The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-10
IS GOOD FOR ALL.
President Taft Defends the Can
adian Reciprocity Agreement.
In an Address at the National
Corn Exposition.
A CHANGE OF POLICY.
Was Made Necessary by Combi-
nations in Trade.
Discusses the Effect on Corn
and Wheat Prices.

u, req 1Ul-lTdFolInR III
a special car, PRESIDENT Taft arrived
here at LAB this afternoon to deliver
his address on the Canadian reci-
procity treaty at the National Corn ex-
position. He was escorted through the
city by troop B, Ohio national quart,
and a provisional cavalry detachment
made up of officers OF the Second bril-
gade.
This evening he will be the guest at
a banquet given in his honor by the
corn show officials and the faculty Ct
the Ohio state university and later
will attend the Lincoln ball of the
Buckeye Republican club.
Reciprocity with Canada will bene-
fit the entire United States, farmer
manufacturer, railroad company, mid
die man and warehouse man" This
was the declaration made by the presi-
dent in an address at the National
Corn exposition. "All will be the gain
err he said.
While the speech was devoted espe-
cially to showing that the farmer had
nothing to fear, but much to gain, he
attempted to prove also that all the
other interests of the country would be
benefited by the proposed reciprocity.
I'VE have with pioneer energy push
ed on to the Pacific the president
said, "and taken up all the good land.
We are now spending millions to re
claim the arid and semiarid lands of
tie great west desert. Should we not
by taking down a useless and unneceS-
sary tariff wall, bring within cur agrl-
cultural resources the great plains of
the northwest when they. can bring to
US what we need and that without
hurting any of our own people,
The president expressed the opinion
that in addressing a corn exposition
audience it would be particularly APP
prOpriate for him to answer the criti-
cism which had been made of the
agreement, 'as an attack upon the
farmer by depriving him of protec-
tion.''
''It is said to be a, manufacturers
agreement he continued, ..that is in
the interest of the manufacturing
classes and adverse to the farmer.
Protection Policy Modified.
II am Republican and the Repub-
lican party has always advocated and
pursued a policy of protection to
For a long time the policy had little or
no limitation. 1t was thorght that tar
ifs on protected products could not be
too high, that if all foreign products
were excluded, competition would
stimulate production and reduce its
cost and its price.
'sThe temptation to- destroy compe-
tition by combinations became so
great, however, that the party in its
platform modified its policy and i'm
posed the limitation that the tariff
should be limited for purposes of pro-
lection to the difference between the
cost of production in this country and
the cost of production abroad, with an
allowance for reasonable profit to the
American producer.
The principle of production thus
stated takes away the Justification for
any tariff whatever by way of protec-
ton on articles imported from a coun-
try where the conditions as to labor
and other circumstances are the same
as in ours and thus makes the cost of
production substantially the same
Canada is our neighbor on the
north for three thousand miles. Her
population is English Scotch and
French. Her soil is like ours Her
traditions are the same as ours. Her
language is ours. Her climate is tenn
perate like ours, except that her grow
ing seasons are shorter and she can
not raise corn in any great quantities.
She has a free popular government
with a wage earning class as intelli-
gent and as well paid as ours. 1t is
difficult to see in what respect her
farmers have any advantage over our
own except virgin soil in the far
northwest
''How is the farmer to be hurt ?'' he
asked.
Effect OH Prices.
He then took up the effect it would
have on corn and wheat prices, on the
value of farm lands in this country
and on the milling industry in this
country.
He declared that lin respect to corn.
the American farmer is king and will
remain SO, reciprocity or no recipro-
city"
Taking up first the effect of the
agreement on corn, he said:
1.-The total production of corn in the
United States in 1910 was 3,125, 49,
600 bushels, of which We exported
44,072,209 bushels and used the rest
in domestic consumption, chiefly in
raising cattle and hogs, of which in
live cattle and packing house products
we exported in value $135, 9S5,212.
The Canadian product of corn was
18,726, 900 bushels, or six-tenths of
one per cent of the total production of
the United States. We exported g.
100000 bushels to Canada.
Certainly in respect of corn the
American farmer is king and will re-
main so. reciprocity or no recipro-
city. Indeed, the change will greatly
help him by increasing his supply of
young and thin cattle. now very scarce
for feeding with his corn and making
good beef.
But it is said that the farm land in
Ohio, indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wiseon-
sin and other states is much more val
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