The Wahpeton times., 1904-03-11
neQvs OF @e n0rdb@esf
The RECIPROCITY DISCUSSION.

THE RECIPROCITY DISCUSSION.
Il ls Raging In the Northwest-Argu.
ments Of One Side for Reciprocity
With Canada.
Minneapolis, Mimi, March 6.-The
speeches in congress of certain Min
nesota and Iowa congressman regard
ing reciprocity with Canada have
aroused much interest in the North
west. and no topic is now more gen.
orally discussed. 1t Is probably not
realized in other parts OF the country
how much interest is felt in this sub
ject in the Northwestern states. The
arguments generally given by the ad-
vocates of reciprocity with Canada
nay be summed UP about as follows:
Reciprocity with Canada woulc
merely be a measure of that convent
ent. happy and profitable trade ar
rangemcnt which exists between the
states and territories OF the Union.
There is not q state in the Union that
would give up the privilege of free
trade with it's neighbors. The states
IL
one frontier abutting on Canada. are
in sense deprived of the advantages
other states have in being able to
;rade with their neighbors ON all sides.
But even the states which do not
touch the Canadian line have their
area Of trade much restricted by the
fact that this boundary is accompa-
ried by tariff wall. The greater the
volume OF trade and traffic open to the
enjoyment of the people OF the United
States the more wealth and prospect.
y there will be.
So long. say the advocates of reci.
procity, as the Canadian West was an
uninhabited wilderness it didn't make
much difference to the people OF the
United States what were the tariff re-
lations between the two countries.
especially as at that time there was
little of any kind of produce from
Canada that was wanted in this coun.
try. But now that country is settling
up rapidly. About a hundred thousand
new settlers went in last year. and
some $4,000 of these were Americans.
There are nearly a million people in
Western. Canada. and their trade is
we'll worth having. They want To
trade with us and we want to trade
with thm. Many OF our manufactur-
srs and wholesalers have had to estab-
lish branch warehouses and factories
in Carada in order to get share of
this trade. 1t would be better 4y far
II it could be handled directly from
this side of the line. The future de-
velopment of important manufactur-
Ing centcrs in Minnesota and the other
boundary states depends largely upon
| whether they are to have access to
the markets of Western Canada. 1t
is we'll known that great manufacture
ing centers are of much benefit to tho
adjacent country
a large share of American prosper.
ity has always resulted from the fact
that'new territory was being constant
| ly opened up. This increased the do
mand for the products of the settled
regions and gave opportunities for
the creation Of new wealth. Nest Of
the undeveloped country left OF tie
continent is in Canada, but the tariff
to a large 4xte.t prevents people liv.
ing south of the 49th parallel and the
great lakes from sharing in the pres.
perity created by the immense devel.
opment now proceeding in Western
Canada where thousands of miles OF
railway are building, settlers arc pour
ing in and new towns are sprinsing up
on every hand. The benefits of rcci-
procity would be mutual. The tariff
forces the Western Canadians to pay
eXorbitant prices for many OF their
supplies. and they would like to enjoy
the benefits Of access to the American
transportation and market systems.
Then. too. there are some things that
Canada produces, lumber for instance,
that our consumers onght TO have
cheaper and could get cheaper il there
were reduced or abolished tariff.
The point is made that reciprocity
with Canada will hasten the popula-
Ion of that country ara make it more
attractive. for American settlers. The
fact is, about $4,000 Americans are
now going each year into Western
Canada, and the movement cannot be
stopped. 1t is argued that the best
thing the people OF the Northwest, can
do is to take steps to keep the trade
Of these migrating brethren whom
they cannot keep in person.
OF course all this is combattcd by
those who oppose reciprocity. but
these arguments are making Il deep
Impression.