The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-02-22
FARMERS FIGHT RECIPROCITY
SH HtRP ONSL.tt GHf ON THE BILL
BEtORE NE\tyE tDWNITTEE.
senator Haic Admits Jhat " seems Jse.
less t0 right the President brings
out That Members of Congress Wrrr
MT Consulted IN Preparing u.

A. regards 'ho Administrations rnci-
procitv asrcer"nt remained practically
unchanged to-day The opponents of
tho measure orc still making their vian
IN prevent II from coming to vote in
the Senate. but with probahlv a nttlo
less confidence as to the outcome than
they had a few days ago Two or three
remarks made 10y Ssnator Hal" at the
Senate Finance Committee bearing I q -dav
show that the opponents of the me asurp
appreciate that they vii. have To shoulder
tremendous responsibility IN killing the
measure in the face Of the Presidents
determined attitude.
Senator Hale is one of the mos, out
spoken opponents of the reciprocity
plan and his apparent lack of confidence
was regarded to-day as significant
President Taft still has hopes Of bring
ing the bill to a vote before March ard
he will continue to exert himself along
this line.
For seven hours to-day the members
Of the Senate Finance Committee listened
70 protests against the proposed reci-
procity with Canada. Most Of the wit
uesses who appeared represented the
farmer. All Of them said that the adop-
detrimental to the agricultural, industry
particularly along the American side of
the Canadian boundary
The members of the committee showed
considerable interest in this testimony.
Some of the Senators even gave vent TO
their approval. for example, when 7. y.
Godfrey Of Oean. y. Y. master o; tho
New York State Grange. said ,het ,h-
proposed legislation would set back IN.
farming industry in the tnited States
at least ten years. Senator NCtumber of
North Dakota observed
YES. a hundred year,"
Senator Root Of New York appeared
before the committee and made "A brief
abatement concerning IL" Mann amend
ment added 10 he Met al bill Ia the House
Senator Root pointed on; thai the NcCau
Till embodied the features of the agree
ment between til" Uni'ed States and
Canada. but that the hill in is present
form with the Mann amendment added
did not represent :hc agreement. lie
favored having th" hill restored to it-
original form In that form pulp wood
and print paper would not go on the fire."
list until the Canadian Provinces lit their
present restrictions against the exporta-
Hon Of pulp wood cu' from crown lands
Representative Augustus i Gardner
was before the COMMITTED Ia protest
against the reciprocal trade agreement
in behalf Of the Gloucester fishermen
Senator Hale took advantage Of Repre-
sentative Gardner's presence TO bring
out the fact that Senators and Repre-
sentatives had not been consulted bv
The executive department while the ne
Rotiations were under way. After e--
Iablishng the fac that Representative
Gardner WAS familiar with the needs of
the New England fishermen and had
always looked after their interests in
matters of legislation Mr.. Hale asked
him If he had eve" been consulted bv
those interested in the negotiations Mr.
Gardner replied that he had lriad once
to get some light from the State De
rartpen' on The negotiations. but un-
!atisYactorily. Then ne went To the
White House and was ;old bv the Presi-
dent that IN" case was closed
Mr. Hale pursued This line of aues-
Massachusetts Senators had not been
consulted, and so far as Mr. Gardner
knew no other Senator or Represent ative
had been consulted as to he effects within
his State upon local interests of the new
reciprocal agreement
The most interesting witness of the
day was Aaron Jones of South Hend,
ind, who for eight wears was master
of the National Grange and who Ia now
a. the head of the Indiana Grange and
chairman of the executive committee
~ the national organization This wit
ress said thai The farmers had been the
main support of rhe protectiv. tariN
policy in his country for many wears;
that without their supper, no Repuh-
lcan Presideu, could hav. been elected
and that If they We're now 10 be rewarded
for their dev otiou TO the protection sys-
tenn by free trad" in their products then
they would ceas" following the Repub-
lican party
Lincoln" sad Mr.. Joncs. and | have
voted for every Republican candidate
for President since then. | voted for
the party because ] believed in the pro-
tective tariff: but if we are to have free
trade for the farmer. by The Eternal
We will have il for everybody before
another two years roll by. If the Re-
publican party goes back on me and
makes il impossible for me 10 carry on
the industry | am engaged in and pro-
vide the necessary comforts for my fam
fly. then that party cannot expect Jones
to follow it
But you don't understand the en-
barrsssments under which the members
OF the committee are working" observed
Senator Hale The Administration is
trying to cram tins policy down our
throats, Suppose everybody falls down
before the Presient!"
We are looking 70 you to save us from
this calamity" said the Granger.
But how can We save you?" inquired
"You know the way. Senator" replied
Mr.. Jones.
But what is the way?' persisted Mr.
Hale.
This matter need not come to vote, f"
suggested MIR. Jones. "You can prevent
that"
Il don't know about that" replied Mr.
Hale. "You must not rely on our being able
to prevent vote. You must remember
that this matter was sprung at a time so
late in the session that We were all taken
unawares and the President is very in
sistent upon action,
Il know that; that is the difficulty. Z"
replied Mr.. Jones. IF we had thirty
days in which to meet this question there
would not he ghost of a chance for this
matter to pass the Senate"
Has there never been any measure
before Congress heretofore that has
aroused the farmers and agricultural
intereats as this measure has," inquired
Senator Hale.
None whatever" replied Mr.. Jones.
II have not seen the people IN the agricul-
tural districts 20 thoroughly aroused
since the day Fort Sumter was fired upon,
Mr.. Jones brought with him about
twenty representatives of farmers asso
Citations. Ne had present to be heard
in protest against the Canadian reci-
procitv twelve masters OF State Oranges
Among those heard IN opposition tn
reclprocity were y. !. Ratchelder, ev-
Governor of New Hampshire and Master
of National Grange +, \ Godfrey, Master
Of the NeS lorh Grange, and officers of
i