The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-11
He M axes Direct Appeal
to the American
Farmer.
TAKES TO STUMP
IN ITS B E H AL f
President Speaks at Columbus
Corn Show, and Drives Home
His Arguments for Agree
ment With Canada-Be-
licves All Interests Will
Be Benefited.

Columbus Ohio. February lo.-Car
rSins forward his campaign for Cana
dian reciprocity. President TAFT to-
day made direct appeal to the Ameri-
can farmer on that issue. He declared
that the impression which had gone
abroad that reciprocity with the Do
mnton would injure the farmer waa
entirely without foundation and by
statistics and argument sought to lend
actual proof TO his assertions.
Mr. Taft DECLARED without reserva-
ton that the reciprocal agreement
viii Canada would be benefl. IA ther
IMAM dctrimcnt TO the agricultural In =
terests OF this country. lie said he
stated thi, in answer to the criticism
which had been directed against the
measure. presumably on the part OF
the farmer.
AS for limaclf. the President said ne
felt that the undoubted genera: benc-
NJ OF the pending agreement would on
trelT vindicate those who are re-
snoFsible for II. The creates, reason
Tor the ADOPTION Of the agreement, he
ARMED. Is the fact that /, is going to
unite two countries with Kindred peo-
PIE. living together across 3; wide con
t!nent. in commercial and social
union to the great advantage Of both
such result" added the President
docs not need TO be JUSTIFIED by a
niee balancing of a pecuniary profit to
eacll."
Air, Taft's address. the nrst OF his
present trip into the Middle West was
delivered at the National Corn Ex.
position in the auditorium at the State
Fair Grounds 1t was because OF thu
agricultural character OF his surround
ings and the presence OF Il great many
- g. ~ .t,
ton that the President chose to take
uD arguments in behalf Of the pro
posed agreement from the standpoint
OF the agr.culturist.
The auditorium. which has a seating
capaclty OF more than 1000 was
crowded TO overlooking. The crush
ahou. the doors was so great that the
services of score OF policemen were
called for.
Warmly Applnudcd.
/ AR Taft's address was listened TO
apparently with the deepest interest,
and he was warmly applauded at In
tervals.
There was a demonstration when the
President. In closing, said:
lie, the agreement be adopted and
go into operation and in six months
the farmers Of the border who now
have fears Will rejoice In this great
step toward closer business and social
relations With our neighbors. The
whole country. farmer, manufacturer
railroad company, middlcman, ware
houseman. all Will be the gamer"
President Taft will press his recipro-
city campaign in Illinois to- morrow.
During the forenoon lie Will make BRIEF
speeches at Champaign and Decatur
In the afternoon he will deliver a fur
ther address on reciprocity before the
Illinois State Legislature at Spring
field, and In the evening VIII make an
address at a Lincoln Day banquet in
that city
The President arrived here o-day
from Washington atlas P. NJ. He was
met by Governor Harmon, commit
tee Of citizens and cavalry escort.
After brief parade through the city,
Mr. Taft motored out to the Fair
Grounds. Following his address he
visited Governor Harmon's home for a
few minutes Tonight he dined with
sixty guests At the Ohio State Uni
versity, leaving later for Champaign
III.
Owing to severe cold and sore
throat. the President was compelled to
cut part of the program outlined for
him in this city. In order that he
might receive treatment and be in con
ltion TO carry out the speaking ar.
engagements of the trip. the President
brought his physician. DIR. ]. j. Rich.
ardson. of Washington, along with
him.
Mr. Taft Will be back In Washing
ton Monday morning. to remain until
the end OF the session OF congress
| He has not amplified us position as
TO an extra session. believing it is
perfectly we'll understood by this time
and that Congress wIl1 govern itself
! accordingly.
All VIII he BENEFITED.
While Mr.. Tafts speech was de-
voted principally to showing that the
farmer had nothing to fear from re-
ciprocity, but that it would be to his
gain, he attempted to prove also that
the other interests OF the country
would be benefited thereby. In refer
cnce to the criticism that had been
made of the proposed agreement las
an attack upon the farmer by depriv-
Ing him Of projections" President Tart
asked. How is the farmer to be
hurt" lie declared that "in respect
to corn the American farmer is king
ana Will remain so. reciprocity or no
reciprocity. II is mere truism to
say that the farmers Of country con-
atitutc the greatest wealth producing
class of the country. When we have
mad good crops the wheels OF all In
dustries have moved and wealth haS
been stored. Any one. therefore, who
would initiate policy to injure the
farmer has much to answer for at
the bar of public opinion
THE total production of corn in re
Omitted States in 1870" he said, was
alps, $4,000 bushels. OF which we cx-
ported 44,072.2O9 and used the rest in.
domestic consumption. The Canadian
product was 900 bushels. or six
tcntha or per cent. OF the total pro-
duction OF the United States. We ex-
~ (Copttppa6 IN ITJPthi DonoI ,-------- =,