The record-union., 1893-06-07

0AhS VI Anelf OWns Win Cen
eraI Weaver OF Iowa as Chairman.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
ST. PAUL (Minn.), June 6.-When the
delegates to the International Reciprocity
Convention got together to-day, the OFF,
GERS selected last evening by the Commit
tee on Organization were elected. Letters
OF regret were read from Governor Rus
| sell OF Massachusetts, Hon. Wilfred Lau-
rler of Quebec, and other prominent
men.
+. Y. Smalley, Chairman of the Com
mlttee on Resolutions, read his report,
ana spoke briefly in its support. The
resolutions are substantially as follows:
In favor Of reciprocity especially with
Canada, which would it was held, be of
great mutual advantage; in favor of the
| improvement Of Waterways from the
great lakes to tide-water, so as the admit
the passage of ocean steamers, and open
| competition between the railways of both
countries; and providing for a committee
Of ten, five from the United States and
i've from Canada, to lay matters before
the respective Governments, with the
view to securing the enactment of neces-
| sary laws to the ends sought.
After addresses favoring the resolu-
| tions by Hon. Joseph Martin and Hon.
VIM. M. Springer Of Illinois, the conven-
ton took a recess.
AT the afternoon session President
James j. Hill of the Great Northern
Railroad spoke at some length. He said
| If the CustOm-hOuses along the border
were abolished it would make a new
geography, commercially speaking, of
the continent on both sides of the bound
airy. The people are engaged practically
i'll the same occupation. He saw no rea-
son why commerce which now seeks an
outlet at Baltimore, New York and Bos-
ton should not be divided with Montreal.
Rates that will let farmers live and prosper
are necessary for the development Of the
Canadian Northwest. Any arrangement
agreed upon between the two countries
will result in good to portion of this
country and all Of Canada. He thought
| it well not to ask for so much that the
| people will feel that Canada is getting all
| the advantage. If it were possible to build
a ship canal to the Hudson it would
never approach in effectiveness the
natural highway by the lakes and st.
/ Lawrence, if the natural way is inn
proved.
Dr. Orion, former member of the Cana
| dian Parliament, J. a. Hawne of Minne-
| apolis, and Mr.. Hall of Brandon, Mani
toba, spoke on the platform, and S. A.
Thompson Of Duluth spoke at length on
| the deep-water ways to the sea.
After further discussion the platform
was unanimously adopted.
In the evening a mass meeting Twas
held in the auditorium. Hon. William
M. Springer, Chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee of the last House Of
Representatives, delivered the chief ad-
dress of the session. Springer said in
part: The most important feature in
the union of our States is the absolute
| freedom of trade which the Constitution
| secures in all the States of the republic.
To this feature Of our institutions can be
| attributed more of the substantial growth
to our country than 10 any other cause.
| If this trade has been SO beneficial, what
reason can we give, what argument can
we offer in favor of continuing this trade
among our own States which will not
apply to trade between the Dominion of
Canada and the United States?
THAT there has not been the same free
dom Of trade between Canada and the
United States seems almost a mystery to
one who can view the situation without
prejudice. Restricted trade between the
| Dominion and the United States has been
brought about by individual selfshness of
special interests. What is needed is an
int in 80 (.
kind; arguments in the public press, and
more unselfish and patriotic devotion
to the interests of the masses as distin-
guished from those OF the favored classes.
How can we proceed to bring about this
result? 1 would favor comforting upon
the President of the United States au-
thority to appoint an International Com
mission on our part to treat with any like
commission appointed by the Dominion
for the purpose of submitting to their re-
spective Governments a treaty Of reci-
prociJy e1nbodying as far as possible the
following provisions: A free exchange
of the products Of the soil, forest and
mines of tho two countries, and to The
fisheries of the Atlantic and inland
waters; free exchange of manufactured
articles, the component parts of which
have been produced in either country.
Where articles are subject to internal tax,
each country should impose tariff equal
to the internal tax.
"There might be some exceptions to
these general rules which it will be safe
10 submit to the judgment of an interna-
tional commission. The advantages
which would accrue to both countries
would greatly stimulate and promote
their commerce, would develop their
growth and resources and confer upon
each inestimable advantages which
have resulted from perfect free trade be-
tween the States of our Union. Every
new change would broaden and widen
the system, until there would be nothing
| left to remind us of the folly Of the past
except the records of Congresses, The
nearer the Dominion approaches absolute
| free trade with the United States, the
more satisfactory will that condition be TO
Great Britain. Under that system Eng
| land has developed and brought to her
people a wealth which could not have
been done under any restriction to trade
or interference with the natural course OF
business"
o7rot,, CO., ry-t,ro,,ol, Z,