Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-25
Talks ON RECIPROCITY
John A. Kasson Speaks to the
Illinois Manufacturers As.
ISOLATION at Chicago.
Discusses the Principle and Ell.
feet Of Reciprocity.-The
Legal View.
Status Of the Present Treaties
and Powers Granted the
President.

1 evening at tue GTdIIO IUCluC I1uNei
There was but one set speech 'on the pro-
gram for the evening and that was by
! John A. Kasson, of Iowa. the diplomat
and tariff expert, who spoke on Reel
procity."
Martin b. Madden, of Chicago, presi-
dent of the club. sat at the head of the
table and made short address intro
ducing Mr.. Kasson. who was received
with applause by the guests as he rose
to make his address.
/ The members of the Illinois Manufac-
turers' Association had expected to have
President Roosevelt as their guest OF
honor at the banquet last night. as the
president had made partial agreement
to be present and deliver a short adj
dress. 1t was understood. however. that
the main speech of the evening was to
be made by Mr.. kasson.
A number of informal speeches were
made after the conclusion OF the address
OF Mr.. Kasson, who was most literally
applauded by his hearers.
Mr.. Kasson's address was devoted en-
tIrely to the subject of reciprocity.
which he viewed from every standpoint.
devoting his attention particularly to an
exposition of the legas soundlless of the
practice of reciprocity as demonstrated
by the constitution and judicial decis-
ions. He also entered at length into the
history of reciprocity: but perhaps the
most important section of the speech
dealt with the practical results to be ex-
pected from the treaties pending before
the senate, the special benefits to be
realized by each section OF the United
states being clearly indicated.
He began with a definition of reel
.procity, which. he said, was, not new.
and was simply an exchange of rights
or privileges between individuals or ma
lions. He held that this was perfectly
natural and pointed to all III results OF
the contrary or exclusive policy, as
practiced among European nations lie
cited Spain and Portugal particularly
MS countries Impoverished by their ad-
'herence to the exclusive policy France
also had materially injured her colonies
without profiting herself by adopting
that policy in their case. He held En-
gland up as country which had
learned. by bitter experience involving
the loss of her American colonies, the
evils Of exclusion.
Mr.. Kasson especially dirested atten-
ition to the upbuiidjng OF Canada, re-
surfing from the efforts of the United
states to exclude trade with that coun-
try. beginning with the denunciation OF
the reciprocity treaty of 1854. He held
that nv our action we forced Cansda TO
subsidize steamship lines: build railroad
lines independent of New England or
New York, construct deep wlter canals,
and thus divert large portion CT our
own trade to Canadian territory. Our
merchants lost their commissions
American capital was drawn IN large
amounts into Canada, and the American
farmer, who thought to gain by the ex-
clusion of Canadian competition at
home, now found himself met oy the
same competition In the British markets
where his own surplus goes.
Mr. Kasson next entered into an ex-
position of the continental aspect OF re-
ciprocity treaties and he insisted that.
being clothed with a treaty making
power the president was authorized to
make treaties and that the power to
regulate commerce was not vested ex-
clus.yely In congress-. He pointed out
eign Jurisdictions where congressional
laws cannot operate; hence such rela-
lions must be regulated by treaty. He
pointed out the fact that treaties reg
ulating commerce and declaring against
determination have been signed by
John Jay, with England. Oliver els
worth, with France. Livingston and
Monroe with France, and John Quincy
Adams, with Prussia. In dismissing this
phase of the subject he cited supreme
court decisions and Judge Cooley to
clinch the proposition that reciprocal
commercial conventions. duly ratified
may make concessions of duties. as well
az of other commercial favors and priv
ileges. and that they will remain in
force until repealed by congress.
Turning next to the treaties now
pending before the senate Mr.. Kaason
proceeded to point out just what con-
cessions had been obtained by the
United States and the conferences
slons involved, beginning with the Brit
isn colonial treaties. He said there was
no objection to any OF these treaties ex-
cept In the case of Jamaica, where Cal
ifornia objected to the 90 per cent reduc-
ton on oranges. This was most unjust,
he said, because the Dingley duty on
oranges was three times higher than
ever before, and the duty under the
treaty would be twice as high, and, in
addition, the Jamaica crop did not COM
pete with the California product. being
marketed at different season. In con-
nection with these pending conventions,
Mr. Kasson specially directed attention
to the advantages to be expected in the
matter Of coal exports and navigation,
| for in all the treaties special efforts had
been made to improve these, and the
duty on coal had been reduced one
fourth. A particularly interesting chap
ter dealt with the French reciprocity
treaty now pending. and 1t was shown
that the United States secured reduc-
tion far in excess Of those granted to
France. The United States conces-
sions were really only about per cent
of the present duty, while the conces-
sions made by France amounted to an
average reduction of 46 per cent on
American imports.
Mr.. Kasson pointed out some of the
present dangers to our export trade,
owing to the threatening attitude of
Europe. He said there had not been
much national Dragging about our ma
tional expansion, increasing European
alarm, and many countries were now
preparing for retaliation. The thought
less advocates of exclusiveness might
say What of that Wescan also re-
staliate." So. fortunately We could in