Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-09

THE RECIPROCITY RUGAROO.
tAigona Upper Des Moines Republic
canl.
There is a general cry being raised
over the country against ena citing the
proposed reciprocity treaty with Can
ada. The shout hes gone forth that
such treaty would work great in
jury TO the farmers ot our country and
naturally anything which Injuries the
farmers interests seriously affects
business in general. especially in the
middle western states.
Ii that argument is true regarding
the prospect OF injury 10 farmers the
less We have to do with Canadian re-
e!procity the better, bu, looking the
matter fairly and i11part:aIly in the
face, we can not see how reciprocity
will work out any such dire calamity
as is urged. As far as Iowa is con-
ceTned. there is no visible prospect OF
such an agreement making IN iota Of
difference in the wealth Of our far
.ncrs, or the market prices of the
goods they have to sell.
For nearly a wear back. as far as
We have cogriZance the market quota
tons in Canadian papers have proved
<
Cana6a have been from 10 ~ or Is
cents higher than the same goods were
selling for in the United States With
possibly one or two exceptions. turnout
all the past winter. ard that only for
short time. ali farmers products
we're quoted higher IN our northern
border country than they were here.
We ali know that Canada can not
compete with the United States in the
production OF corn. and If with the
smaller grains. such as wheat oats.
rye. barley. and the like. their market
price IS higher almost thru the whole
year. what prospect would there be Of
their shipping grain down here TO re-
ceive several cents a bushei less FOR
their products.
we believe there is a still greater
reason why reciprocity with Canada
will 10; affect our states one way or
the other That is the cars who con-
trcl prices of everything on the mar
ket. The Old argument of supply and
demand cuts but very little figure In
controlling prices OF products The
boards Of trade in the large CONNER
cia! centers like London. England: New
York. Chicago, and the like. hold the
balance Of power and largely dictate
what the prices shall. be, and no one
need think for one moment that rect-
procai arrans erents with Canada
would make a particle OF difference to
them as to what must be the ruling
prices
Take the matter Of the -four we use
or the lumber that must always enter
into consideration in this changee BILE
climate After the whea: has
passed into the hands Of the miller. or
the logs Of the forest are sawed up
into material for building purposes,
there is an all powerful trust that says
what the consumer must pay for a
sack Of -four and the item Of how far
the grain had TO be hauled to reach the
mill makes no perceptibie difference IN
the retail price Of the goods. Even at
the present time. and for two or three
months back. the wholesale price OF
-four in the large commercial centers
has warranted a reduction of 10 cents
sack off the retail price of -four, but
If there has been oany perceptible re-
ducton on those goods IN Kossutn
county we have not heard of H. The
same rule applies to the lumber inter-
ests and in both cases it will make no
difference whether the logs or lumber
ma gnates will set the price on the
goods
Just couple moro thoughts on this
subject First there is no doubt but
that reciprocity with Canada will be Of
benefit 10 the United States as a
whole. This ls practically conceded by
those most familiar with the working s
Of such matters. AS long as such a
treaty will not be in iIlrio,1S 10 11s 81
the middle western states, why should
we oppose what would be Of benefit to
DIR country as whole. Second. we
would ask our farmer friends to in
vestigate and see If, in the com m ercial
world il IS not those who are anxious
to keep the prices Of farm products as
low AS possible and DO not care to
compete with Canadian prices, who are
fighting the reciprocity treaty the
hardest. These are but our views in
this matter and we are omen 70 cony3c-