New-York tribune., 1911-03-25
CUMMINS ON RECIPROCITY
Menace to the Farmer-The
Favored Nation Clause"

Des Mones, Iowa March Ex-senator
Cumm'ns. of Iowa. discussed Canadian
reciprocity before the Grant Club OF this
city tonight. Mr.. Cummns said in part:
Tho United States cannot. in an inde-
pendent measure. reduce the duties on inn
ports rom Canada without at the same
tiHne ana az an inevitable consequence
H'aklnS the same reduction on the same
articles 10 practically every country of
the world. In substantially all OF our
ted'ieS or peace ana commerce with for
moo,,,s soteInmentS there is what is com.
| liohN known as the favored nation
o.ause' the effect of which is that we
aSIee 10 admit the products OF each ma
. Um ~ our markets upon as favorable
~ ,n'a'is as we give to any other nation upon
nne ProductS Under this clause if we in
an an Independent act were TO admit Cana
n Clan wheat and cattle free the wheat and
I cattle of South America. or OF Europe.
Vruid come in free
Ihe only way i'm which wc can oscane
ulc operation of this clause is to make
:" q ~, O''S,NsioIS we are willing to extend
wbat N pai tlcuiar country dependent upon
Hndt we declare TO be equivalent conces-
SIonS from the country with which we are
urrdi.hs. Even then the nations of Europe.
90 SSputn America and the Orient are eX-
te,inn reluctant to admit our interpre-
'",!oh OF the favored nation clause
~ is obvious that of the producers
| Oh the United States who are 10 he
t,Iue IN lree or freer competition with
-. - - '""uC'iS OF tanada. the farmer
aIt,ah'hs every man who uses the soil TO
sdm living-and the paper manufact
, IRE, are the men who may have some ap-
plehehsion with respect 10 the effect of
"'e arrangement upon their business
90 not suggest that the general an
! ploVdl OF the arrangement by the news
! idPeIS comes about because this particu-
Idr pian Tor reciprocity gives them free
paper, but | do suggest that the only war
rant for free paper. under The rule now
aChhpWiedged by our system Of protection
u inc combination between our paper
MAKERS. which has practically eliminated
competition. ! am for free paper MOI only
paper or the value OF four cents n po,nd
or less, hut OF all paper. and ! am for il
because the paper makers of this country
.aeNe apused The privilege which has here
'oL"rc peen conferred upon them
tearing in mind what | have already
SAID predict that nearly everything. ex-
Cept wheat, barley and possibly hay our
exports OF agricultural products into Can
ada. VIII grow more rapidly Than the Inn
ports Of such products into the United
states from Canada.
II We put the farmer into free conpeti-
tlon With Canada. common Justice and
common decenCY require that We shall plv
the Canadian farmer buys TO me il is "A
shocking perversion OF sacred principle
To assert that the farmer should suffer
Ifee competition in everything he sells
ana endure high protection in everything
he buys. and | now say that | intend to
use all the power and influence / have to
.eive the farmer the benefit of free trade
with Canada in the chief things tnat he
must buy, AT the same time and i'm the
same instrument that imposes upon him
free trade in the things he produces for
sale