The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-06-04
SAYS LUMBER TRUST AND PRINT
PAPER MANUFACTURERS
ARE THOSE OPPOSED.
"BUNCO|NC" FARMERS
Head Of the Nation Puts Forth Siren.
uous Effort to Convert People TO His
Views on Canadian Reciprocity
Proposition--Makes Long Speech
Before Western Economic Society.

Chicago, June 3-president Taft In a
speech before the Western Economic
society here tonight declared that the
principal opposition To the Canadian
reciprocity agreement came. not from
the farmer, but from the lumber
trust and from American manurac-
tnrers of print paper.
In one Of the most comprehensive
addresses he has ever made on the
subject, the president outlined some
of the methods employed by the oppo-
nents of reciprocity; practically told
the farmers that they were being
"buncoed' by special interests and said
that The fate of the agreement rested
not so much with the United States
senate as with the people of the coun-
try.
IF the farmer and the country ut
large" he said could be brought to
understand that this treaty was In the
interest of the majority of the people.
he would no longer fear the coming
vote In the senate"
Not Sparirg.
The president was not sparing In his
words. He told the reasons for the
opposition to the treaty by the "lum-
Der trust and by the paper manufac-
turers and. without using names,
scored New York firm. some of
whose members recently appeared at
the hearings before the senate finance
| committee In Washington. ostensihly
in behalf of the National Grange. and
objected to the enactment of the agree
ment.
In spite of the forces that are AZ
rayed against II, the president ak
pressed the belief that the agreement
would become law.
The bill," he said. will pass, II IT
passes at all, because of the force of
public opinion In its favor"
The president said In part
beginning what | have to say
| desire TO express my sincere gratitude
to the members OF the Western Eco
nomie society for giving me an oppor-
| tunity To address on this important
| subject. so distinguished and intelli-
| gent "A company. The Canadian reel
| procity agreement, providing for free
trade In agricultural products of the
| two countries, and for correspond
| ondary food products, and for con-
siderable reduction in a number of
manufacturing goods. passed the house
| of representatives in April last, was
| referred by the senate to its COM
mlttee on finnace and there has been
| under consideration by the committee
| for number of weeks. Witnesses i'm
| favor Of and against the passage of
the agreement have been heard at
considerable length and we now hope
that the bill will be brought before
the senate possibly without recommen-
dation, some time during the corning
week.
The agreement has been adjusted I'm
the necessary conference held with the
representatives of Canada over the
question of the application of the
| maximum and minimum charges OF the
Payne tariff bin to Canadian impor-
tations into this country; and in the
course OF the adjustment of that ques-
| ton, In which, by reason of certain
Canadian concessions on exports of
the United States into Canada, we are
! able to apply the minimum tariff to
| Canadian imports, 1t seemed mutually
profitable to extend the consideration
of the tariffs of the two countries. al
ready begun, to the point of a
complete reciprocity agreement. Com
missioners who had expert knowledge
| of the subject were appointed, and
after Investigations and study and con-
| ferences that covered an entire year
an agreement was finally reached
which has been embodied in the bill
which has passed the house and is
pending in the senate,
Confidence.
THE cordial approval throughout
the country which the proposed agree
ment received when it was sent to the
congress surprised even those who were
responsible for its making; and I am
confident that further consideration of
the treaty since its submission to con-
gress in January last. has only con-
| firmed the popular Judgment in favor
of its adoption into law.
"rhe treaty Is pending In Washing
ton. and the decision must be made In
the senate of the United States. The
bill will pass, IL 1t passes at all. be-
cause Of the force of public opinion
in its favor
"The agreement has been criticised
because 1t was framed as a completed
document by the state department
without consultation with members OF
the house or senate, and we of the ad-
mlnlstration have been subjected tc
many attacks on these grounds. The
subject matter of the treaty. however
was of such character--it covered 81
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