Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-15
DEFEAT FOR ROOT AMENDMENT
Senate Dsvotes Entire Day TO Discuss
ing Trade Relations.
M'CUMBER LEADS THE OPPOSITION
Takes Position Free Trade with
Canada Would Hurt Farmers.
CURTIs OPPOSE THE MEAsURE
General Opipiou that the Debate
wn Continue Long Tinse Before
Il VIII Be Possible to
Rsacb vote.


WASHINGTON. June i4-Aner a en-
ference with President Taft a. the White
House today. Maicfity Leader Underwood
declared he thought the Root amendment
to the Canadian reciprocity BIN would not
be adopted by the senate.
III it should be-" be added. there would
be a serious hitch between the horse era
senate. as the democrats In the house are
pledged against t."
At both ends OF the capitol ma
tional legislators today championed
or opposed tariff measures. In ths
senate Canadian reciprocity had the
right OF way. the proposed agreement
having been reported 70 that body yester-
day by Senator Peurose. chairman OF the
finance committee Discussion Of the
measure. promising to extend over a period
OF many days. bids fair to begin in ear
nest. Senator McCumber OF North Dakota
opposed the reciprocity agreement in the
senate today on the ground that Il would
injure the American farmer.
81 believe this treaty he said. IF ems
acted into law would not only postpone
for many years the consumnation Of .
hope INDUCED by the farmers of the couns
try. a hope held out 10 them by every
speaker and writer. who sought to secure
and hold their votes for the protectivs
policy Of the country but that its logical
result would be to destroy the policy itself.
must. therefore. either repudiate all
have advocated for years or oppose the
eonsummation Of this agreement.
VIII Then Reap Advantage.
Even IL we admitted" The speaker con-
1 tinued, that the American market is
now no better than the Canadian market.
stl we must answer tiiat as soon as con-
sumption overtakes production in this
country. we will reap an advantage and
that advantage IL what NE have earned
and what we have been promised IS a com
pensation for our sacrifices for the general
principle Of protectIon during the last
forty ysssrs."
| After reviewing testimony introduoed IN
the hearings OF the finance consfnitlea
relative to Canadian and Anleticsn prices
/ Senator McCumbes $40 ~ t,vur.s
Having established beyond any ~ 50
controversy that our prices are RIG,
! the Canadian prices at the preset ~
and this reciprocity agreement, II e--S
into law. will level those prices In the TN
mediate future to the worlds level, tie
question arises-will II be possible for Us
at any time in the future again to occupy
the position we have for the last several
years that OF having home market worth
from 10 to Is cents q bushel on wheat, %
! TO 2s cents bushel on flax and % TO 80
cents a bushel on barley more than Il
would be II we were dependent upon for
eign marlsetsY
COnsidera Political Effect.
Il say again that the farmer who for
years has looked forward to that period
when consumption and production Of
wheat. barley and flax should equal each
other in this country win be doomed to
remain for a century to come absolutely
dependent on and subservient to the worlds
level Of prices for hts product. and that
with the enormous possibility Of grain pro-
duction in the Canadian northwest those
prices will be lower comparatively than be
has received for number OF years"
After stating his fears that the president
does not realize the enormous possibilities
Of the Canadian country and declaring that
It is time enough to open Canadian sources
when the food supply of the United states
is really threatened.
Curtis Opposes Reciprocity.
The loss TO the United States through the
ratification OF the Canadian reciprocity
agreement would, in the opinion of Senator
Curtis, be proportionate 10 Canada's gain.
4
in opposition 10 reciprocity.
Mr. Curtis deciarnd that the people SEN
orally were not Informed regarding ths
pending Legislation and that they should
be given Opportunity TO study the subject
until the regular session OF congress.
Mr. Curtis quoted figures to show that
the United States trade with Canada last
year had amounted 20 isS.b5l27s and main
tained that this country should let well
enough alone. 1T would. he said. be
unwise 20 Tetur. TO the disastrous policy
which was followed from 1854 to iSeG
Our trade relations with Canada are
now very satisfactory 20 the United states.
so why should we change them3 BY this
agreement We are 70 open to them our
splendid market OF eo.910Ooe people and Ia
return they give Va the market OF s,OooOp
people. and this. too, a market which -
now largely controlled by our producers.
There Is no better home market in the
world than ours and why should we part
with any portion Of 4 Without an equiv
alent returnf"
He also oontended that 10 open the mar
kets 20 Canadian prosucts would mean
that a large number OF people would be
attracted 10 Canada BY the low price ot
land
IT is estimated" said the senator. that
there arp 2oo,cOo,Ooo acres of wheat land IN
western CanAda not yet cultivated. which
would yield Sooo,ooo.ooo Bushels " wheat
annually. DO you think the opening up of
these vast tracts would help the wheat
growers Of the United stauss"
wilsrea Laorier Quoted.
Quoting STR wilfred IAurisr a. saying
that the object o. the reolprocity compact
was 70 open the American market 10 the
Canadian producer. Mr. Curtis asked,
10 not we lose what they gAing'
During the progress q Mr. Mocumbe, =
speech he engAgsd Ia spirited colloouy
with Senator Martine Of New Jersey.
Mr. Mccumber was attempting 10 show
that the American farmer had failed 70
procure his share q ne prosperity OF TIA
last few years Mr. Aartne tried 10 ds.
veiop the fact that the failure was due
4 te the protective policy, but Mr.. McCum