The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-02-18
HIS VOTE AGAINST
REClP ROCITY
EXPLAINED
Congressman PlumIey Replies
to Criticism.
WOULD INJURE FARMERS
representative from Second District
Says He Didn't Have Time to
Study Measure.

st. Adams, Feb. 1S.-OYing to the
intense interest in Vermont over the
proposed reciprocity agreement with
Canada, the Messenger today prints
a letter from Congressman Frank
Plumley, who was one of the 81 Re-
publicans Of the country and one of
the eight New England congressman
who voted against the ratification Of
the treaty by the House in which he
plainly sets forth his views and
makes plGin his position in the mat
ter. From the very nature Of things
| 1t is very probable that the opponents
of the measure have been exceeding
ly more active than have its friends
in urging action of the congressman.
Congressman Plumleys letter fol-
lows.
Il am sorry that my doubts concern
ing the effect as a whole of the trade
agreement proposed with Canada
We're not sufficiently dispelled at the
time of final action to permit me to
record my vote in the affirmative.
Il have favored reciprocity as a
corollary to and supplemental Of pro-
lection for more than quarter Of a
century, but the reciprocity which /
had favored was Republican reciproc-
ity as defined by the lamented Nc
Kinley in his great speech at Buffalo
in which he said that he favored pur-
chasing of our neighbors such of their
products as We can use without harm
to oar industries and labor; or in
other words such of their products as
arc not produced by our labor and
obtain it exchange market for the
class OF merchandise which we de-
sire to sell. When the trade agree
ment came TO us from the president II
was found to be of an entirely differ
] ent character, TO my surprise. | be-
lieved 1t was my duty to form an in
dependent judgment after careful
study of the facts. desired to vote
for 1t if | could do so with safety to
my constituents, first, because IL was
being urged by our president and |
was in favor of reciprocity, In princi.
pie; second, because 1t would please
the greater part of my friends of the
press of Vermont, who had been so
kind always TO me and so indulgent.
and, third, because II might be OF ben
eft TO the consumer. Apparently It
proposed to place the entire burden
upon the farmer with no compensa.
tory relief and in the short time per-
mitted for investigation and study |
was unable to determine that II would
not prove as harmful and as unsat-
isfactory as a somewhat similar pact
had proven existing from 1854 to 1866
which long before 1t expired was de-
nounced by all Vermont and its re-
moyal at Washington was promoted
by our Morrill,, Collamer and Foot.
Since there was no claim on the part
OF its opponents that il would result
In any immediate relief to the con.
sumer, and as there was, therefore.
no necessity for immediate action of
such radical character, / preferred
that IL be delayed in its enactment
rather than expedited TO find in the
end that It was a grievous mistake.
The time given was too short TO per.
nit careful study and wise iudg.
ment either by the people OF Vermont
that they might instruct with wisdom
their representative, or that he might
safely act without such instruction
from the great body of his constitu.
ents.
This is the meaning of my vote
and later | will submit more in detail
why | had such doubts. | enclose a
copy of telegram from Wilder, VT.
which has serious aspect.
Again expressing my regret that
my action did not conform with your
wish and with your judgment, which
do not deny may be correct but of
which | could not feel sure in the
brief time allotted me for conslderat.
Ion and again thanking you for your
KIND and courteous treatment of me
In the past. | remain,
Yours very truly,
Frank Plumley.
A copy OF the telegram TO which Mr.
Plumley refers, follows:
Frank Plumley,
care House OF representatives,
Washington:
"A great many paper mills will have
to shut down If the reciprocity bin
Is passed. Il will close the mills I'm
this section whero hundreds OF men
own their homes. We appeal to you
to do everything you can TO prevent
the bill being passed"