The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-13
jaime. j. Hill on Trade with Canada

There is probably no man whose opin-
ION on u trade relations with Canada
Is worthy Of greater consideration than
that of Mr.. JAMES j. HILL. The key to
the splendid future of the Dominion lies
in it's great Northwest. With that region
Mr.. HILL has been familiar for half a
century He knew Winnipeg when it
was a small prairie settlement, the ex-
IRENE outpost of the Canadian frontier.
A Canadian by birth, he went to st. Paul
and entered business there n 1856. In
1870 he established the Red River Trans
portation Company, the first regular
line of traffic communication between
the great American Northwest and the
great Canadian Northwest. Ever since
that time he has been closely identified
with industrial development on both
sides of the boundary line.
In his address before the Merchants
Club in Chicago last Saturday Mr.. HILL
presented for the lowering or for the
total removal of the Canadian American
tariff barrier an argument which is as
sound as our own Constitutional pro-
vision for free trade between the indi-
vidual States. As Mr.. HILL says, the
conclusive argument for closer rela-
lions always has been and must be
the experience of the several American
States. We have as much reason to
dread Canadian competition as Penn
~sylvania has to cry for protection against
North Dakota, and Canada would be in
no more danger han is Montana by the
competition of Ohio"
Maintenance of the present tariff wall
between the two countries is an i~llustra-
ton of economic cowardice. The fear
that Canadian competition under freer
trade or even under absolutely free
trade would work disaster to our own
producers is the fear of a lusty giant
that one who is one-tenth of his strength
and stature will take some of his possess
sions from him. We have little to appre-
bend on that score. Afew lines Of industry
would suffer to some small extent, I'M
doubtedly, but the injury would be in
considerable and temporary. II would
be limited to a few people whose selfish
interests should not be permitted to
stand in the way Of the larger inter-
ests of the indefinitely greater number.
Canada's entire surplus production could
be spilled into the United States and not
one in ten thousand of our people know
anything about it.
With freer trade Canada's growth and
development would be greatly stimu-
lated. With that growth would come
an ever increasing demand for American
wares and merchandise. This desirable
end can be effected by the simplest of
means. No reciprocity treaty is needed
There need be no change in our tariff
rates which would complicate our COM
mercial relations with other countries
or which would perceptibly affect our
revenues It could be done by a liberal
reduction or a total removal of our
duties on certain articles OF Canadian
production. These various articles could
come into our market with benefit Il our
consumers and no injury TO our producers
that would be worthy OF consideration.
Canada would at once respond with
greater hberality toward our products
and with larger purchases of our wares.
Mr.. HILL is right in his declaration that
sthe time is opportune for a practical
movement toward better trade relations
with Canada-' .