The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-05
Machinery of National Grange
Is Fighting the Pro-
posed Treaty
STRONG PROTEST WILL Be
PUT BEFORE CONGRESS
Says the Treaty Is Not Fair and
Reasons Are Given Against
Its Ratification

New ork, feDruary 4.-Ine machinery
Of the National Grange, an organization
claiming membership of 1000, 600 farmers
in 80 states, has been started to defeat
the ratification by Congress of the Cana
dian reciprocity treaty. The legislative
committee of the grange, at q special
meeting here today, adopted resolution
protesting against the enactment of the
reciprocity bill, called upon the member
ship to exert pressure on congressman
from their various districts to vote
against the measure and decided to 60 70
Washington to map out campaign therA
Gov N. ]. Bachelor of Concord, chair
man of the legislative committee, declared
today the national body was composed of
1900 oranges scattered throughout the
northern half of the United States from
Maine to California. and that 1t was his
opinion the oranges would support the
committee unanimously.
Farmer Not Treated Fairly
I'VE are not opposed to a general re-
duction of the tariff" said Mr.. Atkinson
Of the committee, but we are opposed to
any arrangements which will make fish
of one industry and flesh of another
Regulate the tariff? Yes. But do 1t al1Ss>
once. and not by a reciprocity treaty with
country that exports agricultural prod
ucts almost exclusively. Remove the
tariff on steel and iron and manufactured
articles along with farm products and
we won't object But we don't think 1t
fair to compel the farmers to compete
with foreign products and allow the man.
ufacturers to derive the benefit of a high
protective tart.
Acting along these lines. we have de-
cided to oppose the enactment Of the BILL
The committee issued a statement this
afternoon which will be sent to every one
OF the 1900 oranges in the organization,
these have membership of SO to 1000
farmers each. We shall ask every mem
Der to write his representatives in Con-
sress urging him to vote against the bill
/ I think we can defeat IT In this man
ner. but we are not going to take any
| chances and the committee has decided
| TO go to washington and work for that
| end"
Letters of Protest
In its statement the committee says
| that acting in response to thousands Of
letters and kilograms urging 1t TO pro-
tect the farmers interests, the protest il
issued.
THE undersigned, representing tho
principal organization of farmers in ths
United States, earnestly protest against
the enactment of the Canadian recipro-
city bill. now pending in Congress for
the following reasons:
Il The bill provides for the admission
| free of duty OF all Canadian farm prod
ucts. Since Canada is the only country
from which any considerable quantity Of
these products can under any circum-
stances be imported, this would result in
practically free trade in everything the
farmer produces.
49, While putting farm products on the
free list the reciprocity bill makes no
material reduction in the high tariff ratios
on all the manufactured articles the
farmer buys, and therefore gives no re-
lief from the heavy burden of taxation
imposed by these duties.
49, The theory on which our protective
policy has always been defended is that
sll classes and interests are equally en-
titled to protection. The farmers, how
ever. receive much less protection than
the manufacturers, for while farm prod
ucts are taxed on the average about Is
per cent, manufactured articles are taxed
on an average of about 45 per cent.
Discrimination in Bill
"a. The enactment of the Canadian
reciprocity bill would still further dis
criminate against the farmers by abol-
ishing the comparatively slight pro-
lection now given them. while leaving
the high protective duties on manufac-
lures practically untouched.
10 dio 70 hu
of their lower general tariff and their
preferential trade arrangements, can
buy manufactured goods at lower prices
than those prevailing in this country.
The prices of farm lands In Canada
are also much lower than in the Unit
ed States These conditions give the
Canadian farmers an advantage over
us and the free admission of their
products will subject us to unfair COM
petition.
49, We hold that the farmers should
receive exactly the same measure of
protection as is given the manufac-
turers and that there must be no reduc-
tion of duties on farm products either
by reciprocity or tariff revision. un-
less the duties on all manufactured
articles are at the same time cores
pondingly reduced.
a. To show that this reciprocity
measure is not an honest effort to re-
duce the cost of living in the interest
OF the consumer. 1t is sufficient to point
out while wheat is on the free list.
-four is taxed so cents per barrel, and
that while cattle. sheep and hogs are
taxed ~ cents per pound for tho
of a fr1fcf