Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1904-03-10
Regvs OF Nen0rdbwesf'
THE RECIPROCITY DISCUSSION.

| It's 0eNtFNO~tlY OtSCOSSlON.
Il 10 Raging in the Northwest-Aruu.
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
tect 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 would
merely be measure of that convent
ent. happy and profitable trade ar
rangement which exists between the
\ states and territories Of the Union.
There is not state in the Union that
would give up the privilege Of free
trade with its neighbors. Tho states
along the northern boundary, having
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-
MED 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.
~ there will be.
So long, say the advocates Of reci.
procity, as the Canadian West was an
uninhabfted 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 hundred thousand
new settlers went In last year. and
some $4,000 of these were Americans.
There are nearly 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 them. Many of our manufactur-
ers and wholesalers have had to estab-
fish branch warehouses and factories
in Canada in order to get share of
this trade. It would be better ~ far
It 1t could be handled directly from
this side of the line. The future de-
velopment of important manufacture
Ing centers in Minnesota and the other
boundary states depends largely upon
whether they are to have access to
the markets of Western Canada. It
IS we'll known that great manufacture
Ing centers are of much benefit to the
adjacent country
A large share Of American prosper,
fty has always resulted from the fact
that new territory was being constant
ly opened up. This increased the de-
mand for the products of the settled
regions and gave opportunities for
the creation of new wealth. Most OF
the undeveloped country left on the
continent is in Canada, but the tariff
to large extent prevents people liv-
ing south OF the 49th parallel and the
great lakes from sharing in the pros
perity created by the immense devel-
now proceeding in Western
Canada, where thousands Of miles of
railway are building. settlers are pour
ng III and new towns are springing up
On every hand. The benefits of reci-
procity would be mutual. The tariff
forces the Western Canadians to pay
sxorbitant prices for many of their
and they would like to enjoy
he benefits Of access to the American
and market systems.
Then, too, there are some things that
Canada produces, lumber for instance,
hat our consumers Onght to have
;heaper and could get cheaper II there
we're a reduced or abolished tariff.
The point is made that reciprocity
With Canada will hasten the popula-
ion of that country and make it more
for American settlers. The
act is, about $4,000 Americans are
low going each year into Western
canada, and the movement cannot be
stopped. 1t is argued that the best
hing the people of the Northwest can
10 is to take steps to keep the trade
II these migrating brethren whom
hey cannot keep in person.
OF course all this is combatted by
hose who oppose reciprocity, but
hese arguments are making a deep