Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-04
RECIPROCITY LIKELY TO PASS.

procity measure is that while by common
consent the bill is likely to pass the SEN
ate by large majority, as it passed the
House, the matter is being discussed as
though there we're some hope of defeating
the project.
The Springfield Republican devotes con-
siderable space to the position taken by
Senator Page In connection with recipro-
city. 1t begins by quoting It's Washington
correspondent as follows
l have been In doubt about Canadian
reciprocity, and have taken a plebescte
of the people of Vermont and find that
at least 80 per cent. and indeed l might
say % per cent. OF the farmers are opposed
to the reciprocity bin. And the farmers
know what they are talking about The
extensive correspondence shows a remark
able range of information and deep study
and considera BILE Independent thinking
The unanimity of their conclusions Is i'm
presslve. I am indeed quite impressed,
Frd shall probably vote against the reel
procity bill.
The Republican proceeds to show the
strength Of the different elements of YER
mont's population as follow
The senator may not know, but there
are, In fact. other industrial persons in
Vermont heTides the farmers. He may
not know it, but these other persons are
numerous enough and economically valu-
able enough to he entitled to the consid-
GRAFTON of others il not to that of the SEN
ator. The last available census figures
GaV show the people of Vermont above
10 years Of age to be classified by gainful
occupation. as follows:
| Total populatio 10 years old and
over ............... ............ ......2IS943
AL! gainful occupations ...............13i9S 3
OF which engaged in agriculture ... 80 go
Engaged In professional service. 7G6
Domestic and personal service...... 23,G8
Trade and transportation. IS $50
Manufacturing and mechanical pur-
suits ......... ......... ................ &c $50
Thus a minority of tho States indus
trial population is to be found on the
farms. Only about 20 per cent, in fact,
are to he found there leaving III per cont
for other occupations. Nearly 30 per cent.
Of MI are found in manufacturing and
mechanical pursuits, or not so very far
short of tho number IN agrcul,urc Four
teen per cent. are engaged in trade and
transportation, and those so engaged,
along with those in personal and domes-
tic and professional service mako up a
number Just about equal to the farming
class.
Now what did the senator hear from
these other classes, or did he think they
were worth hearing from and did he re-
fuse to hear from them? Reciprocity
would concededly help those engaged in
transportation and related trades. What
| did he find tho sentiment to be among
/ them? What is the position of the large
manufacturing class? What Of the pro-
| fessional and other services? If all these
classes are largely opposed to reciprocity,
| low comes 1t that the newspapers of the
! State are very generally lined up In favor
| &c It? But with all these classes largely
in favor Of reciprocity. where stands the
| general sentiment OF the State when at
! least a small minority of the farmers are
/ favorahle7
The senator saws that the opposing
| farmers ave showing deep study and large
| information in their replies. viii he say
/ also that they are showing great satisfsc-
ton with things as they are-with the
! PROFITS Of farming under the present tar
| IN policy of the nation and with the
progress and general prosperity of the
industry in that state where its hard eX-
periences and its declining tendencies
! have been known to everybody else, if not
| to them and the senator? The trouble
with Senator Page seems to be that he
/ 70 Of
mont So long and so exclusively as to be
unable to think of any other industrial
class worth noticing; and that he has SO
| far prospered himself in this trading
| among farmers az to come into the belle!
that they are also prosperous.
We believe that most people have
formed opinions one way or the other re
garding the merits OF reciprocity and
that anything which can be said is like
/ ly to have very little effect in changing
the situation one way or another.
The fact remains that public sentiment
so far as publicly Expressed in Vermont
outside Of editorial columns has been
largely opposed to reciprocity. possibly
because aa one journal asserts, organized
effort has been made TO secure con-
certed expressions Of opinion in opposi-
ton to Pre- sident Taft's program.
The other fact to be taken into &C
count In this connection is that consider
able difficulty is likely to be experienced
BY republicans in formulating a declara-
ton of principles or platforms in 1912
which will make it possible for all re-
publicans to get aboard" and feel com
Portable