The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-16
Together With James ]. Hill
Before Western Audience
DEFENDS ITS FEATURES
Said That There Is Not the Slightest
Probability That This Will Involve
ANY Political Change, Annexa-
tion or Absorption.

Chicago, Feb. l6- Secretary 81 State
! p. G. Knox and James ]. Hill Joined
hands last night in urging the adoption
/ by Congress of the reciprocity agree
ment with Canada. Both spoke at a
banquet given by the Chicago Assoeia-
tion of Commerce Nearly 1000 per-
| sons, representing almost every big com
mercial and industrial enterprise of the
city as well as commercial and mu-
nicipal organizations from score of
western cities listened and applauded.
The agreement was an example of
constructive craftsmanship in contrast
with many subjects before Congress, ac-
cording 10 Mr.. Hill. 1T is fashioned to
large national ends he said, "and in
spired by a policy that the greatest
minds of the country have approved"
Mr.. Knox declared that while migra-
tions proceeded as constantly and as
freely between Canada and the United
States as between two states of this
country and while the two peoples have
been welding together for two centuries,
there is not the slightest probability
that this racial and moral union will
involve any political change or annexa-
tion or absorption"
"It is an chronological fact that politi-
cal units of the English speaking people
never lose their autonomy" said Secre-
tary Knox Like bees, they give off
their swarms, who set up for them
selves independently, but they do not
make political combinations among
themselves. Since the revolution there
has been almost undisturbed peace and
amity between the two countries, and
however governmental changes may have
been bruited in the past, il is probably
more true to-day than ever before that
the weight OF sentiment and opinion,
both in Canada and the United States,
while desiring closer relations in all
other respects, is crystallized in a belief
that the present political separation is
desirable and will lead to the best devei-
opment of each nation and TO better and
more satisfactory relations between
them.
TN the higher atmosphere and broader
aspects of the situation. it is certain
that ii there should be any great world
movement involving this continent Can,
ada and the United States would, as q
matter OF course, act in the most perfect
concert in defense Of the common rights
of common blood and civilization"
Declaring however, that the reciproc.
ity proposition was economic. not politi
cal, Mr.. Knox asserted The United
States recognizes with satisfaction that
the dominion Of Canada is q permanent
North American political unit and that
her autonomy is secure The United
States appreciates the advantage to the
common welfare Of the continent that
Canada contributes her own strength
plus the strength Of Great Britain"
Secretary Knox prefaeed his argument
allaying fears Of Canadian annexation
with an outline Of the trade relations
between the United States and Canada
to the work of the present administra-
tion and then remarked that "for more
Canada, OF Great Britain, and of the
United States, have BY repeated effort
testified and reaifirmed an abiding and
fundamental belief in the principle OF
American-Canadian reciprocity
sketching briefly the negotiations be-
tween Canada and the United States
from the time Of the passage OF the reci-
procity treaty Of 1854 and its abroea-
tion in 1866. Mr.. Knox spoke of the
subsequent efforts on both sides OF the
line to promote reciprocal trade, the
Canadian pilgrmages to Washington. |
"the cold reception given the eminent
Canadians who made those pilgrimages
and the appeal to imperial and political
by their opponents at home
Our task was, despite all this" con
tinued Mr.. Knox, "to submit to the /
people OF the United States and to the !
people OF Canada an opportunity to ce-
ment the commercial links which il is |
decreed shall unite us. The agreement
submitted to Congress by the president |
Is the result II is comprehensive in |
principle and avoids the objection which |
was one cause OF the abrogation OF the |
Elgin Marcy treaty of 1854 that is, it /
is not limited to one class of commodi. |
ties II is meant for the conditions of |
to-day and the conditions OF the future. |
Recognizing the condition which ex. |
lists in our own country and without /
to define the causes which !
have led to the increased cost of living I
the agreement seeks to give our mil. /
lions OF wage-earning consumers the +
benefit OF drawing upon the surplus /
food supplies nearest at hand. 1t seeks F
by providing for the freest possible in t
terchange OF commodities across politi-
cal boundary which when it comes 20
production and commerce is an artificial /
TO prevent these manipula.
tions and these speculative fluctuations
in prices which are harmful both to the
producer and to the consumer. It may
be stated as an axiom that the more
abundant the source of supply and the
more free the movement OF products the
less chance there is of decreasing the
legitimate profits of the producer and
Df increasing the cost 10 the consumer
BY artificial scarcity.
"While q reciprocity agreement limit.
d TO natural products would he bene.
fetal. nevertheless in order that such
IN agreement should be really eompre.
lensive the terms should include manu-.
iactured commodities also. This. too.
s done. Rates are mutually reduced on
! large variety Of manufactures. The
list would have been even larger had /
he dominion reached the stage of indus
rial development in which she felt that
he could include a greater number of
articles
Special regard for "the great class 81
agricultural producers. for the market
,ffered by Canada 10 this country and /
CONTINUED on fifth naesl