The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1911-04-14
TAFT COMMUNICATES HIS IDEAS
ON RECIPROCITY TO THE
SPECIAL SESSION.
"A COMMERCIAL PROPOSlTION'
Believes That General Sentiment Of
Both American and Canadian
People Desire Mutual In
crease in Trade.

Washington, April 5. President
Taft'S message to the special session
of Congress was cad in both Houses.
Tho message follows: ITO the Sem
ate and House Of Representatives: II
transmitted to the SiXty-first Congress
on January 6 last, the text of the reel
prOcity trade agreement which had
been negotiated under my direction by
the Secretary OF state with the repre-
sentatives of the Dominion of Canada.
This agreement was the contamination
Of earnest efforts extending Ove a
/, period OF nearly a year, on the part of
both Governments to effect a trade ar
rangement which supplementing as
it did. the amicable settlement of
political character hat had been
reached would mutually promote com
! mcrce and would strengthen the friend
ly relations now existing"
The agreement in its intent and in
! its terms was purely economic and
commercial. While the general sub
jeci a under discussion by the com
I!ilSolOlltIS l ltll dSSulc gu lud lUt
| sentiment of the people of the United
| States was such that they would well
| come Il measure which would result in
the increase of trade on both sides Of
! the boundary line, would open up the
reserve productive resources of Can
| ada 10 the great mass Of our own con-
slmcrs OF advantageous conditions
and at the same time offer a broader
outlet for the excess products Of our
farms and many of our industries.
Details regarding a negotiation of
this kind necessarily could not be made
public while the conferences were
pending. However. the fun text of the
agreement with the accompanying cor.
~respOndence and data explaining both
its purpose and its scope became
known to the people. Throughout the
message transmitted to congress it was
Immediately apparent hat the ripened
fruits Of the careful labOrs of the com,
m~issioners net with widespread ap
proval.
This approval has been strength.
ened by further consideration Of the
terms OF the agreement in all their
particulars. The volume of support
which has developed shows that its
broadly national scope is fully appre.
ciated and is responsive to the popu-
lar will. The House of Representa-
tiVes OF the Sixty-First Congress, after
all the details in regard to the diff
ferent provisions had been before it
as they were before the American
people. passed a bill affirming the
agreement as negotiated and as
transmitted to congress-. This meas
ure failed of action in the Senate
In my transmitting message of the
26th Of January. I fully set forth the
character of the agreement and EN-
phasized its Appropriateness and e
essitV as a response to the mutua
needs OF the people of the two cOun
tries AS we'll as its common advan
tagcs.
| o lay that message and the
reciprocal trade agreement. as integ
rally a part of the present message
before the SiXty-Second Congress an.
again invite earnest attention to the
considerations therein expressed.
am constrained in Difference to pop
ulaT sentiment and with a realizing
sense OF my duty to the great masse!
OF our people whose welfare is in
VOWED to urge upon your considera
ton early action on his agreement
In concluding the negotiations tn,
representatives of the two cOuntrie,
bound themselves to use their utmos
efforts TO bring about the tariff chan
ges provided for in the agreement b,
concurrent legislation at Washington
and Ottawa. I have felt it my duty
therefore, not to acquiesce in relega
ton Of action until the opening of tn,
Congress- in December, but to use m.
constitutional prerogative and con
woke the SiXty-Second Congress in eX
ira session in order thai there shall
be no break of continuity in consid
ering and acting upon this most i'm
portant subject.
tSigned) WILLIAM II. TAFT.