The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-04-27
THE AMERICAN Farmer VS..
THE CANADIAN RECIPROCITY PACT
Gov. DeVine Says It ls Un.American,
Unrepubican and Reprehensible.

Minot, N. D., April rs, 1911.
Editor OF Minot Independent:
1t is both interesting, and in some
degree amusing, to note the character
and kind of argument made by the
sDisnds OF Canadian reciprocity rs
taney have appeared from time to time
n the press of this city and state.
Neat of the arguments indicate woe
fal lack ii knowledge of the subject
under discussion and approach the lu-
dierous when applied to the actual
and existing conditions a. between
this country and Canada. The follow
IN statement, are what believe
peaeAically cover the more important
Arguments made by the friends Of re-
oaprocity up-to-date, and appearing In
the 0linot Reporter, Minot Optic and
The Ward County Independent:
1st-That it would be beneficial to
the city Of Minot because it would
xive US the Grand Trunk railroad and
johbing houses;
1nd-It would lessen the high cost
Of living.
3rd-That It would give to the far
mers Of this section cheap shorts and
bran.
4th-That it costs more to raise
wheat in Canada than in the United
States. Therefore the removal Of the
protection would not lower the price
of wheat in this country.
6th-That tho difference between
the high price the American farmer
gets for his wheat, max, barley and
other farm products as against the
low price the Canadian farmer gets
for Hike products is not because Of the
protection now existing, but by rea-
son Of the excessive freight rates
charged by railroads operating In
Canada.
6th-That the American farmer
does not get a higher price for his
wheat, barley and other farm products
and for the reason that Liverpool fixes
the price of wheat and it Is the same
for both countries.
9TH. That is good republican doct-
rine since Garfield, Blaine and Nc
Kinley preached it years ago.
AS regards the first proposition. l
believe Minot's growth will almost
wholly depend on the measure of sue
cess that comes to the farming popu-
lation Of the Northwest section OF
our state. AS the farmers prosper,
Minot will prosper; as they grow in
numbers and wealth, Minot will grow
in population and wealth. think it
a fair assumption to say that the
Grand Trunk Pacific railroad will
come to Minot if it Is going to come
reciprocity or no reciprocity, and If
eventually it touches our city. big as
the advantage will be, it will fall in
fnitely short in helping Minot to be-
come great city as against the
wonderful possibilities of the briquet-
ting of the millions of tons of Anthra-
cite coal, directly tributary to our
city. This possibility fully realized
means more to Minot and the North
west section of our state than half
dozen Grand Trunk Pacific railroads.
Reciprocity will put American job
bling houses not at Minot but in Can
ada It's a fundamental business prin-
ciple to place the supply az near to
the consuming population as railroads
will permit. 1t is that long establish
ed business principle that placed the
wholesale houses that are now exist
ing at Minot. Minot may, and hope
will have additional wholesale houses,
and If It does, It will not be because
of reciprocity, but In spite of 1t. II
Minot in the future adds to its now
present Wholesale houses, 1t will be
because of the increased population
and wealth tributary to Minot and
on this side of the Canadian line.
The second proposition, namely
that 1t will lessen the high cost Of
living is mirage Of the desert II oft
repeated history under like conditions
10 worth anything in this country. We
placed sugar on the free list with
Cuba, but that didn't lessen the sugar
per pound to the ultimate consumer.
What ID true Of sugar is equally true
Of coffee. While you may not have