Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-02-24

people OF Montreal and Winnipeg and
Vancouver buy such quantities OF
meat from the United States? II such
food stuffs were cheaper In Canada
than in Illinois, New York or Massa,
chusettes where uninformed voters at
the late election were told by dema-
gogue politicians that reciprocity In
Canadian food products would reduce
the cost of living; il Insurgent Foss
had told his factory working constit-
uents that our rural Canadian friends
that were reported so anxious to sell
us cheap meat and dairy products,
actually came into the American mar
ket and bought over 81 1900, 900 worth
of wi high priced meat-and that we
with our 80, 900, 900 consumers only
bought in the same time 1904 ,8l7
worth Of meat and dairy products
from the Canadian packers and farm.
ers-this fact would have been an eye
opener and a mouth closer for MI.
Foss and his followers.
WHAT CANADA BOUGHT OF US.
Canada also bought from the Amer
lean farmer and ranchman last year
81, 1877, 1852 worth of live animals, pay
ing their home government a custom
duty on the same, while we bought
from Canada, 81, 746 1898. Does this
indicate that horses, cattle and sheep
are cheaper in Canada than in Dakota
or Texas? We also sold VI British
friends to the north of us IS, Job, 2S6
worth Of fruit, green and preserved,
and over a million dollars worth of
vegetables, canned and picked, on
which the Canadian consumer had to
pay a heavy duty to his " govern
ment, while our purchase of fruits
and vegetables combined was only
s ,O19, 1927.
These figures are taken from the
bureau Of trade relations, department.
of state, for the fiscal year 1910. The
figures for last year are In no way ex-
ceptional as to quantities of values.
Our total trade with Canada on pure
" farm products for 1910 was, sold to
Canada, s35, 623, 635; bought from Can
ada, SIS, 95l, ss2.
The farmers In our corn states
should hesitate before condemning
the proposed reciprocity agreement
with Canada. or course a law that
would admit American farm products
into Canada free Of duty and keep a
prohibitive duty On Canadian farm
products seeking a market 10 the
United States, would look good to the
insurgent farmers of Kansas and
Iowa, but it would be a poor brand Of
reciprocity which u good Canadian
neighbors would hardly be willing to
accept.
Our trade with the Dominion Of
Canada demonstrates that the cost Of
living cannot be materially reduced
by removing the duties on farm pro-
ducts, for In "a hours after this con-
templated reciprocity treaty becomes
q law farm products in Canada will
sell at exactly the American price,
the producer and CONSUMER getting
the benefit of shortest hauls and low
est freight rates. 1t Is poor economy
for the American or Canadian con-
sumner to ship hay or coal or any
heavy commodity a thousand miles
when the same can be obtained with
In q hundred miles OF where it is
wanted; q short haul and less freight
to consumers on both sides OF the
line will also help the producer.
Americans will buy Canadian coal,
hay and flour some places, and Cana
dians will buy American coal, -four
and fruits at other places, the freight.
ost Of getting it to the consumer
governing In both cases. American
farmers need have no fear Of fair
trade with Canada. Wheat is her
only surplus food product and II the
wheat farmer can reach
tide water. at the same freight rate
the American wheat farmer, Cana
dian wheat will command the same
price on the farm as the American
wheat Of . like quality, as the surplus
wheat OF both countries Is sold In the
same market.
SELL TO CANADA TWICE WHAT WE BUY
The things which Canada Is partic.
long on are land and lumber.
Cheap and abundant and both anx-
seeking American purchasers.
Last year we sold to Canada all told
D223, sol, 800 and bought from Canada
DlO4, 199, GA; viz. we sold her twice as
much Is we bought. OF the things
purchased lumber and forest pro-
3acts are BY far the largest items,
amounting TO ga, 1880, o. twice as
much in value Is all the farm pro-
1ucts imported from Canada in the
anne time, and Is practically one
bird Of al our purchases from the
OF Canada. II this country
sas annually importing s33, 600, 600
worth of farm products from Canada
,ur farmers would have justification
q protesting against congress con-
= trade agreement that re-
moved al tariff protection against
that under present condi.
ions VA able to invade their own
IZALv ISIS - - ~ ~