The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-15
TRADE WITH CANADA
Senator Nelson an Earnest Advocate
of Reciprocity With Our
Neighbor.
What the State Department Said
When Asked to Draft
a Treaty.
From The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build.
ing Washineton.

From The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build
ing, Washington.
Washington. Dec. 15.--One of the most
earnest advocates In the senate OF reci-
procity with Canada is Senator Knute
Nelson of Minnesota. but he realizes that
there is nothing that the Legislative branch
Of the government can do to promote it.
1t is matter for the state department
to take up first. A treaty must be
drafted before anything else can be done;
that treaty must then go to the senate
for ratification.
Last summer, while Senator Nelson was
campaigning in Minnesota, re received Il
letter from the board Of trade at Duluth,
asking him to use his influence towards
the securing Of reciprocal relations with
Canada. This letter he forwarded at once
to the state department, accompanied by
a strong personal letter. in which he asked
the department to negotiate a treaty at its
earliest convenience. In due time there
came a reply, which, stripped Of dipo-
matte phraseology, was to the effect that
the department had done quite as much as
it thought was necessary in the way OF
drafting reciprocity treaties, and was
waiting to see whether the senate was
going to show a disposition to ratify them
Ten a dozen treaties have been pending
in the senate for several years, and all
efforts to secure ratification have been
futile. The department intimated that 1t
hardly saw the point Of piling up other
treaties at present.
AS to reciprocity with Canada. it is
we'll understood that's New England is
strongly opposed to it, and that her SEN
| ators who are among the most influential
! in congress. will stoutly oppose ratifca-
| tion So, even if a treaty were to be
drafted, it probably would not bring reci-
| procity any nearer than it now is.
! Senator Nelson is anxious to do all that
| he can to forward Canadian reciprocity
sentiment. He not only favors it per-
sonally, but realizes that it is becoming
| a very popular doctrine in Minnesota
But he thinks that nothing can be &C
complished through the legislat tive branch
of the government. The first move must
be made by the state department.
Senator Nelson referred to this ques-
ton during his campaign speeches in
Minneapolis in behalf of Congressman
Fletcher. Mr.. Lind was making the major
! portion Of his campaign on Canadian reel
procity, borrowing it from Eugene G
Hay, whose campaign cry it had been ir
the primary election contest. Senator
Nelson urged the citizens of Minneapolis
to vote for Fletcher rather than for Lind
because the present administration. be.
ing republican, would be more likely tt
listen to requests from republicans thar
from democrats. eff there is to be- reel
procity with Canada" said Senator Mel
son. substantially, to the people of Mime
apoIis, lit must be through the state
department, which will take the initiative
and draft a treaty for submission to tn,
senate. In bringing the state department
to a point where it will be willing t,
undertake this work, Mr.. Fletcher will
be much more helpful to you than Mr.
Lind"
The state department, it may be said
has not changed it's position from tina
which it held last summer at the tim
Senator Nelson received his letter. F'rh,
department wants some guarantee from
the senate that there is intention to con
slider the treaties on their merits and rati
fly an occa sional one Of them. before
will be willing to get up new ones.
w. w. Jermane.