Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-21
OPPOSED TO TREATY
Protest by Farmers Against
Reciprocity With Canada.
REGARDED AS ONE-SlDED
Grange Representatives Appear Be-
fore Senate Finance Committee.
SENATORS ARE INTERESTED
Witnesses Exposed to Lively Cross
Fire of Questions by Mem
bers of Committee.
REGARDED AS ONE-SIDED
SENATORS ARE INTERESTED

bers of Committee.
Farmers registered vigorous protests
against the Canadian reciprocity agree
ment in the hearing today before the
Senate committee on finance. Former
Gov n j. Bachelor of New Hampshire,
master of the National Grange, made the
opening argument and announced that II
the committee had the time to hear them
he would he followed by masters of the
oranges of the states of Indiana, Della
ware, Michigan. Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Maryland New York. West Virginia. New
Hampshire. Connecticut and Massachu-
sets. as well as representatives in the
various states of dairy, horticultural and
other associations including directors of
state experimental stations. There were
nearly two score speakers in the delega-
ton that accompanied Mr.. Bachelor to
the hearing.
| Senator Stone took the lead in cross
examination, and as result some inter-
esting coloquies were heard
Saws Farmers Are United.
| In the opening statement Mr.. Bachelor
| declared that 6.GOO.OO farmers were unit
| ed in opposition to the agreement and
he voiced their protests against Tree
| trade in farm products, while protection
! is continued upon manufactured articles
| which the farmers are compelled to puH.
| He declared that Canada is the only
country which the farmers nave TO rear
! and that free trade with that country
meant that the farmers would derive no
benefit whatever from the tariff law lie
also said that the consumers mad peel,
deluded into thinking that cheap 1000
| would result from the confirmation OF
| the agreement.
| According to MIR. Bachelder. Cahaua
| has cheaper land. lower taxes. virgin sol,
which does not need fert1hzlng anu
cheaper labor than can be found In the
| United States For these reasons, he
| said. the agreement with Canada would
| prove disastrous to the agricultural III
| dustry. He took issue with statements
| accredited to Secretary Wilson of the
Department Of Agriculture and James }:
| HILL the great northwestern ralifoau
man. that the confirmation OF the agree
| ment would not reduce prices on farm
! products The witness said wheat iad
| already been forced down six OF seven
| cents a bushel ON the prospect OF free
trade with Canada. at which point senator
| McCumber declared that in the north
western markets the decline had neeh III
| least twelve cents a buShei.
Calls It "Jug-Handled."
! IF this is an honest bill let it in
clude free trade with Great Britain,
| said Mr. Bachelor. The farmers do not
| believe in this jug-handled reciprocity
| where the Jug is given to Canada ana
the handle to the United States
! And even the handle is cracked said
! Senator Smoot.
| BY a series of questions Senator Stone
developed that Mr.. Bachelor was not
| really in favor of free trade with Great
| Britain and that he had no personal
| knowledge of the difference in the value
of lands, the price Of labor or the amount
| of taxes paid in Canada and the l hiteo
| States.
! suggested that the only fair way FOR free
| trade to be established would be TO LEI
! the Stars and Stripes float over CANADA;
THAT is species OF jmsoisn ST. aaihe e'I
about recently" said Senator stone.
don't believe it is within the range OF
| possibility.
Demand Better Living.
| Charles NJ. Gardner, master OF the
| Massachusetts State Grange. and chair
man of the state dairy bureau said there
had been a change of sentiment IN ms
state and that now the farmers are
unanimously opposed to the reciprocity
agreement. Among other things he said
that New England farmers would not
| be satisfied to live under the home con-
ditions of the farmers of Canada. Mr..
| Stone demanded specifications OF the low
standard of living across the border
| You find more fresh paint in this
country, don't your asked Senator NC
Cumber.
| And more pianos in American homes"
asked Senator Hale.
The witness nodded affirmatively to
both questions. and Mr.. Stone wanted
,hAx1 I'd
ner had Investigated Canadian homes to
ascertain whether pianos were regarded
as Injuries. Mr.. Gardner replied that he
had not.
II have" said Mr.. Hale.
well, you are not a Witness" tartly
responded Mr.. Stone.
Senator Smoot wanted to know if there
We're not more and larger schools in Mas
sachusetts than in Canada.
And in Utah, for that matter" said
Senator Stone.
T. c. Laylin of Norwalk, Ohio. master
Of the Ohio State Grange who provoked
a laugh by saying that his first name
was Theodore but that he didn't use
lit complained that the agreement took
the duty off wheat and left it on flour.
He said that consumers did not eat
wheat; that they ate flour and that the
same thing was true as to live cattle and
dressed meats. He was asked to explain
a statement that taxes are so much high
er on land values in this country than
they are In Canada
Less and Better Government.
rs it because they have better govern
ment in Canada?" asked Mr. Stone. Mr..
McCunlber replied that it is because the
United States has better schools and that
the people are paying for them in this
country.
They have less government in Can
ada therefore better government" re-
! sponded Senator Bailey.
"There is good philosophy in that" said
Senator Stone.
Mr.. Laylin declared that taking the
duty off wheat would not reduce bread,
crackers or any finished products. and
said that the tariff did not work that
way Citing hides, he said that the effect
of putting them on the free list had been
higher prices for shoes. harness and belt
ing leather.
well Senator Lodge is responsible for
that" said Senator Stone.
Mr.. Laylin declared the only protection
left to the farmer is that on wool; and It
won't be long. he said, before that is re-
moved.
In chorus Senators Smoot and McCum-
Der asserted that it is gone already. "Un-
der this agreement" said Senator Nc
Cumber, You can drive live sheep across
, the border from Canada, shear them in
this country, sell the wool and drive the
. sheep back again.
Ohio Farmers "Befogged.'
l