The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-29
SCHURMAN ON
RECIPROCITY
President of Cornell Says We
Should Make Treaty with
Canada.
Declares if Cuamberlain's Policy
Is Adopted It Will Be
Too Late.
States That Trade Necessities
Directly Shape a Country's
Boundaries.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
New York, Jan. 2S.--The eleventh
annual dinner of the Manufacturers
association Of New York was held IN
the Union League club, BROOKLYN last
night. Over two hundred and hfty
members and their friends were seat
ed at the table. At the guest table
was seated Jacob Gould Schurman,
president Of Cornell university, VINO
responded to the toast, Business ana
Government He said in part:
Even now trade is convulsing the poll
tics Of Englishmen and shaping the poll
ces of the English government. MI.
Chamberlain, the ablest. the most auda-
cious, the shrewdest and most energetic
statesman in parliament-a consummate
organizer as well as an impressive ana
convincing debater-has set out to over
turn the long established system of Brit
ish free trade by appeals and arguments
addressed both to the pockets and to the
patriotism of his countrymen. -,
Whether Mr.. Chamberlain's scheme Will
ultimately be adopted by the voters Of the
British empire It is too early to say. But
it is not too early for associations like
yours to consider the effects of its adop-
ton upon the export trade of the United
States
It would inevitably reduce the volume
of the agricultural produce you now seno
manufactured products you now SEND &c
Canada and other British colonies. Con
fponted by this danger Of shrlnkage II
your trade you should, perhaps. urge oul
! government to negotiate treaties of reel
! procity with foreign countries.
Canadian Reciprocity. -..
And venture to ask whether. in view
| Of the facts and the convictions have
mentioned it would not be both prescten
/ craftsmanship and shrewd politics for u:
| to negotiate without delay treaty o
reciprocity with the Dominion of Can
! ada.
The attitude of Canada toward Mr.
! Chamberlain's scheme will settle its fate
1T is still in our power to secure the Ca
madam markets for ourselves and to keel
Canada commercially anchored to thi
continent. 1t is in our power to-day; to
morrow it may not be. =
! In speaking of revolution in tn
Industrial world due in part to tn
concentration of the power of capita
4 and the power of management in tn
! hands of certain number of mer
4 President Sehurman said;
We cannot help this revolution in tn
Industrial world. 1t is no wiser to rail a
it than to abuse the winds and storms
But like sensible men we should take &C
, count Of the new phenomenon IN order
ing our political affairs. .s
When said some time ago that til
legitimate Intervention Of business men
the affairs of government might not be 6
influential in the future as 1t had been
the past 1 was abiding to the suspicic
which many persons entertain to the e.
feet that the modern commercial spirit
> politically aristocratic and plutocratic ar
: essentially at ennity with the democrat
= spirit on which our republic is based.
S The latest development Of our econon1
J. and industrial system has led to the col
a centratiof of capital and control IN tt
!. hands Of a few persons, and capital al
: power under such circumstances tend
a accomplish their own ends, even at tt
risk Of ruthlessness and lawlessness.
Like the earliest SO the latest events
e our national history are in the interests
a trade. + refer to the recognition Of t.
republic of Panama, thru which we a
to construct the isthmian canal, and
the opening, by means Of a treaty wi
China, of new trading centers in Ma
o. churia. In the same way the interests
= trade have not only shaped the policy
Great Britain, but have actually dete
n mined the map of the British empire.