The Washington herald., 1911-02-10
ASKS FARMERS AID
FOR RECIPROCITY
Secretary Wilson Says They
Will Not Suffer.
SENATORS GET TINE TO THINK
President Taft Giving Them . Few
Days to Ponder Over His Extra
Out for Canadian Agreement, and
Deplores the Selfish Opposition.

Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson ad-
vises the farmers of the United States
to support President Taft's reciprocity
agreement with Canada This advice
from "Uncle Jim, the farmers friend" /"
is regarded as one Of the most effective
moves that has yet been made in the
administrations campaign for the enact
ment Of reciprocity legislation.
Secretary Wilson's word goes q long
way with the farmers, and he assures
them that the agreement will not work
harm to them He declares, in fact, that
the United States can. with profit and
benefit, take all the grains Canada has
to sell and devote its own lands to less
exhausting crops
ment as it affects the farmers Of this
country are contained in an open letter
sent by him yesterday to the legislative
committee of the National Grange Of
Concord, n H.
Deserts the InsurEents.
The giving out Of Secretary Wilson's
ing developments in the reciprocity sit
uation yesterday. Senator Beveridge,
turning his back upon his insurgent
brethren in the Senate, opened the fight
for the agreement in that body with a
long speech. For the first time in many
months Senator Beveridge found him.
self lined up in opposition to his fellow
insurgents.
Over in the House, hearings continued
before the Ways and Means Committee,
John Norris, of the American Newspaper
Publishers Association. being one Of the
chief witnesses in support of the agree
ment. Yesterdays proceedings closed
the hearings before that committee, and
to-day the committee will order the reci-
procity bill favorably reported to the
House. 1t will be reported out on Sat
urday or Monday. and will be rushed
through.
Extra Session Talk.
President TAFT turned his attenticn yes
terday to the House leaders. calling sew
eral Of them to the White House, and
urging prompt action in that body. He
apparently intends to let the Senate
think over his special session warning
for a few days before taking any fur
ther action. Members of both the Sem
ate and House are convinced now that
the President is in earnest in his special
session talk. and the impression is grow
ing among them that Congress will be
called back by him il the Senate fails
to act upon the proposed legislation be-
fore March 4. The President himself
left Washington last night on a trip in
the Middle West, with the intention of
carrying his reciprocity campaign before
the people.
Mr.. Wilson Cheers Farmers.
Secretary Wilson. in his letter to the
farmers. declares that the agreement is
b~e ,bo
ing our markets for meats and grains
to the Canadians. with nothing in re-
turn.
He answers the contention of the farm
ers that justice requires the lowering
of duties on manufactured products
with the lowering OF du-
ties on products Of the farm. The ex-
tent to which duty on manufactured
goods can be reduced. he says. depends
altogether on whether the reduction will
let in a sufficient quantity of foreign
products to interfere with the employ
ment and wages Of our working people.
when the working man loses his job"
says Uncfe Jim, "the farmer loses his
customer" and from this he argues that
it is a short-sighted policy on the part
Of the American farmer to insist ON too
great reduction IN American manufac-
Senator BeveridRe Is Bold.
Senator Beveridge's State will be af-
fected by the enlarged free list in farm
products and some of the most vigorous
kickers against the new policy are the
Changers, Patrons Of Husbandry. and
other farmers societies in Hoosierland.
To all of these the Senator said yester-
day in his speech that local considera-
tions should not be allowed to weigh
in the balance against a great national
policy of wide beneficence and world
significance.
IF some think that the agreement Is
not all that it should be because of the
treatment of few articles said Sena-
tor Beveridge, the answer is that even
if this objection is sound as to these
few details. yet it is negligible when
with the importance of getting
this great national policy established"
Declaring the Canadian reciprocity
treaty submitted to Congress by Presi-
den Taft to be ''the greatest economic
advance that has been made by the United
States in the present generation" John
Norris. of the American Newspaper Pub
fishers Association, appeared before the
Committee on Ways and Means to urge
favorable action on the instrument.
Mr. Norris was the first of the wit
nesses that have been heard by the COM
nittee to champion Canadian reciprocity.
He devoted his address largely to the
paper and wood pulp clause of the agree
ment Mr.. Norris charged, during the
course of his remarks. that the paper