New-York tribune., 1911-02-05
TO FIGHT CANADIAN PACT
Unfair to American Farmers,
National Grange Contends.
COMMITTEE ISSUES APPEAL
Million Members Called Upon to
Urge Congress to Defeat Pro-
posed Reciprocity.

The machinery of the National Grange,
an organization which says 1t has mem
bership OF one million farmers in thirty
states. has been started TO defeat the rau-
fcation by Congress OF the Canadian reel
procitv treaty The legislative committee
Of the grange. at special meeting yester-
dav afternoon at the Hotel Manhattan,
adopted a resolution protesting against the
enactment of the reciprocity bill, called
upon the membership 10 exertN pressure
upon Representatives from their various
districts TO vote against the measure and
decided TO go to Washington to begin
campaign there.
The legislative committee ia composed Of
former Governor Bachelor. Of Concord
y. H.. chairman; Aaron Jones. Of South
Bend. Ind and T. G.. Atkeson,-Of Morgan
town. W Va. As soon as the terms OF the
proposed treaty became public they ex-
changed telegrams. agreed upon New YORK
as a meeting place ard left their homes
without delay TO head off any possible
movement that might be started for the
/ bilTs enactment. Mr. Bachelor declared
Yesterday that the national body was COM
posed of 900 oranges scattered throughout
4 the northern half Of the United States. from
/ Maine to California, and that 1t was his
/ opinion that the oranges wonld support the
committee unanimously.
1--WE are not opposed 10 a general redrc-
/ ton Of the tariff Mr. Atkeson said. but
We are opposed to any arrangement which
will make FISH Of one industry and flesh OF
another Reduce the tarin-yes: but do 1t
/ all at once and not by reciprocal treaty
with a country which exports agricultural
products almost exclusively. Remove the
/ tariff on steel and iron and manufactured
articles along with farm products and We
won't object But we don't think il fair TO
compel the farmers 20 compete with for
eign products and allow the Manufacturer
/ to derive the benefits Of a high protective
tariff
Acting along these lines We have de
cided to oppose the enactment Of the bill.
I The committee issued a statement this
afternoon which will be sent TO every one
OF the 800 oranges in the organization.
These have a membership OF from 80 10 1000
I farmers each. we shall ask every member
ito write his Representative In Congress.
urging him TO vote against tie BILL ]
/ think we can defeat il I'm this manner. but
we are not going TO take any chances
and the committee has decided 20 60 20
Washington and work from that end"
/ The committees statement said In part.
The theory on which our protective pol
! lev has always been defended is that all
classes and interests are equally entitled 10
protection. The farmers however. receive
much less protection than the manufactur-
ers. for while farm products are taxed on
the average about . per cent. manufactured
articles are taxed on an average about a
/ per cent
THE enactment Of the Canadian reciproc-
ity bill would still further discriminate
/ against the farmers by abolishing the COM
parativeIy slight protection now given theni'
while leaving the high protective duties on
manufactures practically untouched
/ The Canadian farmers, by reason OF
their lower general tariff and their prefer
ential trade arrangements. can buy manu-
/ factured goods a. lower prices than those
prevailing in this country. The prices OF
/ farm lands in Canada are also mucH loWer
. than in the United States. Ihe cOndlliuHS
give the Canadian farmers an adVanldse
/ over us. and the free admission OF their
products viii subject Us to uniaH conpeu-
| tiOn. .,, --,..,-i,,. ,r,a.s,,ra
/ is not an honest effort TO reduce the cost OF
/ living I'M the interest of the consumer 1t IS
sufficient 10 point out that. Whhe Whedt y
/ cp The free list -four Is taxed Og cents a
/ barrel and that. while cattle, sheep anu
( hors are free meats, both fresh ana cured
! are taxed IA cents pound ior the oeheHl
/ of the Meat Trust