The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-06
TAFT'S MESSAGE SHORT NIIf AND POINTED II Bases Demand on Popular
 Sentiment RECIPROCITY ONLY Says Agreement With Canada Purely Commercial and Economical and Calls for Immediate
 Action
 

Washington, April 5.-President Taft today transmitted to Congress mes sage urging early action on the reef procity agreement with Canada. He stated that he based this message upon deference to popular sentiment and duty to the great masses of the Amer ican people. The message follows: ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
 sentatives:
 T transmitted to the Sixty-first Con- gress on January 2s last. the text of the reciprocity trade agreement which had been negotiated under my direc tion by the Secretary of State with the representatives of the Dominion of Canada.
 This agreement was the consumma- ton of earnest effort. extending over a period of nearly year, on the part of both governments to effect trade arrangement which. supplementing as 1t did the amica ble settlement of vari ous questions of deplomatic and polit- ical character that had been reached, would mutually promote commerce and would strengthen the friendly rela- tions now existing.
 Purely Commercial
 "The agreement in it's intent and in its terms was purely economical and purely commercial. While the general subject was under discussion by the commissioners I felt assured that the sentiment of the people of the United States was such that they would well come a measure which would result in the increase of trade on both sides of the boundary line. would open up the reserve productive resources of Can ada to the great mass of our con sumers on advantageous conditions, and at the same time offer broader outlet for the excess products of our farms and many of our industries.
 "Details regarding a negotiation of this kind necessarily could not be made public while the conferences were pend ing. When, however, the full text of the agreement, accompanying cor respondence and data explaining both It's purpose and its scope became known to the people through the message transmitted to Congress, 1t was imme- diately apparent that the ripened fruits of the careful labors of the commis- sioners met with widespread approval. This approval has been strengthened by further consideration of the terms of the agreement in all their particulars. The volume of support which has de- veloped shows that it's broadly national scope Is fully appreciated and is re- sponsive to the popular will.
 Failed to Pass Senate
 ''The House. of Representatives of the Sixty first Congress, after the full text of the arrangement, with all of the details in regard to the different provisions had been before 1t, as they were before the American people, pass ed a bill confirming the agreement as negotiated and as transmitted to Con- gress. This measure failed of action in the Senate.
 Tn transmitting my message of the 26th of January, I fully set forth the character of the agreement and em- phasized it's appropriateness and neces- sity as a response to the mutual needs of the people of the two countries, as well as its common advantages. now lay that message and the reciprocity trade agreement, as part of the present message before the Sixty-second Con eress and again invite earnest atten- tion to the considerations therein ex- pressed.
 q am constrained, in deference to popular sentiment and with a realizing sense of my duty to the great mass of our people whose welfare Is involved. to urge upon your consideration early action on this agreement. In conclud- ing the negotiations the representa- lives of the two countries bound them selves to use their utmost efforts to bring about the tariff changes pro- vided for in the agreement by concur rent legislation at Washington and Ot- iowa. have felt 1t my duty therefore