The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-06
RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA
subject of Address to Board OF
Trade by Mr. Osborne HOwes.


Reciprocity with Canada was the
subject of an interesting address that
Mr. Osborne Howes of Boston de-
livered before the members of the
Board Of Trade yesterday at noon. The
speaker was introduced as the repre-
sentative of the Boston Chamber of
Commerce by Capt. D. G. Purse, presi-
dent of the Board of Trade.
Mr.. Howes said he brought the
greetings of the Boston Chamber of
Commerce which desires the cooper
alton of Savannah and of the whole
country in an effort to secure better
trade relations with Canada which it
is believed are essential to the future
of this country if it is to secure a con-
tinued expansion of trade.
The speaker said that to such of his
hearers as had not given that matter
close attention it might seem far cry
from Savannah to Canada, but, he re-
minded them, only a few years ago
the South had but little to export eX-
cept raw cotton, whereas in the last
few years it has become a great man
ufactuTing country, and he prophesied
in a few years the South will be one
of the greatest of industrial and man
ufacturing centers.
You are now in touch with the
world" he said, land are getting more
and more 50; nothing can affect the
trade of the world that will not be
felt by you. A few years ago the
world bought of US only what ii had
to- now they are buying from us in
competition with home and other man
ufacturies and as the product of the
manufactures of this country can sup
ply its demands by running ten
months or less of the year, a market
must be maintained for the surplus
supply if we are to maintain our pres
ent prosperity"
Continuing his argument Mr.. Howes
called attention to the fact that most
of the trade treaties now in existence
in which the United States is included
under in the favored nation" clause,
will expire next year, and that there
is a movement in Europe, widespread
and powerful, for high tariff against
American goods. He gave a table of
figures showing that Canada is, per
capita of population, the best market
in the world for American
goods, but that she is dissat-
isfied with the present tariff arrange
ment which is directly in favor of the
United States, and to the detriment of
the Canadians.
The reasons that this tariff has not
been modified before, Mr. Howes said.
is, first because of the coal interests
which fearing the importation of Cana
dian coal on the two sea-boards, would
not only interfere with their market.
but also deprive them of a long rail
road haul; second, the inherited tradi-
tion-though recently exploded-that
by protecting the Gloucester fisheries
10 era a~t,V, nj
dustry that would furnish in time of
war a. large number of able-bodied
American seamen; and. third. the lum-
Der interests. which, so long as the
forests of Michigan, Wisconsin and
Minnesota lasted feared the competi-
ton Of the lumber from across the bor-
der.
These reasons exist no longer. said
Mr.. Howes for, though the coal pro-
dncers OF this country might find COM
petition at the coast, should the tariff
be modified, they would also find a
large and easily accessible market in
the central part of Canada: practically
all of the lumber has been cut from
Michigan and Wisconsin, and the
greater. part from Minnesota: while
that the Gloucester fisheries no longer
serve to recruit the navy with Amer
lean seamen was shown in the Spanish
American war when of the IS men
enlisted from the fishing boats only
three were Americans.
The address was made in the effort
to get the Board of Trade to indorse
a series of resolutions, asking for re-
ciprocal trade relations with Canada.
These resolutions will be brought be-
fore the Board of Trade at its next
meeting. The address elected much
favorable comment.