Morris tribune., 1911-04-07
SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION.

fellows' is a familiar maxim. 1t
finds an interesting illustration in the
current number of the American
Economist. The American Economist,
as many people know, is the organ of
the highly protected interests. 1t
shouts for them all the time. 1t is
therefore significant that practically
the entire space of the current num-
Der is devoted to a broadside against
Canadian reciprocity. In addition to
it's own editorial expression. the
Economist prints yards Of quotations
from the agricultural papers which op-
pose reciprocity with Canada because
they believe it inimical to the in
terests of the farmers.
This show of sympathy between the
organ of the protected interests and
the farm press is something new.
The farm papers have been jealous
advocates of tariff reduction, and
noting which they have had to say
on that subject has heretofore found
much favor in the columns Of the
Economist. But now nearly the en-
tire issue is given up to approving re-
publication Of their disapproval of the
Canadian reciprocity agreement.
Undoubtedly it is a matter Of the
highest satisfaction to this exponent
of the trusts to be able to array the
farm press of the country with itself
in this tariff controversy. 1t would
not be difficult to imagine the delight
which the heads of the big protected
trusts feel when they find the farmers
of the country thus committed to
the maintenance Of high prices.
Of course, the high protectionists
are against Canadian reciprocity for
none can discover more quickly than
they that the free listing or the reduc-
tion of the tariffs on agricultural
products from Canada would in evitably
be followed by an irresistible demand
for a reduction on manufactured goods
from everywhere. So it appears that
for a birthright of low tariffs the
farmer is being made to appear as
eager to accept a mess of pottage in
the form of prection which can never
do him corresponding benefit. He
produces a nece essity-food; it will
always command reasonable price;
and in this country. with an increas-
ing demand from an increasing urban
population, there will of necessity be
a we'll sustained if not an increasing
price. Of this he is reasonably as
sured. Why, then, should he stand
for extortion by highly protected in
dustries which, without his support of
high protection, could not be en-
forced ?--Pioneer Press.
The foregoing does not present the
popular view in an agricultural COM
munity, but we reprint it here be- I
cause it reminds US of our own expert !
ence with the American Protective
Tariff League. Some half a dozen !
years ago, we wrote several editorials !
against the importation of Canadian |
wheat free of duty. These articles .
came to the attention of the American .
Protective Tariff League, and we were
commended for our stand by the
American Econumist. the organ of the
ultra standpatters We did not relish
the company we thus found ourselves
among and row that the agitation has
been renewed we do not mend to aid
and abet the American Economist in
building up stand pat sentiment is
this locality.
However, if the farmer thinks that
Canadian reciprocity will injure him
financially, he should oppose it. but
in order to defeat it he must ally him.
self with the standpatters. !