Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-07-13
News Of the Week From vari-
Gus Parts Of the State.
GRONNA ATTACKS THE PACT
Declares It %Surrenders the Market of
the American Farmer Without
Any Recompense.

An attack on the reciprocity bill be-
cause he said it surrenders the market
of the American farmer without any
recompense, and because, in his view,
1t is a usurpation of authority by the
president, and finally because he be-
lieves the bill, as a revenue measure.
should have originated in the house,
RAJ made by Senator AISLE j. Gronna
of North Dakota, a Republican insur-
gent.
Mr.. Gronna said the farmers were
almost unanimously opposed to the
plan, that their Indifference was ar.
parent only to those viewing them
with prejudiced eyes, and that prob.
ably some of those busily engaged in
discovering that the farmers are in
different will have occasion to change
their opinions when the ballots are
next counted"
In having the bill framed and trying
to force it through congress, declared
Senator Gronna, the president exceed
ed his constitutional powers.
"The president" he continued, "has
apparently come to the conclusion that
he represents the people of this
country both as executive and legis-
lature and that the two houses of con
gress are merely bodies of men pro-
Vlded for by the constitution, which
he can unfortunately not get rid of,
but which are to be ignored and CO.
creed whenever he deems it necessary
or eXpedient."
Mr.. Gronna referred to what he
called the strange unWillingness" Of
the supporters of the reciprocity meas
ure to explain it's benefits and to de-
fend it and the presidents action on
the floor Of the senate. He contend
ed that the goods on which the duties
have been removed are almost with
out exception, goods that Canada will
sell to us and that we can have no
hope of selling to her, that the trusts
are still protected and that it is the
farmers who are to receive less for
their products in order that this ad-
ministration may have the "glory of
being the n to negotiate a trade
agreement with Canada and force it's
ratification by congress-"
Agreement is Denounced.
He denounced the agreement as a
cloak to hide the adoption of a new
economic and industrial policy out Of
harmony with Republicanism, a policy,
which, he said, the rank and file of the
party would repudiate and he con-
demned the policy of placing food
products and raw materials on the
free list and of retaining a protective
duty on manufactures.
Mr.. Gronna commended that the
farmer had met with "unkindly re.
buffs," when he attempted to present
his case to the president, that the ad-
ministration is Indifferent to the well
fare of the farmers, that the free ad-
mission of the Canadian wheat would
glut the Minneapolis and Duluth mark
cts to the detriment of the American
wheat growers and would cause the
surrender of the wheat growing to
that country to a large extent, for sew
eral years to come. The agreement,
he said, gave Canada such a prefer
ence as the United States gives to no
other country.
II cannot" he concluded, support
an agreement which sacrifices the in
terest of the American farmer in order
that the Canadian farmer, the rail
roads, the millers, the packers, and
the brewing interests may be bene-
fted."