The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-03-16
SENATOR SMOOT
AGAINST TREATY

Senator Reed Smoot, who has re-
turned to Salt Lake City from Wash
ington, gave out the following inter
view ON the proposed reciprocity
agreement with Canada to the Herald
Republican:
My one reason for refusing to sup
port the agreement is based on the
pripciple of protection, which is one of
the fundamental ideals of Republican
ism and one which / see no good
reason for withdrawing from. I can
not see how / could consistently vote
for free trade of farm products and
expect the support of the food belt
representatives on vote in which the
protection of products and industries
of Utah is at issue The Republicans
of the middle west, the section most
vitally concerned in the Canadian
agreement, have not hesitated to vote
for adequate protection to products
and industries in which Utah ranks
high, such as lead livestock, wool and
manufacturing industries. They are
| in turn entitled to similar protec-
tion.
Reciprocity win Pass.
Senator Smoot is confident that the
reciprocity agreement will pass the
senate at the extra session, provided
the lower house does not switch from
its former stand on the question.
There were enough favorable votes
in the senate to have passed it at the
session just ended had it not been for
more important legislation which had
precedence on the senate calendar"
he said.
"The importance of reciprocity has
been highly exaggerated. Aside from
the principle involved, it will have
| little effect one way or the other. The
farmers of the middle west will meet
with slight competition from across
the line, and the price of foodstuffs
may be affected in small way, but as
for any far-reaching economical re-
suits. it will mean nothing.
''The fact that it is made the sub
jeet of an extraordinary session of
congress has given it false Importance.
President Taft felt himself morally
mediate consideration before the ad-
in April, .and as there was no time at
been called out of courtesy to our nor
thern neighbor
Insurgents Strange Stand.
s'Tt will pass in the senate if the
insurgent Republicans in the lower
house do not stop it there. One OF
the strangest stands ever taken by a
political faction is tfat of the insur-
gents on the reciprocity agreement.
They were the first to raise the cry Of
high prices, making it the principal
plank in their platform. Now that a
measure calculated to cheaper the cost
of foodstuffs somewhat is before them,
they are unalterably opposed to it, and
will fight it with all their strength in
the coming session. This is because
most of the insurgents are from that
territory most affected by reciprocity.
"It contains nothing affecting Utah
one way or the other, as the farm
products and manufactured foodstuffs
of this state seldom go beyond its bor-
ders, and there is no likelihood of
Canadian products entering Utah. AS
said before, the middle west, that
territory known as the food belt, will
bear the brunt of Canadian competi-
tion.
Try Tariff Strength.
Asked as to the possibility of any
other issue of Importance coming be-
fore the sepcial session of congress,
Senator Smoot said that it is highly
probable that the new Democratic and
insurgent forces will try ont their
strength on the tariff question.
"As several alleged tariff experts in
the Democratic ranks announced
through the Associated Press recent
ly,' went on the senator, "they will
attempt to revise just few schedules,
possibly sixteen or seventeen. All of
which is characteristic of the Demo
cratic conception of the tariff, as the
entire bill contains but fourteen
schedules.
Speaking of the recent mobilization
of United States troops on the Mexi-
can border Senator Smoot declared
that the purpose of President Taft was
very plainly that of protecting inter
national business.
"Under the Monroe doctrine" he
continued, ''no foreign power could
assume the duties of international
policeman, and as some step was i'm
perative to preserve business inter
ests. the United States had no alter
native.
'"The direct result of the show of
force will be to put an immediate end
to insurrection, which will work to
the best interests Of all nations con-
cerned. There is no doubt that the in
surgents are receiving material aid
from the American side. The presence
of troops on the border will effectual
ly stop all such filibustering. / am
certain there was no other motive be-
hind the movement. The idea of Jap
anese invasion of Mexico is prepos
ferrous on the face of it, it was merely
display of the Monroe doctrine in
the interests Of European powers.