The Detroit times., 1911-02-16

political unit and that her autonomy
n secure. The United States appre-
eiates the advantage to the common
welfare OF the continent that Canada
contributes her own strength plus the
strength OF Great Britain.
Mr. Knox prefaced his argument, al
laying fears of Canadian annexation
with an outline OF the trade relations
between the United States and Can
ada to the work OF the present admit
istration, and then remarked that Tor
more than half century the states.
men Of Canada. Of Great Britain and
Of the United States have by repeated
effort testified and reaffirmed an abid-
Ing and fundamental belief In the prin-
ciple of American-Canadian reciproc-
ity."
Sketchng briefly the negotiations
between Canada and the United States
from the time OF the passage OF the
reciprocity treaty OF 1854 and It's abro-
CATION In 1866, Mr.. Knox spoke OF the
subsequent efforts on both sides OF The
line to promote reciprocal trade, the
Canadian pilgrimages to Washington,
THE cold reception given the eminent
Canadians who made those pilgrim.
ages and the appeal 10 imperial and
political sentiment by their opponents
at home"
Our task was. despite all this
continued Mr.. Knox, Ito submit 10 the
people OF the United States auf 10 the
people OF Canada an opportunity To
cement the commercial links which 1t
Is decreed shall unite us. TIE agree
ment submitted TO congress by the
president Is the result. II Is compre-
hensive In principle and avoids the OBJ.
lection which was one cause OF The
abrogation OF the Elgin-Maroy treaty
Of 1S54-that Is, II is not limited to one
class OF commodities. II is meant for
the conditions of today and the condi-
tions OF the future.
Recognizing the condition which ex-
lists In our own country and without
undertaking to define the causes which
have led to the increased cost of liv-
ing. the agreement seeks to give our
millions OF wage-earning consumers
the benefit OF drawing upon the sus-
plus food supplies nearest at hand. II
seeks by providing for the freest pos
sible interchange of commodities
across a political boundary which.
when IL comes to production and COM
merce, Is an artificial boundary, to
prevent those manipulations and
those speculative fluctuations in prices
which are harmful both to the pro-
Queer and to the consumer. 1t may be
stated as an axiom that the more
abundant the source of supply and the
more free the movement of products
the less chance there Is OF decreasing
the legitimate profits OF the producer
and of increasing the cost to the con-
sumner by artificial scarcity.
while reciprocity agreement linn
tied to natural products would be ben
eficial, nevertheless In order that such
an agreement should be really compre-
hensive the terms should include man.
ufactured commodities also. This, too.
Is done. Rates are mutually reduced
on a large variety Of manufactures
The list would have been even larger
had the dominion reached the stage
OF industrial development in which she
felt that she could include a greater
number of articles"
James j. Hill also spoke. urging a
ratification of the agreement and de-
claring the arrangement or great value
commercially to the whole of the
American nation. He dwelt particu-
larly on the argument presented
against the pact In behalf Of the farm
ers. His assertion was that the Am
erican agricultural interests would
have nothing to fear from a reciproc-
ity agreement
Nearly 1000 persons, representing
almost every big Industrial and com
mercial enterprise Of the city, attend.
ed the banquet.