The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-03-24
Reciprocity With Canada.

| Editor ke1ormer - = n,
s. Page for the public expression of opin
| ion on the subject of reciprocity is charac
| teristic and commendable. No other Yer
mont statesman of this generation has SC
wide and representative personal acqualnt
ance. and so intimate a knowledge OF eco
nomic conditions among the great mass
of the people of the state, and none mas
stood more intelligently and stanchly foI
their interests than our junior senator
His public letter to the press plainly IN,
dicates that he regards his primary and
: paramount duty to represent the pest In
terests of his constituents. also having re-
gard to the national welfare. UndouDt
edly our representatives, Foster ana rum
lev acted sincerely on the right principe
az securing the greatest good for the great
est number of their constituents in record
inc their votes against the favorite meas
IRE of our henored president. The, bril-
liant mind of James G. Blaine first clearly
associated the idea of reciprocity as a nee
essary corollary of the general principle
of protection. ...,,, o..uoo
tive in the idea of unlimited commercial
intercourse between the two great English
speaking people of this continent VINO nave
so many common aspirations, tradl1lohss
and national interests; and are separated
only by imaginary boundary lines. 1t Is
believed by the advocates OF this measure
that its great benefits would be realized
hv the consumers in the reduction OF cost
az building materials, wood, hay and food
productions. and it is also claimed that
the lowered cost of the materials used by
manufacturers would mean cheaper farm
machinery, and the lower cost OF the ma
terials for food and shelter would enable
The industrial classes in our cities and large
towns to become more liberal consumers,
and thereby incidentally recompense the
local farmers for the lowering of prices by
Canadian competition. This claim may be
realized to some extent in the great manu-
featuring states of southern New EngiandI,
New York. Pennsylvania and the middle
west hut not in Vermont which is not
and can never be largely a manufacturing
state with large mechanical industrial
population.
As the manufacturers of farm machinery
base their prices not on cost OF production
Int IN "what the trade will stand" and
Get bigger prices at home than in foreign
Countries. we are likely to look in vain for
lower prices. The farmers OF Vermont
as a rule are securing only fairly living
prices for their food products and are not
much addicted to automobiles and foreign
travel, but alter several Hilduieineh oahS e
a toll of from 40 to 60 per. cent tn, the retah
pr ic Of living in industrial centerss is due
to large extent to the prevalent habit Of
buyine at retail in small quantity, the high
er standards of residence, dress and table
luxuries and the almost universal habit
of attending amusements. The residents
If omr large villages support style in resi-
dence. dress, and out-of-season table lux
nrv that even our most prosperous farmer
could not attempt This statement APP
niles to those who farm for livelihood,
not to retired manufacturers, professional
men and spectators with unlimited cash,
who farm for fun. The writer speaks
from personal knowledge OF conditions on
c course with the people of every county. of
Vermont and less extensive observation,
Of the people in Southern New England
states. The Astounding farm prosperity