The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-27
Effect Of Reciprocity on Vermont.

Z
/ No policy of such magnitude as the
proposed reciprocity agreement between
the United States and Canada can be
affected without producing different re.
suits upon different sections Of the ma
tions concerned, and upon various in
terests in these nations. Some sections
and interests may suffer slightly on both
sides Of the line, while Others viii profit
more considerably but following the
fundamental policy of these two great
est North American nations, of the
greatest good to the greatest number,
we must look to the sum total of the
benefits to be received alongside the dis
advantages Of such policy and decide
with these in the minds eye. This is
the bipartisan, impersonal view, the
ideal
Vermont, being a border state, is
showing unusual interest in the PROPOSE
ton. How viii it affect Vermonty How
will it affect me? This is the question
Nermonters are asking. Just what the
effect win be on Vermont no one can
foretel exactly 1t win have tendency
to force lower price on some of YER
mont's choicest products. On the 9TH
or hand many things the Vermonter
must have in large quantities viii be made
cheaper by the treaty II being grant
ed that most interests outside the agri
cultural field will be benefited. we viii
leave all but agricultural interests out
OF this discussion
There appears to be a feeling more
or less general among the Vermont farm
ers that the treaty would bring dis
aster upon them because cheap Canadian
butter, cheese, pork, horses. sugar, etc,
would spoil their market This feeling
is based on the old condition Of affairs
We have been SO effectually cut of from
Canada in the past we have not kept.
posted on her progress. Montreal mar
kets on butter and cheese the past year
have shown TO be only two and three,
cents per pound less than Boston mar-i
kets, while hogs and horses have been
higher in Canada than in New England.
There remains a duty of one cent on
maple sugar, which win make the Can
adam product about three cents cheaper
than the Vermont. The difference now
is not what it was a generation ago
when farm land and labor was cheaper
in eastern Canada To-day farm land in
eastern Canada is higher than in Yer.
mont and labor is scarcely any cheaper.
How then, let MS ask the opponents Of
reciprocity, can the Canadian farmer
produce pound of butter cheaper than
the Vermont farmer? There is but one
answer and that is because feed, in
vestments in cream separators, timber
for buildings and the cost Of his -four,
clothing and other articles Of living are
cheaper
We hold then that whatever condi-
lions make it possible for the Canadian
farmer to make money on butter and
maple sugar at from two to three cents
per pound less than the Vermont farm
er will be adjusted by the difference in
the cost of his now heavy feed and liv-
ing expenses, to be cut down by free
entrance into this country Of the things
keeping these prices up.
We do not, however, anticipate any
two or three cents per pound permanent
reduction on butter, cheese, sugar etc,
Like pouring a pail of water into
pond. there will be some waves and rip
Piles OF noticeable size for a minute or
two. but they will all disappear in short
order and the pond will not run over.
What little surplus agricultural products
eastern Canada is making will spread
out so thin over the great markets of
the United States that it will never be
noticed
There are many other features of this
treaty that may come up for discussion
later, that go to show that the Vermont
farmer will not be materially affected,
even though his products are among the
first to be apparently touched, and at
first the aspect appears serious.
On the whole We do not believe the
Vermont farmer viii suffer, while the
country as whole will be greatly bene-
fted