Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-12-15
A VITAL MATTER.
A Prominent AgricuIturist Favors
the Canadian Treaty.

| .
Powell, President of the Agricultural
Experts Association of New York, on
This Vital Question - He Favors
Closer Trade Relations and Gives
Reasons For His Beliefs.
The proposed Canadian reciprocity
treaty is being discussed by farmers
everywhere-in oranges, in farmers
clubs, in grocery stores and postof-
fees. The agricultural press is almost
unit against it, and the nation
al grange legislative committee is the
exponent Of the sentiment Of the large
majority of the members of the Order
in the active opposition to the adoption
of the treaty by congress. And yet
here and there may be found well in
formed men and agricultursts who
believe that a closer trade relation
with Canada will in the end work no
serious injury to the American farm
will be beneficial. One of these men
is George T. Powell, president of the
Agricultural Experts Association of
New York, n gentleman whose obser-
vations are nation wide and his sources
of information many and varied
"IIOw do you interpret agricultural
sentiment generally on this reciprocity
question:" Mr.. Powell was asked.
Farmers and farmers organizations
are quite generally opposed to the rati-
ficatiOn Of the treaty in its present
form, and they have reason for it.
Well informed farmers are not op-
posed to the principle Of reciprocity,
but they are opposed to having their
industry singled out upon which to try
the experiment of meeting competition
from some Canadian products, while
being obliged to pay the high cost for
the articles they have to buy from pro-
tected manufacturers as we'll as the
high labor cost on the farm which
they have to pay in competition with
the protected manufactures. This is
the principle that farmers object to.
many of whom in the last election vOt-
ed for a promised policy for an equita-
Bile revision Of the tariff. which the
party elected has failed to carry out.
"IIOw has the protective tariff af-
fected the farmer, Mr.. Powell? Has
he greatly benefited therebyF"
The surplus products Of American
farms have been of an export charac-
ter, the value of which has been deter
mined and fixed in the open markets
Of the world. and thinking farmers.
especially in the west, have had their
eyes opened to the dclusion of a pro-
tective tariff upon their products sold
In competition with the unprotected
exporting nations of the world The
American farmer has had to sell his
exported surplus in competition with
the cheap labor Of the world. while he
has had to pay the manufacturers pro
tected high price labor scale on his
farm and to meet competition in his
home market from every section of his
own country. To carry out to log
zeal conclusion opposition to Canadian
reciprocity eastern farmers long ago
should have demanded that a Ur3ter-
tive tariff be set upon every bushel of
wheat, corn and oats and upon every
head Of cattle, sheep, hogs and horses
shipped into eastern markets from the
cheap farms of the western states that
for a third of a century We're practical
ly given away to the cheaper laborers
of the world who immigrated to our
country after the civil war;
You seem to take broader view of
this question than do the majority of
farmers. What are some Of the rea
sons for your position
This reciprocity treaty with Canada
is one of the most vital propositions.
affecting the highest and best interests
of both nations. 1t will mean the re-
adjustment of the trade relations of
the world. While for time il will
affect to some degree the farmers along
the border line of Canada. yet there
will be some cOmpensationS. There
will be some realignment of produc-
tons that will in time adjust them
selves. The needs of our great ma
ton are not battleships, but improve
ment of its farms, cheap manufactures
and extension of international trade.
Increasing poverty of the world Is a
most serious menace. There is dan
ger in two ways. in decreasing en-
ployers and in the increasing employ
ed, and this Industrial condition will
need to be met. not with battleships
and armies. but a great international
policy of disarmament and the up
building of Industrial conditions. Thir-
ty-nins per cent of the revenue collect
ed in our country is expended in
preparation for war to the extent of
$23SQ0O,O 900 for the army and navy,
while for the past wars an addition
al amount Of 100000 or SO per
cent Of the revenues. has been collect
ed and paid, making over II per cent
of all revenues collected for war ac-
count: These are the great problems