The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-24
CANADA AND MINNESOTA.

Two of the most encouraging signs of commercial
and industrial progress for Western America are, first,
the organization Of the business men of Minnesota into
a branch of the National Reciprocity league, and second,
the strong stand taken by the Liberal party of Western
Canada for free trade and a cordial welcome for Ameri-
can capital, settlers and transportation connections.
These two forces working together on the two sides
of the line and supported by a strong popular sentiment
should be able to bring about results i'll the near future.
The heavy influx of American settlers into Manitoba, As.
snlbo1a and Alberta during the past three years and the
large sums of American capital that have been invested
IN Canadian lands, industries and business, are proving to
be strong cementing factors in the union of the American
and Canadian Northwest. The free trade party of Can
ada should be greatly strengthened by this accession of
moral and material support and make strong inroads on
its n~arrOw-guage political opponents. On the other hand,
the attitude now taken by our business interests in Min
nesota, which have been until now rather inclined to the
protective side OF the tariff controversy, is a fact of wide
significance.
Among the business interests represented on the Off
cal board Of the Minnesota branch Of the reciprocity
league are agriculture, -four milling, linseed oil manufac-
ture, wholesale dry goods and drugs, agricultural imple-
ments, grain handling, shipping, banking and many kin
dred lines. The lumber interests may not be specially
active in the cause from the standpoint of pine stump
age values, but from the standpoint of a lumber shipping
business to the Northwestern prairies across the border
they should be the most cordial supporters of the cause.
The transportation interests on. both sides Of the line. as
well as the banking and jobbing interests, should find
mutual profit in a progressive movement which means
increased volume of business.
Minnesota grain and milling interests have been anx-
lous for years to have the wheat of Manitoba, Alberta.
AssinibOia and Saskatchewan, which now aggregates
over Ioo,oOO,oOo bushels a year, shipped south via the
Minneapolis and Duluth-Superior mills and elevators.
where a strong local manufacturing market insures good
demand and prices, as we'll as employment for American
labor and capital engaged i'll milling transportation and
handling. Shipment Of this 100000 900 bushels across
British America and the Atlantic to Liverpool. where it
becomes a drug on the market, breaks down world prices
OF wheat and gives British mi11ers a cheap material with
which to undersell American flour. The Liberal party Of
Canada now pledges its hearty cooperation and support
Tor this grain movement. Manitoba farmers see that the
nearby market is the thing for them, instead of the un>
certain reliance upon Liverpool; and Manitoba business
interests generally will profit by the friendly CONNER
cal relation.
1t is not necessary to emphasize the great mutual
benefit Of Western Canada and Western America in free
reciprocal trade relations. The Twin City jobbing terri
tory would be at once doubled. Winnipeg commerce
would be doubled and trebled by the immense volume of
business that would be developed. Duluth Superior as a
shipping and distributing port would receive special i'm
petus. The settlement of all available farm lands in
Western Canada would be powerfully stimulated. Trans
portat1on facilities, manufacturing capacity, banking and
jobbing energies on both sides of the border would be
called upon to the utmost to take care of the new traffic
volume. The commerce of the United States and Can
ada, despite hostile tariffs, is now double that of the
United States with South America, and with free trade
would soon be double that of the United States with all
Latin-America.
Canada and Minnesota never had before them a more
important cause i'll the direction Of industrial and com.
merclal development, than that on which they now are
mutually working for the common development Of the
Western world.