The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1911-07-05
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COMMUNICATIONS.
Reciprocity Rank Injustice.
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Reciprocity Rank Injustice.
p If the reciprocity bill as it is now
before the Senate should be passed
and become a law it would be the
most rank, and unjust piece of leg
islation ever put into effect, against
the farmers of the United States.
1t will mean the settling up of
the entire portion of Northwestern
Canada, to the detriment of the
States. AS soon as the farmers that
are now working high priced land,
find that the duty is removed from
the farm products, they will flock
to the lands in Northwestern Can
ada, where they can get from orc-
half to three-quarters of a section
of land practically free; and ready
for the plow, and great deal more
productive than the high priced land
they are now working.
Our last census shows a great fal-
ling off in population in some of the
farming districts of Illinois, Iowa,
Nebraska, South Dakota and Minne-
sofa, and to what reason can we at
tribute this, except the great move
ment of our farmers to the greatly
advertised Canadian Northwest,
where the poor man can go and get
a home ready to begin farming; the
most productive soil practically free,
and reap a bountiful harvest the
first year.
And now President Taft would
have us remove the duty on the very
products that they raise, to compete
with the farmers of the States, where
the land is getting so valuable that
it is almost impossible to make a
small rate of interest on the amount
of money invested in the land. Yet,
he tells us, that it is to the great
benefit of all that we have recipro-
city with Canada.
We also hear Mr.. J. ]. Hill (the
great railway magnet), say, that re-
ciprocity with Canada is just the
thing we need. But why? Here
are some of the reasons. The bill
asks that we admit lumber in the
rough free, but when it is manu-
factured into the finished material.
we must pay a duty on it; thus pro-
tecting the manufacturer and max
ing the farmer pay the bill, as the
great per cent Of the lumber he uses
is the finished product. While on
the other hand, the greater per cent
of the lumber used in the construc-
ton of railroads is heavy timbers
and rough lumber.
Also in the matter of the farm pro-
ducts. We see the Hill interests ex-
tending their branch roads all
through the Canadian wheat belt so
they will get the hauling of the Can
adian grain to our terminals. which
means tremendous increase in bus
mess for his interest or roads.
Is it any wonder then that he
should try to make the people be-
lieve that we should have reciprocity
with Canada?
We read in many of his speeches,
the great need of influencing the
people to go back to the farm (this
being one of his pet hobbies), but
he would have you go so far back
that he will get from twenty-five to
fifty per cent of all your grain for
hauling it to the market.
We also find the press, all over
the States urging reciprocity, and
why? @.-.
This is easily explained when we
stop to consider that they will be
able to buy their print paper for
about twenty-five per cent less than
at present. There are great many
other things along the same line that
could be cited if we wished to 70
into the details of different matters.
do not blame the people, how
ever, for crying for the things that
they are most interested in. This is
the reason the farmers are making
such protests against the passage of
the reciprocity bill, for he is the one
that will be injured most If it should
go into effect.
read of one man making the
statement few days ago, that he