Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-12
TO USE RECIPROCITY
The Boston Democrats Doubt
Lodges Sincerity.
ASKING HIM QUESTIONS
PROMISES TO FIGURE AS ISSUE
IN THE CAMPAIGN.
Republicans Circulating an Enormous
H. C,,hiort-pnhIic
ASKING HIM QUESTIONS
Republicans Circulating an Enormous
Petition on the Subject-Pubic
Acts Best Proofs.
e,.c,,, From stan Correspondent.

epecial From a Stan Correspondent
BOSTON August 12-Up here in Boston
town they have Senator Lodge explaining
The democrats, reinforced by NUMBER Oh
republicans. are asking him questions re-
garding his attitude and that OF the grand
old party toward Canadian reciprocity. Inc
fire of interrogations and the direct charge
that the senator is not at heart an advo-
cate of reciprocity have combined to stlr
the state up to a pitch of political interest
actually bordering on excitement That Is
an unusual condition in the staid old com
monwealths of New England this early in
campaign.
The Canadian reciprocity question is just
now the topic of the hour, and promises 10
cut a larger figure in this section or the
country than almost any other issue before
the people The democrats are fostering
the reciprocity idea and are claiming that
they are the only really, honest-to- good
ness representatives of the principle. On
the other hand Senator Lodge Is quoting
the republican national platform, which
says:
I'VE have extended widely our foreign
markets, and believe in the adoption of all
practicable methods for their further ex-
tension including commercial reciprocity,
wherever reciprocal arrangements can be
effected consistent with the principles of
protection and without injury to American
agriculture. American labor or any Ameri-
can industry.
Senator Lodge is also quoting President
Roosevelt. 1t being the custom nowadays to
place the candidate above the PARTY when
the occasion seems to be ripe. President
Roosevelt In his reply to the committee of
notifica ton declared:
I'VE believe IN reciprocity with foreign
nations on the terms outlined in President
Mckinley's last speech, which urged the
extension of our foreign markets by recip-
rocal arrangements whenever they could be
made without injury to American industry
and labor"
Senator Agrees With Roosevelt.
The senator says he agrees with the Pres
ident absolutely and entirely. That he
agrees with the republican platform goes
without saying. for 1t was Mr.. Lodge him
self who drafted the document and carried
1t off to Chicago In his dress suit case. A
few days ago in a speech before CONNER
cial organization Senator Lodge took oc-
casion to reply to the critics who have
sprung up from many sides. Those who
do not accuse the senator outright of be-
ing opposed to true reciprocity with Can
ada assert that he is but lukewarm in his
support of the idea. This reciprocity
ton has taken hold like wildfire up here
and 1t is because of this condition of af-
fairs that John Sharp Williams. the demo-
cratic floor leader In the House of Repre-
sentativeS, is coming to Boston during the
campaign. During the past session Of Con-
greSs Mr.. Williams made a number of
speeches in which reciprocity. especially
with Canada, was the central theme. He
charged the republicans with Sinking their
duty and not living up to the doctrines of
the lamented Mckinley in refusing to en-
ter into reciprocal arrangements with the
dominion tn the north.
These speeches will make fine reading up
here. with the public mind already aroused
to an idea of the Importance of Canadian
reciprocity. That such literature will be
freely distributed during the campaign goes
without saying. Democratic Boston Is al
ready agog with the Williams utterances
and the claim is made that only through
democratic channels can come the desired
relief.
The strength of the republican clamor
for reciprocity, however. is being made APP
parent through an enormous petition now
In circulation.
This petition reads as follows:
Clamor for Reciprocity.
THE undersigned republicans, approving
the election of Theodore Roosevelt for
President of the United States, believe, as
the late James G. Blaine and President
Mckinley believed, and wisely advised
that the establishment of reciprocal trade
relations with other countries, and espe-
cially with Canada and Newfoundland, our
nearest neighbors, is of vital Importance to
commercial welfare OF the tnlteO
States, and especially that of Massachu-
sets.
We are further confirmed in the belief
by the provision made. therefor In the
Dingley bill and by the action of Secretary
of State Hay in negotiating treaties for
reciprocal trade relations with other coun-
tries.
We therefore urge upon republican vot-
ers of this state the paramount Importance
to our business interests of establishing
such relations with Canada and Newfound-
land, not to be confined to non-competitive
products. We promise to attend the eau
cuses and also to urge republican voters
not to nominate any person as a candidate
for the state or national legislature Who is
unwilling to commit himself clearly in
favor of such reciprocal trade relations"
Stands for the Principles.
Senator Lodge declares that so far as
the statements in the petition concerning
reciprocity GO he would have no hesitancy
In afiixing his own signature to the docu-
ment. He says that the signing of such
a declaration. however, would be simply
cumulative that the republican party and
all good republicans stand for the princi-
pies enunciated. To the last paragraph Of
the petition the senator strenuousy OBJ
jects. There lies in this paragraph, he
says, reason why every republican who
intends to support Roosevelt and Fair
banks should withhold his name. In con-
clusion the senator declares the petition
was originated by and its circulation paid
for by a distinguished democrat who has
no more intention of voting for Roosevelt
than Judge Parker himself Senator Lodge
characterizes the reciprocity agitation at
this time an anti-Roosevelt and demo-
cratic attempt to get votes for Judge
Parker by breeding dissensions among the
republicans and inducing republican BUSH
ness men. who rightfully favor reciprocity
to believe that their own chosen and trust
Lea arr n IN haf, = baa
reverse Is the case and when every sue
cessful reciprocal agreement we have had
In the last fifty years has been the work
of the republican party.
But whatever may be the purpose of the
petition and the movement II reflects, the
clamor for reciprocity with Canada will
have to be met and dealt with at the polls
by the republican managers of Massachu-
sets.
Fail to Interest Voters.
Efforts to interest the voters in the fall
ure of the democratic party to write a
money plank into its platform. to predict
that the free-trade tendencies of many of
the democrats In the House will result in
danger and disaster to New England in
dustries. attract little or no attention
Reciprocity Is the talk of the hour, and the
political writer's confine themselves almost