Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-05-04
PRESIDENT TAFT
Thanked HOUSE
Passing Of Reciprocity Bill Was
Commended.
DID NOT PLAY POLITICS
He Tells Why He Thinks the Farmer
VIII Not Be Adversely
Affected by the
Agreement.

New York, April 28.-President Taft
openly thanked the Democratic house
Of Representatives for the stand 1t has
taken on the question Of Canadian re-
ciprocity when he spoke at the annual
banquet Of the Associated Press at the
Waldorf Astoria.
"All this talk about annexation 10
bosh," he said, raising his voice to u
highest pitch. And we ought to make
It one Of the Jokes Of the platform
/ desire to express my high apprecia
ton Of the manner in which the pres
emit house has treated the reciprocity
agreement. 1t has not played politics.
1t has taken the statesmanlike course
in regard to 1t. am very hopeful
that the senate will treat the agree
ment in the same way"
Hon. William B. Northrup, kings
counsel and member OF the Canadian
parliament, and Mexican Ambassador
De Zamacona listened with intense
interest to every word the president
had to say. They were the principal
guests outside of Mr.. Taft.
Now 10 the Time.
The president said the time is now
ripe for q real trade agreement be-
tween Canada and the United States
and unless something Is done the
chance will be gone forever. He point
ed out that already the enemies Of re
ciprocity are doing all they can to
prevent its adoption.
He also said that the proposed
agreement is not liked by some be-
cause they say the farmers are NOT
well cared for in that meats and -four
are left out Of the agreement. The
truth is, he said, that this country Of
fered to put all commodities Of both
countries on the free list but the Ca
madam commissioners would not &C
cept among other things meat and
-four for the reason that they felt the
American raisers Of meats and -four
would be able to undersell the Cana
dian Producers in Canada. This, he
argued, shows clearly that since Amer
leans could undersell canadians In
Canada, Canadians would not be able
to affect the American market in such
way to reduce the price for Ameri.
can consumers. Consequently, he
pointed out, there was no reason why
Americans should want such items on
the free trade list
Must Watch Other Contracts.
Mr.. Taft objected vigorously to the
proposition that is being made to
gratuitously put these items on the
list and says If we are not careful
we might, under the favored nations
clause in many of our international
agreements, find ourselves making
free trade with the entire world IL we
put them in the Canadian treaty.
II am quite aware that for one mo-
tive and another great deal Of eff
fort and money had been spent In
sending circulars to farmers to con-
vince them that this Canadian treaty,
If adopted, win do them injury.
1T may be that the Canadian con,
tract does not go far enough, In max
ing 1t we we're limited by the reluc
lance Of Canada to go as far as we
would wish to have her to go, but the
act that it does not go far enough is
poor reason for not going as far as
We can.
eve were making a contract, we
were balancing considerations; we
were not making general tariff law
or a general tariff revision. II was no
part of our duty to reduce the tariff
generally in this contract with other
countries. If>that is to be done and
IL there is a sincere desire to have 1t
done, then It ought to be done by sep
arate legislation.