The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-11-18
OUTLOOK FOR
RECIPROCITY
What Will the Convention
Opening Tomorrow Do?
LUMBERMEN ON HAND
Shevlin and Mcknight to Fight the
Canadian Arrangement.
MANY NEW ENGLAND ABSENTEES
Senator Hale Refers to COMMISSIONS
kaSsOn as "a "Vagrant
NegOtiafOr."

From The journal Bureau. Room <5, Pos
Building, Washington
Washington, Nov. 18.-Thomas H. Shev-
lin and S. T. Mcknight, two of Minneso-
ta's delegates to the reciprocity conven-
tion, which opens tomorrow, are in
town, stopping at the Arlington 1t will
be their aim to represent the lumber in
terests of the northwest and convince the
convention that the 81 tariff on pine
should not be reduced. In this work they
probably will have able assistance from
all Of the border states from Maine to
Washington.
So far as sentiment has developed it is
hostile to reciprocity with Canada on the
ground that Canada would probably de-
cline to consider an arrangement which
did not place lumber practically on the
free list. The convention will confine it
self to full discussion of the reciprocity
question and the adoption of resolutions
which Will be addressed to the president
Ihese resolutions will be important. be-
cause II the purpose of the convention is
attained they will express the deliberate
judgment of the business interests of the
country on one of the most interesting
questions that will come before congress
this winter
Which VIII Control.
1t is too early to know whether the con-
vention will be controlled by reciprocity
advocates or by ultra protectionists. 1t
is hoped by friends of reciprocity that
neither will control it in the sense of
forcing its views to adoption in the face
OF protest. The ultra protection eastern
ers for several weeks have been preparing
to attend the convention in force, but
recent developments seem to indicate
that the interest of this section in the
convention is waning. Several prominent
protectiontsts, originally on the list of
those to be present have announced that
they will not be there, and in making the
announcement they have said that the
convention would be controlled by free
traders" as the tariff revisionists and
advocates of reciprocity are derisivaly
called.
This statement shows there is an eIe-
ment of bitterness in the feeling of New
| England and that any men who may at
| tend the convention as representatives
| of It's interests, will, if they reflect home
sentiment, strongly oppose anything
! which will be hostile to New England
manufacturers. There is possibility that
| the convention may be so sided in it's
-
| clusions it may reach.
Minnesota is especially interested in
Canadian trade. 1t indorses the work of
| Commissioner Kasson and would like to
| see congress adopt the more important
OF the impending reciprocity treaties.
Bitter Words from Hale.
| Maine is also border state, and Eu-
| gene Hale, one of it's senators, in addi-
| fu;o
of Blaine, is recognized as one of the
! strongest and most forceful characters in
the upper house. He was interviewed to-
day and spoke very slightingly Of Kas-
son, whom he called a "vagrant negotia-
tor" He is opposed to reciprocity with
Canada and to reciprocity with any coun-
| try save on the old time basis Of taking
all we can get and giving nothing in re-
| turn. He accurately reflects New Eng
land sentiment. and New England is SO
strong in congress as effectually to bar
any legislation or treaties which may be
| offensive to its people. Here is what
I Mr.. Hale says to-day:
| l do not believe in commissioning vagrant
negotiators to hunt up reciprocity treaties
and l do not believe that congress will be
much troubled by such treaties. / am not
for the kind Of reciprocity sought for by
free traders and by our foreign rivals who
affected unfavorably the Dingley law I be-
lieve in Mr.. Blaine's kind of reciprocity,
which encourages interchange Of our own
products that other countries do not produce
| for such of their products as we do not pro-
duce. l am against any reciprocity which
seeks to cut down the duty on Canadian or
French and British West Indian products and
manufactures which would compete directly
with our own.
We have already gained nearly all of the
trade of the civilized world that is worth
having, and I am not in favor of imperiling
4 our preserN condition of prosperity by wild
| hunt for new markets which never had any
trade or commerce comparable with our
own. am not dreamer over what is called
the trade Of the orient. Aside from trade with
Japan, in which We are already fully estab-
lished, the orient cuts no figure In compari-
son with the trade of the civilized world, ex-
| cept in the imagination
w. W. Jermane.