The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
Solely to Obtain Action on Reel.
procity With Canada.
MATTER is IMPORTANT
1t Gould Not Wait for the Reg
ular Session.
A Duty He Owed to the Ameri.
can People.

Washington, April 6-President tart
today transmitted to congress a mes
sage urging early action on the recip-
roclty agreement with Canada. He sta
ted that he based this message on de-
ference to popular sentiment and dutv
to the great masses of the American
people. The message follows:
10 the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
transmitted to the Sixty-first con-
gress on January 26 last, the text of
tne reciprocity trade agreement which
had been negotiated under INV direction
py the secretary of state with the renre
sentat1ves of the Dominion of Canada.
rms agreement was the consumma-
IioH Oh earnest effort, extending over
period of nearly a year on the mari
OF both governments to effect a trade
arrangement which supplementinr as If
dld, the amicable settlement OF various
quesllons OF diplomatic and political
character that had been reached would
mutually promote commerce. and
would strengthen the friendly relations
now existing.
Economic and Commercial
The agreement in it's intent and in
the terms was purely economic and
commercial While the general s11b-
Ject was under discussion by the com
mlssioners I felt assured the sentiment
or the people of the United States was
such that they would welcome meas
ure which would result in the increase
OF trade on behalf of both sides of the
boundary line, would open up the re-
serve productive resources OF Canada
to the great mass of our own consum-
erS under advantageous conditions and
at the same time offer a broader o,ltIet
Tor the excess product of our farms
and many OF our industries.
DetahS regarding a negotiation CT
this kind necessarily could not be made
4 n xry1fI Ia he 60.
] Ing. When, however, the full text of
| the agreement accompanying corre-
! spondence and data explaining both its
purpose and its scope became known to
the people through the message trans
/ mitted to congress, it was Immediately
careful labors of the commissioners met
| with widespread approval This ap-
proval has been strengthened by fur
ther consideration of the terms of the
agreement In all their particulars the
volume of support which has developed
shows that its broadly national scope
is fully appreciated and is responsive
to the popular will.
submits Original Message.
The house of representatives of the
Sixty-first congress after the full text
of the arrangement with all the details
| in regard to the different provisions had
been before it, as they were before the
American people passed a bill confirm
ing the agreement as negotiated and as
transmitted to congress This measure
| failed of action in the senate. In my
transmitting message of the 26th of
January, 1 fully set forth the character
of agreement and emphasized its ap-
propriateness and necessity as re-
sponse to the mutual needs of the peo-
4 pie of the two countries as well as Its
common advantages. 1 now lay that
message and the reciprocity trade
agreement as part of the present mes
sage before the Sixty congress
and again invite earnest attention to
the considerations therein expressed.
am constrained in Difference to
4 popular sentiment and with a realiz-
ing sense of my duty to the great mass
of our people whose welfare is in
volved, to urge on your consideration
early action on this agreement. In
concluding the negotiations the repre-
sentatives of the tYo countries bound
themselves to use their utmost efforts
to bring about the tariff changes pro-
vided for in the agreement by concur
rent legislation at Washington and OF
tawa. 1 have felt it my duty. there
fore, not to acquiesce in relegation of
action until the opening of the con-
gress in December, but to use my con-
stitutional prerogative and convoke
the Sixty-second congress in extra ses-
sion in order that there shall be no
break of continuity in considering and
acting upon this most important sub
ject.
WILLIAM H. TAFT.
The White House, April 5, 1911.
,