The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-05
TEARS IT TO TATTERS.
President Taft Attacks Opposition to
Reciprocity in Chicago Speech.

procity with Canada in the course OF an
address before the Western Economic
, society at Orchestra hall Saturday
night.
Basing his argument on principles of
sound economics, and high patriotism,
he plowed with remorseless logic
through the opposition to the pending
legislation.
He attacked in particular the lobby
ing campaign of the lumber and print
paper manufacturers, the two principal
interests which are seeking to prevent
the enactment of the nationally bene-
ficial measure, and intimated that
these interests are also back of the ex-
cessively vociferous protests against
the bill being issued in Washington,
pretendedly by the agricultural inter
ests.
He went further and alluded to the
the lumber industry, as revealed by the
reports of the commissioner of corpora
TONS
In some instances he found the con-
Sideration of the objections to reci-
procity SO absurd that they moved him
to good humored ridicule of the typical
Taft variety.
Audience Heartily With Him.
His audience was enthusiastically
with him, paid close attention to his
argument, applauded often, and laugh
ed l4eartily at his jests. The three
speakers who preceded him had been
equally emphatic in their support of
reciprocity and in their denunciation of
the special interests which selfishly op-
pose it.
j. Laurence Laughlin, professor of
political economy at the University of
Chicago, fairly exploded with wrath at
the worn out sophistries and fallacies
which have been hauled out by the
lumber print paper interests.
TO say that the interests of Canada
and the United States are opposed" he
said, 'fs as absurd as to say that one
else, somewhere else is sleeping and
so using up all the sleep. The me-
dieval notion that when two parties
exchange their goods one of them
always loses has been long outgrown
by the civilized world
In fact, the president made it plain
in the beginning of his address that
he was. not in Chicago to consult
with or consider any powers or inter
ests, political or financial, but solely
to talk to the people of the west. He
said that it might seem strange that
he should journey SO far from the
senate of the United States to aid in
securing the passage of measure
problem with the remark:
1T is because this bill will pass, if
it passes at, all, because of the force
of public opinion in its favor"
Praises Twenty -first Ward.
He won the good will of his audi
ence at the start when he remarked:
Il notice that the Western Economic
society has pursued a policy which
have found most useful in selecting
the members of my cabinet. It has
drawn heavily upon the Twenty
first ward of Chicago"
He plunged at once into the mat
ter of the attitude of 'tthose who
own and control the lumber supply of
their opposition and the justice of it.
THE control of the country's lum-
Der supply is in comparatively few
hands" he pointed out. and they
are so friendly that the chance of
monopoly is neither remote nor i'm
possible"
His audience cheered long and loud
when he said:
81 submit that as lumber is essential
to all classes, farmer and merchants,
as the price has gone far beyond what
it ever was in the past, and as our
supply is being rapidly exhausted, we
ought, when we can, to enlarge the
sources from which our people can
secure it at reasonable prices"
His Telling Points.
Following are some of the points
made by President Taft in his recipro
city argument:
Sig months after the agreement is
there will be no complaint
from any quarter.
I was regarded as an enemy OF the
farmers because. favored Philippine
free trade. Since this was granted [
have heard not single complaint.
The chief opposition comes from
those who own and control the lumber
supply of the United States and those
who are engaged in the manufacture
Of print paper.
The control of the country's lumber
supply is in comparatively few hands. |
4Nf4 AT1s,f - oh.
Of a monopoly is neither remote nor |
i'm possible.
Under reciprocity with Cuba, which /
reduced duties on each side, our trade |
with that country has doubled.
Under complete reciprocity, or free
trade, with Porto Rico, our trade with T,
that island has increased nearly fiji |
teen times
Under reciprocal relations with the |
Philippine islands our mutual trade |
has doubled in less than q year.
And yet in the case of each or these
there were vehement discus
sions. with opposition and wild proph-
ecies of disastrous results.
The cost of manufactured products
that enter into the cost of living are
higher in Canada than in the United |
States, otherwise they would not fear
the competition of American manufac- |
turers.
We export more of our manufac-
lures and agricultural products to
Canada than to Germany.
England is the only foreign Gust om-
er we have that takes more of our
goods than the comparatively small |
population of Canada.
II Canada continues to grow. what |
may we expect to sell her if we reduce |
the tariff wall and introduce, as sIear
as we can, free trade?
I do not advocate this treaty in |
view of its benefit to the United States |
alone but because 1 believe it will be |
beneficial to Canada also.
It is because 1 am confident it will |
be seen on both sides to be great, |
measure, one looking to |
the beneficial interests of both 0arti es |
% the contract, that so urgently press |
its adoption upon the congress and |
the people of the United States.