The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-09
THE INSURGENT ATTITUDE
ON THE RECIPROCITY PACT

Washington, d. c., Sept. oval
ter L. Houser, former secretary OF
state of Wisconsin, who is in charge
Of the insurgent headquarters here,
which he calls progressive republican
headquarters. will be greatly disap-
pointed If the Canadian people fail to
adopt the reciprocity agreement. Mr..
Houser is keeping his foot on thu soft
pedal with respect to his views on
this subject, but he is known TO be
concerned over the possible defeat of
the agreement.
The reason is not far to seek. Mr..
Houser and his insurgent colleagues
are making their campaign for the
control of the republican national con-
vention next year largely on the re-
ciprocity issue, expecting 10 corral the
farmer votes In this way. President
Taft's veto of the wooden, free list
and cotton bills are being played UP,
but only incidentally. So far am the
farmers are concerned, the insurgents
hope to capture their support on the
ground that reciprocity would work
them great injury.
Therefore. IL the Canadians turn
down the reciprocity agreement, the
chief issue OF the insurgents will be
utterly destroyed. OF course, they will
keep hammering away, contending that
President Taft did all he could to
make reciprocity an actually, and
that. SO far as he Is concerned, the
injury is as real as If reciprocity were
the law Of the two countries At the
same time, they realize that their ar
guments would be UNNECESSARILY
weakened by the failure Of the Cana
dams to adopt the agreement.
The insurgents long have severely
criticised the regular republicans for
their alleged inconsistencies. Yet, In
the present political situation we find
the insurgents hoping and praying for
the adoption Of the reciprocity agree
ment which they so bitterly fought In
both houses of congress. II 1t was
such a terrible thing for the Amer1-
can farmer while under consideration
Ia the house and senate naturally 1t
is still a pretty bad instrument and
one which the righteous insurgents
should spurn instead of embrace
But the conditions are different now.
While the reciprocity agreement was
pending in congress the insurgents APP
parently thought they could advance
their political status sufficiently by
bitterly denouncing II and voting
against 1t. This was true of practi-
cally all OF the insurgent leaders Some
OF the rank and file supported the
bill, but for the most part they lived
In districts remote from the Canadian
border. The insurgent leaders have
lately come to realize that their cause
Is not nearly strong enough TO war
rant an attempt on their part to head
off the re- nomination OF President
Taft BY the ordinary rules OF the
game, 80 they are secretly praying
that the Canadians win adopt reeipro-
city and practically strengthen their
hands. They are after results po-
litically now and a mere matter of
consistency viii not be permitted to
stand In their way.
The insurgent leaders have their
eyes on North Dakota and expect great
things from the state at the presiden-
tial primaries next March. In fact.
they are claiming that their delegates
to the national convention. instructed
for Senator La Toilette. will win In q
walk. Some Of them 20 so far as to
say that the vote viii be 10 to / In
their favor. This IL q rather pregunp~
tuous claim. but that Ii another thing
that does not seem to bother the iEl-
eurgents very much.
VII contrast with - inaurgent atti-