Weekly journal-miner., 1911-03-29

plan is to nave the Canadian parlia-
 ment and congress pass bills embody-
 ing the necessary legislation. It is
 not to run for any particular time
 and either country may change it
 at will
 In substance the agreement pro-
 vides that food commodities, such as
 cattlem fish, wheat and other grains,
 dairy products, fresh vegetables, etc.,
 rough lumber and other raw materi-
 als are to be admitted into either
 country free of duty. On food stuffs
 partly manufactured, the tariff is
 greatly reduced The agreement con-
 tains four schedules.
 The articles in Schedule "A" are
 to be admitted free into either coun- try.
 Schedule "B' contains a list of manufactured articles, including farm implements, engines. automobiles, etc., which are to be admitted into either country at an especially low rate.
 Schedule 'C" contains list of articles which are to be admitted into the United States at a special rate. This list includes iron ore, laths, shingles, etc.
 Schedule CD" contains a list of articles which are to be admitted in- to Canada at a special rate. This list contains coal, cement, etc.
 The agreement further provides that United States fishing vessels are to receive licenses for Canadian wat CTS for one dollar per annum. This has been recognized by the fisher men on our northeastern coast as so advantageous that they have practi- ] cally withdrawn their opposition to the provision in the bill removing the duty on fish. !
 President Taft in his message tranmitting the proposed agreement to congress states that the guiding motive has been to give free play to , industrial production as far as pos sible. Everyone recognizes that as nation we are rapidly reaching a point where we will not be selling raw materials to the world but i'm porting them. This bill plans to en- large our supply. The opponents of the bill cannot cry that our workmeu will be brought into competition with. cheap labor for there is no cheap labor in Canada. Industrial eondi tions there and nere are practically identical. We are the same people. During the last few years over eighty Canada to make their homes there. Canadians are found all over the United States. We have some of them with us tonight. While the ele- mentary reason for a high tariff, pro- lection against cheap labor. cannot be urged against this measure, he far more important reason can be urged in it's favor, namely, that it gives us free food products. It will probably not reduce the cost of food but it will tend to prevent a probable increase and will steady the markets and prevent fluctuations.
 Moreover, the cry of today is for world markets. We have at last awakened to the fact that we have far less than our share of the worlds trade. Even the most ardent pro- teetionist admits there is nothing so disastrous to international trade as a high tariff. To offset this we re publicans nave preached reciprocity for thirty years. say "preaehed" because no serious, permanent recip- rocity agreements on a large scale have been put into effeet-and the reason is not far to seek. Prot C tionists are unwilling to grant tho concessions necessary. Reciprocity means give and take. And whenever a bill proposing reciprocity is brought into consideration all favor the theory but object to its being put into practice. The fundamental reason is that the protectionist fears that re- ciprocity agreements tend to let down the bars of the high tariff and that free trade will follow.
 The great European nations, with the exception of England, have shut us out by tariff walls built by ex- pert boards. By special trade agree ments and conquest the Europeans have gained control of the trade of Asia and Africa. We have even lost our just share of Mexican and South American trade. Canada alone re- mains She is our nearest neighbor and her markets are at our door. Sound business policy, as well as the friendly feeling which should exist between neighbors, favors reciprocal