Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-19
Editorial Comment
The Farmers Champion.

| tioftiand Press
| 1n' congressional Record hrln&' the
| leNt ol Hon, Asher G. Kinds Speech o'i
| tn" reciprocity question. II is great
! speech. one of the ablest that viii be
| matte on that side. Ii is no wonder that
at the conclusion. IS reported. the mem,
| bers on the Republican sde crowded
| about Mr. Kinds to extend c"nsratula-
| tions ON his maiden effort IN the House.
That he should have taken the ground
| he has taken is surprise to his con-
stituents, They knew how he stood upon
of the campaign in this district last year
and IL was thoroughly debated on the
stump Mr. Kinds opponent Advocated
treaI nf fIsssaIprSGty Isa and dSfS4a'a ,nt
| ting that there could be no logical objcc-
ton to fair reciprocity, objected to the
trade arrangement made by that treaty
as one-sided and unfair, with the advan-
tage mainly on the side of Canada. So
presented, the case was submitted to the
people, and the people elected Mr. Kinds
Now in his capacity as legislator h"
finds another reciprocity proposition
awaiting the action of Congress In his
judgment this also is unfair and would
work injury to the industries Of Main
and particularly to the farming industry.
Ii therefore he would be true ia his con-
victions he needs must oppose this, and
he has done so.
His constituents as We have said
have thus no reason to he surprised at
Mr.. Hind position, any more than at his
ability in maintaining that position. fer
tiieN dft acquainted WIFI HIS IItiltl anu
moral qualities and know that he is well
grounded in and tenacious of general
principles. They must know that he is
a deep student of public questions and
that he has made particular study of the
question of trade relations with Canada
They should admire the candid courage
with which he pursues his thinking to the
logical results at whatever cost even at
the cost of possibly breaking With the
head of the party and being misunder-
stood Even though some of them may
not agree with him. they should he proud
to be represented by a man of such CALI
hre. The first Maine District has had the
good fortune for many years tn be rep
resented by such men--men who were
more than mere politicians, opportunists
and tme-scrVerS. hut who had states
manlike view and grasp Of things. Ther.
was Thomas b. Reed He was inclined To
take original and independent views on
public questions. He did not always
agree with his electors. This was espee-
Tally SO on the issues growing out of the
10 maintain opinions which We're then un-
popular but the wisdom of which time
has since vindieated in no littln measure.
He did not thereby lose the respect of
his retirement from public life. Mr..
Kinds is q man of similar stamp He is
not whitfield about with every yeerins of
the popular breeze. but having once
formed matured opinions, he is ready to
sacrifice almost anything hut intellec-
tual integrity The same careful, con-
study which he made of the precedents
of Congress and the fruit of which is a
monumental work, he Sc ms to have put
into Investigation of the reciprocity
question and though all may not agree
with him in his conclusiunS-and many
do not-all ought to credit him with
candor. consistency and patriotic motives.
Then. too he may be right, after all.
Who can tell. The country has had no
actual experience except with the treaty
of 1854, and that was long time ago. 1t
is now much of a matter of opinion. and
there is evidently a wide division of
opinion and division that cuts athwart
party lines.