The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-06-13
Senator Nelson CriticIsesE x=
ecutiye's Action.
UPPER HOUSE HAS RIGHTS
Minnesotan Declares Higher Branch
of Congress Is Part of the Treaty
Making Machinery of the Govern
ment and That No One Has Author
ity to Tell That Body Not to Amend
Canadian Reciprocity Pact.

Washington, se-- .-Charging
President Taft with "evading the Con-
stitution" and beating around the
bush," Senator Nelson made a bitter
attack on the Canadian trade agree
ment and the president at the morn
ing hearing of the senate committee
on finance.
Mr.. Nelson appeared to explain to
the committee the amendments which
he introduced some weeks ago reduc-
ing the tariff rates on a number of
farm products instead of admitting
them free, as provided by the reciproc-
ity agreement He took occasion to
pay his respects to the president and
what he said was quite as warm as
the weather, which is sizzling.
ct Is said we ought not to amend
this BILL" said Senator Nelson We'll,
now, with all due respect, the presi
dent has evaded the Constitution in
this matter. In 1854 there was trea-
ty submitted to the senate and 1t was
ratified. In this instance the presi-
dent has made bargain with the Ca
madam government that he will push
through certain tariff legislation in
congress. And he comes to US and
says, you must not change It.
Says Senate Has Rights.
"Now, the senate is a part of the
treaty making machinery under the
Constitution and if he had come to US
as he ought to have come to US, as
they have done in every other case,
we would have exercised our rights
under the Constitution. You remem-
Der the Panama canal treaty. That
was submitted to us and we amended
it, and the amendments were accept
ed by the British government. Then
there was a recent waterways agree
ment with Canada, which we also
amended, and the Canadian govern
ment ratified it as amended. To come
here and say we have no right to
amend this treaty because the presi-
dent of the United States has nego-
tiated it, is tritiing with the senate of
the United States. It is beating
around the bush.
ct Is not treating one of the great
treaty making departments of the
government fairly. 81
The Constitution never contemplat-
ed that the president should dictate
what form the treaty should take. The
| Constitution provides that the power
rests with the president and the sen
ate combined, and not with the presi-
dent alone"
Fears Canadian Competition.
Continuing, Senator Nelson said
that at one time he thought the move
ment of people to Canada meant that
they were being "buncoed" by land
agents However, since his visit to
the Canadian Northwest, he realized
the great possibilities of that country.
Mr.. Nelson predicted that grain pro
duodon there would increase teafold
In few years and would bring ruin
to the American farmers
~The question is he concluded.
will you allow that avalanche and
that storm from Canada to owerwhelm
us. And ere you going to eegregate
tho ntxnare from the other classes OF
the community end say TO them that
ewGy4ody sAsD Is entitled to pgEso
ton, 3ut YUu fAeDsas must SHIFT fcz
Hou71a1veBf
6eaEtrf Nelson spoke With great
eAxNsGfD60s Of manner. He 6AOwed
h1s hnGkility to the trade eereemen,
J as mach hy hts manner as by his
OsscA he emphasized hfs references
- tAs sRa6iSBn& raising hts tone wfer
- sDsAH 81 thu pr9eiaentsS eRUaeton'
- aAA f&ne xfSA.s$so-,