New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-05-03
Present Opportunities OF tt
Democrats.

Present Opportunities or the
Democrats.
At twelve o'clock on April 4th last,
the end Congress was called to order
by the new speaker of the House,
Champ Clark OF Missouri. The COM
position of the present Congress
differs quite radically from its pre-
decessor, in that the House OF Repre-
sentatives, instead of having q repub'
lican majority, now has democratic
majority of 81, and the senate now has
a republican majority Of only seven.
Although believe that neither the
republicans nor the democrats have
ever shown US an example of true
democratic form of government,
nevertheless l regard the latter as the
lesser of two evils and step toward a
true popular government.
It is up to the democrats assembled
in the present session to show what
they can do for the people of the ..
s., and their opportunities are
wonderful. After sixteen years of
power, the republicans demonstrated
in the passing of the Payne Aldrich
Tariff bill at the last session that they
do not voice the real sentiments Of
their constituents, but that they have
been catering to the big money
interests Of the country. Consequently
the change.
The new House has started we'll. 1t
has begun with reforming itself, by
abolishlng patronage Offices which
will save the country about 100000
annually, and by getting rid OF some
of its own committees. .-."..-
No doubt the most important
measure before the present session is
the Canadian Reciprocity agreement.
A more one sided agreement has never
been drawn up. Many excuses have
been offered for it, first, that it will
lower the cost OF living, second, that
it is the best the Canadians would give
US, and third, that iG is consistent with
our national policy. l am not against
reciprocity, but l am against this
particular form of reciprocity, for
nothing is reciprocated. AS national
policy reciprocity is good, but when
it discriminates between our pro-
ducers, it is vicious. This agreement,
according to the kinds of products
involved, may be clearly divided into
two parts, first, those articles pro-
duced by our farmers and our fisher
men, second, those that 60 through
our factories. All articles produced
by the farmer are put on the free list.
Examples, wheat, barley, live stock.
All things that our factories produce
are dutiable either at the present rate,
or the rate slightly reduced,
Examples, flour, malt, dressed meats.
Many arguments, too lengthy to be
entered into here, have been brough,
up to Offset this discrimin alton, but
| all of them more or less absurd or
their face. The price of wheat will &C
down, but consumers do not ca
wheat, and they will have to pay the
same price for their flour. The ad
mission of Canadian live stock viii
lower the price, but consumers do no
buy their live stock and butcher i
themselves, and they will have to pay
the same price for their dressed meats
How is this going to lower the cost 0
living? The farmers are made tt
stand the burden of national policy
while the big money interests are still
in need of protection.
The present leaders of our Hous
are we'll aware of this. They know
that the agreement stands more thai
an even chance Of. passing bot
Houses. and consequently they hav
drawn up another bill, known as tn
i; farmers free list, but to be considere
separately from the Reciprocity agree
ment. This provides for taking Of
the present duty on such articles a
agricultural implements, barbed wir
and wire fencing, dressed meats of al
kinds, lumber, rough or dressed, an