The Minneapolis journal., 1903-06-17
FIGHT FIRE
WITH FIRE
Special Interests Involved Must
Work Hard in Behalf of
Canadian Reciprocity.
Heretofore Such Interests Have Re-
mained Apathetic and Treaties
Have Been Defeated.
Only Action on the Part Of Business
Men Can Bridge the
$3.50. Senate.
From The Journal Bureau Room As, Post Build
inn Nan no4n -

ing, Washington.
Washington, June 17.-With the de-
parture from Washington of Eugene G..
Hay Of Minneapolis, a number Of definite
statements may be made with regard to
the outlook for Canadian reciprocity and |
the reassembly Of the joint high commits |
sion Mr.. Hay was here for almost a |
week as the representative Of the Mime |
sofa branch Of the National Reciprocity |
League, and had extensive interviews |
with the president, Secretary Hay and |
other officials who are In touch with the |
reciprocity situation.
1t may be said that both the president
and Secretary Hay are heartily in favor
Of reciprocity in general, and especially !
Of reciprocity with Canada, because they
consider that a. reciprocity convention
with that country will present fewer COM
plications and Objectionable features than
would come to the front in the arranging
of a treaty with any other country. At
the same time, however, both Of these
high officials are skeptical regarding the
probability Of the senate ratifying any
reciprocity treaty even one with Canada.
If the president could have his way, the
Kasson treaties, which for years have
been ptgeon-holed In the senate commit
tee on foreign relations, would be ratified
Immediately on the convening Of the sem
ate next fall and he would have the joint
| high commission meet this summer and
prepare treaty with Canada to present
| to the senate before the holidays. But
the opposition Of special interests in the
senate Is so powerful that reciprocity
there Is probably doomed to failure unless
! radical changes Of sentiment can be Sc
| cured That there is to be such a change
there is little promise, hence the pess1m-
istic view Of the president and Of Secre-
tary Hay over the outlook
| What LaurIer May Do.
It is feared in Washington that Sir
Wilfrid Laur'er before agreeing to the re-
convening Of the joint high commission,
may ask the president or Secretary Hay
to give Canada some assurances that a
treaty, If made by the commission, will be
ratified by the American senate. Such as
| surances, of course, could not be given,
and II insisted upon as a condition pre-
cedent to the reassembling of the thigh
joints, there will be no reassembling Of
that body.
! Canada may, however, be willing to
4 have the commission meet, trusting TIE
future to bring the American senate into
i line, but that does not seem to be quite
her attitude at present. Right at this
point, 1t will thus be seen, lies the chief
obstacle In the way Of a meeting of the
commission. This is the Canadian reci-
procity situation in a. few words It bears
out fully the report which Mr.. Hay re-
, Gently made to the Minnesota branch OF
the National Reciprocity league regarding
the probabilities Of the case, and shows
, him as having made a very perfect fore
cast OF the situation which did not develop
until some time after his report had gone
, to the public. "-
Special Interest Fight.
Attention Is called to the fact that nc
,, reciprocity treaty yet made by this coun-
, try has had the aggressive support OF
fha Snoo1a1 fnfaraafa that uy0 10
ably affected by it. The special interests
, which would be unfavorably affected have
always rallied their supporters, and thru
, their representatives in the senate, have
stood In the way Of ratification If the
, special interests that would be favored
by a treaty with Canada were to organize
.. and come to Washington In a determined
! manner and make a hard fight here
, against the special interests that would
: oppose the treaty, a situation would de-
velop which might lead to ratification
Such contest has never been made, ant
q the chances are that the manufacturer!
q and others who are In favor Of Cana
:. dian treaty, will be the first TO make it.
The state department frankly. admit:
= that such a contest would put reciprocity
y on much flrmer footing In the senate thar
: it has yet occupied.
Meanwhile negotiations between ST
: Wilfrid Laurier and Senator Fairbank:
continue, and 1t will be known about tn,
e middle Of July what the Canadians will
: say to our formal request for a reassem
o bling of the joint high commission.
t they do not insist upon assurance of rati
h fication from the United States, the corri
mission will probably meet, and that will
mean that a treaty will be prepared. Tha
Z treaty. Of course, would encounter bite
oposition In the senate from New Eng
land, and perhaps other sections of coun
try, and then would be the time for thos
- - /
: Washington prepared to make a hot fight
@ w. w. Jermane.