Evening journal., 1922-01-04
WILL NOT RE BLUFFED.

(sHAIffN1AN FOFDNEl OF the Ways and Means Com
" mtiee OF Congress. doesn't believe in turning the
other cheek when free trader takes slap at him. The
doughty Congressman from Michigan vino began life as
umber-iack has this say regarding the propaganda
being circulated to delay and II possible TO defeat the
tariff bll:N
Opposition to the pending tarr is readily
traced American producer not 10 the man who
deals chiefly in made products but 10 the man
who produces abroad the whose chief interest is
in bringing the product OF cheap foreign labor to the
American market
Those interested in importing enterprises well or
ganzed and spending large OF money in effort to
make you and me believe that what they seek is for the
oountry's general welfare The importer is working to
delay or defeat tariff legislation, and TO accomplish his
end he is cenerng his criticism the American valu
alton plan without which account OF present chaotic
world conditions il will be most dicult to write 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
position TO American valuation Mr. Fordney contended
that valid argument against the principle involved is
lacking The whole opposition is founded on the ques-
ton Of rates alleged prices TO the
sumers they predict will result from the rates"
Mr. Fordney declared he had discovered that the "de-
parimen store that is leading the fight against American
valuation" and "one OF Americas largest importing es
Establishments" reailed at 50 each knives that could be
bought Germany at cents, retail price. IreUen-
dous profits also are made on a variety Of other articles
imported from countries where production costs low
said Mr. Fordney, vino pleaded with members OF the
House mot to be led astray by the importers propa-
ganda.
1T is true" the committee chairman continued that
the importer is exertng a tremendous influence on the
retailer through Misrepresentation and otherwise and
the retailer is exerting tremendous influence on the
press Of the country Congress is endeavoring to write
tariff law and the declared object is to protect American
industries and our efforts being opposed chiefly by
importers whose interest is not the furnishing Of en-
ployment to labor in American manufacturing establish
ments but in unloading upon the market at tre
mendous profits the product Of poorly paid labor OF for
eign countries"
In 1909 a similar program naugurated by a huge
department store whose headquarters in Chicago The
owners OF this concern spent thousands OF dollars trying
TO defeat the Payne law, and they especially op-
posed to the rates on hosiery. It became known that
this store financed hosiery factory Germany and was
anxious TO import the product Of its German employees
free OF duty II possible. II engaged the support OF a
large number Of estimable who were shy o.
knowledge respecting the tariff and they besieged Cor
sress in their efforts to place hosiery and knit goods
the free list.
But Chairman Payne deceased through the
scheme and he wtty stated on the floor Of the House
that these ladies Toll not neither do they spin and
that he was more concerned seeing that their humble
sisterssvho worked in the hosiery mills Of Pennsylvania
and elsewhere were given opportunity to earn de-
cent wage rather than to he vicmzed by European com
petition The situation is even acute today and
Chairman Fordney his colleagues Senate and House
will be blued out by the propaganda OF importers