The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-30

could any one work out anything like
reciprocity (under our national con-
ditions) with Canada taking that po-
sitIon.
Regarding number two, you inquire
how in the name Of heaven can legis-
lation reduce the earning power of
land? Let me inquire. cannot legis-
lation increase the earning power of
land? Cannot legislation affect the
earning power Of the factory, and If so,
why not that of a farm? Does not the
present tariff do this? II it does not,
why your cry against It? If legisla-
ton increase the earning power Of
land by maintaining the value Of the
products thereof as is done by the
present tariff, will not the doing away
with such tariff reduce the earning
power Of our lands? Let me give you
concrete example. Such legislation as
will make the price OF a bushel Of
spring wheat weighing sixty pounds,
the same on the day this letter is pub
lished, at Duluth and Port Arthur.
Another: Such legislation as will
bring the price of a busheI OF wheat
marketed south Of the main street of
Portal, N. D., TO lower the price OF the
bushel raised and marketed on the
north side Of that street. the inter
national boundary line running
through the center of the town. See
another: Such legislation as will make
a bushel of barley sell for as much
transportation considered) on the
north shore OF Lake Ontario as on
the south shore. When in heavens
name does not legislation increase or
reduce the earning power of land?
With farm products of the same value
in northwest Canada as In the United
States transportation cost considered)
the new lands of Canada procurable
at approximately one-half the pur-
chase price of our lands, will look more
attractive to the purchaser than will
our lands. IL this agreement goes in
to effect and the price of farm prod
ucts seek common level on both sides
of the line resulting in a depreciation
in the selling price of all our farm
products. the American farmer who
has eked out an existence, Will I'M
load. save what he can of his equity,
go to Canada and start new, nearer
out of debt. If his products sells for
less, his load becomes more heavy
and forces him out.
OF reason No. you say THAT is
false for grain is sold into the worlds
market only, not into local or ma
tional market" You seem to admit 1t
will cost as much to raise. Let my
answer to No. cover this point.
Number 4, is disposed OF as "a mix
ture of falsehood and absurdity."
Number 5, THAT for several years
past the price of all grains in the
U. S. has been more than 10 per cent
higher than at Canadian points d.
rectly opposite. We have come to a
point of veracity, ignorance win not
excuse. challenge you to show the
incorrectness. Of this statement. Take
any two or all of the points nearest
the boundary line i'm the northwestern
part Of the United States and the
nearest town in Canada. take the price
of wheat the same day in each month
In these adjoining towns for the six
years last past Publish these figures
and then apologize. Take your own
market. Duluth. the most favored point
for the shipment of grain in the en-
tire United States: take the first day
of each month for three years last
past, add to the Duluth selling price
Of No. / northern cash wheat your
cheapest midsummer lake and ocean
rates to Liverpool, and tell your read
ers how many months you find when
you could sell wheat bought at Du-
luth in Liverpool or any other foreign
grain center except at loss-and be
square enough to tell how much that
loss would be. Tell them how much