The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-03-24
Canadians Fear Reciprocity.
barton Monitor.

The Randolph Herald and News has
been one of the strongest opponents OF
Canadian reciprocity since 1t was first pro
posed It has argued that the Vermont
| farmer would suffer. We are not ready
to say positively that none of his pockets
will be touched. But the Herald makes
many statements regarding the effects of
this treaty that will not hold water, the
following of which is fair sample:
Poultry and their products is an indus
try that responds very quickly to stimula-
tion or depression. Give the Canadians
five cents net more dozen for their eggs
and the production would increase tremen-
dously. BY turning toward the more pro
fitable outlet offered in the States, the
Canadian farmers would be immensely
benefited, but at whose losss That reel
procity means advantage to agriculture
in Canada is the strong argument for it
on that side OF the line. The reverse must
be true on this side.
There is no question regarding the state
ment. that F we should give the Cana
dams five cents per dozen more for eggs
than they now get they would increase the
production. But let us look at the facts.
Eggs are today, and have been for some
time past, several cents higher in Canada
than here Our esteemed contemporary
could ascertain this readily by comparing
Montreal markets with ours,
The further inference that Canadian ag
riculture was demanding this treaty be-
cause it would benefit the Canadian farm
er is hardly water tight, at least so far as
the eastern Canadian farmer is concerned,
and from the trend of the Herald's argu-
ments we understand it is dealing with the
supposed effect of the agreement on the
Vermont farmer Does not the esteemed
Randolph Herald know that many of the
farmers of a section of the Province of
Quebec recently met and believing that
would iniure their agricultur
al interests laid plans to fight it. This
group of men are buying space in Canadian
them, to lay before the farmers of eastern
Canada their belief. The Standard Jour |
nal, an excellent weekly published across
the line, comes to our desk. Introducing
these articles the Journal editor says:
"a group of men who believe that our
interests are Imperfect by the
recent reciprocity agreement have arranged
for the publication of series of articles
expressing what in their opinion will be
the actual results of reciprocity. This ar
ticle is one of series, and is received by
the Journal as paid matter"
Allowing the Monitor to quote from the
article we read:
eve fear that the Canadian farmer does
not sufficiently appreciate his home mar
set-the market preserved for him by the
Canadian tariff
"This home market is taking 80 per cent
Of his produce and at good prices.
"The demand of the market is increas-
ng and it will continue to increase as the
country grows.
ut has the advantage of neaness, sta
oility, cheapness Of transportation and
thickness of returns.
"The Canadian farmer is familiar with
is conditions and requirements.
'Let us remember that there are at
east 10 times as many farmers in the
United States as there are in Canada, and
10 while one Canadian farmer will get en-
rance into the markets of the United
States 10 American farmers will get into |
,ur home markets, They have already ]
in selling immense quantities Of [
arm products in Canada in spite of the [
luty. They have sold much more in Can
da than Canadian farmers have sold in t
he United States.
with reciprocity in farm products the j
o American farmers will crowd the one {
canadian farmer pretty closely in his own c
ome market. 6
ut will cost the American farmer no I
nore to bring his farm products to Cana ]
ian towns and cities than it will cost the
'anadian farmer to carry his to the United e
tates. t
these American farm products are pref a
Y well kept out now by the tariff wall f
With this removal they will enter 10 to a
ne.
eve must remember, too, that the T
americans have the earlier season and that Il
heir products will therefore be upon our O
larkets before our products are salable. n
Reciprocity means to the Canadian a
lrmer the loss of the Canadian market. Il
what will he get in return for the home g
larket which he will lose?
"He will only get the opportunity to Il
,mpete in the markets OF the United p
tates with the United States farmer, and