Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-12
QUESTION OF CANADIAN REcI-
PRocITY TO BRING ABOUT
A FIGHT.
TAFT DESIRES NEW TREATY
WITH DOMINION GOVERNMENT
Preliminary Missionary Work Under
taken in House-Move is Step to
Force Old Guard in Senate to APP
provo Of Presidents Treaty When
Offered.
Especial Correspondence


Washington, April 12.-That a fine
row is ahead over the question Of
Canadian reciprocity is apparent to
those who have been giving the sub
ject attention.
President Taft is desirious of nego-
tiating reciprocity treaty with Cana
da. 1t is his purpose to have the rela-
tons between this country and Canada
on the one hand and between this coun-
try and Mexico on the other, made more
liberal. He let this be known immedi-
ately following the conclusion of the
negotiations with Canada which pre-
vented tariff war and the enforce
ment by this country Of the maximum
rates against the dominion. This coun-
try got certain concessions from Cana
da in return for allowing that country
the minimum rates but they were lin
tied. They affected only small per-
centage Of our exports to Canada. The
president saw the unwisdom of a tar
iff war and was willing to forego the
enforcement Of the maximum in re-
turn for slight concessions. At the same
time, he came out strongly for a re-
ciprocity treaty.
The PreIiminaries.
The next step was taken when the
president called in Representative But
Ter Ames, Of Massachusetts and talked
with him about the resolution which
Mr.. Ames is going to push in the
house declaring in favor Of opening
negotiations with Canada for closer
commercial relations. The president is
for this resolution and will call on
members of the house to pass it, The
ways and means committee has the
resolution and the president wants it
reported favorably. If that committee
tries to block Ii, Mr.. Ames will en-
deavor to force 1t out.
These are but the preliminaries,
however. OF the trouble that is coming
The house. of course. has nothing to
do with reciprocity treaty with Cana
da. The president in the ordinary
course of things would negotiate such
IA treaty and then the senate would
pass on the ratification OF it. In this
case. it is thought that a favorable ex-
preston from the house would have a
good effect in two directions:
In the first place it would indicate to
Canada that this country meant busi-
In the second place, it would indicate
to the senate leaders that there was
powerful support for a Canadian recip-
rocity treaty
In the past. this country has dis
played so much indifference about
reciprocity with Canada that Canadian
officials naturally do not enthuse much
when that subject is talked about. II
this country takes the initiative, the
Canadians are likely to enter the ne
gotiations more seriously than they
ewould otherwise.
Old Guard outseneraied.
With the president urging a recip-
rocity treaty and then going ahead and
negotiating one. it seems likely that
treaty will be laid before the senate
under circumstances that will make it
difficult for the old guard in the upper
house to balk reciprocity. Such Il
treaty would be supported by the presi-
dent and, if the Ames resolution is
passed, by a majority of the house.
Public sentiment would doubtless be
on the side of reciprocity. On the other
hard, Senators A1drich, Hale, Smoot,
Lodge and other high tariff men in the
senate will not consent to ratification
Of reciprocity treaty if they can help
it. They will undoubtedly make bit
ter fight. They are aware that recip-
roeal treaty with Canada means the
opening Of the door to policy of nego-
tiating such treaties with other nations.
To the high protectionists, reciprocal
treaty with Canada seems like a breach
in the tariff wall.
It may be expected, therefore, not
only that the elder statesmen in the
senate will fight reciprocity but that
the old guard in the house will do its
utmost to bury the Ames resolution,
knowing that if passed it is likely to
have far-reaching effects. Moreover,
the senate high tariff leaders may be
expected to try to get what they look
on as the "sarpint" of reciprocity
scotched in the house.
THAT JOLT OF CANNON.