Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-24
Friends of Reciprocity Believe
That Canadian Sentiment
Is With Them
THE JOINT HIGH COMMISSION
1t Is Now Practically Certain That This
Body Will Meet and Try to Reach
Satisfactory ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Will Demand No Assurances That
American Senate Will Ratify Treaty.

Washington, July 24.-As the time
draws near for the propagation of the
Canadian parliament, it is easy to fore
see that there is to be meeting of the
joint high commissioner probably in the
fall, and that efforts will be made to
reach an agreement satisfactory to
each country. The commission will
probably meet in this city at the sug-
gestion of the Canadian members, on
account Of the lateness of the season.
AS soon as parliament is prorogued,
about the middle of August, Sir Will
fred Laurier VIII have a personal in
terview with Senator Fairbanks, at
which details will be arranged.
| 1t may be said with authority that
the Canadian government will APP
proach this reconvening of the high
joint" with a strong desire to ac-
complish satisfactory results. 1t is
sincerely in favor of reciprocity and
will place nothing in the way of con-
vention acceptable on both sides of
the line. If there ever was time
when Sir Wilfred's ministers were will
ling to play politics" that time has
passed. The Americans have only to
meet them half way to insure the
framing Of convention that will have
the strong support of all Intelligent
and disinterested persons.
From man Of high character IN
close touch with both governments.
who has made a special study of the
reciprocity question, learn some inter
esting facts regarding the attitude OF
the Canadian members of the high
joint commission. If. after q full and
free discussion it becomes apparent
that there is some reluctance on the
part of the American commissioners to
grant absolute free trade in natural
products, it is quite possible, to put ii
no stronger, that the Canadians Will
offer as an inducement. to put Amerl-
can manufactured articles on the same
basis as those of British origin; that is
to say, give them reduction Of 33 1-3
per cent below the stated tariff.
Such reduction, l am reliably in
formed, would be gratefully received
by the great majority OF American
manufacturers, many of whom say
they want no better opening in the
Canadian market than such reduc-
ton would offer. These manufacture
ers as class. are entirely willing to
have free trade between the two coun-
tries in manufactured as we'll as in
natural products. and would not in the
least object TO making the American
tariff on Canadian manufactured ar
ticles the same as that of the Can
adam tariff on American manufactured
articles.
No Assurances Demanded.
| Another important fact is the inten-
! ton of the Canadians to demand moth
/ ing in the way of assurances that i
treaty, If prepared. will be ratified by
! the American senate. For several
| months Americans who have been fol-
lowing the reciprocity question closely
had been fearful that such demands
would be made, and knowing that as
surances could not be given, they
feared that the high joint commission
would not meet.
| My informant says that Canadian
sentiment, official and unofficial, has
undergone little or no change as re-
suit of the proposal of Secretary
Chamberlain to create British pref
erential in favor of certain colonial
products. The feeling in Canada seems
| to be that such a preferential as Can
ada might be able to secure would not
necessarily be incompatible with reci-
procity with the United States. For
instance, Canadians do not believe that
Great Britain would offer a preferential
that would be Of value to the eastern
and more thickly settled portions of
ample to breadstuffs only, the mari
time provinces and Quebec would have
no interest in it whatever and Ontari-
but little.
Tho Gloucester Opposition.
So far as this country is concerned,
the strongest opposition to Canadian
| reciprocity centers in and around the
New England fishing town Of Glouces
| ter The fish interests of Massachu-
sets are widely divided in opinion re-
garding Canadian reciprocity. Those
engaged in the fish packing and dis
Itributing business are generally
strongly in favor of a reciprocity trea-
| ty. believing that free fish would bring
them large increase in business. 1t
must be remembered that there is a
great difference between the fresh and
the salt fish business in the point of
Interest which they have in this ques
ton. All agree that free fish woul1
not injure the fresh fish business. The
| fresh fish business is rapidly growing,
while the salt fish >-lsiness is on the
| decline.
The owners Of fishing vessels at
Gloucester are strongly opposed to rec
| iprocity with Canada, because they
fear 1t would mean free fish. The duty
on fish, however, is not protective
! tariff as that term is understood in the
west, because If it We're abolished
there would be no reduction of wages
Ito those engaged in fishing on the
contrary. wages would probably be in
creased. The chief objection of these
vessel owners to reciprocity with Can
| ada grows out Of their fear that they
could not secure men for their fleets
More than two-th thirds of the men who
20 out from Gloucester are aliens and
come for the fishing season only. re-
turning to Canada with their earnings.
The Gloucester theory is that free nsh
would stimulate the Canadian industry
and furnish employment at home for
| these aliens. thus preventing their re-
turn to this country for employment.
The attitude Of the Gloucester fish
ers Is important, because any treaty
will meet with the bitter opposition OF
that interest and possibly secure the
backing of the New England senator's
This al any rate. was the situation in
the last congress-
L