Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-07-29
STATEMENT BY TAFT
GLAD CANADIAN RECIPROCITY
TREATY PASSED CONGRESS
PRAISES KNOX.
Freely Acknowledges Bill Would Have
Failed But for Observation-Disclosures
Test of Measure TO Prove 1t VIII Not
Hurt Farmers- Greater Canada and
Greater United States Will Result.


Beverly, Mass.-In the first statement
he has made since the passage of the
reciprocity bill by the senate, President
Taft, at the summer White House, free
ly acknowledges that his long, hard
campaign in behalf of that measure
would have proved unavailing If the
democrats had not helped him.
tThe democrats did not play poll
tics in the colloquial sense in which
those words are used" said the presi-
dent, "but they followed the dictates
of higher policy"
For Secretary Knox and his associ-
ates in the state department who
conducted the negotiations and framed
the pact the president said more than
word of praise. Those republicans,
he said, who fought for reciprocity
"and some of whose votes were neces-
oary to the passage of the bill, properly
may enjoy mutual Fluctuations on a
work well done.'
Prophesies Vast Benefits.
In his own judgment, the president
said, the agreement would mark an
epoch in the relations between the Uni
ted States and Canada, and those who
opposed the bill in congress would find
their prophecies disapproved and their
fears allayed by its actual operation.
Its passage by the Canadian parlia-
ment, the last step before it becomes a
bond between the two countries, he be-
lieves would be Forthcoming.
The satisfaction that actual expert
ence in its workings will give, " he said,
eve confidently hope will secure its
permanence. In decade its benefits
will contribute much to a greater Uni
ted Estates and greater Canada"
The Presidents Statement.
The president has been thinking
about statement, and "after sleeping
over it, as he put it, decided it should
be written and credit be given where
credit is due.
The statement reads as follows:
''That 1 am very much pleased with
the passage of the Canadian reciprocity
bill through both houses of congress
goes without saying. 1 believe and
hope it will be followed by a similar
action by the dominion parliament.
"In my Judgment the going into eff
feet of the agreement will mark Q
new epoch in the relations between the
United States and Canada, and tend tC
a marked increase in the trade between
the two countries, which will be il
every way beneficial to both.
81 hope the credit that belongs tC
Secretary Knox and to his special asso
ciates at the state department in the
negotiations and framing of the pact
and their lucid explanation and de
Tense of its terms will not be with
held.
He Praises His Supporters.
"In sense the bill passed was 9
non-partisan measure, through the re
publeans who voted for it probably die
so on an economic theory and the dem
ocrats who voted for it on another.
should be wanting in straightforward
speaking, however, if l did not freely
acknowledge the credit that belongs t.
the democratic minority in the senate
measure in an earnest and sincere de
sire to secure itS passage.
"Without this reciprocity would have
been impossible. 1t would not have
been difficult for them to fasten upoI
the bill amendments affecting the tariff
generally in such a way as to EN-
barrass the executive and make i
douhtful whether he could sign tn
bill, and yet to claim popular approva
for their support of reciprocity in it
defeat. In other words, the demo
Gratis did not play politics in the col
loquial sense of those words, but the.
followed the dictates of a higher pol
icy.
"We republicans who have earnestl.
sought reciprocity and some of who's
votes were necessary to the passage o
the bill may properly enjoy mutua
Fluctuations on a work well done. T.
those who opposed the bill on tn
ground that it will do harm to tn
farmers we can only say that we VIII
have supported the passage of the bill
look forward to the test of the actua
operation of the reciprocity measure t.
disprove their prophecies and ALA.
their fears The satisfaction that &C
tual experience in its workings will
give we confidently hope will secur
its permanentce. In decade its bene
fits will contribute to a greater Unite'
States and a greater Canada"