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

Reciprocity League, with headquarters in Boston, has charge of the New Eng land states. There the demand is for free iron, wool, hides and lumber. The Lower Lakes Reciprocity League, with headquarters at Buffalo, has charge of the territory between the New England states and Michigan. There the de- mand. is for free lumber, barley and pulp. The Michigan Reciprocity Leauge, with headquarters at Detroit, has charge of Michigan, where the de- mand is for free lumber. The North western Reciprocity League, with head quarters at Minneapolis, has charge of the territory between Michigan and the Pacific coast, where the demand is for free wheat. The Northwestern League is in three divisiOns-one at Duluth one at St. Paul, and one at Minneapolis.
 These leagues are supported princi- pally by manufacturers and business men, and are swinging the northern tier of states in line for effective sup port to the American commissioners when negotiations are resumed for reciprocity treaty with Canada. Addi- tional support to the movement is giv- en by the leading commercial organiza- tions of the United States. by nearly all of the leading newspapers of the coun- try, and by the manufacturers of agri- cultural machinery and vehicles of the western states,
 As to the probability of reciprocity treaty being arranged in the near fu- ture, there are these pertinent facts: The Alaskan boundary dispute is out of the way, the Canadian market is greatly appreciating in value, and the joint high commission is to be recon vened as soon as possible, and negoti ations resumed.
 Canada wants free trade in natural products, and insists that no other con cession would be of any material ad- vantage to her. It is understood that in return for this concession, the prefer ential tariff on British goods would be withdrawn and the United States would be placed upon an equality with other nations in trade relations. This would give the United States a greater ad- vantage than any other nation would have, because of the convenience of the Canadian market to this country The supporters of reciprocity submit that the prices of farm products in Canada are now nearly on parity with those in the United States; that free trade in natural products would introduce American buyers into Canada and force prices to a common level, that Canadi- an formers would benefit largely, that all the canadian produce would be bought for home and export trade, and that the American market would not be injured in the slightest degree. It is further claimed that free trade in nat ural products would mean a partnership between the United States and Canada for supplying food products to the world, thus maintaining an equality in prices on both sides of the border. An other contention is that closer trade re- lations with Canada upon this basis would so increase the volume of trade that exchange of concessions on tariff on manufactures would naturally fol- low, and the tariff wall would gradu ally be lowered.
 The necessity for arranging reel procity treaty as quickly as possible has been made evident by the strength of the movement in Canada for a high CT protective tariff and exclusion of American trade. This movement is openly supported by Americans who have established and are establishing manufacturing and other industries in Canada.
 The United States has invited Cana da to reopen negotiations for reci- procity treaty because the market of Canada has so increased in value in the last three years that the concession of free trade in natural products has be- come justifiable. Upon the basis of free trade in natural products the Ca madam government is willing to nega- tiate a reciprocity treaty, because the profits of the farmers would be greatly increased and the country would pros per proportionately. The treaty would prevent the now threatened loss of a United States in Canada, and establish much closer trade relations, it would give Canada the advantage of part nership with the Unitel States in sup plying food products to the world; and it would remove friction from differ ences of long standing and substitute policy of community of interest.
 When the joint high commission re- assemblies, which may be any time be- fore next summer is over, there will probably be @ stronger organized oppo- sition in both countries to the arrange ment of a mutually profitably treaty To ,overcame this opposition, the reel procity leagues, backed by the Nation al Reciprocity League, have underta- ken to organize the northern belt for a solid support of the American commits sfoners, for delegations in favor of the concessions that are required, and for : influence upon congress when the treaty would be up for ratification 1 The organization of the northern tier of states is well advanced and is being strengthened as rapidly as possible The headquarters are located in Buffa- [ To at No. 730 Elliott Square.-Cleveland Leader.
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