The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-08
RECIPROCITY
WITH CANADA
There Is Not Much Encouragement
for It Just Now Across
the Line.
The Tendency Toward a Higher Tar
if Policy Is Marked Even in
Liberal Party.
A Manufacturers Apathetic Views
Y Offset by Declarations OF a !:
Well Informed Editor.
FROM a Staff Correspondent.

from Staff Correspondent.
Toronto Ont. Dec. Some or the |
largest manufacturers of Canada gave me
a long interview on trade relations OF the |
two countries At the outset he pointed
out marked difference between some
Canadian manufactures and those IN the
United States. Whereas the home market
with its 80. 000, 900 people is the main
thing for the American manufacturer,
there are at least few large manufac-
turers in Canada. who have had to look
to the foreign trade for large part ol
their orders. He confessed that the ~
900, 900 market was very entlclnS anu
that his company would like nothing pe'-
ter than to get chance at 1t on even
terms, if that were possible. He had
some doubt about the possibility or even
terms and was rather diffident about al
vocating any tariff change that might I'M
peril his conpanys hold on the oooo'ooo
market. Yet he admitted that, encour-
aged by the Canadian tariff. American
companies operating in Canada We're di-
viding up the home trade and his COM
pany was hardly equal to starting
branch in the United States as a counter
move Somewhat at sea as to his own IN
terests, he filled with resentment at
the American tariff policy that makes it
impossible for him to sell goods in the
United States, while the Canadian tariff
Is not high enough to keep his competl-
tors goods out of Canada. even II they
don't establish branches there. He leaned
towards the protective policy for Canada,
expects a greatly increased trade from the
development Of the Canadian northwest
and is inclined to believe that before long
Canadian tariffs against American goods
will be higher. He Is convinced that
Canada has a great future and should
make the most Of it for itself. In his
opinion the retirement of Israel Tarte
i,,iek 80 ,l>l
the division Of the liberal party on the
tariff very significant of great changes
to come.
A Chance at Our Market.
Upon my expressing the idea that raw
material might be cheaper in Canada than
in the United States and that. such
being the case, we'll established Canadian
Industries ought to be able to compete
with American industries in the Ameri-
can market the tariff being abolished, he
remarked that while materials We're not
cheaper one effect Of lower or abolished
tariffs would be cheaper material for him.
While he considered his product quite
as good as the American article, he said
that Americans were very cannish. and
much given to buying American goods
and rejecting all others. There were
also questions Of patents that made COM,
petition with American houses in the
United States difficult.
This manufacturer has all the business
he attend to. taking his home and
foreign trade together. and he really
doesn't much care what are the relations
of the United States and Canada. Orig
1nally. / inferred, he was something of
free trader. but is now mainly interested
in paying the United States back in kind
At any rate, he is quite sure that Canada
is only on the threshold Of protective
tariff area. He would not be surprised
to see the present liberal government
which came into power ON a free trade
basis six years ago. give the country q
higher tariff.
A Liberal View.
Offsetting this rather depressing and
apathetlc interview, was one with J. S.
Wilson who is just retiring from the
editorship of the Toronto Globe to start a.
new paper. Gossip has it that the own
ership of the Globe has been affected by
the wave Of high tariff feeling, and that
Mr.. Wilson leaves the paper In order
TO be free to express his own views.
Judging from Globe editorials, Mr.. Will
lson Is a. good deal Of a free trader He
IS an able man., a deep thinker and an
assiduous student Of the great problems
Of the day in commerce and industry.
Like all the other Canadians have met
on this trip. Mr.. Wilson looked at me in
surprise when I mentioned reciprocity
Canadians seem to wonder that we still
know how to pronounce the word in the
United States. He regretfully admitted
that there seemed to be a strong ten
dency in Canada at the present time
towards higher duties. Mr.. Willisor
thinks public opinion in Canada at pres
ent rather inert. He does not believe
that the masses favor a higher tariff
but they aren't saying much, whereas the
interests that hope to profit by higher
tariffs are we'll organize ed and are insis
tent and loud in their demands While
Mr., Wilson, does not fo, - r
vocate continental free trade he did sa,
that he thought that parts of Canada hat
natural resources which ought to enabl,
them with all tariff restrictions out O
the way. to become great seats of manu-
featuring for the whole continent The
oreticaly there seemed to be no reason
why, If free trade was good for all part
of the United States. it should not b,
good for all parts Of Canada. Though MI
Wilson spoke in rather mournful
hopeless sort of way about the outlool
for better trade relations between Canad;
and the United States. he was e1nphati
In his expression of the opinion that i
the United States should shortly come t,
the front with a fair reciprocity PROPOSE
ton. the favorable response from Canad:
would be immediate. But with all tn
others, he agreed that >"it was up t
Uncle Sam. ''' 'G..5. ......
Mr.. Wilson is greatly pleased owe
the American immigration into tn
Canadian west, and expects to see tn
Americans "assimilated'' very rapidly. II
is not worrying any about the possibl
effect Canadian west full Of American
may have on the future political relation
Of the two countries. He is quite willin
to leave the matter to the future, feelin
sure that whatever destiny has in stor
for the English speaking people Of thi
continent will be about what ought to- be
Theodore M. Knappen.