Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-29
Saturday, April 2e, 1911,
Sass for Goose Is Sass for eander.

Sass for Goose Is Sass for Gander.
An irresponsible exchange declares
sthe American people demand it" (the
Canadian reciprocity agreement) We
presume that Michigan petition of 3d.,
600 names of farmers AGAINST the
lions ON which the assertion is based.
We have seen no petitions FOR the
measure except the bold and false as
sertions of such papers which speak
not for the benefit of the nation but
for their own selfish ends. All the
public sentiment that has appeared in
FAVOR of the treaty has been created
by newspapers which join hands to OBJ
tain free paper from Canada. And
the only arguments they have had has
been the hypocritical attempt to con-
vince the people that they are oppos-
ing a lumber trust" and talk of re-
ducing the cost of living.
Here is a sample of the consistency
of these claims: The administration
claimed for the Canadian private trade
agreement that its purpose was to re-
dnce the cost of living. sop to mer-
cenary publishers was put in the form
of a free paper clause Gt worked).
Secretary Wilson attempts to sooth the
operation of the agreement will not re-
duce the market price of the farmers
product noticeably. Which will you
believe? How will it reduce the cost
of living and not reduce the cost of
product?
Again, if it is a good thing for the
country to chop off the farmers profits,
why is it not a good thing TO chop off
other profits as provided in the Demo-
cratic farmers free list?
1t is mighty poor rule tina will work
In only one place.
southern paper complains that
the farmers free list menaces the
South. We have no doubt of it. AL
ready work on the Birmingham, Ala,
wire plant is suspended steel cor
poration official hints that other in
dnstries may be closed as a result of
proposed tariff changes. Here are
few news paragraphs
Officials of the Tennessee Coal, Iron &
railroad Company, the Birmingham
branch of the United States Steel Corpo-
ration, declare the cessation of construc-
ton work at Corey is due to the fact
That the farmers free list. as introduce
ed IN the House of Representatives. by
Congressman Oscar w. Underwood, pro-
vdes for admission to the United States
duty free, of hooped steel, barbed-wlre
fencing, wire rope. staples and other
products which it was planned to manu-
faeture at the Corey plant.
In the action of the steel corporation in
suspending work on the Corey plant is
seen direct effort to force Congressman
Underwood to recede from his position
Enderwoods home is in Birmingham
The steel corporation is by far the most
powerful factor in the Industrial life of
the birmingham district. Its investments
total many millions and its pay roll is
thousands of dollars. The fluctuations in
the price of steel mark the rise and fall
of the business tide of Birmingham AL
ready there is talk of further application
OF the thumbscrews by the steel corpora
out of work at Corey circulate petitions
imploring Congressman Underwood TO as
sst in striking steel products from the
That is the situation in a nutshell.
IT makes whole lot of difference
whose toe the big man is standing on.
When il was only the affair of 80
100000 farmers, who cares? But when
an industry with millions of capital
and few thousands of employees is in
6anoae Tho hao,a,e r,,;,-1.
The grange petition of 10000 names
from Michigan and the many thou
sands Of personal letters and kilograms
from Maine. New Hampshire and YER
mont to representatives and senators
in Congress, denouncing the reciproc-
ity proposition and appealing for
lied by these selfish representatives of
the press as overwhelming sentiment
FOR" and practical unanimity FOR"
the trade agreement.
Now the shoe is on the other foot
and there's a scorpion in it. OF course
the farmers free list is an in-con-
sidered. unfair, misleading, makeshift
measure constructed for political pur-
poses only. 1t is a selfish Democratic
plan to fool the farmer into believing
the Democrats are his friends, and all
that, but it is no more unjust. ill Icon
sidered or selfish in its purposes than
the reciprocity agreement If we have
got to have one let's have the other
and slcken the country of the entire
free trade idiocy as soon as possible.
------->-sS>---
Are You political Farmer?