Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-11-23
FARMERS AND RECIPROCITY
Much Speculation as to What VIII
Be the Political Effect Of Meas
ure's Defeat.

Since the defeat of Canadian reel
procity by the negative vote Of Can.
ada itself, there has been much specu-
lation as to the political effect upon
the farmers who fought reciprocity so
hard. How far the agricultural peo-
pie are going to remember the reel
procity episode and to what degree
it will affect President Tafts chances
next fall constitutes a question TO
which the politicians are giving de-
voted study.
The Republican managers are los
ing no opportunity to assert that the
farmers will soon forget all about II
and that a year hence they will be
voting the Republican ticket the same
as ever. However this may be, there
are some present indications which
point very decidedly the other way
and which afford scanty comfort 10
those who are trying TO believe that
the farmers are going to vote for
President Taft again, the same as il
nothing had happened. One has only
to read the agricultural press, to note
and grange meetings to realize the al
most positive certainty that the farm
er vote of the country is lost to Pres
ident Taft forever, and can never be
regained, no matter how many eX-
plantations or apologies are attempt
ed
One Of the strongest opponents OF
q
National Grange Monthly, which is
the official newspaper of the Grange,
with its more than 100000 members,
scattered over thirty states. In its
issue since the Canadian defeat this
paper has this significant editorial
analysis of the effects of the reci-
procity incident. Under the title
Just Retribution," the following is
said:
The defeat of Canadian reciprocity
is more than the mere overthrow OF
that iniquitous measure, which pro-
posed to hang a deadly milestone
around the neck of every farmer in
the land, putting him at a disadvan-
tage in every transaction in which he
farmer has been saved, but speedy
and deserved retribution also comes
TO those who had so basely betrayed
him.
1T is impossible that such an over
whelming defeat of the Taft-Laurier
deal as has been administered could
do otherwise than carry down to like
Iaro oric
The crushing overthrow of Premier
Laurier in Canada is as significant as
il is deserved, and is one Of the right
full fruits of the whole transaction.
That a similar speedy and just retri-
button is coming on this side Of the
line is as apparent as the rising OF
the sun; and it will be as abundantly
deserved as the defeat of Laurier.
The people of the United States have
their eyes wide open and there is no
question of the result.
Suffice il to close the incident by
quoting a paragraph from this page
one month ago, when the fate Of reci-
procity was still in doubt; for it de-
scribes today's situation beyond the
peradventure of question: If the re-
suit of the Canadian elections should
be the defeat of the trade agreement
which Taft and Laurier negotiated in
recent councils, against the best judg-
ment of the most intelligent states
men in both countries, it will afford
the most humiliating spectacle in
which any American president has
ever been placed, after the outrageous
methods that forced the ratification
of the treaty in this country"