The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-03-10
He SAID THE BENEFITS TO
CANADA were |LlUsI0NARY
Argued That Western Canadian Far.
mers Has Been Disseminated
Against and That Measy Favorine
Them Should Be Passsa.

ing the reciprocity agreement was
clearly and definitely expressed by a
large assembly at a mass meeting held
IN the town hall under the auspices
OF the Manitoba Grain Growers as
socfation, Peter Mcdonald, president
OF the association was in the chair.
Many Of those present drove from ten
to twenty miles through a severe bliz-
zard. With only one or two dissenting
voices out Of an audience Of over 200,
resolutions were passed condemning
the action Of the Manitoba legislature,
OF the member for this district, H. G.
Simpson, and also the action of the
Winnipeg board of trade and grain ex-
change. in passing resolutions against
the proposed reciprocity agreement.
Mr.. Simpsons Views
H. G. Simpson, member for this
constituency. had been asked to be
present to explain his reasons for
voting against a measure which was
In the opinion of his supporters of de-
ctded advantage to them and he was
on hand. He stated that he had voted
against the agreement, not for party
reasons, but because he was honestly
OF the opinion that the present agree
ment would not be to the general ad-
vantage Of Canada. He agreed with
the amendment brought up in the
house that the reciprocity agreement
did not go far enough. At first he
had been disposed to favor it favor
ably but upon studying the agreement
he found that. the apparent benefits
were only illusionary and the farm
ers would not benefit by It,. The pass-
ing Of the resolution by the local
house sonly expressed it's opinion and
could have no effect on the imme-
diate results. He believed in Canada
for the Canadians and when consider
Ing the market problem the home mar
ket should always be remembered and
class distinctions should be left out.
Westerners. he thought, had been dis
criminated against and some meas
ure Of fayoring them should be passed
Anything that concerned the price
value of commodities concerned the
people Of the west. Would the far
mer by this agreement get higher
prices for his wheat? He doubted it,
and In this connection pointed to the
conditions existing in the Minneapolis
and Canadian markets. Tht former
was generally ten cents higher than
the latter, but this was due entirely
to local conditions which would
quickly disappear If there were free
trade. The Americans had an ex-
port surplus and could always take
care of their markets. Canada's sur
plus was Increasing fro m year to
year. II this were unloaded on the
American market, the milling COM
panies which were responsible for
keeping up the prices in Minneapolis
would lose control. The handling of
the markets would get beyond control
and prices would go lower. During
recent sharp declines on the Ameri-
can markets the milling concerns were
able to take care Of wheat. But If
Manitoba wheat were given free ac-
cess to Minneapolis, they would lose
control of conditions and all pre-
miums would disappear and the cash
prices would then be on an export
basis alone. Recent conditions of the
wheat market showed the price to
have declined eight or nine cents on
the strength of the reciprocity treaty.
The drop on the American side had
an effect on the Canadian market and
Winnipeg. had also declined. There
was no doubt that 1t was due to this
cause, because the day that the reci-
procity details were announced the
United States market dropped and
the Canadian market followed. The
day congress adjourned, prices in the
United States went up two and q
half cents. II don't take any stock
in, annexation. think the settlers
are too we'll contented to want a
change. The United States always
was against us in trade relations"
said Mr.. Simpson.
The effect of the treaty on the rail-
roads was next discussed. Canadians
were mortgaging themselves to build
q new transcohtinental line, yet II
reciprocity were agreed to the J.. ].
Hill roads would Immediately begin to
take q share Of the handling Of the
grain. He thought 1t would make a
big difference by taking away the
earnings and jeopardizing Canadian
railways.
British Preference
Regarding the British preference,
Mr. Simpson thought that Canadians
should recognize their friends. There
t