St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-15
HAIL, RECIPROCITY /!
A Preliminary Meeting to
Form a Local Branch Of
the League.
Saloon Hen and Newspapers
Are Roasted by the
w. G. 7. u.
Ex-Health Commissioner Kill
vington Presents His
Report
Matters Of Moment Gathered
for the Benefit OF Globe
Readers.

the purpose of forming an American
Canadian league, whose sole purpose it
is to be to originate, encourage and de-
velop reciprocity treaty between the
United States and Canada. The gath
ering was composed for the most part
of gentlemen with decided free trade
tendencies, but representatives of the
Single Tax league, the Alliance, the
Republican and Democratic parties
were present, who applauded. with a
single exception, the remarks of the
several speakers indorsing the pro-
posed scheme. w. M. Meagher, Can
adian, and evidently the moving spirit
of the embryo organization, announced to
the audience that owing to pressing
business, illness and several other pre-
ventiYes the gentlemen who Intended
to deliver the addresses of the evening
were absent, "saving the presence" OF
j. 0. Barrett. Judges Rea and Atwater.
Congressman Castle, E. q. Potter, L. E.
Byrnes, Hector Baxter, Wilbur s. Tup-
per and A j. Boardman comprise a
partial list of the orators who had prom
lSed toeXplain the manifold blessings
that would eyentuate to Canada and the
United States by the passage of treaty
permitting the free interchange of COM
modities between the countries. But
not one of them was present. Mr..
Meagher, however. thought there were
several speakers in the audience whose
remarks On the subject of reciprocity
would prove instructive and interest
ing. He nominated E. j. McMahan
chairman, who, after his unanimous
election, declared the meeting in order
and explained its object. He then called
for speakers, and especially desired
Single Tax Buel to make few remarks
which he did.
Mr.. Buel thought treaty of reci-
prOclty between the two countries could
be restricted as it pleased the contract
ing parties. There might be free in
terchange of one product or commodity,
or more, or all. AS he understood it,
the object of the association would be to
encourage the absolute freedom of trade
between the United States and Canada.
While discussing the subject Mr..
Buel was wildly reminded of a re-
mark of Lou Harrison, delivered
at a banquet at the West hotel,
some time ago to number Of Montreal
business men. Mr.. Harrison had said,
stated Mr.. Buel, that he bought his
goods in New York, Philadelphia and
Baltimore. He did not buy them in
Montreal, because between Minneapolis
and that city there stretched across the
great natural highway between the two
martS of trade wall that prevented the
free interchange Of merchandise be-
tween them. Mr.. Harrison had ex-
pressed the belief that the time would
come when the barrier Of duties would
be broken and when freedom of trade
would take its place. Mr.. Buel agreed
with MIR. Harrison and added he was
in favor not only of reciprocity treaty
with Canada, but with the world. Mr..
Buel, perhaps unfortunately, referred
to the reciprocity treaty which has
been in existence for the last fifteen
years between the Sandwich islands and
the United States, by which Claus
Spreckies has been enabled to accumu-
late an immense fortune at the expense
of the sugar consumers of the Pacific
coast. He has, despite the efforts of
Eastern sugar retiners, prevented the
aggregation of the treaty. and while its
provisions have enriched him. it has
depleted the treasury of the Sandwich
Islands. Mr.. Buel, however. would IRE
vent a recurrence of similar state of
affairs by establishing reciprocity
treaties that would admit allthings free
from some countries rather than some
things free from all countries. Reel
procity he believed the first step toward
absolute free trade.
Capt. Nelson arose to say that some
persons thought reciprocity new thing,
and that no one knew anything about 1t
save the man who had invented it. He
believed that the United States should
have reciprocal trade relations with all
nations, fer what is good Tor one coun-
try is good for another. The United
States can compete with the world in
any line of human ende .vor and in nat
ural resources, and there was no reason
for believing the commercial interests
of the country would be endangered by
the formation and passage of reciprocity
treaties. The gentleman said it was a
mistake to believe that aggregated
wealth was necessary to the welfare of
the wageworker. He creates wealth
and receives pittance of it as his share.
The gentleman was decidedly in favor
of reciprocity, but wanted it made gen
eral.
w. NJ. Meagher, having been requested
to address the meeting, began his re-
marks by stating that many Republi-
cans, Democrats and members of the
Farmers Alliance were in favor of reel
prOcitV with Canada. He could under
stand why the United States should
hesitate TO establish such treaty with
England. The latter's commerce en-
tered every port of the civilized world,
and her ships sailed all oceans. 1t
might, perhaps. be dangerous to the
trade of the United States to throw its
ports of entry wide open to English
importations. But with Canada the con-
dition of affairs was different. Her peO-
pie are nearly akin to the people of the
United States. The country is near at
hand, and moreover, it is weaker
country than the United States. Canada
wants an outlet for surplus Stuffs and
products, and this is particularly true
of Manitoba. Fully 80 per cent of that
territory is arabic, yet only fraction of
it is cultivated He would not say the
United States wanted free trade with
the world, but it did want free trade
with Manitoba, with Canada. and espe-
cially was it necessary to the future com
Rercial Importance of Minneapolis and
st. Louis. Both Of these cities have
reached the average of urban popula-
ton, and they must have new territory
before they can further develop in
wealth and power. The commercial
line must be extended beyond the
forty-ninth parallel. Sixty per cent of
the Canadians were in favor of reciproc-
ity, and the reform party Endorsed it.
The advantages of commerce are appar-
emf, and he believed that every one
realize it. He urged those present to
agitate the subject of reciprocity, to
form a league and engage and make
appointments with speakers to address
the meeting. He believed that the for
nation of a Canadian league would fol-
low the organization of one in the
United States.
J. o. Barrett desired to put himself on
record as being in favor of general re-
ciprocity. The tariff was pesky thing.
He did not see the consistency of draw
ing line and barring out the privilege
of free exchange, yet consideration
should especially be shown contiguous
nations. He thought the meeting the
inception of movement that would
bring about universal reciprocity.
Further remarks were made by K. NJ.
Macfee, who did not believe the move
ment would be popular. His cOnclu-