Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-03-27
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THE RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT.

The question Of Canadian recipro.
city is becoming to be one OF the most
prominent topics in the state. as we'll
it may be, as it effects one of the
vital interests OF the state as we'll as
of the entire northwest.
With the higher cost of production
in this country and the higher price
o. land, it appears to be reason
able argument that if the reciprocity
agreement goes through there will be
a reduction in the price OF the pro.
ducts of the American farm and if
that is so there will be correspond
ing reduction in the price of Ameri.
can labor, as prices in this country
are pretty generally based upon what
the farmer gets for his products.
Delegates from the National
Grange, a national agricultural organ
ization. went to Washington TO inter-
view the presiden, on this important
proposed measure. but We're unable to
have the meeting arranged and in Or
der to get the matter before the
chief executive of the nation y. J..
Bachelor, Master OF the National
Grange. has written and forwarded to
the president the following Farmers
Appeal to the President:'
regret that on the occasion of the
recent visit OF some forty representa-
tives of the Grange to Washington,
for the purpose Of protesting to the
senate committee on finance against
the enactment of the pending Canad-
ian Reciprocity bill ii was not found
convenient to arrange for an inter-
view with YOU. a, which the objec-
tions of the farmers of the country
to this measure could have been sub
mitted to you personally. l wish now
to present for your consideration a
brief statement OF the essential facts
on which the agricultural interests
base their opposition to the proposed
reciprocity arrangement.
The declaration of principal of the
Republican party as laid down in the
national platform adopted in 1908,
promised the maintenance of a pro-
hoe ho
between costs Of production in this
country and in foreign countries. This
pledge constituted contract between
the Republican party and the people,
and because OF this contract. a major.
ity of the farmers joined in electing a
Republican administration.
1t was clearly established by facts
submitted to the senate committee
on finance that the cost of producing
the staple farm products which are to
be admitted free OF duty under the
pending bill. is materially higher in
this country than in Canada. Can
adam farm lands are much cheaper
than ours; wages of Canadian farm
labor are lower: the cost of living is
lower in Canada. owing to that coun-
try's lower tariff taxes on manufac-
tured articles: and the farmers of
this country are compelled to pay
out annually immense amounts for
fertilizers. which. owing to their great
areas OF virgin soil. are not required
by the Canadian farmers. For ali
these reasons. the average cost CT pro-
duction on the farms OF the United
Itates is unquestiouably higher than
on Canadian farms. 1t is therefore.
self-evident that adherence TO the
platform of the Republican party re-
quires the imposition of duties on
.anadian farm products equal to the
difference between the cost of produc-
ing them. and of producing similar
articles in this country.
Having thus shown by applying the
principle laid down in the Republi-
can platform the right of the great
agricultural industry to protection
against the competition of CANADIAN
farm products. no further arsunen: