Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-12-15
A farmers FIGHT
Canadian Reciprocity Strongly
Opposed by the Grange.

me FARMERS 10 Not Believe They Are
Getting a Square Deal at Washing
ton-The Agricultural Press and the
Grange Are With Them In Opposing
the Treaty.
Kim countered with the old proverb "I
will change my faith and my bedding but
thou must pay for it."-From Killings
Kim"
The proposed Canadian reciprocity
treaty has aroused the American farm
ers as nothing in years has done
They boldly charge the government
with "a change in faith"-the aban-
donment in this instance of the pro-
tective principle-and into the mouth
Of President Taft they daringly put
Kim's words as in Imagination adj
dressed to themselves, "But thou must
pay for it."
ut is not a theory with our farm
ers," remarks one agricultural paper.
ut is a conditional ruinOus, a suicidal
conditiOn-that Is involved in the Civ
ing of our markets to foreign farmers,
who bear none of our financial bur
dens and have no claim upon us for
so great n gift as untariffed admission
to our markets" And another agri-
cultural journal, the Rural New York
err, states the case ms follows: 1--WE be-
lieve the farmers of this country are
ready for fair revision of the tariff
But for this attempt TO rob them they
would probably have been willing to
let their so called leaders go ahead
and revise it. Now we rejoice to say
they will do their best to halter these
leaders and tie them right up to the
rack" Strong words, these. that can
not be misinterpreted
The National Grange.
The national grange is also strenu-
ously opposed to Canadian reciproci-
ty as the treaty would have it.
Through its national legislative com
mittee the great Order of Patrons
IF Iusbandry made itself felt at
Washington at the close of the Six
ty-first congress in this matter, and
The committee has again resumed the
role of guardian of farmers interests
ut Washington. The grange from
Maine to California is discussing very
seriously this, to the farmers. very Sc
rious question, and the town. county
and state organizations are using this
relatively new subject for debate in
their grane-, meetings. and resolutions
against the treaty are in nearly every
Instance adopted
The national grange legislative com
mittec is composed of the following
members: Ex-Governor y. J. Bachel-
der Of New Hampshire. master Of the
national grange; Hon. Aaron Jones,
master OF Indiana state grange. and
Professor T. G. Atkeson, master of the
West Virginia state grange. When
these gentlemen, with forty others
from various states, first appeared lie
fore the senate committee on finance
National Master Bachelor made a
brief address, concluding with the fol-
lowing words: I'VE are here to serve
notice that the farmers are united On
this question and are determined if
duties on farm products are reduced
the duties on manufactures must fol
low. This is not threat; it is sim
pie statement of fact" Another repre-
sentative Of the committee. Hon. Aaron
Jones of Indiana, said: "As a believer
in the protective policy ! am unable
to comprehend the amazing action of
those high in authority who have been
responsible for this reciprocity scheme.
Is it possible that they believe that
q 70 xxriH IN ctth
to free trade in farm products and
high tariff on manufactures? If so l
wish to state here and now that we
have come to the parting of the ways
These opinions will serve to show
the temper of the leaders of the great
farmers Order approaching 100000
members and representing the vital In
terests of the other 100000 farmers
Of the country as well. 1t reminds us
somewhat of that other rebellion of
the yeomanry Of New England over
the question of taxation without rep
resentation" when certain boxes OF
tea were unceremoniOusly dumped into
Boston harbor as an object lesson.
Now the yeOmanry of the farms OF
not only New England, but the entire
Union, are aroused in support Of the
principle of protection for all or pro-
lection for none," and it is not diff
cult to predicate their action a little
later on If their rights are not respect
ed by the party in power. Something
besides tea will go overheard.
Should now a square deal reciprocity
treaty finally be the outcome OF the
present agitation. so that other indus
tries than farming should sustain their
respective shares of the burden which
would necessarily fall upon them from
removal of certain duties from import
ed articles and products. the grange
would feel that 1t had rendered anoth-
Or decidedly important service to the
American farmer.
]. w. BARROW.