Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-02-18
Champ CIaPk's Little Joke
Has ImpePiIed Reciprocity
THE SUSPICIOUS CANADIANS
Opponents of Treaty Eos
tering the Notion That it
is Wedge by Which Can
ada is to be Split Away
From England.

Ottawa, Ont. Feb. 1.-THE continued
talk Of annexation kept alive by the
opposition journals today. is causing
resentment in Canada and, according
to some of the leading supporters of
the government. may jeOpardize the
reciprocity measure now before par
lament.
While the liberals have accepted the
message of President Taft to Repre-
sentative Mccall as the true sentiment
of the Washington administration the
wave of feeling that has been aroused
in the dominion cannot be ignored and
it is understood that Sir Wilfrid Lau-
rier early next week will make a state
ment. which it is asserted will set at
rest forever the idea that the annexa-
ton of Canada by the United States is
possible
In some quarters the disavOwaI of
President Taft and Secretary Knox do
not carry conviction. and the opposi-
ton press is carefully fostering the idea
that they are the utterances CT adroit
and clever men, working with the III
terror motive of annexation. which
Messrs Clark and Bennett were too
frank to conceal.
The bulk OF Canadians do not know
Mr.. Clark, or Mr. Bennett, or Mr..
Knox. and they are unable TO form in
dependent judgment as to the value of
their utterances. 1t is declared by gov
eminent supporters that the govern
ment reciprocity measure is popular
throughout Canada and will produce
material results.
But the sentimental feeling over
shadows it and the suggestion from
the south that the agreement is the
first step toward depriving Canada OF
autonomy is resented. Members of the
government. according to a Well estab-
lished policy. usually refuse to be
quoted on the subject. but one of them
said tonight: The government is de-
termined to put that agreement
through speedily if it can be done. but
if We are going TO be bothered by talk
of annexation we will throw the whole
proposal overheard and go on with the
independent developments under which
we have been prospecting for twenty
years and which has given Canada
more revenue and railroad mileage per
head and more general prosperity than
any country in the world"
Another leading liberal said: while
il is recognized that annexation talk
in the United States has not reached
a stage where it can be taken seri-
Ously. the fact that il was begun by
American public men has been suffi-
cient to provide the opposition with Il
strong card against the government
"Other forces fighting reciprocity
have not been idle a nd the combined
results are bound to give the govern
ment good deal of concern.
THE Manufacturers association, one
of the strongest organizations in
Canada, although not affected by the
terms of the agreement, has taken
alarm from the idea that free trade in
agricultural products will lead to free
trade in manufactured articles, and has
movement aginst She meas
ure. This, it is said. has been followed
by a curtailment of credit by a few
Canadian banks. apprehensive of the
results of American competition"
Sir Wilfrid. it is said. on good au-
thOrity, also will serve notice on these
financial institutions that if they are
not OvercautiOus the government will
see that other banks take up the ac-
counts and the result will be only a loss
Of business by the timid ones.