The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-21
IMPORTERS
ARE FLAyED
BY FORDNEY
Charges They Spend Huge
Sums to Defeat
Tariff.

washington, Dec. 21.-Charges
hat importers, through misleading
nropaganda, were attempting to
sdeIay or defeat" tariff legislation
and TO accomplish this end were
centering an attack on the Amerl-
can valuation plan, were made to-
day in the house by chairman
Fordney of the ways and means
committee, who declared tnat
American valuation was the "logi-
cal solution of the present day eco
nomic conditions"
aOpposition TO the pending tariff
measure is readily traced, Mr-
Fordney asserted, not to the Amer
ican producer, not to the man who
deals chiefly in American-made
nroducts. but to the man who pro-
ducas abroad and the man whose
chief interest is in bringing the
product Of cheap foreign labor to
the American market.
Foes "WelI Organized"
Those interested in importing
snterprises are well organized and
spending large sums OF money IN
an effort to make you and me be-
ueve that what they seek is for the
eountry's general welfare. The i'm
porter is working to delay or de-
feat tariff legislation, and to ac-
oomplish this he is centering his
criticism on the American valua-
ton plan, without which. on &C
count Of present chaotic world con-
ditions. il will be most difficult to
write a tariff measure at this time
that will afford 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
eontended that a valid argument
against the principle involved is
lacking
The whole opposition is founded
on the question of rates and on al
legged increases in prices to the
consumers they predict will result
from the new rates. the house was
told.
Make Big Profits
Mr.. Fordney declared he had
discovered" that the department
store that is leading the hight
against American valuation, is
-one Of Americas largest importing
Establishments" and retailed at 50
each knives bought in Germany at
. cents. Tremendous profits also
are made on variety of other
articles imported from countries
where production costs are low, Mr.
Fordney said, who pleaded with
members Of the house not to be
led astray by the importers propa-
ganda."
1t is true" the committee chair
man said, that the importer Is
exerting a tremendous influence on
the retailer through misrepresen-
ntions and otherwise, and the re-
taller is exerting a tremendous in
auence on the press of the coun-
Try.
Congress is endeavoring to
write tariff law and the declared
object is to protect American in
dnstries, and our efforts are being
opposed chiefly by importers whose
interest is not in the furnishing ol
employment to labor in American
manufacturing establishments, bul
upon the unloading on the Ameri-
can markets at tremendous profits
The product of poorly paid labor oi
ateign countries"
Advocating haste in the passage
o. the tariff bill, now pending in
he senate, Mr.. Fordney declared he
wished TO assert very vigorously
mat the unsettled condition of the
world today is not a reason for de-
laying tariff action, but a very
urgent reason for fastening &C
ton"