The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-03-11

ty Leagues Established Across the
 Northern Tier of States.
 The movement in the United States for closer trade relations with Canada has made rapid progress ill the past three months. Last December, at the convention in Detroit of the National Reciprocity League, a standing com mittee on reciprocity with Canada was appointed. Before the end of January the standing committee established a chain of reciprocity leagues across the northern tier of states, and have these leagues actively organizing. Before the end of February the Alaskan boundary dispute, an awkward barrier to a reel procity treaty, was by special treaty given to six jurists for settlement; and arrangements are being made for the reassembling of the joint high commits sion at as early date as possible. that reciprocity treaty may be framed and submitted to the governments for sati- fication. A reciprocity treaty is likely to be in operation in very little over years time.
 Some five years ago the governments of the United States, Great Britain and Canada agreed to appoint commission that would go into the matter of ar ranging. friendlier relations between the United States and Canada. Unfriendli- ness was steadily increasing through disputes over the right of Canadians to hunt seals in North Pacific waters, over the rights of Americans to fishing priv ileges in North Atlantic waters, and over the exact location of the Alaskan boundary line. Other differences of less importance were becoming greater; and the trade relations also were very unsatisfactory to Canadians.
 The commissioners held three ses- sions, during which representatives of commercial and industrial interests ac- cepted the privilege of presenting their views upon the concessions asked by both countries. Eventually the conl- missioners concluded that the time was not ripe for framing reciprocity trea- ty that would be mutually satisfactory.
 Afterwards it became known that the concessions asked by Canada were free trade in natural products, and arbitra- tion of the Alaskan boundary dispute; and that Canada offered to submit the Atlantic fisheries dispute to arbitration, to stop Canadians hunting seals in the North Pacific waters, and in consent to the construction of naval vessels upon the great lakes. The American com missioners offered to submit the Alas kan boundary dispute to a special com- mission equally representative; and had to refuse the concession of free trade in natural products, so great was the storm of protest by delegations.
 A radical change has come since the commission adjourned. American cap ital, enterprise and population have overf1owed into Canada, and are mak- ing that market more valuable to the United States than that of any other country in the world. This has awak- ened rapidly increasing interest in the trade possibilities in Canada, and is creating strengthening desire throughout the border states for closer trade delations with Canada. It is be- ing realized that the thousands of Americans who are settling on the new lands of the western territories of Can ada are more interested in their new homes than in their old homes; that the Americans who are investing many millions of dollars in manufacturing in- dustries in Canada are more interested in holding that market for themselves than in admitting American goods; and that Americans are making possible a Canada that will become exceedingly wealthy through the sale of foodstuffs; that will become very strong industrial ly through quick development of unlim- ited natural resources, and that will be- come altogether independent of closer relations with the Unittd States. It is thus established as fact that Ameri- cans are showing more desire to build up a great Canadian, nation than to check the progress of that country.
 There are many men of influence in both countries who are convinced that friendly relations would be mutually advantageous, that a continuation of unfriendIy relations would impose con- ditions that could not be met with that dignity which should be inseparable from government of the wealthiest con- tinent in the world. Thus it is that the Alaskan boundary dispute is to be of fered to six jurists for settlement-a common -sense plan by which to dis pose of a dispute over title to property; and thus it is that the joint high com mission is to be reconvened for the re- moval of negotiations for reciprocity treaty that will establish friendlier re- Iations.
 The commissioners will have differ ences to adjust, not disputes to settle; and the concession of free trade in nat ural products, instead of being unsup- ported in the United States. will be strongly urged by the majority of the people of the border States, because the value of the Canadian market has so greatly appreciated.
 The organization of public sentiment ifl the border states for reciprocity with Canada took practical shape last De- troit. at a convention called by the Na- tional Reciprocity League. The league was formed by prominent men in the western states, who want a practical application of the reciprocity plank in the republican platform. The delegates from the northern tier of states asked for ane. were granted standing com mittee empowered to take charge of the organization of the northern tier of states in support of reciprocity treaty with Canada. The committee is as fol- lows. Campbell Shaw of Buffalo