Evening journal., 1898-09-23
OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
How ihe Quebec Conference VIII
Anect the Farmer.

QUEBEC, Sept. 23--The people Of the
United states are evidently beginning
TO awaken 10 the great Importance OF
the results which may come from the
work Of the international joint high
commission now in session I'm this city.
1t has become known that the Cana
dian representatives are urging that
the treaty embodyiug commercial rec
iprOclty be made and such a treaty, il
made, would seriously affect nearly all
the great industries Of the United
States. These industries are now be-
ing heard from In a very emphatic way.
During the past "a hours the Ameri-
can commissioners have been besieged
by Populations of Americans demand
ing that no ironclad treaty be entered
into which would disturb, II not in
mary instances destroy. the present
protective tariff laws Of the United
States Yesterday the farmers OF the
United States put in their protest and
1t was a very strong one. They were
represented by Aaron Jones of Indiana
the worthy master Of the National
Grange and n. J. Bachelor Of New
Hampshire, chairman of the national
executive committee. They were given
very full hearing and win have an
other audience before the commission
ers act.
After the hearing Mr.. Jones said:
I'VE speak for the farmers of every
state Of the Union, and in all OF the
states they are opposed to any change
being made in the. present duties on
agricultural products. With the farm
ers this is a very serious question. The
agricultural industry represents about
60 per cent Of the entire population of
the country and produces annually
about 60 per cent OF the total wealth Of
the country. This Is an interest which
should not be sacrificed. ! have official
expression from all states In the Union,
and all are opposed to changing in any
manner the duties now imposed on Ca
madam agricultural products. This is
as true Of the western, southern, CEN
trail and New England states as of the
states along the Canadian border. AS
understand the situation, the Cana
dams are asking for a commercial rec
iprocity treaty to be made by this joint
commission. and in that treaty they
want the duty on Canadian barley,
eggs, vegetables. fruits and other prod
ucts removed. That thing the Ameri-
can farmers will never consent to. Even
the free trade farmers, those who be-
lieve in the free trade policy say il
they must have a protective system
they believe under the present system
the farmers are faring better than most
of the other industries. To open up the
free importations from Canada now
would have the same depressing effect
upon the farmers as when wool was
placed on the free list. The farmers
present a solid front against reciproci-
ty with Canada"
Following Mr.. Jones came another
earnest protest from Mr.. Albert Clark,
president Of the Home Market club of
Boston. He said the organization he
spoke for had upward of 1000 members,
mostly manufacturers. and represented
a total capital interest of $500 00O, 0OO
He opposed commercial reciprocity. He
said that between two countries having
the same products for exchange reci-
procity was never successful. If Can
ada and the United States each had
something the other did not have, it
would be a different proposition.