New-York tribune., 1911-01-31
GROWING ~ FAVOR.

The favor with which the Canadian
reciprocity agreement is being received
indicates that many of the statesmen
who have been objectinG Ia it nave
failed To read Alright the sentiment or
their constituencies. II is natural thaI
i'm states along the northern boundary
lines some opposition should he mani
Tested Ia trade arrangement with Can
ada which would change existing condl-
tionS hy removing tariff duties thought
10 have. at least locally, a genuine pro-
tective value. Local protests were 10
be expected and the representatives III
Congress of the border states were po-
liticaly prudent in assuming Judicial
iC not a critical. attitude toward the
agreement But Senators and Repre-
SentativeS from other states who nave
been disposed to urge that free eX-
change in fOodStuffs between the United
States and Canada would menace agri-
culture i'm the country at large or preJu-
dice the principle Of protection. ration
ally applied have apparently mlsjudged
home opinion.
Thus Senator George I. Oliver. repre-
senting the strongest protectionlst state
i'm the Union. attacked the Canadian
reciprocity plan the other day In a
speech at Pittsburg. OH the ground that
although il would benefit "manufactur-
crs. merchants and industrial laborers
II would deprive the farming interest OF
protection 10 which ii was entitled.
Mr.. Oliver could hardly have had the
farming interest of his own state in
mind. for il can he affected only re-
motely If ar all. by the exchanges con
templated under the reciprocity agree
ment. He must have been considering the
farming interest in the border states when
he argued that rather than disturb an
artificial condition created here ana
there along our northern boundary the
nation should forego the benefits result
ing from reciprocity 10 manufacturers.
merchants and industrial laborers in all
other parts Of the Union.
II is not surprising to find good rea-
son for believing that Mr.. divers view
il not generally shared by the people OF
PENNSYLVANIA THE Philadelphia Press.
one of the strongest protectionist news
papers in the United States, published in
city devoted to the protective principle,
expresses an exactly contrary opinion.
1t said on Friday last:
A reciprocity agreement of this char
acter throws wide the gates of trade for
! both countries IT should be accepted by
| the Senate and the House without de-
| lay. The day has gone by for restric-
| tions 10 trade on this continent where
reciprocity brings mutual advantage
| without the surrender of the principle
of protection by either country involved.
Pennsylvania itself gains a new market
| for its products Of tin. coal. cement and
manufactures OF iron and steel and
| cheaper food for its people President
| 1aft's reciprocity agreement with Can
| ada should command every Pennsyl-
vania vote i'm Congress and the Repub-
| licatiOn majority of the Senate and
| House.
! 1t has been hastily assumed that
/ the agricultural states Of the West would
align themselves against the agreement
! en- the ground that ii sacrificed agri-
[
! lican insurgents. it has been intimated.
] after Criticising the President for sign
/ ing a tariff bill which i'm their judgment
1 did not reduce duties sufficiently, would
! turn about face and attack him for be-
/ ing now too ready TO reduce duties in
which they were especially interested.
| But that presumption seems TO have
\ been premature. Kansas is typical
agricultural state, and Is also "insur-
gent" But 10 judge from the comment
Of THE Topeka Capital on the Cana
| dian agreement. Kansas is not going TO
| oppose reciprocity because of its sup
posed threat to the farming interest.
The Capital" said last Saturday:
As the opening wedge to more liberal
general trade relations the administra-
tion has honored itself by it's persistent
efforts resulting i'm this agreement now
subject 70 the action of Congress. II
that action is favorable. the Taft admin
istration i'm establishing reciprocity with
Canada will have performed an act of
farsighted craftsmanship and an achieve
ment of policy which will be historic
The reciprocity agreement is attract
ing widespread support because il is
truly national in purpose and aims at
results beneficial TO the whole country.
PRINCE ARTHUR ~ CAN4DI