The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-11-04
REP. FORDNEY REPLIES

OF the mystery in regard to unem-
ployment would disappear.
"The selfish interest of Marshall
Field and company is so apparent
that the propaganda they are send
ing out savors of brazenness. To
show the Righteousness of Mr..
Shedd's statements, it is necessary
to go no further than to Marshall
Field and company's own advertise
ments. Mr.. Shedd, in his recent re-
ply, states that they import cotton
yarns, China cotton, and burlap, and
manufacture them into laces, cur
tains, blankets, burlap bags, and so
forth, giving employment to hum
dreds of American workers in this
country. Mr.. Shedd would lead one
to believe they only import raw ma
terial and manufacture the finished
products in the United States. In
their advertisements, Marshall Field
and company make the following
statements:
In our suits for fall, foreign
woolens play an important role. Rep
resentatives have been abroad COOP
Grating with our foreign organiza-
ton in order that a>large percentage
of our showing could be tailored
from these exclusive fabrics. For
eign fabrics have proven superior for
several reasons
"In advertising their overcoats,
Marshall Field has the following:
In addition to a wide assortment
of domestic coats, many of which
are of imported woolens, there is
very extensive showing of coats tail
ored in England. These foreign coats
have a certain swing that appeals to
many well-dressed men. They are
distinctive in style and woolens.'
Marshall Field and company i'm
port the product of cheap foreign
labor and sell it at fancy prices, in
their advertisements contending that
foreign goods are superior to domes-
tic goods. Thus the consumer does
not get the benefit of Field and COM
pany's low foreign prices, and the
American workman is deprived of
employment.
"Mr. John G. Shedd is not playing
fair in his opposition to American
valuation. His position is antago-
nistic to the interests of American
labor. In replying to my recent
criticism Mr.. Shedd states that
Marshall Field and company has it's
entire capital invested in America.
In their advertisements Marshall
Field and company states: Repre-
sentatives have been abroad cooper
ating with our foreign organization
l should like to know the details of
their foreign organization. Mr.. Shedd
has sent out circular letters to re-
tailers throughout the country urg-
ing them to join in opposing the
American valuation proposal. If all
the facts were known in regard to
Marshall Field and companys for
eign organization other o. retailers
might realize that their interests
were not the same as the selfish in
terests of Marshall Field and COM
pany.
II have before me some propa-
ganda from the opponents in which
they make special reference to the
effect of American valuation on the
of gloves. l also have
before me letter from a domestic
in which he states that
the American mills formerly en-
gagged in the manufacturing of cot
ton chamoisette gloves are 100 per-
cent idle, due to increasing importa-
tions from abroad at prices with
which they cannot possibly compete
and pay living wage to American
labor. The opponents to American
valuation claim that it will bar the
of gloves. l do not
agree with them entirely but | do
believe that it would place American
producers on competitive basis and
enable the domestic mills to resume
operations.
"The success of the small retailer
is dependent upon the purchasing
power of the American people. 1t is
to his interest that labor in America |
should be fully employed. 1t is to
his interest to buy American-made
goods. 1t is difficult for me to under
stand why retailer not engaged in
importing should favor policy
which will encourage the importa-
ton Of the product of foreign labor
and deprive his customers of employ
ment on which their purchasing pow
er depends. Too many people con-
fuse cheapness with prosperity. EN-
oloyment and prosperity go hand in
hand. Unemployment means bust
ness depression. The retailer can
not prosper when the American
is compelled to sus-
pend operations, and if he thinks the
natter out for himself he will not
De misled by propaganda inspired by
he selfshness of Marshall Field and
Recently in the New York Trade
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