The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-20
TIPS FROM DETROIT
Practical Results Of the Reciprocity
/ Convention as Seen by W. 1.
D. Washburn, il.
Value of Meeting Chiefly Education
alstrong Point Made on Free
Canadian Wheat.

al--oCrOng FOlnJ mace on Free
Canadian Wheat.
The practical results Of the recent reel.
procity convention held at Detroit are
admirably condensed In. the following in
terview with w. D. Washburn, Jr. Mr..
Washburn, who. is a. through student Of
economic questions, attended the conven-
ton. and his observations epitomize the
important work OF that body. Mr.. Wash
burn said
"In it's practical achievements the
convention must be regarded as a sue
cess, IN that the general 81 founda tons
walls upon which reciprocity legisla-
ton should be built were laid 3
The course and scope Of the discus
sions indicated that the sum of reliable
information regarding the exact condi-
and Canada was inconsiderable. It was
also manifest that the Canadians at
present are exhibiting pronounced am
tagonistic spirit towards the United
States. This is, largely due to the fact
that the overtures made by the Canadians
during the past thirty years have met
with rebuffs from their American cousins
across the line. And they are not pleased
that existing tariffs between the two
countries are largely in favor Of the
United States. Speaking generally, the
tariff on American products going into
Canada is 25 per cent while the tariff
on Canadian products coming into the
United States is about 80 per cent The
result is that the United States exports
nearly 100 per cent more to Canada than
Canada exports, to the United States.
This is the source of much hard feeling
among the people Of Canada, who regard
the condition os i9sauitable from every
point >ofN view Because of this un5usti-
fable arrangement, they declare that I'M
less. more equitable trade relations are
established by the United States, the
Canadian tariff may be raised to a pro-
hibitive point. Sst@ss, 51<<s g
IT, Free Raw Material. -. e
From the Canadian view point, Canada
is DESTROYS Of securing the free inter-
change of raw materials from one country
to the other, and on this basis they are
willing that the present Canadian tariff
should stand AS to the interchange Of
manufactured products, neither the pub
lie Of Canada nor of the United States
is sufficiently informed to discuss the
subject upon a detailed basis.
Owing to the tremendous inlmigra-
ton into Canada during the past two
years. her people are not so eager for
free trade in manufactured products as
they were formerly. They now assume
that they can supply their own market.
This is partially due to the fact that
large numbers of American manufacturing
plants have already been removed to
Canada, drawing capital away from the
United States and furnishing employment
to thousands Of Canadian workmen.
Interchange OF Natural Products.
1.-THE establishment Of any tariff upon
manufactured products would be a matter
of extreme difficulty under the existing
conditions. The interchange of so-called
natural products would be the first step
in the line of reciprocity. The Canadians
are anxious to export their lumber. They
would also like to send us wheat, eggs
and other products of the fields and farms.
In return for this privilege they are ready
to open their markets on all natural
products, which would give con-
siderable market in Canada for barley
and various garden and dairy products:
|, I'm the event of a reciprocity agreement
between the two countries, the export
of natural products from Canada to the
United States would probably be consid-
erably. larger than the export of products
from the United States to Canada. but
the Canadians think that this would be
offset by their permitting the entrance
of manufactured products into their
country the terms given to the most
favored nations.
'In q nutshell. they propose to give us
the same rates as they give to English
than the rates now levied upon American
products exported into Canada.
Conclusions General.
"This is the gist of the reciprocity talk
I heard at eDtroit. AS g. matter of fact.
the conclusions reached were Of most
general nature as the public mind of
Canada Is not we'll defined upon the sub
ject, and I am not aware that any po-
ltical party is making a distinct issue of
the reciprocity question. One thing, how
ever, is certain: A campaign of education
must be waged in this country before
anything can be accomplished in the line
Of better trade relations with Canada.
Il presume that many farmers would
| oppose the scheme because of tho free
wheat for this country, without giving the
| subject any more serious consideration
| 1t was thought at Detroit that this would
not decrease the prices Of American
| wheat but would simply increase the
price of Canadian wheat. AS it stands at
present, the enormous export crop OF
Canada is dumped In immense quantities
upon the Liverpool market and as the
price of wheat in Liverpool fixes the price
! Of wheat all over the world, it depresses
| the price of wheat in the, United States.
| 1t also gives the English millers the best
wheat in the world to grind at the lowest
price, This is Immediately thrown in
competition with the flour of the United
| States, which, in the long run, must op-
crate to the detriment of the great mill
| ing industry of this country, and to the
| lowering Of the price of northwestern
wheat. : -.
1T seemed to be the general impress
sion at Detroit that by permitting the use
| Of Canadian wheat in the mills of the
United States the large export crop OF
| Canada could be largely utilized in this
country without materially depressing the
price Of American wheat. y.
| Zone must bear in mind that it is be-
coming absolutely essential for north
| western millers to have high grade Ca
madam wheat in order to maintain the
| high quality of Minneapolis flour. The
Minneapolis market at present really pays
| premium for wheat, q fact which is due
to the splendid reputation Of Minneapolis
-four, which permits the payment Of higher
prices for wheat than otherwise could be
paid. - 80 ~ -
| Free Canadian Lumber.
GAS to the Introduction Of free logs
from Canada, the Canadian delegates al
the convention declared that there is now
no great body of standing pine in Canada
to menace seriously the market of the
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