Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-24

Believing that many Journal l. t
ers viii be glad to read in detail Rep /
resentative Kinds address on rel
procty we offer it in fu1i from [ f.
Congressional Record. Man. who caH-
not study il now will undoubtedly pre-
serve ii fer reference. Ii is conceded
even by political opponents to be one
of the ablest addresses on tariff con-
ditions and effects ever made in the
United States Congress. Mr.. Kinds
has been appropriately characterized
as The Farmers Char1eian." Far
mers in particular will r4a.4 his words
with interest. Others VII do wen to
understsa I'D before they accept the
baselcss and selfish assertions OF those
who are fighting for the unfair and
unreasonable so-called reciprocity plan
nov tesore Colr@0 lie said:
Mr.. Chairman, can not remove from
my mind the firm conviction that the
policy proposed in this bill is NJ an
importance out = all proportion to
the scantiness OF the investigation
which has preceded II. The farmers
of this Nation are more than third
of its peopl and hatsoeyer affects
the basis of their industries 8 fleets all.
I know how ard IL is to bring the
realiza ton OF this fact home to those
who dwell in great cities. especially
to those who control stupend rus indus
trial and commercial interests. beside
which q farm of 15e acres seems an
inconside rable enterprise. Even the
great intellect OF Horace Greeley sue
cHmbed to the prevailing delusion. if
we may credit the statement of the
brilliant euloSist OF Lincoln who said
that Horace Greeley thought himself
a bigger man than Abraham Lincoln
because he lived in bigger town.
But | am convinced that If the dwell
ers in cities Will lcok below the sur
face OF this question they will see that
1t does not concern the farmer alone.
II in what am to say | shall seem to
speak Of him entirely, it is because
his industry is at the foundation pf
our prosperity. and in speaking of him
speak of all. The dwellers in cities
can not disassoeiate their interest
from that of the farmers. Diminish
the purchasing power Of the American
farmer and you diminish by so much
the prosperity OF every city and Of
every laborer, clerk, merchant, and
banker within its limits.
A hundred and twenty-five years ago,
when our fathers We're first agitating
the question OF tariff, the New York
Chamber of Commerce reminded the
opposing farmers that agriculture
could not flourish without commerce.
Today the merchant and manufacturer
may well be reminded that commerce
and manufactures are not likely to
flourish without q successful agrcul-
ture.
The question is too great and i'm
portont to he argued on anything but
bread national grounds. GrieVously as
this bill affects industries of the state
of Maine, | am not here to argue that
il affects Maine more than ii affects
every other State in the North or in
the South, IN the East or in the West.
in Maine we see more clearly because
we are nearer the conditions, but ii
the gentlemen of the Democratic Par
ty succeed ip, carrying this bill through
this HOUSE and this Congress. its ul-
innate effects on the economic and So
clal life Of this Nation must be such
that Maine will be neither the loudes,
nor the most ineonsolable in her lam.
entations.e
L do not mean to say by this that
the challenges which are ringing out
from the states bordering on Canada
are to be disregarded. When the sen
tries on the picket line begin TO chal
lenge and fire 1t behooves the Who'll,
army to take notice.
Burdens and Benefits.
The manner in which this bin dis
tributes its supposed benefits and it
undoubted hardships violates man
kinds fundamental idea of Justice ant
equity, & Sihc4 ntnes sdaWira Sf time
~ Yhroi, ~ hlItfik,fSni1eesly yaftt;xf re,ioione