New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-12
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
Arguments for Reciprocity Be.
fore Illinois Legislature.

Springfield H., Feb. u.-President Taft
defended the reciprocity agreement with
Canada in an address before the Illinois
Legislature here to-day as the logical con-
clusion OF the protection plank in the last
Republican national platform He defined
the theory Of protection as one that should
impose a tariff not exceeding the difference
in the cost of production in this country
and abroad and allowing a fair margin of
profit for the home producer. He said that
as the conditions OF production in the
United States and Canada were substan-
TALLY the same, the widest latitude was
given Secretary Knox and the commission
ers who represented the United States in
Offering TO Canada reduction OF duties
on goods and products coming into this
country from Canada in consideration OF
the establishment OF the same duty. or
freedom from duty. on similar goods going
into Canada"
The President explained that It was
thought wiser by both governments not to
make a formal treaty, but to make an
agreement between the executives by which
each. exercising his constitutional power
in his government, should submit the
agreement In the form OF statute to be
that similar statute was passed by the
legislature Of the other country" He said
In part:
This form Of agreement between the two
countries makes 1t one from which either
country can withdraw at will by simply
changing the statute by new legislation
But II the identical statute is adopted In
both countries, as long as 1t remains un-
samended In either. the agreement Is In
force. ellSsss1AA
Believes in Protection.
| am a protectionist That is, I believe
that there certain Industries In this
country which need the encouraging eject
Of tariff upon imports from foreign coun-
tries to enable them to pay good wages
and furnish a reasonable profit to those
who engage In them. The difference IN
condition which generally makes this tariff
foreign country as compared with the price
Of labor in our own. The country has
been on a protection basis nearly all the
time since 1861, and the tremendous strides
in industrial progress which II has made
seem to me TO vindicate the wisdom OF 'he
policy. -,
There was time when leading Repub-
licans thought that there was no danger
of having a tariff higher than necessary
to protect any industry. II was thought
that IL the country was made dependent on
manufactures behind the tarin wall, the
would stimulate the reduction In the cost
OF production and thus reduce the price.
But the temptation to e1moine me- py n wn tSn
excessive tariff taken advantage or. LED 10
a modification of the protection theory and
TO a declaration that the projection or any
industry ought not 10 exceed IN the tarin
imposed more than the difference between
the cost of production abroad. the cost or
production here and enough to give fair
profit to the domestic producer or manu-
facturer.
Conditions Hero and in Canada Similar.
This limitation of the protection theory
necessarily took away any grounds Tor
tariff between this country and any coun-
try in which the conditions Of production
were substantially the sameS The condi-
tions of production and Of manufacture In
tho United States and in Canada are SUB
stantially the same. Wages may differ In
as wages differ In different states in this
country but, taken by and large. the
character Of the laborers. their intelligence
per unit OF work. are not substantially less
in Canada than they are in this country.
In other words, the plank In the plat
form OF the last Republican convention,
carried to it's logical conclusion. would lead
TO substantial free trade with Canada.
with that in view. still adhering Loyalty
and sincerely TO the principles OF protec-
important industries. I did not hesitate to
give the widest latitude TO the Secretary
81 State and the commissioners who rep
resented this country In Offering TO Canada
a reduction OF duties on goods and prod
ucts coming into this country from Canada
In consideration OF the establishment or the
same duty. or freedom from duty, on SINH
lar goods going into Canada. ! say this
for the purpose OF having II understood
that in many cases where the agreement
has been criticised for not making greater
reductions we could not secure them. be-
cause, in the judgment OF our Canadian
friends the trade or industry which they
desired 70 foster would suffer by greater
reduction Thus, with respect 10 meats,
we would have been glad TO put them on
the free list. Canada objected. and we OBJ
tained the best figures We could.
A reciprocity agreement is give and take.