The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-11
PRESIDENT TAFT
STRIKES MIGHTY
BLOW FOR TREATY
Before Members of Illinois
Legislature Today He Ex-
plains Its Advantage to the
Country.
CONTINUED From Page One)

(COntinued From rage OnC)
must OF necessity relate more to agri-
cultural products than to manufac-
lures. Here we stand upon more OF
an equality. Here in our three thous.
and miles Of border we shall import
agricultural produces from Canada TO
the United States ut one point and
export from the United States to Can
ada of the same agricultural products
mt another.
A Mutual Exchange.
"In other words the great benefit of
this treaty is the profit in mutual ex-
change that will come in response to
the agricultural products OF both. l
do not wish to minimize the advant-
age that Canada has given us by this
treaty In the reduction on manufact-
Nrcd articles. We already export into
Canada the greatest variety of manu-
featured articles and merchandise
over the tariff wall that she has raised
into the country from elsewhere of
1915, 100000. These reductions on
manufactured goods are quite certain
to increase this proportion and 10 en-.
large the control which the United
States In likely TO have over their
market for manufactured goods.
But tho farmer says he is entitled
70 protection as much as the manufac-
turer Under the principle of protcc.
tI0n laid down in the platform, that
depends upon the question whether
the cost Of production is different in
Canada from what II Is in the United
States and speaking in large terms.
the conditions are the same. II any
thing with respect to the agricultural
products the United States has the
greater advantage because the prod
ucts OF It's soil are of much greater va.
ricty and the use Of soil can be diver
slfled much more probably than in
Canada.
LET us examine a little more close
~ the effect of the proposed Canadian
treaty"
The president then described in de-
the various reductions that have been
made In import duties by Canada and
the United States. lie described how
Illinois farmers and manufacturers
would benefit by reciprocity. Contin.
uins he said:
Decrease In Exports.
"The increase Of our population and
the reduction of our farm exports are
going on so rapidly that unless a
great increase In production is
brought about within our borders we
shall consume all that We raise and
can secure OF food supply like that of
Canada right ut our doors. We shall
be blind indeed IL we neglect this op-
portunity to add TO the strength Of
our country by thus increasing our
self supporting capacity. We do not
annex Canada politically. but she and
we do become united commercially in
such way as TO add great strength to
both.
There are those conservative pro-
tcctionists who hang back from an
approval OF this agreement on the
ground that II Is departure from
the prcccpts Of protection and Is the
opening wedge to let in free trade.
My own view Is that no step could be
taken more in the interest Of rea.
sonable policy Of protection than the
approval Of this treaty. The very eX.
istcnce Of the policy depends on our
abolition Of the tariff where II is not
really needed. Under the principle of
In ~ MS Z "a
persist In retaining Il in these times
Of high prices and gradually exhaust.
ing the food supply and base our re.
tcntion Of protection principles We
shall rouse an opposition that will
know no moderation and will not
cease radical economic changes until
II has removed from the statute book
tho last trace of protective tariff.
For q Tariff Board.
THAT Is why I am SO strongly in IA.
vor Of an expert tariff commission OF
board. want the evidence upon
which n proper and reasonable pro
tcctivc tariff may be determined and a
just ono. and if the existing schedules
are too high they should be lowered
10 the measure declared In the Rcpub
lican platform. No one familiar with
the conditions can be blind TO the fac,
duties against Canadian products are
not within this rule as to the measure
OF protection.
I'VE have taken up these things
that are involved in a Canadian treaty
because opportunity offered. Now is
the accepted time. Now Canada is OF
tho need. She Is AT the parting OF the
ways. Shall she be an isolated coun
try as much separated from us as
though she were across the ocean. oil
shall her people and our people prof,
by the proximity that our geograph,
furnishes and stimulate the trade
across the border that nothing but q
useless. illogical ana unnecessary
tariff wall creates"
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