The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-12-15
Reciprocity With Canada.

The new Canadian administra
tion is wrestling with problem o
the same nature as that which con
fronts the administration whicl
will go into power at Washington
in March next. The tariff Of eacf
country is to be revised. The diff
erence is that the party W hich at
tanned power across the lake last
summer went into Office with the
promise TO revise the tariff by low.
vring the duties. The Republican
administration has promised tC
revise by increasing the duties
Neither task is an easy one to per-
form satisfactorily.
The Canadian government has
sent out commissioners who are
holding meetings in different parts
of the dominion after the manner
Of the tariff commission whose re-
port was so unceremoniously
throwniuto the senate waste basket
in 1883. SO far the experience OF
the commissioners has been that
nearly every manufacturer wants
his products protected by higher
duties, while he wants the raw
materials he uses admitted duty
free. That was the experience Of
the isSiOnerS on this side OF
the line thirteen or fourteen years
ago. Our own ways and means
committee propose 20 have hear.
ings at Washington for two or three
weeks, beginning in the last week
Of the present month. They will be-
likely to have similar testimony to
that given before the Canadian
commissioners. The Canadians
want their manufacturers protect
cd against importations from the
United States, but they also want
the raw materials of the United |
States admitted for them to work |
up. In like manner the United |
States manufacturers are anxious |
to keep out the rival wares of Cam
ada, but are more than willing that
certain Canadian raw materials
shall come to them as cheaply as
possible. The Canadian farmer is
violently opposed to the farm pro-
ducts Of the United States crossing
the line on any terms, and the
American farmer is equally unwill-
ing that Canadian farm and dairy
products shall come over to COM
pete with his own.
In face Of this fact the Canadian
government is anxious to arrange
ii treaty of reciprocity with the
United States, and it is now report
ed from Ottawa that the Canadian
tariff will not be reported until the
disposition of the Mckinley admin
istration is better known. Mr.. John
Charlton, who is understood Ia
have the confidence of the new
Canadian premier, came to Clcve-
land several days since and made
II flying visit to Mr.. Mckinley. On
his return he consulted with Pre-
mier Laurier, and in an interview
at Ottawa ne cautiously gave out
some information concerning his
Canton trip. He says he "incident-
ally mentioned :hat the party now
in power in Canada would be favor
able to obtaining reciprocity
treaty, and would be willing TO
give fair consideration and ctn
ces>i0ns in return for the admission
of the natural products of Canada
into the American market. Cfl
curse Mr.. Mckinley declined 10
have anything to say about details,
bat expressed in general terms his
desire TO have the relations between
the two countries established upon ,
II more intimate and cordial foot
ing" Mr.. Charlton admitted that {
the prospect is not the brightest for {
reciprocity, as "many in
fiuences will be at work against the
of such n project. J
The Republican senator's on the
border tates will naturally look s
with disfavor upon the free ad- ,
Of Canadian agricultural I
products into the markets of the |
United States, and influential Re- |
publican papers are already oppos- c
Ing treaty on that account. We |
can, however, make an honest l
effort to obtain it, and should do so; |
md il is perhaps not unreasonable
TO hope that some measure of sue
ipss will attend such an effort IT,
made" 1t will be forlorn hope.-
Plain Dealer. [