The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-20
HAY ISSUES
A STATEMENT
Tells Eastern Papers What Reciproc-
ity With Canada Would Mean
to United States.
Minneapolitan Says Reciprocity Is
Not a Yelled Attack Upon
Protection as Charged.
From III. Journal Bureau, Room 4s, Post puild-

From The Journal Bureau, Room 4b, Post Builds
ing Washington.
Washington, June 2O.-Before leaving
Washington on Wednesday night of this
week Eugene G. Hay Of Minneapolis gave
out a carefully prepared statement to the
eastern press covering his views concerns
ing reciprocity and it's relationship to the
protective tariff.
The statement grew out of the fact that
many of the eastern dailies had discussed
at considerable length Mr.. Hays recent
report to the Minnesota branch Of the ma
tional reciprocity league on the outlook
cor reciprocity with Canada; some of them
more especially those with strong repub-
lican leanings holding that the Hay argu-
s ment for reciprocity was in effect stab
at protection Mr.. Hay in his statement
said:
Hays Statement.
Many people who think loosely on
economic questions look upon reciprocity
as tending toward free trade and the same
class hastily jumped to the conclusion
that Secretary Chamberlain's proposition
for a British preferential tariff In favor
of the colonies would mean that Great
3 Britarin was to become a protective tariff
nation. Neither of these conclusions are
correct. Great Britain is a free trade
country, hence with them commercial reci-
lprocity is impossible, for they have moth
Ing to give In exchange for the CONNER
lcial concessions they may ask.
Chamberlain proposition, as interpreted
by Balfour, was to establish reciprocity
with the colonies by creating a tariff on
certain products Of other countries that
compete with colonial products in the
British market; these of course would be
natural products, chiefly food stuffs. In
Exchange for this 1t was proposed that
the colonies should, by discriminating
duties, give a preference to British manu-
Ifactures. This, if accomplished, would
ibe reciprocity between Great Britain and
her colonies and while it is an admission
of the impotence of absolute free trade in
sharp International comm ercial contests,
it does not mean that Great Britain is to
become protectionist to any greater ex-
tent than Is necessary to establish recf-
lprocity with her colonies and the chief,
If not the sole, purpse Of this Is to bind
closer together the mother country and
the colonies and give to their diverse com
Emercial interests common purpose in
maintaining the commercial supremacy OF
the empire.
British Reciprocity.
The mere suggestion of such g. policy
carries with it the thought that it may be
necessary to British supremacy and is a
Testimonial in favor Of the true principles
of the republican party of the United
States as strong as was Gladstone's en-
Idorsement Of the American constitution
Reciprocity Is as firmly established as 6
republican doctrine as Is protection: pro.
lection as a party principle was inherited
from the old whig party; reciprocity az
the OutgroWth of a protective tariff was
originated by the republican party to NEE
the changed conditions which came to the
country when as a result of matured ant
established industries, its commerce wa:
seeking foreign markets.
The advocate Of reciprocity does no
have his; face turned toward free trade
but away from it. The use Of our tariff
to extend our commerce Is the most en-
heightened protection. AS to Canada no in
terest that is now being protected by ou
tariffs, that should be protected under the
republican principle Of protection, will b.
injured by any treaty that might possibly