Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-28
SAYS RECIPROCITY
WILL WREAK RUIN
To FARMERS OF j. S.
Senator McCumber Declares
Agricultural Trade Is In
Creasing Without Need of
Treaty With Canada

WASHINGTON, Feb. &.-Responsibility
for the conditions with which they are
now confronted was charged IN part to
the farmers themselves by Senator Nc
Cumber, OF North Dakota. today. in a
speech IN the senate against the Mccall
bEI. which puts into form for enactment
into law the provisions Of the Canadian
reciprocity agreement.
Holding that the ratification OF the
agreement would spell disaster for the
agricultural interests the senator said
that they had loaned their ears 10 argu-
ments that we're urged for lower rates OF
duty at the time OF the passage OF the
Payne Aldrfch bin and their having given
their votes IN the ensuing election TO the
opponents OF those members OF congress
who had voted with the leaders In the
two houses, had been the undoing Of the
farmers. He declared that when cru
sade against the whole tariff system was
launched IN the press that NATURALLY con-
servatism lost her balance and everything
IN the tariff bin was condemned" That
We needed money, he continued. '$o run
the Government was lost sight OF. and
wave OF free traaeism that would have
destroyed every vestige OF protection and
left the government without revenue
swept over the country.
NECI1ONAL4E1A ~ 4AANA4
Mr.. McCumber referred 10 the section
aIisun that developed IN the tariff situa-
ton. and the desire OF one part OF the
country to have its own products protect
ID while those OF another part should be
made TO compete with the free goods
brought IN from abroad
Under these conditions he said. men
Of the middle west were destroyed be-
cause they allowed protection on fabrics
and thereby increased cost OF living me
men OF the east were destroyed because
they allowed protection on food products
and thereby increased the cost OF living.
Out or this turmoil new political creed
was born and the hero OF each locality
was he who cried, Protection on every
thing that we produce and free trade
on everything the rest OF the country pro-
duces.' This is 'bossism' fthe present
day"
s-rhe end TO which all this madness
pointed" said Mr.. McCumber. was plain
to him The farmer had been poison
ed BY the virus with which the politi-
cal atmosphere had been impregnated,
and he. IN too many instances like all
the others, turned against those who had
labored for his beneft and others de-
strowed them OF punished them with
greatly diminished ma1orities."
1T was rough. no matter what ne
may nave zone 10 pEOACLl lAAG AA-N@-~1~@
OF his own state, for a senator or q
Representative TO have been caught sew
eral times voting the same way a. the
chairman Of the committee on finance
RAD voted That meant the opposition
OF those who had yielded to the clamor-
The president. said Mr. McCumber,
should not be censured for his advocacy
Of the reciprocity agreement The
farmers had shown by their votes last
80 NnH a~~nf uanfad ratr1Tn
the Representatives who had defended
their interests in the tariff legislation
and that meant that the farmers did not
care whether they were protected or not.
Retributive punishment. however. Mr..
McCumber said. was no part OF his
faith He did not believe IN retaliation
upon the farmers BY the enactment OF
the Mccall bin when theirs had been
.the mild offense OF having been mis-
led by the press and magazines OF the
country"
AGRICULTURISTS AFFECTED.
The speaker held that no class were
50 vitality affected BY the measure as
ne agriculturists. He dwelt upon the
threat to those interests that lay in the
throwing open Of this country for the
free eontry OF farm prducts from a ter
rftory SO rich in soil and opportunities
as northwestern Canada
Reciprocity. said the speaker, was
not needed 10 increase this cOuntry's
trade with Canada it is Increasing as il
IS
A plea for the farmer was made and
the speaker sounded a note OF warn
ing. he said. 10 those senators who rep
resent the great cities with their enorm-
Gus wealth. Every great conflict is
not determined IN favor OF him who
strikes the FIRST blow" said Mr.. Nc
+ Dunbar sRut in favor of him who
strikes the last blow. BY this treaty
you strike the great cereal and stock
interests Of the northwestern states a
staggering blow. but they viii arise and
return that blow with interest"