The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-09-11
Why Minnesota FavOrs Reciprocity
With Canada.

oress had not repudiated to all practical
intents the reciprocity pledges of the
Republican platform, if it had ratified
the advantageous treaties so carefully
neuotiated with France, Argentina and
Jamaica, and by such action had en-
coI,raoed the negotiation of treaties with
Germany and Canada, Minnesota and the
northwest generally would not have been,
as they are today, almost UNANIMOUSLY
in favor of tariff revision, says The st.
Paul Pioneer Press. Congress IN re-
iectino the Kasson treaties may per-
hans plead that it kept the letter of the
reciprocity pledge of the platform of 1901,
hut the fact remains that it has turned
its back on principle which has been
cardinal tenet of Republican faith since
the DAYS of Blaine, principle recognized
in the Mckinley act of 1890 and the
Dinolev act of 1897. But while the be-
travail of reciprocity and the absence of
any substantial indications of return
to that policy have given powerful
impetus to the tariff revision sentiment
in this state. there is no doubt that the
majority of Minnesota Republicans
would prefer relief through reciprocity to
relief through revision; which they re-
alize, will induce more or less uncertain
tv and interrupt the natural currents OF
business. Moreover, realizing the strength
of the demand for a more liberal policy,
they are fearful lest the refusal of the
"stand-patters," should drive the large
controlling element in congress, the
independent vote-now that Organism is
no longer menace-into the arms of the
Democratic party and give it enough
seats to put it in control of congress.
But while the northwest wants to see
reciprocity restored as a general policy,
it particularly desires reciprocity with
Canada. If a favorable treaty were nego-
tiated and ratified it is probable that the
tariff revision sentiment would practi-
cally disappear in this section. For a
favorable treaty would not only throw
open a large and rapidly growing market
to the manufacturers and jobbers of Min
nesota. but the lowering or abatement of
our duties on the principal products of
the Canadian northwest would afford
substantial relief to northwestern con-
sumers and would strengthen northwest
err industries.
1T is estimated by prominent st. Paul
iobbers who have studied the question
that reciprocity with Canada would mean
TO the iobbers and manufacturers of the
twin cities alone, without taking Duluth,
Winona. Mankato and the other Minneso-
ia cities into the reckoning. an additional
trade of at least $l2,000,000 a year
on a conservative estimate. As it is, the
twin city commercial territory so far as
staple goods are concerned, is restrict
ed toward the south by freight rates
which give Chicago and st. Louis more
than their geographical share of trade,
while to the north the trade is confined
by the artificial barrier of prohibitory
tariff at the international boundary.
Were this barrier broken down the vast
territory of the Canadian northwest, al
ready sustaining a large population,
rapidly filling up and destined to become
as thickly settled as Minnesota, would be
open to the enterprise of Minnesota bust
ness men. The iobbers CT Winnipeg
would be their only competitors, and even
they would not enjoy the complete adj
vantage of proximity owing to the fact
that Winnipeg is not in most lines a
primary market. Furthermore, the popu-
lation which is pouring into the Cana
dian northwest is largely American, IA
miliar with American houses and ac-
uuainted with American brands, and use
and habit alone would make these set
Tiers incline to favor American wares ii
they could be secured on terms as favor
able as those offered by Canadian houses
Assuming that the United States
would make concessions on Canadian
wheat and lumber, Minnesota, as has
been said. would gain by the transaction
The Minnesota branch of the reciprocity
league has discovered that the intelligent
farming population of Minnesota, so fan
from being averse to the removal of the
duty on Canadian wheat, is Indifferent to
it. and would strongly favor it if it were
supplemented by the removal of the duty
on Canadian lumber. For they realize
that the removal of the duty on Canadian
wheat would not have the least effect or
the price of the Minnesota product, that
the price is fixed in Liverpool, and that
it makes no difference whether the Cana
dian surplus is ground at Minneapolis
and shipped as -four or sent through
Canadian mills and over Canadian rail
roads to the same destination. 1t is also
obvious that in grinding this wheat in
Minnesota, American industry and com
merce would receive the benefits now
monopolized by British millers and Cana
dian railroads.
The lowering of the duty on Canadian
lumber would. furthermore, relieve the
farmer as well as every other consumer
of a heavy tax. Nor would it infict any
considerable hardship on numbering inter
ests. 1t is only matter of few years
not more than a decade-when the
lumber industry of Minnesota will be of
secondary Importance. The prospective
exhaustion of the Minnesota supply has
already started an exodus to the forests
of Washington and the other coast states
\ few Minnesota concerns have, The
Pioneer Press understands, already in
vested in Canadian timber lands. With
the duty abolished the timber resources
of all Canada would be open to Ameri-
can investors without entailing the sacri-
flee of the American market.
Such facts as these have given strength
to the demand for reciprocity with Cam
ada and has led to the formation of
the Minnesota branch of the reciprocity
league. This organization is conducting
vigorous campaign and is gaining add
herents every day. The enthusiasm with
which its proposals have been received
among all of the important interests of
the state has convinced it of the FEAST
bility of establishing branches in every
county in the state. 1t does not under
take to outline the terms of recipro-
city treaty, but, realizing that any pro-
posal for the reopening of the negotia-
lions must come from the United States,
it hopes to secure the reassembling of the
joint high commission and the determine
ton through it of the terms of treaty