Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-02

where Reciprocity Hits Nebraska.
OMAHA, March Ito the Editor Of The
Bee: What Is reciprocity What does
canadian reciprocity as proposed in the
Mccall bill now before the United states
| senate mean?
IL means the Swing over to Canada, our
greatest and best markets. the mills OF the
northwest and middle west. for 100000 to
lVV'VOOWo bushels annually of Nebraska
Kansas and Iowa wheat. without getting
awning In return. The mills OF the
northwest and middle west prefer the can.
su'ah wheat even at considerable pre-.
MUM over the southwestern wheat as Il
makes 'he Whitest Of flour without bleach
Ing, whereas the winter wheat Of the south
west needs the bleaching process in order to
compete. and this process is Illegal
Such condition brought about nv reci-
procity would benefit especially the ca
madam farmer. at the great disadvapta,o
of the American farmer; TO the latter a.
would be suicidal Il also means the pivi,,,
over to the Canadian farmer our markets
in the New England and the middle states
Tor lOOOOO,OOo bushels Of our western oats
annually, which grain is second only to
corn in extent OF production, without get.
ting anything I'm return
Furthermore, Canada raised superior
quality Of oats to those raised I'm the west
and hence its markets would be preferred
at premium i'm our eastern markets
which markets now take a large mart NJ
our surplus. This would mean a
large increase In the production of
grain in Canada and a corresponding de-
crease in the United States Of both wheat
ana oats; our loss would be Canada's gain.
In word, reciprocity places the Canad-
ian farmer not only in direct competition
win the American farmer I'm the latter's
nome markets, but gives the Canadian
FARMER the advantages Of the superior
quality OF grain and shorter distances TO
our eastern markets, These markets.
which we now propose to give away TO our
Canadian neighbors for nothing, have been
the largest factors toward the building IN
OF our western country.
Nebraska will receive harder blow
thAn any other state on account OF the ne
cullar character Of our wheat. not making
as white flour as the Canadian wheat.
Kansas would receive the next hardest
DloW, because considerable Of the wheat
product Of that state is similar to the
Nebraska wheat, and also, Canada would
compete FOR the large Pacific coast trade
which Kansas now enjoys
1t Is estimated that the depreciation in the
values Of wheat, oats and corn since reci- |
proclty has been Rgitated I'm the United
states will exceed sixty million doIIars
V6o'VOoVO) As grain depreciates in value
so VIII the lands on which II is raised The |
lessened values Of farm products will be
Iet by nearly all manufa curing Industries |
rms VIII in time affect labor, because ne |
cessltles and economy will be the motto |
we were all taught from the beginning
that the farm Is the foundation OF the pros-
perlly OF this country. Is not this as true |
TO-DAY as ever? have distributed the |
grain products of Nebraska through tor
lninal elevators at Omaha for twenty years |
10 ali parts OF our country IL l do not
know whereof l am speaking, l ought TO-
II am unable to forecast the effects ~
reciprocity which does not reciprocate.
ought TO be, This reciprocity bill impresses
me deeply and sincerely as discriminatory,
wrong against the farms of our country.
The disastrous effects Of this are not
ready fact. The United States does NOT
really need the products Of Canada. while
on the other hand Canada with its vast area
OF territory, capable of raising 500 600 900
bushels of wheat and 1OOO,OOO,OOO bushels Of
oats and possibly in the near future enough
corn for home consumption, needs our mar
kets to help build up its country.
IL should be understood that our farm
products are consumed largely in our own
country that we export only 10 per cent
OF our wheat, three go per cent Of our
corn and one ~ to three 90 per cent of
our oats.
we should not forget that there is no ma
terial economy In low prices for wheat. be-
cause at a.lO per bushel the average con-
sumption for each person does not exceed
IN value cents per day. We should al
ways remember that good prices for farm
products makes for good times in all In
iustries and high prices for labor, while low
prices for farm products makes for hard
times closed factories, and low prices for
labor and armies of idle men While we
are giving a good deal Of consideration to
the conservation of our forests and mines
we should not underestimate the conserva-
ton OF our home markets.
n. MERRIAM
President Merriam & Willard Co.