Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-28
SENATORS AGAINST It
No Hope for Reciprocity in
This Congress.
FOREIGN MARKETS IGNORED
Falling Off in the Export of
Flour.
WHEAT PREFERRED ABROAD
Consequent Loss to This Country of
the Profits That Accrue From
the Manufacturing Process.
WHEAT PREFERRED ABROAD
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The republican majority of the Senate
committee on finance has again been
made up in opposition to reciprocity treat
les, and there is no hope for the ratifi-
cation of any commercial arrangements
with foreign countries that may be ne
gotiated on that basis during the Six
tieth Congress. Nevertheless and not
withstanding, the republican national con-
vention will adopt the usual ringing reso-
luton in favor of reciprocity as a vote
getter. This farce has been repeated
every four years, and the public does
not yet see the point. The President,
the Secretary of State, the Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor and every one who
has to do with our foreign policy recog-
nizes the advantages that may be gained
for the farmers and manufacturers of this
country by an exchange of tariff con-
cessions with other countries, and the
governments of Europe and South Amer
lea are quite willing to make concessions
on reciprocity basis. They have al
ready given us much more than we have
given them, but the Senate consistently
refuses to ratify the treaties, and it is
useless for the diplomatic end of the gov
eminent to waste the time in such ne
gotiations. A great deal has been gained
in favor of our agricultural and manu-
featured exports by the modification of
our customs regulations, which can be
done by an executive order, without ask
ing the consent of the Senate, and for
that President Roosevelt and Secretary
Root deserve the thanks and congratula-
tons of the country. But the Senate
will not consent to any concession what
ever no matter how much benefit may
be gained thereby for those who are en-
gagged in the export trade. 1t will not
even consent to a reduction of duties
on produce from the Philippines.
Flour Industry Hampered.
One Of the most important considera-
lions is the flour industry in the United
States. Next to lumber it produces the
largest value of products converted di-
rectly from raw material, and the by
products are worth tens of millions of
dollars to the farmer as food for his stock
and fertilizer for his fields. The miller
represents agricultural as well as a manu-
featuring industry. and any rational being
would readily concede that Congre SIS
would do anything possible to promote
that interest: that 1t would be always
willing to ratify treaties that would ex-
tend the foreign trade in flour and en-
courage every means and measure to
supply the needs of people in foreign
countries where wheat cannot be grown.
The -four mills of the United States have
ample capacity to grind all the wheat
that is grown on our soil and thus re-
serve the profits of manufacture to this
country. Our workingmen would enjoy
that much more labor and wages not only
in the mills, but in the associated indus
tries which furnish the cotton bags and
paper bags, and the barrels in which the
Hour is shipped, and for which no less
than seventy million dollars a year IS
expended. France, Germany. Great Brit
ain. Belgium, the Netherlands, Brazil
Japan, China and other countries must
have bread, and they must buy it in this
country. either in the form of wheat or in
the finished product of -four. 1t is very
important to one of our greatest manu-
featuring industries that we should ship
it in the form of -four, that the wheat
should be ground in this country. so that
our workmen may have the wages and
our farmers the refuse for stock food and
fertilizer. 1t would be very easy to make
this arrangement by means or reciproc
ty treaties, if tue Senate would consent.
But thus far the republican majority of
the committee on finance has successfully
blocked every effort that the executive
branch of the government has made in
this direction.
| Efforts of the Millers.
The millers of the country have sue
ceeded in forming a very comprehensive
organization, first by states and districts,
and then consolidating them into one
grand body known as the Millers' Nation
al Federation. 1t is represented in every
state and territory where wheat is grown.
Mr.. John w. Burk of Springfield, Ohio,
is the president; Mr.. A. L. Goetzmann of
Chicago is national secretary, who, in
company with Mr.. NJ. H. Davis of Mans
field, Ohio. were in Washington not long
ago representing that industry at a con-
ference of manufacturers and commercial
organizations called by Secretary Straus
of the Department of Commerce and La
Dor These estimable and enterPrising gen.
tlemen. like many others, are laborng I'M
der the delusion that they can promote
the export of -four by the appointment of
foreign trade commissioner, but it
would be much more practicable for them
to send missionaries to the Senate of the
United States to convert and convince
Mr.. Aldrich of Rhode Island. Mr.. Bur-
rows of Michigan. Mr.. Penrose of Penn
sylvania, Mr.. Hale of Maine. Mr.. Hopkins
of Illinois, and other republicans that
they are in danger of political perdition if
they do not repent and turn from the err
ror of their ways. The obstacles to an ex-