Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-11-07
The Coming Reciprocity Convention

A marked degree of interest centtCs
about the national reciprocity convention
to be held in Washington for three days
beginning November 49, the late President
McIkinley's famous Buffalo speech in IA.
vor of reciprocity and President Koose-
veIts adoption of the policy of his pred
ccssor having served to attract wide at
tention to the subject. The public will
closely watch the proceedings of this
gathering; for it is expected to include
the largest and best representation of
manufacturers ever gotten together in THIS
country. and the action taken by this con
Venticn can not fail to have great weight
with the administration and with Con-
gtcss rs well as with politicians in gen
eral.
In view of the far-reaching political sig.
nficance which will attach to the course
of this gathering of manufacturers, 1t Is
reassurng to learn that the utmost care IL
being taken to guard against the possibil-
ity of Il charge that the assembly has been
packed for the purpose of either promot-
ing or defeating reciprocity. The rules
governing the appointment of delega t, =
provide that no one can be admitted with
out proper credentials from the organi1a-
ton sending him, and that membership
shall be strictly limited to those actively
engaged as principles or executive officers
in manufacturing firms or corporations
on the other hand all agents, attorneys or
persons engaged in purely mercantile or
| professional pursuits will not be recognize
| ed as either delegates or alternates.
/ Another feature of the convention that
will commend itself to thinking peo-
ple is the requirement that all resolutions
be referred to the committee on resolu-
tons without reading and that all dis
cussion and action by the convention DE
! limited strictly to the subject Of rccipro-
city" This will serve to head off some
manufacturers of patent products needing
no tariff because of the absolute prot"c-
ton given them both in this country and
| abroad by their patents, who are said
to be preparing to go to the convention
primcd for the advocacy of tariff re-
form" On the other hand the fact that
IA large number of manufacturers would
be injured by the adoption of the I<assor
treaties will render likely marked opposi-
ton to any attempt to advocate those con.
ventions.
1t will manifestly be a difficult matte,
TO discuss reciprocity and urge reasons
in support of that policy without APP
preaching dangerously near the domain oil
tariff agitation if not actually crossing tht
line dividing reciprocity from tariff revs
ion; and it will be remarkable under the
circumstances if the officers of the con-
Vcntion are able to carry ont the pro
gramme so faras the actual exclusion of al
references to the tariff are concerned. Et
this as it may. tho assembly will have in
tcrest for other nations as wei! as fol
the people # the United States, but IL i.
safe to say that none will watch its pro
Ccedngs with closer or more interested
eye than President Roosevelt. For d de
, mand by this convention for recipvocit,
WIZ strengthen his hand while a rovers'
, verdict will make improbable any l. ssle
tion in the direction Of reciprocity at thu
present session of Congress.