforts are being opposed chiefly
| by importers whose interest is not in
| the furnishing of employment to labor
| in American manufacturing establish
ment but upon the unloading on the
| American markets at tremendous
profits the product of poorly paid la
| Dor of foreign cour tries"
| Advocating haste in the passage IF
the tariff bill, now pending in the
| senate, Mr.. Fordney declared he
| wished ito assert very vigorously
| that the unsettled condition of the
world today is not a reason for delay
| ing tariff action. but a very urgent
reason for Fastening action.