Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-18

held for a generation, ana WHO nave
fought so manfully for right and JUS
ticc. We claim. without the slightest
miseiving, that Mr.. Kinds will he
found on the right side of every ques-
ton, according to the light which is
| given him in his broad understanding
of national affairs.
As previously published, we know
the ground which Representative Me
| Gllicuddy and Senator Johnson will
| take on this great question. and now
VIC are glad to give authoritatively to
our readers the stand which Mr.. Kinds
has taken. We and they know where
| to find him. We also know why Sena
tor johnson and Mr.. McGillicuddy so
promptly announced themselves in OPP
position to the farming interests of
Maine. and through them the interests
of more than three tifths of the popu-
lation of the Pine Tree State. But
where may we expect to find the rep
IeScitdtiNt from tiiS HlIu I'IStIlFJ-
Up to this time. lie has not had the
courage to announce himself on this
question of such great Importance to
the people of his district.
At the opening of his address, Mr..
Kinds decl2red that he could not re-
move from his mind the firm convic-
ton that the policy proposed in this
bill is Of an Importance out of all pro-
portion to the scantiness of investiga-
ton which has preceded it. He de
clared that the farmers Of this nation
are more than third Of it's people,
and whatsoever affects the basis of
their industry affects all. He said
that he knew how hard it is tn bring
a realization of this fact home to those
who dwell in great cities, but that he
was convinced if the dwellers in cities
would look below the surface of this
question they will see that it does not
concern the farmer alone. He said:
to speak of him entirely. it is because
his industry is at the foundation of
our prosperity. and in speaking Of him
| speak of all. Diminish the purchas
ing power Of the farmer and you di-
minish by so much the prosperity of
every city and of every faborer, clerk,
merchant and banker within it's linz
it's"
A little further along Mr.. Kinds de-
clared "One class seWs that another
may reap. and you call it reciprocity"
He dweit on the fact that trade n
farm products would reverse the poli-
cy of a century ard that this should
be done only after careful eXlmna-
ton. He pointed cut the danger of
swamping the American farmer by
Canadian products, but his strongest
point Was made when he said that "it
Is because We are in doubt as to the
main features of this great problem
and are overriding facts where inquiry
seems to have removed doubts that
confess a great impatience with
this movement that the House
seems about to make. In the Euro
pcan nations where scholarship and
scientific inquiry is applied to poll
teal problems as nowhere else on
earth, Germany and France strictly
maintain their agricultural duties
The tariff commission of England, af-
ter collecting volumes of facts, has
recommended agricultural duties for
England. Is this House to disregard
the common judgment of the nations.
and without investigation plunge for
ward to do this great thing" Even be-
fore you change the postage rates on
a few magazines you have an inv, s.
tiSation by a learned commission. but
You propose to change the fundalnent-
al conditions of 6000.000 farm homes
with no investigation worthy the
name."
Mr.. Kinds closed his remarka ble ad
dress by voicing his protest against
this dangerous haste and against this
bill as tending to break up farm
homes and increase the congestion of
the cities. He had taken a side of the
question which up to that time had
not been strongly presented in oppo-
sition to the reciprocity plan. When
the hour which was accorded him had
been used up. he was urged by loud
cries of go on, go on to continue
his scholarly presentation Of subject
which the administration seems to
have sadly misunderstood There
could be no question of Mr.. Kinds un-
derstanding. At every point of his
address, he showed that he was abso-
hut" master of the question with which
he was dealing. He understood condi-
tions and effects and he presented
them 50 strongly and cpncisely that