The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-06
Important Reciprocity Meeting.

There will be a. meeting of the North.
western Reciprocity League at the Com
merciaI Club Tomorrow at 2 o'clock, at
which time Mr. Hay, special counsel Of
the league, will make q report covering the
visit paid by himself and President Miller
of Duluth to the political and commercial
centers Of Canada few weeks ago. Mr.
Miller and Mr.. Hay visited Canada by d.
rection of the league to ascertain the state
of public sentiment there with regard to
freer trade relations with this country,
and Mr.. Hay will present the report as the
result of their investigation. 1t Is there
fore of the highest Importance that there
be full attendance of the business men
who are affiliated with this movement and
all interested in the promotion Of Canadian
reciprocity. ''-' - -! g.
Furthermore, it is time for all who are
Interested in that proposition to rise to the
requirements of the situation. 1t Is
ella lined by those best advised, and 1t is
doubtless true. that If we are to have
reciprocity with Canada it must be Sc
cured within the next year or two This
is due mainly to conditions prevailing In
Canada, to the state Of public sentiment
and to the conditions of Industrial develop
nnent. Another fact which makes the i'm
portance of prompt action the more .ap-
parent Is that. in all probability, there will
be a meeting of the joint high commission
sometimes during the coming fall Cor
respondence and negotiations looking to
that end have already been exchanged, and
the probabilities are that the questions Of
trade relations will come up on their
merits relieved Of the influence Of the
Alaskan boundary controversy, and with
much better prospects for definite results
by reason Of the elimination of the Alas
kan question. .>.s .....'
This reasonable certainty that there will
be a meeting Of the commission and the
desirability Of organizing sentiment and
influence on this side with reference to
consideration of the subject Of reciprocity
by the commission, makes urgent the mat
ter Of organizing the interests on our side
Of the line likely to be favorable to freer
trade relations with Canada. =. .,
While, undoubtedly, Minnesota and the
commercial and manufacturing interests. o,
are the people Of any other section of the
country, little investigation has de-
veloped the fact that this interest is by nj
means local. that there exists all through
the middle west, from western New Yorl
to the Missouri and as far south as tn,
Ohio, large manufacturing interests, par
ticularly in the line of ma chinery and farm
implements, which are deeply concerne.
about this proposition. T.. -. ., -
These interests, organized in support o
Canadian reciprocity. are capable Of exert
ing very powerful influence upon ou
national policy. They cover sections Q
the union most powerful and Influential 4
congress, and when once the importanc
of the subject has been properly com
pretended by these interests their activit
In behalf of Canadian reciprocity can b
counted upon as one Of the most potent !
that behalf. <E:..%5i So: -%"::EE - {.
Nor is the movement without importar
support in the far east, where, notwitt
standing the opposition Of a few me
prominent in politics and representing spe
cial Interests Of minor Importance, til
general business sentiment is extreme]
favorable and business organizations a,
already moving in the right direction.
1t looks asSif it were now UP to II
business men Of Minneapolis. the, Gil
which is probably more deeply interests
in this proposition than any other. !!
show, not only by their contributions,
money, which have been liberal, but
their personal presence and influence the
determination to promote this importal
commercial and industrial movement
the best of their ability. .:.s.s
There is reason to believe that Mr.. He
will report the existence of great deaf
sentiment in Canada. and particularly
the liberal party now in power, in fav
of such concessions, matched by fair al
liberal regulations on our own side,
will rebound immea surab1y to- the cor
inercia1 profit Of both countries.
The situation calls for the CO -operati,