The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-06-15
Senator Nelson Makes Stirring
Address in Opposition to
the Proposed Pact
CURTIS ASSERTS AMERICAS Loss
WOULD Be PR0PoRT|0NATE TO GAIN
That Was Made by CanAds in the
Event That the Measure Is Adopted
Felt That People Generally Were
Not Well Informed on the Subject

Washington, D. c., June 15.-sen-1
ator Nelson of Minnesota spoke at
length today in opposition to Cana
dian reciprocity. He contended the
president had no authority to under
take negotiations with Canada and
charged that the chief executive had
usurped the treaty making power Of
the senate. Disaster for the farmers !
Of the country, he declared, would
follow the passage Of the reciprocity
bill.
Conduct of the president In this
case is not only novel and without
precedence" he said, "but to me 1t !,
seems to be of such serious moment
and threaten such dangerous conse- ,
quences that have felt it my duty
to bring it to the attention Of the
senate. 1t seems that the president
is depriving the farmers Of this coun-
try of their constitutional right Of q
tWo-thirds vote of the senate. This
agreement would not be ratified II 1t
were submitted to US for ratification
pursuant to the spirit of the consti-
tuition"
Effect Ruinous.
The effect of free importation Of
Canadian farm products" Nelson in
sisted, would be ruinous to the
American farmers, while the masses
would not be benefited"
IF slogan of the scheme is cheaper
food for the Masses" he explained.
why put duty on flour, cereals, meat,
beef, mutton, veal, pork, hams and
bacon. We know that the middlemen,
between the farmer and the consum-
er. get far greater profits than the
farmer.
If cheaper food is one Of the ex-
cuses for the scheme, why not make
all food products from the farm to
the mouth entirely free? Why
should farmers cattle, sheep and
hogs be on the free list, while blessed
with the protective duty? Why
should our millers get Canadian
wheat free and still have the pro-
lection of fifty cents a barrel on
flour and 12 1-2 cents per 100 pounds
ON shorts, bran and middlings against
the Canadian mills?"
Senator Curtis Also Opposes.
The loss to the United States
through the ratification of the Cana
dian reciprocity agreement would, in
the opinion of Senator Curtis, be
proporuonate to Canada's gain. The
Kansas senator yesterday addressed
the senate in opposition to recipro-
city
Mr.. Curtis declared that the peo-
pie generally were not Informed re-
garding the pending legislation and
that they should be given opportuni-
ty to study the subject until the reg.
ular session of congress.
Mr.. Curtis quoted figures to show
that the United States trade with
Canada last year had amounted to
$13S,552,279, and maintained that this
country should let well enough
alone
"It would" he said. "be unwise to
return to the disastrous policy which
was followed from 1854 to 1866. Our
trade relations with Canada are now
very satisfactory to the United
States, so why should We change
them? By this agreement we are to
open to them our splendid market Of
90.0OO,0OO people and in return they
give us the market of 100000 peo-
pie and this, too, market which IL
now largely controlled by our pro-
ducers. There is no better home
market in the world than ours and
why should we part with any por-
ton of 1t without equivalent return?"
Mr.. Curtis also contended that to
open up our markets to Canadian
products would mean that q large
number Of people would be attracted
to Canada by the price of land and
that great development, improve.
ment and production would follow.
"It is estimated said the senator.
that there are 200,O00.000 acres Of
wheat land in western Canada not
yet cultivated. which would yield ST.