Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-02-16
NO DANGER
Of Reciprocity Affecting
Politics Of U.S.and Canada.
Sec. Knox Declares Special Re-
gard for Agricultural Producers.
Principal Complaints Against Meas
ure Come from Politicians.

Chicago. Feb. lJ-Though the people
| Of the United States and Canada are
"a substantially homogeneous peo-
pic" with deep moral and racial reel
| procities," the benefits of the proposed
commercial reciprocity with Canada
"ought not TO be obsCured by the fear
| of relations toe cordial and conceiN-
! ably dangerous to the great Canadian
| LOYALTY to England in the opinion Of
| the Secretary of state, Philander {.
| Knox. who addressed the Chicago As
| sociation of Commerce here tonight.
Mr.. Knox declared that while migra
| tions proceeded as constantly and a.
! freely between Canada and the United
States as between two states OF this
| country and while the two peoples
have been welding together for two
centuries. there is not the slightest
probability that this racial and moral
unison will involve any political change
or annexation or absorption
ut is an chronological fact that po-
litieal units of the nglish-speakinE
people never lose their autonomy,
said Secretary Knox. Like bees, they
give off their swarins. who set up for
themselves Independently. but they do
not make political ordinations among
themselves. Since the Revolution there
has been almost undsturbcd peace
and anity between the two countries
and however governmental changes
may have been bruited in the past,
ii is probably more true today than
ever before that the weight of senti-
mcnt and opinion both in Canada and
the United States, while desiring
closer relations in all other respects
is crystallzcd IN a belief that the
prcs,n political separation is desir
able and will lead to the best develop
ment OF each nation and to better and
more satisfactory relations between
them.
In the higher atmosphere and broad
cr aspects of the situation it is certain
that if there should be any great
world movement involving this con-
tnent Canada and the United States
would. as a matter Of course. act in
the most perfect concert in defense OF
tie common rights Of a common blood
and civilization
Declaring, however. that the reci-
procitv proposition was economic not
political" Mir. Knox asserted: The
United States recognizes with salts
faction that the Dominion of Canada
is d permanent North American po-
litical unit and that her autonomy is
secure. The United States appreciates
the advantage To the common welfare
of the continent that Canada contri-
butes her own strength plus the
strength OF Great Britain"
Secretary Knox prefaced his argu-
ment allaXing fears of Canadian an
neXation with an outline of the trade
relations between the United States
ana Canada to the work of the pres
cnt administration and then remarked
that for more than half century
the statesmen of Canada. of Great
Britain. and of the United States have
by repeated effort testified and re-
affirmed an abiding and fundamental
belief in the principle of American
Canadian reciprocity"
Sketching briefly the negotiations be-
tween Canada and the United States.
from the time OF the passage of the
reciprocity treaty of 1854 and its abro
cation in 1866. Mr.. Knox spoke of the
efforts on both sides of the
line to promote reciprocal trade. the
Canadian plgrimages to Washington, !
1.-The cold reception given eminent
Canadians who made these pilgrim !
ages and the appeal to imperial and !
political sentiment by their opposi- |
tion at home"
"Our task was. despite all this"
continued Mr.. KNOX TO submit to the
,f ho nit nd ., IN
people of Canada an opportunity to
cement the commercial links which it
is decrced shall unite us The agree
ment submitted to Congress by the
President is the result. 1t is compre
hensive iii principle and avoids the
objection which was one cause Of the
aDrogation Of che Elgin Marcy treaty
of 1S5f-that i. it is nol limited to one
class of commodities. II is meant FOR
the conditions Of today and the condi
tionS of the future.
Recognizing the condition which
exists in our own country and without
undo aking to define the causes which
have led to the increased cost of liv-
ing. the agreement seeks 10 give our
millions OF wage earning consumers
the benefit OF drawing upon the sur
plus food supplies nearest at hand.
1t seeks by providing for the freest
possible interchange OF commodities
across political boundary which
when it comes to production and com
merce is an artificial boundary, to
prevent these manipulations and those
speculative fluctuations in prices
which ara harmful both TO the producer
and to the consumer. 1t may be stated
as an aNion that the more abundant
the source of supply and the moro
free the movement Of products the less
chance there is OF decreasing the
legitimate profits of the producer and
OF increasing the cost to the consum-
cr by artificial scarcity,
"While reciprocity agreement linn
tied to natural products would be
beneficial, nevertheless in order that
such AN agreement should be really
comprehensive the terms should in