Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-08-23

EDITOR CENSOR: During my recent
1 trip TO Seattle, Vancouver and other
coast cities | received several impress
sions of general interest. The questions
relative TO reciprocity, conservation and
ship subsidy when suggested, invariably
produced immediate expression of opin-
| ion, and sometimes discussion. The
rank and file of the people of western
Washington with whom | came in con-
tact, irrespective of party utilization,
seemed heartily opposed TO ''conserva-
ton" in the popularity understood mean
ing OF the term in this section, arguing
that the other states of the middle
west and east had enjoyed the advant-
/ age of the use of their own forests and
water-powers in their deveiopement,
and that it was unfair to place half the
state of Washington in forest re-
serve, practically, as was claimed, pre-
venting the cutting and use of its tim
Der, ano making it also impracticable,
| If not impossible, to obtain such owner
ship Of the water powers by individuals
as would permit their use. The thought
of most men seemed to be that the fed
eral government should. keep its hands
cif the property, powers and natural
resources, and allow the people of the
I obdlC W CllIOJ (uC6G dQNdIlI-
/ ages in such manner as they saw fit
and as might be regulated by the leg
/ islature of the state, that the state and
its people were abundantly able to con-
serve their own resources.
| The people of that section of the
United States seemed heartily in favor
of ship subsidy law that would en-
courage and build up our merchant ma
rine, believing that a strong merchant
marine would be one of the surest
guarantees of international and world
wide peace, and pointing out that Eng
land, in various ways, directly and in
directly, subsidized its shipping.
On the Canadian side took especial
pains to ascertain the sentiment as to
! the proposed reciprocity treaty between
Canada and the United States, inter-
viewing Liberal and Conservative alike.
| was surprised to find the people of
Victoria and Vancouver, British Column
| bia, so unanimously against the treaty.
Some were against it because of pre-
| JUDGE, affecting to believe the plan a
well laid one for the United States to
swallow Cal'ada, while many. others be-
/ lieved Canar,a would reap greater ad-
vantages by reason of a high protec-
tive ts1iff. One well informed British
citizen, who is engaged extensively in
trade in the states, informed me that
the United States was one of the very
greatest nations, and made so, as he
believed, by reason of high protective
tariff. He stated that he thought
Canada in the present period of its
development could make wonderful
strides in the same manner, and in the
well founded argument of this citizen
of Great Britain, found renewed
courage as protectionist.
The Dominion seems torn up as
never before, the Liberals heartily
championing reciprocity. the Conserva-
tives and Socialists opposed. 1t was
pointed out that with the treaty ratified
the products of the Canadian 70 ISIS,
fields and mines would find their way
to American mills and manufactures,
the labor Of America UNITED States)
employed at full pay and for long hours
and the money arising from manufac-
lures kept in the states, much to the
disadvantage of Canada, excepting the
small amount for raw material. 1t was
| further pointed out that it meant the
closing of Canadian mills and proven
ton of further investment in Canadian
manufacturing plants of various kinds.
found these men especially we'll
grounded in reason for their faith |
observed in the cities mentioned that
clothing, oyer-coats,, gentlemen's fur
nishing goods. ETC., were higher than in
the states, Vancouver being especially
high priced city. On certain English
made coat a Viroqua dealer had quoted
me lower price than substantially the
same article could be bought for in
Vancouver. | was surprised at this,
as had believed the prices for such
articles would be lower on the Cana
dian side. In the prairie provinces of
Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba
there is very large percentage of
people who formerly were American
citizens. 1t is small wonder that these
former Americans favored reciprocity
with the states Premier Laurier has
announced that as result of the cam
paign of education carried to the peo-
pie that he believes there will be re-
turn of the Liberal government to
power, and consequent ratification of
the treaty. In conclusion, permit me to
say, that unless tbs re is a mighty
change in the sentiment of the people
as found it, the treaty will not be
ratified.
1t is strange at least that well in
formed Canadians as Premier Robin,
of Manitoba, regard reciprocity as a
calamity to the farmers of the prairie
provinces and that it will bring about
| fhe cartaiY1 destruction of their own