The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-20
DoREMUs TALKS
FOR RECIPROCITY
CONTINUED from page -

lis laDOT, anu Win iiSt NiHNN "a y
Dor. we feel that We have right TO
insist upon free trade in the products
OF labor. | wish TO advert 20 the
statements made by enemies OF red-
procity on the Canadian side that THIS
Measure is merely the fore-runner OF
annexation. II there is any sentiment
in this country in favor OF annexation
with Canada, il ought 10 be found IN
Detroit. But II cannot be discovered
there because IL does not exist. This
talk of annexation is inspired merely
for the most part OF frightening the
people of Canada and defeating tie
purpose OF the proposed reciprocal
agreement.
Much has been said upon this floor
OF disaster that will oyertake the
farmers if this measure becomes a
law. Much has been said OF the evil
effects OF opening our markets 10
Canadian wheat. as the opponents CT
this measure tell us. To my mind
these fears are unfounded.
! Surplus Must Find Market.
II have always believed and be-
| lieve now, that when country pro-
duces more of a given commodity
than il can consume. the surplus must
| find a market abroad, and the price
abroad will regulate the price at
home. II this be true, IL matters not
so far OF the affect upon our market
lis concerned, whether Canadian
wheat is grown upon cheap land or
dear land In many counties or
Michigan you may find farms valued
at fifty dollars per acre and farms
valued at one hundred dollars per
acre. The wheat grown upon each
OF these farms is hauled TO the sane
market and sold at the same place.
The distinguished gentleman from
Michigan, Mr. Hamilton, eontended
that the tariff on wheat ruined the
price.
IF the gentleman is correct. when
he says the tariff upon wheat raises
the price. 1t may be pertinent to in
quire who does the contributing-the
Canadian producer of wheat, or the
| American consumer OF bread? NoEe
of the opponents of this measure are
right and If the tariff does actually
raise the price of wheat 1t ought not
TO be imposed A high price for
wheat means a high price for foui
Il
price for bread; and, Mr.. Chairman,
a tax on bread is crime against hu-
manity
while the ratification OF this
agreement will not, and cannot lower
the price of wheat, II will, in my
judgment have tendency to reduce
the cost Of living, and especially In
the towns and cities adjacent to tee
lCanadian border. certainly hope SO.
At certain seasons of the year, and
when the market conditions are fay-
| orable. we ought to be able to get
more butter, more eggs, more pota-
toes, more poultry, more vegetables.
! In the consideration OF this question
we ought to look conditions squarely
lin the face.
-eThis measure would benefit the
American farmer by enlarging the
market for many OF his products.
Canada Is not, and never will be a
great fruit producing country For
the year ending March 81, 1910, we
sold to Canada, $4,000 barrels OF az
pies against tariff OF 40 cents per
barrel We sold her peaches TO the
amount OF 4,797 900 pounds against o
tariff of one dollar per one hundred
pounds. We sold her ounces, april
cots and pears TO the amount OF L.
941, 900 pounds against a tariff of so
cents per one hundred pounds. We
sold her cherries to the amount OF
318,6S0 pounds against a tariff OF two
cents per pound. We sold her clover
and timothy seed to the amount OF
$74S,742 against a tariff OF ten per
"a hn ri
against these and other products re-
moved we would be able to sell Can
ada much more.
Challenges Fordney's Judgment.
Mr.. Fordney, whose judgment !
would be willing TO accept on almost
any question except the tariff, is
much worried over the fate that will
befall the hay producers of this coun'
| try In the event this reciprocity
agreement is ratified. He fears the
| Canadians will be able to food our
markets with cheap hay. In this con-
nection | wish to direct attention to
the fact that progressive American
farmers today are not raising hay for
the market, but are feeding 1t TO their
stock, and thus putting IL back upon
| lllG htg haNt W ~
perience that he can make more
money by this process than by selling
| his hay.
"MT. Chairman, if this measure will
increase the nations supply OF food
| 1t ought to be passed without delay.
The millions who reside in our large
cities are entitled TO some relief from
existing conditions. They are at the
mercy of the great trusts that stifie
competition and fix the price of near
ly every item of human necessity.
They buy their cotton goods at tue
price fixed by the cotton goods
trust wooden goods at the price fixed
by the wooden goods trust; hosiery at
the prices fixed by the hosiery trust:
products OF iron and steel at prices
fixed by the iron and steel trust; rub
Der goods at prices fixed by the rub
Der trust; meat at prices fixed by the
me3t trust They work for wages
fixed by the law of supply and dc
mand and buy the plalnest necessI.
ties OF life in a restricted market
controlled TO large extent by these
great combinations. Rapidly advanc-
ing prices have so decreased the pur.
chasing power OF a dollar during re-
cent years that the struggle for exist
ence has become a particularly hard
one.
: II believe the days OF high protec-