The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-06-09
A VITAL MATTER,
4 Prominent AgricuIturist Favoro
tie Canadian Treaty.

An Interview With Mr. George
PowoIl, President Of tho Agricultural
ENperto' Association OF New York. or
This Vital Question - sIe Favors
Closer Trade Relations and Gives
Reasons or His Beliefs.
The proposed Canadian reciprocity
treaty is being discussed by farmers
everyWhcre-in oranges, in farmers
clubs. in grocery stores and postof
fees. The agricultural press is almost
a unit against it. and the nation
al grange legislative committee is the
exponent of the sentiment of the large
majority of the members of the Order
in the active opposition to the adoption
of the treaty by congress. And yet
here and there may be found well in.
formed men and aglicuturistS who
believe that closer trade relation
with Canada will in the end work no
serious injury to the American farm.
or. and the net result TO the nation
viii be beneficial. One of these men
is George 7. Powell, president of the
Agricultural Experts Association Of
New York. a gentleman whose obser
vations are nation wide and his sources
of information many and varied.
How do you interpret agricultural
sentiment generally on this reciprocity
question:" Mr.. Powell was asked
Farmers and farmers organizations
are quite generally opposed to the rati-
fcation of the treaty in its present
form. and they have reason for it,
Well informed farmers are not op-
posed to the principle of reciprocity,
but they are opposed to having their
industry singled out upon which to try
the experiment of meeting competition
from some Canadian products. while
being obliged to pay the high cost for
the articles they have to buy from pro
tected manufacturers as well as the
high labor cost on the farm which
they have to pay in competition with
the protected manufactures. This is
the principle that farmers object to.
many of whom in the last election vot,
ed for promised policy for an equita.
bic revision of the tariff. which the
party elected has failed to carry out.
How has the protective tariff af-
fected thn farmer. ME- Powell? Has
he greatly benefited thereby"
The surplus products of American
n have hpan of m nvnnrt n
ter. the value of which has been deter
mined and Fixed In the o"en markets
of the world, and thinking farmers.
especially in the west. have had their
eyes opened 10 the delusion of pro-
tective tariff upon their products sold
In competition with the unprotected
exporting nations of the world The
American farmer has had to sell his
exported surplus in competition with
the cheap lab0r of the world. while he
has had TO pay the manufacturers PRO
tected high price labor scale on his
farm and to meet competition in his
home market from every section Of his
own country. TO carry out TO log
ical conclusion opposition TO Canadian
reciprocity eastern farmers long ago
should have demanded that protec-
tive tariff be set upon every bushes OF
wheat. corn and oats and upon every
head of CATTLE. sheep. hogs and horses
shipped into east ern ma Fkets from the
cheap farms of the western states that
for n third Of century were practical
ly given away 10 the cheaper laborers
Of the world who immigrated to our
country after the civil war.
You seem TO take broader view OF
this question than do the majority OF
farmers. What are some Of the rea
sons for your positionT'
This reciprocity treaty with Canada
is one of the most vital propositions,
affecting the highest and best interests
of both nations. 1t will mean the re
adjustment of the trade relations OF
the world While for a time II will
affect to some degree the farmers along
the border see of Canada. yet there
will be some compensatiOns. There
will he some realignment Of produc-
tons that will in time adjust them
selves. The needs of our great ma
tien ere not battleships, but improve
ment of its farms, cheap manufactures