The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-27
THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN MAJOR BUTTE
AND JAS. ]. HILL OVER RECIPROCITY

| party, which made Il possible for him
to violate and undo as fast as he could,
the principles laid down in the acts OF
congress worked out and fostered by
the late lamented Mckinley, and later
by the SCALED Dingley act. and still
later-within the last year-enacted
into law by the republican party in
congress. by the help of some good
democrats under the Taft Aldrich-
Payne bill-a law which not only ad-
hered to the tariff protection principle
for our farmers, but actually increased
the amount OF the duties on farm pro-
| ducts. Now what happens? Before
the ink is dry with the approved, VIM.
| III. Taft affixed to the bill. we find
one Mr.. Knox, Of his official family,
entering into a secret agreement to
remove all protection to the products
of the farm in our country.
Now, what is the situation? Mr..
Taft is candidate for reelection. A
! loud mouthed campaign was made
mostly by demagogues. last election.
over the increased prices Of the pro-
ducts of the farm, bread and meat. I'M
der the cry of high cost of living"
The free trade democratic party tried.
and partly succeeded. in making some
| or the voters who had heretofore voted
| the republican ticket believe that the
| tariff on the products of the farm to be
imported into our country was the
cause OF the high price of food.
You, Mr.. Hill, one of the great in
tellectual giants of the country, on all
business propositions contend. and
with great deal Of force. that while
a surplus of any given article exists.
like breadstuffs, the export price Cow
ems. We have had a large surplus of
wheat for several years. According to
you, therefore, the tariff on farm pro-
ducts did not cause the increased price
in these foodstuffs 1 agree with YOU.
The price is governed, as you state, by
supply and demand the quantity pro-
duced and the quantity consumed.
President Taft has made the mistake
of his life. He has put Mr.. Bryan,
with his free silver" and Mr.. Roose-
welt, with his new nationalism." wav
/ in the shade. They are now back num-
bers as compared with Mr.. Taft. back
ed by the free trade democratic party.
Taft for president, Clark for vice presi-
dent on free trade platform, and the
farmers for what is left!
or course, we all understand that
the consumers outnumber the produc-
ers to a very large extent and if Mr..
Taft believed that it was party of the
republican consuming element which
voted with the free trade democrats
at the last election because of the tar
if on foodstuffs, we can understand
his action.
Now, all free traders are democrats
but not all democrats are free traders
All the free trade democrats will sun
port Mr.. Taft's efforts at free trade
and all the commission merchants ana
middlemen, which include the CONNER
cial clubs and boards Of trade in our
cities in the north side Of our country
who expect to realize a profit bv hand
ling the products of the Cana dian
farms, all the great TRANSFORMATION
companies running into and ont Of
| Canada; the elevator companies ana
| bankers who expect to deal in those
goods or the value thereof ali the
stock dealers and owners Of bonds, and
! stocks of certain transportation lines
VIII support him. This combination
OF capital, together with the "higb-
price of-living fellows" and the free
trade democrats, will, in votes and in
fiuence, outvote the farming element
at least three to one.
Barley and Corn,
What I said in my last letter. ~ +bo
8lst ultlmo about the barley crop YOU
VIII find in the end to be true. I am
informed that the great brewery COM
btne or trust already have their agents
in Canada buying up enormous GUAM
titles Of "hold-over" barley, in antici-
patton of the fact that the bargain
made by Mr.. Taft to take off the 20
cents a bushel WILL by reason Of the
combination in congress, the Commits
sion merchants, organized mostly as
the commercial clubs and boards Of
trade, and the free-trade democrats
become the law Of the land. Canada
produces no corn worth considering
Her crop season for corn is too short
Andrew Carnegie.
In conclusion, will call your atten-
ton to the letter written by Andraw
Carnegie, Esq, to Senator Beveridee
and printed in last Fridays citv
papers.
'''SStS |SANSTs
Mr.. Carnegie's letter is as follows:
z East Ninty- first Street
New York City.
Hon. Albert J. Beveridge.
Washington, d. C.
My Dear Senator: / wish To CON
graduate YOU upon your stand in re-
gard to reciprocity. There is no possi-
b1lity of injury to your own people
from free trade with Canada: condi-
tions are very much the same in both
lands, and the cost of transportation
Of any commodity in competition with
our neighbor gives sufficient tariff
The economic question can scarcely
be discarded, but the moral and friend
| ly results to flow from this opening Of
the doors between us are incalculabIe.
| l have never known a subject so
universally favored in and around New
York. The chamber of commerce
passed vote unanimously in favor
| of it. l think the produce exchange
vote also was unanimous. / note this
morning two other societies are regis
tered in favor OF it.
| talked with President MCKINLEY on
his way to make the great speech in
Buffalo, which the president has
quoted, and rejoice that he recognized
that conditions have changed; that we
| have no more infant Industries needing