The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-04-21
THEY WILL ENGAGE IN A FIGHT
AGAINST THE PACT.
Monster Delegation to Proceed to
Washington; There to War on
Canadian Agreement.

Washington; There to War on
Canadian Agreement.
Northwestern farmers will send a
delegation representing five states to
Washington by special train to pro-
test against the ratification of the
proposed Canadian reciprocity treaty
within two weeks.
This decision is the direct result
of the anti-reciprocity meeting held
in the old state capitol, ST. Paul,
Tuesday
Conference Is Held.
At a conference between H. C.
Hansborough. former senator from
North Dakota, and p. v. Collins. edit
tor of The Northwestern Agricultur-
alist, held in Minneapolis yesterday
morning, it was decided to combine
the delegations from Minnesota, the
Dakotas, Wisconsin and Montana.
Mr.. marlborough will act as chair
man and Mr.. Collins as secretary of
the undertaking.
Delegates Were Appointed.
At Tuesdays meeting eighteen
delegates were named to represent
Minnesota in this protest, but any
Minnesota farmer who wants to join
the protesting party and take advan-
tage of the special rates which will
be obtained for the trip may do SO.
1t is up to the Minnesota farmers
and the business men associated with
them to raise about $4,000 to cover
the states share of the expense of
the special train. To help in this
work Mr. Collins has volunteered
his services as a speaker without
charge at local meetings which will
be held in each county of the state.
We, farmers and business men of
Minnesota, in mass meeting assem-
bled, do most earnestly and sincerely
protest against the ratification by
congress of the pending treaty with
Canada In its present form.
In doing so we hereby announce
and publish the following reasons:
First-That the treaty is unfair,
unjust and discriminating against
the agricultural interests of the Unit
ed States, giving these interests
practically nothing in return for
what 1t deprives them of.
Second-That it will inure to the
disadvantage, loss and suffering of
our producers without any prospect
Of cheaper manufactured products
to the consumer.
Third-That the removal of the
duty on, wheat will accrue solely
to the benefit of the miller, that of
barley to the brewer, that of flax
seed to the linseed mills, and that of
live stock, hogs, poultry and dairy
products to the packers and middle
consumer, will mean great loss to
the producers.
Fourth-It will create an unfair
competition, inasmuch as it will
compel our farmers to compete in
our own markets with the cheap
produced products of alien COMPETE
tors. We contend that our home
market belongs in the first instance
to our own citizens.
Fifth-This pact, if agreed to, will
retard and set back the progress
towards a higher and better stand
ard of farm life, which has become
SO noticeable during the recent pros
porous times; it will tend to bring
on again that struggle for existence
so well remembered by our pioneer
farmers, struggle in which many
went under; it will lessen the OPP
portunities for a better education of
our farmers children, and thus en-
courage them in leaving the farm.
Sixth-It will lessen the purchas-
ing capacity Of our American pro
ducers to the extent of millions of
dollars annually, by depriving them
of a legitimate and fair price for
their products. All of this will rep
resent corresponding loss to the
commercial interests of our country,
as the farmers profit invariably finds
its way into all the channels oil
trade. Our commercial and manufac-
turing interests stand to lose as much
in this way as they will gain by the
expansion of their business
Seventh-Our American farmers,
by their thrift, energy and frugality,
have made this country what it is,
they have made it possible for the
great commercial interests to be-
come wealthy and powerful; without
the farmer this would have been i'm
possible. In view of this our com
mercial interests should now stand
by the farmer. To do otherwise
lays them open to the charge of
commercial greed and selfishness
Eighth-The term reciprocity as
applied to the Canadian treaty is
misnomer. Reciprocity means an
equitable trade or exchange between
two countries which one country
produces and the other does not, or
which it produces only in insufficient
Quantities. We produce everything
in this country that is produced in
Canada.
Ninth-It constitutes an agreement
made secretly, and without regard
To any cpff1od polioioc Of on, fo -;