Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-01-02
J. J. HILLS DREAM.
ILLUSIONS REGARDING FREE
TRADE WITH CANADA.

Enough, but the Abolition Of Gus
tom Houses Would BE impossible
Unless Preceded by Annexation Of
the Dominion.
Although everywhere recognized as
a master mind in railroad building and
operation. James j. Hill has not sue
ceeded notably in impressing the
world with his ability as political
economist. His point of view is that
OF q transportation magnate. With
him the problem Is, how to get more
railroads. and then how to keep them
busy hauling profitable freights 1t
was. therefore. natural that i'm his
recent speech at the banquet of the
Merchants association in Chicago he
should earnestly plead for the aboli-
ton OF all custom houses on the Dor
der between the United States and
Canada.
u Canadian agricultural products.
which must now seek an outlet down
the st. Lawrence river and thence to
Liverpool, could find an unrestricted
market In the United States. much ad-
ditional traffic would come to Mr..
Hills railroad lines Equally Canada's
mineral, forest and fishery products.
Absolute free trade between the
United States and Canada is Mr.. Hills
dream. Ii is dream merely. 1t can
not come to pass under existing politi-
cal conditions.
Even though IL were possible
which II is MOTTO inaugurate free
trade between a British colony and the
greatest OF republics. II could only be
done through complete uniformity
or taritf rates and tariff laws. Canada
could not maintain a set of tariff
schedules differing In any particular
from those OF the United States. She
could not for example, be permitted to
grant preference TO British exports.
nor could she admit foreign goods AT
any lower rate than the rate provided
for in the Dingley tariff law. or what.
ever schedules might be in operation
at the time of carrying into effect the
Tree trade agreement
Otherwise we should have Canada
admitting foreign goods at cut rates
and shipping them over the border to
the United States. or course. that
could not be tolerated for a moment.
Equally OF course. Identical tariff
rates could not he secured without 20
litical as well as commercial union. So
long as Canada continues to acknowl-
edge allegiance to Great Britain the
door to unrestricted intercourse be-
tween the United States and the Do
mlnion may be considered as closed.
Oh nF
which few Canadians and relatively
FEWER Americans want-will open that
door
Mr.. HilPs dream Of absolute free
trade is impossible of realization for
yet another reason. 1t would involve
the crushing of Canada's industrial
progress and aspirations
Canada will never consent to open
her markets to the manufacturers OF
the United States and at the same
time close her own mills and factories.
She has begun to realize the advant-
ages of industrial development, and
she Is not going to rellnquish them
That consideration alone, to say moth
ing of affection for the mother country
and pride in her own separate destiny
as a great nation. will. for many years
to come. outweigh all arguments for
and all inclination towards annexation
TO the United States
Free trade in natural products only
the products of the farm, the forest,
the fishery and the mine--Canada
would readily consent TO. Why should
she not? The best market the world
affords for her surplus Of such prod
ucts is right at her door. Soon II
will be a still more desirable market.
for at the present rate OF railroad
building and the opening up OF new
areas OF agriculture the time is near
at hand when Canada will pass the
United States i'm wheat production
When that time comes free trade in
natural products will be a great thing
for Canada. But even then she would
not consent TO free trade in manufac-
lures.
SO IL seems like folly TO be talking
about complete free trade between the
United States and Canada The free
admission of Canada's natural prod.
Ict5 would be strenuOusly fought by
Cur own farmers. miners. lumbermen
and fishermen. The free admission Of
our manufactured products would be
forbidden by Canadas Industrial inter
ests. SO there we have a deadlock
What IS the use Of talking about get
ting something that cant be had?
How to Deal With Trusts.
The prosecutions instituted by the