New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-18
CANADA AND RECIPROCITY.
HER FARMERS AND MERCHANTS WANT IT. HER
MANUF4CTURERS DO NOT
rfn Smith Tells Why Her Politicians Talk against It4re We
Willing to Meet Her Terms?

For come time certain manufacturing inter
sets II New-England have been agitating the
subsect Of reciprocity with Canada According
20 leaders Of this movement. there should be
Iover tariffs between the two countries. Can
sda they say. should lower the tariff on manu-
fsctures, thus opening market in the Dominion
for American factories. while the United States
should let down the bars for certain products
vhich Canada might want exempted.
According 10 Eugene y. Foss, who has made
tVo unsuccessful campaigns as a candidate for
Congress In a Boston district on the Republican
roket the demand Of that State for reciprocity
vas so great that It elected Democratic Cow
pruor at the last election
In order to determine on what lines reciprocity
with Canada is possible, The Tribune has OBJ
tained the opinions OF leading men in that coun-
TT, and thus enables American readers to OBJ
tain e comprehensive view OF the Canadian side
Of the question. The inquiry was extended to
various classes Of citizens Of the Dominion, and
-e,-eeerts the sentiments OF politicians, pub
I,cists merchants, manufacturers and farmers.
Il was found that the great majority of
Canadians are opposed TO freer trade relations
with this country unless these enabled them
IN sell without duty their raw products in the
United States Nearly one-haIf the inhabi-
+ants Of the Dominion are farmers, who would
support a reciprocity arrangement which would
hermit them 10 sell their livestock dairy prod
nee bacon, hams and cereals TO Americans free
n duty Lunabermeu also favor reciprocity.
Tby acknowledge that these materials would
cane in direc- competition with the products of
American farmers and lumbernen in Western
States but they believe the United States is SO
great q consumer Of raw material that their
American competitors would not suffer
Whether or not The opinions of these Canadians
viii be upheld by American producers is OF
course another question.
Canada's aETicultural products have greatly
Increased since the building of railroads into
the Western provinces. IN 1868 the Domnion's
exports Of this class amounted to S1S,700,OO0
In 1880 they reached the sum Of sea, 100000.
In 1855 those of the United States were valued
at S3600p000o and in 1900 $3.50. SIS, 1913.
The Canadian farmers are also IN favor of
admtting American manufa ctures free, for, they
say they could then buy clothes. farming i'm
Elements and many more finished products
much cheaper than now.
Canadian merchants are more or less in SYM
pathy with the great agricultural class. AL
most ell favor the American exemption Of Can
adas raw imports. and the majority believe that
Canadian consumers, as whole, would be bene-
flied by letting down the bars to American
rannfa ctures Canadian tradesmen constitute
about 20 per cent of the population, and thus,
-, 49, farmers. form substantial majority
Ct all the Dom,nion's inhabitants.
TIE manufacturers. who are comparatively
few In number, but who possess a powerful in
fuence are strongly opposed to reciprocity on
any basis. They say that a reduction of Can
adas tariff would put them out Of business.
Some even assert that the result would be
nexation 10 the United States. They argue
that in the same way II will increase the
strength Of the Dominion In 1890 Canada's
exports Of manufactures were valued at So
10000 and in 1900 at S1420OO0O In 1890
those Of the United States amounted to S151.
l0237G. and in 1900 TO S433 sd. 756.
Canadian politicians are also opposed TO reci-
procty Some advocate even higher tariffs to
limit still further the trade between the two
countries. These politicians give various rea-
Eons for their stand, but. according to Pro-
lessor Goodwin Smith the eminent Canadian
suthor ard puolicist they are chiefly Influenced
by feelings Of political jealousy and alarm. In
exp!aining his antagonism to reciprocity. J.
iEael Tarte. ex-Minister of Public Works. said
@t the two countries were rivals and, accord
tgg could not unite without the weaker one
fBecumbing
The alarm Of Canadian statesmen to which
Professor Smith alludes may be explained by
NE ever increasing trade balance, which is IN
favor Of this country. For the years 1850 TO
1o66 there were reciprocity relations between
Canada and the United States In 1855 the
trade balance favored US by 100000. BY
1866 the pendulum had swung so far the other
way that # favored Canada by $24.OO0O00.
since reciprocity was abolished trade turned
again n favor Of the United States SO that
now the balance is 100000 to the credit OF
he Americans.
Il spite Of the preferential tariff given 10
ngand by Canada, the trade from that coun-
~ with the Dominion IS constantly being cut
o0En by American traders. In 1890 England
supplied IS Per cent and the United States 40
Yer cent Of Canada's wants; IN 1904 England
supplied p Per cent and the United States 90
Der cent