The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-27
A Study of the Various Follies Per-
petrated by Short-Sighted
Politicians.
Sharp Practices in the Past That
Have Borne Their Natural
Fruits.
A Glance Into the Future of Cana
da's Manufacturing and
Wheat Raising.

rron. TIA. journal Bureau. Room DO. rat
WASHINGTON Nov. 27.-The outlook for
reciprocity with Canada is not regarded
as promising An increasingly large num-
Der OF people on this side the line are
openly advocating 1t, and American SEN
tinaent, which a few years ago was either
Indifferent or actively opposed to the prop
osition now seems to be veering around.
But it takes two to make a bargain The
chief obstacle in the way is Canada her
self. Under the guiding hand Of Secre-
tary Chamberlain, Canada is giving evil
dences Of Willingness to assist in carry
Ing out the British policy Of closer COM
mercial cooperation between the home
government and the colonies, and since
the failure Of the high joint commission
IN 1898 to accomplish results, her official
acts have been hostile, In more or less
open way. to American trade policies
It is the judgment Of government OFF,
cials here men who have given much
time to q study Of reciprocity. that Cana :
day to-day is farther from spirit OF
negotiation than she has been for many
years. and that there are no signs a pres
ent OF change OF course on her part
Foolish Action In the Sixties.
In about 1855 the United States made
trade treaty with Canada, under which
IN exchange for Canadian raw products.
we sent manufactured goods into that
country, supplying practically the entire
demand After the close of the civil war
It occurred to brilliant American states
man that Canada was getting the long
end Of the pole under the existing treaty,
and so, toward the close Of the sixties.
the treaty was abolished. The policy
which secured this result was neither far
sighted nor wise. Not only was the anti
American sentiment in Canada strength
ened. but Canadian raw products, which
formerly had come into this country, We're
sent abroad to enter into direct competl-
ton, especially in Great Britain. with
products from this, country, while Cana
dian attention was turned. for the frst
time. in the direction Of manufacturing.
Sentiment i'll Canada was changed, al
most In a. single day. and with the IN
creased bitterness and the rapid extension
Of the anti-American spirit, and the de-
termination to develop manufactures and
thus become independent of American
markets, there came protective tariff,
which seriously curtailed the demand for
American manufactured goods. Then,
Americas, tariffs began to- discriminate
against CSnahs. widening the breach, and
the sttustton was very tense when the
high EinI commission went to work, In
1895.
The Mistake Of 1898.
A mistake was made ir the personnel Of
that commission by both countries. Il
should have been composed of diplomats.
1t met for weeks, and every member of 1T
had a. long speech to make, instead OF
trying to get down to business In a prac
tical common sense fashion. 1t was no
surprise that it failed to accomplish re-
suits. But even had its members been
negotiators, instead Of being stump speak
ers, the outlook for results would have
been dubious. Canada was already be-
You'd the point where she looked with
longing to this country market for
her raw products. She had already begun
negotiations with the mother country and
with several of the colonies. and never
ut heart. it is said. really desired that
the high joint commission should succeed.
One concession after another was de-
manded by her representatives. and as
noon as made they were granted by the
American side, to the establishment Of all
Americans who remembered the attitude
taken by Nelson Dingley during the time
when his famous tariff bill was before
congress Strangest of all. Mr.. Dingley
him self took the initiative in asking that
these demands be faVorably considered
Finally Canada. which is now believed to
have been trying from the first to demand
something which this country would not
concede. took radical position regarding
the Alaskan boundary. Here the negotia
lions ended, and it is safe to assume that
Canadas pleasure at this unsatisfactory
conclusion Of the affair was as great as
the United States regret.
Outcome Of the Barley Bill
The trade troubles which were the direc
outgrowth Of the abrogation Of the reel
procity convention Of 1856, had meanwhile
borne fruit in two important directions
The Mckinley or the Wilson C orman ac
had ruined the Canadian market for bar
ley. That country had been growing the
ha
most of it found a market in the United
States. We placed prohibitive tariff or
barley. in one Of the tariff acts just re.
ferred to, and as a result Canada had tt
abandon this crop.
But Canadian ingenuity was equal t.
this emergency. The erstwhile barle,
fields were converted into pastures. ane
the government personally undertook t,
direct the introduction Oh large scale 0
the dairy industry. 1t sent high salariet
experts from farm to farm, to instruc
personally the heads of families in the new
industry. Contracts were made will
shipping lines under which these lines wer
not to carry the mails unless they frs
provided cold storage facilities, In few
years most remarkable change had take,
place in the country districts. Barle.
was a forgotten crop, and In it's place wa
high class dairying. A market was foun,
In England for Canadian butter an,
which up to that time had PRACTICABLE
monopolized the English market, so far a
this side of the water concerned re
ceived a serious and permanent setback
- o The Lumber Schedule
Then came the encounter over lumber
which ended by this country's placing
duty Of 50 per 1000 upon the Canadian ar
ticle. Now, lumber is Canada's principl
raw product and she would give grea
deal to secure for it a market in the Unite
States At the same time. the Canada
government met our 81 tariff with retalia
ton, as the Michigan lun1bermen who ex
pended large sums to enable them to raj
logs from Canada across Lake Huron t
Michigan saw mills, have learned to thei
r. sorrow. e.ecs . aa " aa[ r..
While the Dingley law was still fres
IN the minds of the people of both coun
tries, the high-joint commission met. an
IT is small wonder that It's schemes wer
abortive.
The anti-American spirit is strongest i
Ontario. why is this SOP asked
high government official who is authorit
for the statements made in this article.
Ontario, z he replied. was original
Continued on Ninth Page. q