Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-07-27

With Canada-He Considers IL as
Discriminating Against the Farmer.
Query.-Is the grange position on Cana
dian reciprocity right or wrong? II right.
how shall we reconcile the position taken
by Secretary Wilson, who is at the head
of the department of agriculture and sup
posed to have the interests Of all farmer
In mind. with the position taken by the
national grange, Endorsed by most OF the
state oranges?
Answer by State Secretary Giles.
"Is the grange position on Canadian
reciprocity right or wrOng?'
1t is right.
"If right. how shall we reconcile the
position taken by Secretary wilson,
1t is irreconcilable, because, accord.
ing to Secretary Wilson's report in dis
cussing the high cost OF living, he says
that it is not because of ike high
prices paid to farmers, as the farmer
sumer's dollar. This being the case, it
is illogical TO cut another slice off the
farmers dollar and not provide that
that reduction he carried TO the CON
sumer, because making wheat free
must reduce the price paid the farmer,
but retaining duty upon -four must
preserve the present price TO the con-
sumner. The same condition prevails
through all the schedule as Ii Is now
presented; hence the grange position is
right because it Is aimed to retain the
little protection the farmer now en-
joys until such time as its removal
may be so complete as to be Of adj
vantage to the consuming public, which
the present treaty wholly fails to 90 or
even promises to do.
The grange position is right because
If the treaty is ratified as it now
some benefits from the Canadian agree
ment he would be shut out absolutely
as he could not hope for better treat
ment on general revision.
Two great schools of thought have
contended over the tariff schedules Of
this country-protection for the bust
ness interests and free commercial re
lations with all nations. These prn-
ciples we are not now discussing, but
Canadian reciprocity as now pending
belongs to neither. 1t is miserable
apology by protectionists that their
theory in the past has been wrong
and they must make determinations
10 40 70 g., . T.,
trade. as it makes free the finished
products Of one class and retains pro-
lection on all other classes The free
trader who stands for this treaty be-
lies his position and shows that he ia
not honest in his contentious.
The farmer has tolerated the unjust
discrimination against his business be-
cause of his honest belief that the
whole country was benefited. not for
moment conceding that his business
was proportionally protected by the
present schedule Of tariff rates on az
ricultural products. But when II comes
to strike that protection off from the
only nation that does or can to any
appreciable extent compete with him
he revolts.
The grange position is right because
It does not teach the assassin's meth
cd of n stab in the back to redress q
wrong, fancied or real, after it has
been committed, but. rather. It be
lieves in a fair fight. with ample
warning as 70 results, that it will
not tolerate this awful injustice. This
treaty strikes Il blow NJ the great ag
ricultural interests Of America, and in
the arguments in Canada it Is only
made tolerant 10y the fact that Cana
da is a great agricultural nation, and
this movement is intended to give the
Canadian farmer the full benefits OF
American markets and American pros
perity. The American farmer will re-
tIrn that blow when opportunity pre-
sents itself. That statesman will rue
the day when by his vote he shall
have alienated the respect and the
confidence of the American farmer by
this unwise. unfair and grossly dis
eliminating treaty.
The argument that American farms
viii soon he unable 20 feed the rapidly
increasing population is absolutely fall
laciOus, for American agriculture is
concededly far short of her possible
production, according TO Secretary VIII
sons report of abandoned farms and
farms inadcquately TILED. Should it
not rather be the true American policy
10 encourage ard build up her agri-
culture rather than TO tear down and
discourage the same? This the grange
stands for and will ever continue to
do. This is why the grange contends
with all its might against measure
that Is intended To demean. to cheaper
and belittle American agriculture.
w. y. GILES.
Skaneateles. n. Y.