The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-28
RECIPROCITY NOW
Or NEVER, SAYS TAFT
Great Applause Greets Declar.
alton of President at Pub
Iishers' Banquet.
Continued From Page One.

is difficult to say that a detailed discus
sion OF tariff schedules is not relevant
and important in considering its wisdom:
But the general commercial economical
and social arguments in its favor are so
convincing that / may be pardoned if |
do not dwell on specific rates.
THE treaty provides for free trade in
all agricultural products. and In rough
lumber down TO the point OF planning. II
reduces the duties on secondary food
products by "a very substantial percentage
and il makes such reductions on a mum :
Der OF manufactured articles that those
engaged in making them have assured
us that the reductions will substantially
increase the already large Canadian de-
mand for them.
Canada Declined Free Trade.
eve rendered the Canadian commits
sioners absolutely free trade in all prod
ucts OF either country, manufactured or
natural. but the Canadian commissioners
did not feel justified in going so far. II
is only reasonable to infer, therefore. that
with respect to those articles upon which
they refuse free trade 10 U.S. they felt
that the profitable price at which they
could be sold by our manufacturers IN
Canada was less than the price at which
their manufacturers could afford TO sell
the same either to their own people OF
TO us.
"Hence it follows that their refusal ,o
agree TO free trade in these articles. as
we proposed, is the strongest kind Of evil
dence that II we should take of the eX-
listing duty from such articles coming
into the United States, 1t would not af-
feet in the slightest degree the price al
which those articles could be furnished
TO the public here.
THUS the reason why meats were not
put on the free list in this Canadian
agreement was because Canada felt that
the competition Of our packers would in
juriously affect the products OF theii
hacking houses If tlai he irno how
would IL help our consumers or lower the
price of meat In our markets, II we lei
their meats In free, while they retained
Il duty on our meat
"The same thing is true OF -four. And
yet some gentlemen Insist that the farm
er has been unjustly treated, because we
the free list. And il Is proposed to sat
isfy the proposed grievance of the farm
ers by now doing so without any com
pensating concessions from Canada,
Scents Political Game.
"This proposal would be legislation
passed for political platform uses. with
out accomplishing any real good.
In another aspect, however, the cf-
feet OF the proposal might be serious
OF course, mere reduction of our tariff
free list without insisting on a CORE
spending change in the Canadian tariff
will not interfere with the contract as
made with Canada.
out any consideration on tho part OF
Canada. after the contract has been ten
tatively agreed upon by those authorized
to make contracts for ratification In both
governments, then we are In danger OF
creating an obligation against us In favor
OF all the foreign countries with whom
we have existing treaties containing what
is called the favored nation clause.
This clause has been construed by our
statesmen not 10 involve us In an obli-
gallon to extend privilege to all ma
in consideration OF an equally valuable
privilege received from that one nation.
But the serious question that would arise
Is whether IT, now that the contract has
been tenta atively agreed upon and Is about
to he confirmed by Canada: we should
grant to Canada more than the contract
requires, we could claim that this extra
concession was not pure gratuity and
ono which was necessarily extended 10
all other nations under the favored ma :
tion clause.
Ill-Considered Legislation.
There are two objections. therefore.
to inserting in the bill confirming this
Canadian contract additions to our free
list from Canada. The first is that they
| are "A concession that is OF no value 10
| those whom il IS proposed to propitate
| by adopting il: and the second is that
It may involve us indirectly in a doubt
| full obligation in respect 10 trade with
other countries,
''If we desire to put meat and flour
| for the entire world, that is one thing;
we can do II with our eyes open and
with knowledge OF what ii entails after
| an investigation; but to put such a pro-
| vision in a Canadian treaty and have II
! operate as 81 free list for the entire
world is legislation necessarily i'll con-
| sidered.
More than this. these proposed grstu-
| itous concessions arc In the nature
| OF an admission that in some way OF
| other we have done an injury to a. par
tIcular class by this Canadian reciprocity
| agreement, ] deny II. II is said that
II Injuries the farmers. | deny 1t, II Is
| strictly in accordance with the protec-
tive principle that we should only have
| a protective tariff between us and coun-
| tries in which the conditions are so dis
similar as to make a difference in the
| cost of production.
Now, II is known TO all men that the
| general conditions that prevail in Canada
are the same as those which obtain ir
| the United States in the matter OF agri-
| cultural products. Indeed. II there is any
| advantage the advantage Is largely on the