Evening journal., 1911-02-11
President Tafts Speech Before the IL
lInOis LeRlaIninre.


SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,. Feb. 11.-Af-
ter arguing that the American farmer
needs no protection against Canadian
competition, because the costs OF pros
duction are practically the same in
both countries, the President said In
part.
"The criticism that the reciprocity
agreement with Canada is "A manufac-
turers agreement in so far as II Is a
suggestion that we were prompted by
manufacturers TO avoid reductions on
any OF their goods Ia wholly unfound-
ed The truth Is. as between Canada
and ourselves. a reciprocity agree-
ment must Of necessity relate more 10
agricultural products than TO manu-
features. Here we stand upon more Of
an equality. In other words, tho
great benefit Of this treaty Ia tho proft
in mutual exchange that will come In
respect TO the agricultural products
OF both.
"The change IN agriculture I'm ths
older States from the raising OF wheat
alone 10 diversiied crops and the
| raising of cattle and hogs Is what has
increased the return per acre OF land
and made the prices of the land go
much higher The suggestion that the
opening of our markets to Canadian
wheat and other cereals will reduce
the price OF land In Ohio, Indiana, IL
linois and Iowa Is refuted by every
table OF statistics that represents the
comparative increases Of land I'm those
States under the influence Of the open
ing of the wheat fields OF the States
farther west
T ITO let the wheat OF the northwest
come down to Minneapolis and Chicago
will steady the price Of wheat. prevent
its fluctuations. will make much more
: difficult speculation, and will furnish
Z us greater insurance against the shor
crops and high prices. 10 will give tC
! the United States much greater con
i troll of tho wheat markets than II
has ever had before. II viii enable its
milling plants 70 turn Canadian wheat
into -four and send abroad the finish
ed product, and it will stimulate the
! sale OF manufactures and other things
that we have to sell to @lnada.
by the bringing over Of live cattle.
the farmer who has corn will have his
raw material in abundance and will
fatten them for the Chicago market at
profit.
The Increase Of our population and
the reduction Of our farm exports are
going on 50 rapidly that unless great
increase In production is brought
about within our borders we shall
soon consume all that we raise and
shall need a source of food supply
like that of Canada right at our doors.
We would be blind indeed should we
neglect this golden opportunity to add
TO the strength and virility Of our
country by thus increasing our self
, supporting capacity.
There are those conservative pro-
toctlonists who hang back from an
{ approval If this agreemeut on the
ground that Il Is a departure from
the principles Of protection. and 80
the opening wedge TO let in frei
trade. NY own view is that no stel
could be taken mere in the interest o
|. a reasonable policy OF protection thar
: the approval Of this treaty.
I. The very existence of the polio,
u depends upon our abolition Of th,
It tariff where II is not really needes
under the principle Of the last Repub
II lican platform. II we persist IN retain
ing IT in these times of high prices an,
gradually exhausting food supply ant
= base our retention on prot sction prin
8 ciples. we shall rouse an Opposition
that will know no moderation and vii
not cease radical economic exchange
ID until il has removed from she statit
% book the last trace of a protective
tariff