New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-28

IN respect 10 trade with other countries
II we desire TO put meat and -four AND
other commodities on the free list for the
entire world. that is one thing; we can DC
I, with our eyes open and with a knowledge
of what it entails, after an investigation
but to put such provision In CANADIAN
treaty and then have II operate as Tree
rs, for tho entire world Is legislation nee
essarily i'll considered.
More than this, these proposed gratui-
tous concessions are in the nature OF an al
mission that in some way or other We
have done an injury TO particular class
by this Canadian reciprocity agreement
deny IT. It Is said that it Injuries the farm
ers. ! deny It, II is strictly in accordance
with the protective principle that we should
only have 9 protective tariff between us
and countries in which the conditions are
so dissimiIar as to make difference in
the cost of production.
Now it is known OF all men that the gen.
cral conditions that prevail in Canada are
the same as those which obtain in the
United states in the matter OF agricultural
products Indeed. IL there Is any advan-
tage. the advantage is largely on the side
Of the United States. because VIC have
much greater varieties of products. in view
Of the varieties Of our climate than they
can have in Canada.
No Cotton Raised in Canada.
We raise cotton as no other country
does: of course. they raise none In Canada.
we raise corn. and hogs and cattle fed
on corn and with the exception Of very
small part Of the acreage of Canada, in
Ontario. it is not possible TO raise corn at
all In the Dominion.
| With respect 10 wheat and barley and
oats. conditions differ in different parts OF
Canada and I'm different parts Of the
United States. Chasing them together. as
on the whole, the conditions arc substan-
italy the same. In prices Of farm land
the differences are no greater between Can
ada and the United States than between
the different states in the United States.
In the matter of farm wages, they differ
in different parts of Canada, as they do In
the United States; but. on the whole they
are about the same, higher in Canada AT
some places than in the United States and
less at others But there is no pauper
class of labor in either country, and the
only difference between the two countries
is that Canada is further north than the
United States-a difference which, as al
ready said, gives the advantage agricult-
urally TO our side Of the border.
1t is said that this is an agreement that
affects agricultural products more than
manufactures. That is true; but II we are
TO have an interchange Of products between
the two countries of any substantial
amount the chief part Of 1t must neces-
sarlly be in agricultural products. AS 1t is,
ne export 10 Canada more agricultural
products than ne receive from her, and so
Il Will he afterward The effect il not
going in my judgment. TO lower the spe-
cifc prices of agricultural products i'm our
country. 1t is going 10 steady them. 1t is
going to reduce the rapid fluctuations, and
Il is going 10 produce an interchange of
products at a profit which will be beneh-
cial TO both countries.
II objection can be made to the treaty on
the ground that n particular class derived
less benefit from II than other classes then
IT is the manufacturer OF the country who
ought 10 object. because the treaty in ITS
nature will not enlarge his market as
much as it will that OF the farmer.
am quite aware that, from one motive
or announcer, II SItdl utdI Vi tHbit
money have been spent in sending circulars
TO farmers to convince them that this Ca
madam treaty, il adopted, Will do them in
Jury. ] 10 not know that II is possible to
allay such fears by argument, pending the
consideration Of the treaty by the Senate.
II usually takes "a considerable time by
argument to clarity erroneous economic
views of that kind having no foundation in
fact but only in fear stimulated by mis-
representation and eXaggcration.
| But there is one way-and that a con-
elusive way-ot demonstrating the fallacy
and unfounded character Of their fears to
the farmers or any other class that be-
lievcs itself TO be unjustly affected by this
treaty and that is TO try II on There Is
no obligation on either nation 10 continue
the reciprocity arrangement any longer
than II desires. and II it be found by actual
practice that there IS an injury, and per-
manent injury, To the farmers OF this coun-
try, everybody knows that they can suiii-
GENTLY control legislation 10 bring about a
change and a return 10 the old conditions.
President Invites a lest.