The Alaska citizen., 1911-03-13
THE INTERESTS.
contract


 To the philosophic mind all this discussion and concussion about rec iprcCity between Canada and the United States recalls that ancient and wisest apologue and moral dear to the old fashioned spelling book, If the gored OK. Stripped of all waddings and paddings of philan- throphy, public spirit, humanitarian theory. the self-interest is naked to every eye Rcformers. Insurgents, revisionists, all the solemn or pas sionate humbugs, not always cen scious. that have been strutting up and down bowling against the in terests'' now betray themselves as part of the supposed interests" '" frankly and predaciously fighting for their own hand and pocket. No body cares a rap for the consumers, if consumers there are. The public and general interest be hanged! The farming interests" the fishing in terests" and so on squeal to the startled heavens, fearing that a be nevolent but temporarily misguided government is going to skimp the swill
 Without having to believe that reciprocity is a sacred bull. like the heaven born tariff. whose eCCen- tricities are to be palliated by it; regarding reciprocity indeed with something of that polite and humOr- ous toleration which the judicious and experienced have had to bestow upon so many rainbow pots of gold revealed at Washington, can we sal ute without a grin the appearance as Robber Barons of humanity's last hope. the prop of cur institutions, the beloved, the downtrodden speed CT of the blow? From one or two learn all. This from the esteemed Congressional Record of February 9:
 "The American Society of Equity. Office of the South Dakota State
 Union.
 Milbank, s. D., Feb. 2. 1911. Hons. Robert Gamble and Coe l.
 Crawford, Washington, D. C.:
 "Gentlemen-As secretary of the South Dakota State Union of the American Society of Equity, ad- dress you in the interest of the farmers of South Dakota in regard to the reciprocity treaty arguments presented by the president.
 The farmers of the Northwest, viz. North and South Dakota and Minnesota. are truly and rightly alarmed at some of the things ad- vocated in this measure
 Especially that of putting wheat on the free list, as we see in this nothing but measure in the inter- ests Cf spectators and milling combines against the grain growers )f the United States.
 The grain growers of the West and Northwest have organized them selves for profitable prices for farm products, and the farmers for the past three years have been able 10 see the benefits derived from their organization for controlled marketing to produce profitable prices.
 The millers and spectators find that farmers do not dump all their crop or the market as formerly, re sardl.ss of demand or price. Sc that they Uhe speculators) cannot now, as formerly, claim oversupply and pound down the prices at the expense of the grower until said speculators have the crop in their hands, when, To! change. A great shortage! and prices go up with a bound. But not for the benefit of the grower, but of the speculator.
 "Speculators and millers want Canadian wheat free simply that they may load our markets and cry overproduction to lower the price at the expense of farmers of the United States.
 Gentlemen, you represent an az ricultural state, and we certainly expect you to work and vote in the interest of your constituents, and shall expect you to vote against