Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
CONGRESS URGED
BY TAFT To ACT
ON RECIPROCITY
Special Message Is Sent by
the President Asking Con-
greSS to Take Action at
Once on Reciprocity Bill
NV A..ocist.d Press,


WASHINGTON. April 5.-President
Taft today transmitted to congress a
message urging early action on the reci-
procity agreement with Canada. He stat
ed that he based this message upon defer
ence TO popular sentiment and duty to
the great masses of the American people.
The message follows:
ITO the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives:
II transmitted to the s1st congress on
January Is last the text OF the reciproc-
gotiated under my direction by the sec
rotary Of state with the representatives
of the Dominion OF Canada.
This agreement was the consumma-
ton OF earnest effort. extending over a
period OF nearly a year. on the part of
both governments to effect a trade ar
arrangement which. experimenting as IT
did the amicable settlement of various
Questions of a diplomatic and political
character that had been reached, would
mutually promote commerce and would
strengthen the friendly relations now ex-
listing.
THE agreement in its intent and in its
terms was purely economic and purely
commercial. While the general subject
was under discussion by the commission
ers 1 felt assured that the sentiment
of the people of the United States was
such that they would welcome a meas
ure which would result in the increase OF
trade on both sides of the boundary line.
would open up the reserve productive re-
sources OF Canada to the great mass
of our consumers on advantageous con-
ditions and at the same time offer a
broader outlet for the excess products
of our farms and many of our indus
tries
"Details regarding a negotiation OF this
kind necessarily could not be made pub
lie while the conferences were pending.
When. however. the full text of the
agreement. accompanying correspondence
and data explaining both its purpose and
its scope became known to the people
through the message transmitted to con-
gress. IT was Immediately apparent that
the ripened fruits of the careful labors
of the commissioners met with wide
spread approval This approval has
been strengthened by further considera-
ton of the terms of the agreement in all
their particulars. The volume of support
which has developed shows that its
broadly national scope is fully appreciat-
ed and is responsive to the popular will.
The house of representatives of the
Sixty-F'irst congress, after the full text
of the arrangement with all the details
in regard 10 the different provisions
had been before 1t. as they were before
the American people. passed bill con-
frming the agreement as negotiated and
as transmitted 10 congress. This meas
ure failed of action in the senate.
I'm my transmitting message of the
26th OF January. / fully set forth the
character of the agreement and empha'
sized it's appropriateness and necessity
as a response to the mutual needs OF
the people of the two countries. as vel
as its common advantages. / now lay
that message and the reciprocity trade
agreement, as part Of the present mes
sage, before the Sixty-Second congress
and again invite earnest attention t.
the considerations therein expressed,
URGES EARLY ACTION.
Il am constrained. in Difference Z
popular sentiment and with a realiz
ing sense of my duty to the great mass
CT our people whose welfare is involv
ed, TO urge upon your consideration
early action on this agreement IL
concluding the negotiations the repre-
sentatfves o. the two countries bounC
themselves to use their utmost efforts
TO bring about the tariff changes pro
vided for in the agreement by concur
rent legislation at Washington and OF
ltawa- I have felt it my duty there
fore not TO acquiesce in relegation o.
action until the opening of the congress
in December. but to use my constltu
tonal prerogative and convoke tn
Sixtv-Second congress in extra session
in order that there shall be no breal
Of continuity in considering and act
Ing upon this most important subject.
WILLIAM II. TAFT.
The white House, April 5, 1911.