The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-02-16
KNOX TALKS ON
RIEC|PR OCIIY.
Defends Canadian Pact in
Speech at Chicago.
7 BIG BENEFITS 81: +

Says Agreement Will Have Effect Of
Reducing the Cost of Living to a
Large Number of Our People and
Takes Issue With Those Who Charge
That the Farmers Will Be In.
jurious|y Affected.
Chicago, Feb. 16.-Secretary of State
Knox and James J. Hill were the prin-
cipal speakers at last nights banquet
Of the Chicago Association Of Com.
snerce. Secretary Knox spoke on
Reciprocity With Canada" He dis
cussed our trade relations with Cana
da during the past half century, declar-
ing that restrictions and discrimina-
tons have continually disturbed the
natural course Of trade. Coming down
to the pending agreement he said:
THE aim and purpose of the agree:
ment which has been negotiated is to
promote better trade relations and to
cement and strengthen friendly inter-
course between neighboring nations.
THE scope of the agreement is broad
In principle and comprehensive in de-
tail. Recognizing the condition which
exists in our own country and without
undertaking to define the causes which
have led to the increased cost of liv.
ing, it seeks to give our millions of
wage-earnlng consumers the benefit of
drawing upon the surplus food sup
plies nearest at hand. It seeks, by
providing for the freest possible inter.
change OF commodities across a 30
Atlcal boundary, which, when it comes
to production and commerce, is an arti-
nclal' boundary, to prevent those ma
n1pulatlons and those speculative
fluctuations in price which are harm.
full both to the producer and to the
consumer. 1t 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 of increas-
ing the cost to the consumer by arti-
fetal scarcity. .-,
-..- First Object Of Agreement.
1T is evident that contiguous coun-
tries occupying the relation of the
United States and Canada, in the in
terest alike of producers and con-
sumers, should first provide for the
freest possible interchange of prod
ucts OF widespread consumption by
the masses and also articles of animal
consumption. This naturally includes
wheat and the other cereals, live food
animals, fish, fruits, dairy products,
and vegetables. All this is done in
the reciprocity agreement.
Next, with the purpose of cheat.
ening food supplies, it follows that
the raw products having been made
Tree, secondary food products should
have the duties materially lowered.
This also is provided for in the agree
ment, since heavy reductions are
made in the duties on flour, meats, of
all kinds, canned meats and vegeta-
Dies, various cereal preparations, and
that large class of articles of common
consumption which usually are desig-
mated as foodstuffs partly manufac-
tured.
while a reciprocity agreement linn
tied to natural products would be
beneficial. nevertheless in order that
such an agreement should be really
comprehensive the terms should in.
clude. manufactured commodities also.
This, too, is done. Rates are mutu.
ally reduced on a large variety of
manufactures. The list would have
been even larger had the Dominion
reached the stage of Industrial devel-
opment in which she felt that she
could include 4 greater number of
articles.
A.. Farmers Will Be Benefited.
1T happens that in the sections