The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-09-21
CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.

CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.
Reciprocity with Canada is apparently to be thu
paramount ISSUE in the coming campaign in Mas
sachusetts if not in New England says the New Yorl
Commercial Practically all of the republican mem
bers of the Boston Chamber of Commerce committee
Of one hundred have just signed an appeal to Massa
ehusetts republicans to send delegates to the ap
preaching state republican convention who favor q
trade reciprocity treaty between the United States
and the dominion of Canada The appeal goes on
to say that realizing as President Roosevelt realized
in his message to congress in 1902 that treaty
be made which may not affect injuriously some in
terest even if it should conserve the greatest good
Of the greatest number of people, favor recipro-
cal treaties when in the language of the president
'the minimum of damage done may be disregarded
for the sake of the maximum of good accomplished "
The contention of Senator Lodge and other New
England republican leaders is that they are wholly
and enthusiastically in favor of reciprocal trade ar
rangements with Canada, but that such arrange
ments must be consistent with protection to every
branch of American industry. This amounts to say
ing that these republican leaders absolutely op
posed to reciprocity with Canada, and they are sim
ply toying with words when they declare to the con-
trary. Canada produces pretty much the same sort
Of things that we produce Some of these things she
produces more cheaply or in greater quantities than
we do, and some of them we produce under greater
advantages than Canada does; and real reciprocity
with that country means that there shall be free
or freer, admission of Canadian articles into the
United States in the production of which the domn
ion excels and vice versa that goods in the produc
tion of which this country exces shall be admitted
under similar terms into Canada. There can be no
real reciprocity in non-competive" commodities
No nation leves duties on such products except for
purposes of revenue.
One of the "arguments" that is advanced against
reciprocity with Canada is that in spite OF the pres
ent preferential tariff which that country maintains
for the benefit Of Great Britain, our exports of
ehandise to the dominion are steadily increasing
these exports having increased from $57 100000 in
1894 to nearly $124,0O0000 in 1903 1t is strange
sort of logic that sees in this fact for not
extending our trade with Canada. If it is matter
for congratuation that exports to our northern
neighbor are constantly increasing, why would it not
be a mctter for greater congratulation that under
reciprocal trade arrangements they should increase
still faster Such an increase would imply wider
market for American products as whole, and, con-
sequently, more employment for American capital
and American labor
Canada is developing rapidly. Immigrants, both
from this country and from the old world, are pour
ing into it's western and northwestern provinces by
the thousands vast stretches of territory are being
settled and put under cultivation and railroads are
being built to connect these sections with the older
portions of the continent These new comers to-
gether with the people of eastern Canada are large
consumers of classes Of things that produce and
their demand for such commodities is destined to in
crease enormously. To continue to pursue a policy
that prevents us from supplying them with these
things is piece of insensate folly. It is the very
reversal of the policy of encouraging American in
dustry.
The movement in New England for Canadian
reciprocity is protest against this irrational policy
and the fact that many Of the leading participants in
it are republicans, indicates clearly that sharp
change is taking place in republican sentiment with
regard to the subject.