Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-09-14
Immediate Action Necessary.

Al ODoIo ooCuho W. ! ~ INV
southwest that the actions of the com
mission now in session in Quebec, for
the purpose of formulating a CONNER
cial treaty between this country and
Canada, cannot affect the prosperity Of
this section of the United States. A
more one idea was never enter
tanned. In the first place, what is to be
gained by a reciprocity arrangement
with Canada? There is nothing pro-
duced in the dominion that cannot be
raised or manufactured in the United
States and what is more the people on
this side of the line can supply the home
market with every thing the Canadians
have to sell. A former experience of
this kind now proposed in making a
commercial treaty resulted in benefit
ing the Canadians about 600 per cent
and d consequent loss of home markets
to the American farmer.
Under the present tariff law the farm
products of Canada are compelled to pay
the same duties as those from any other
foreign country. Enter into a treaty
of reciprocity with that country and the
large cities uf the northern horder and
even as far south as Cincinnati and st.
Louis will become extensive markets for
Canadian beef, mutton, wool, grain, and
fruits. The effect will be to lower prices
for the very things New Mexico depends
upon for prosperity, and to close the
most available markets for the products
Of the territory. More particularly will
the effect of a treaty of the kind contem.
plated be felt by the sheep and wool in
| dustries.
The significance Of the effort to Sc
cure that sort of d treaty is shown by
the action of the Boston Chamber OF
Commerce. That organization of east
ern manufacturers and business men
has sent a strong delegation to Quebec
to urge s'that we desire a chance to sell
our manufactured goods in the Can
adian markets. In Massachusetts alone
we make 5000, 600, 900 of goods each
year, and we want a market for these
goods. We don't fear competition, for
we have the greater wealth and facili-
ties on our side" The fact of the mat
ter is the Massachusetts manufacturers
do not care a continental for any one in
the world but themselves. They do not
| remember that under a former treaty
| with Canada, the trade of that country
| with the United States increased 600
| per cent, while the trade of the United
| States with Canada decreased fully one
fourth per year. What is wanted is a
market for Massachusetts, goods, the in
dustries of the balance of the country
amount to nothing.
Another factor Of the cas- is more
threatening ven than in throwing the
home markets open to Canadian com
petition. Once established reciprocal
trade between the United States and
Canada and a precedent has been es-
tablished for allowing the wool and cat
tie and sheep to come into the country
from Australia and South America free
of duty in exchange for the privilege of
selling Massachusetts manufactured
products in the markets of those coun-
tries. The American farmers and
fockmasters have troubles enough un-
der a protective tariff, without throwing
them into direct competition with the
products of countries where the matter
of wages and caring for stock is a very
small item of production.
Reciprocity is all right where it is ap.
piled to products which can not be
raised by the Americans, but when it is
used to admit the articles which can be
produced in this country, the effects Of
protection are nullifed and the system
which has made prosperity possible be-
comes q farce. The wool growers o!
| New Mexico owe it to themselves tt
make a vigorous protest against thu
Canadian commercial treaty, and il
should be made at once. .