The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-06-30

Washington, June 36.-Characteriz-
ing the Canadian reciprocity agreement
as a severe and unwarranted blow
at the agricultural interests Of our
country" Senator Gamble OF South pa
kota continued in the senate today the
attack on the measure which was be-
gun by insurgent senators.
Senator Gamble declared he was a
republican and a protectionist, but
that he felt it his duty 10 oppose and
vote against the reciprocit. measure
as It now stood. He said he would
favor reciprocity with Canada that
was based on justice arSsaeoual treat
ment to All interests,
The measure proposed said SEN
ator Gamble, sis unjust, unfair, un-
republican and is in violation of the
declared and settled policy of the party
for more than a generation. 1t means
to me a serious blow to the American
farmer which places him in unequal
cnd unfair competition with his Ca
madam rival without any fair or Just
compensation.
Il cannot persuade myself that in
any sense this agreement follows the
rule Of our party faith In the policy
of either protection Of reciprocity. AS
far as am concerned / cannot vote
for its enactment or its ratification.
Had 1t been proposed by the opposi-
ton I could readily appreciate that 1t
is in line somewhat with their sym
pathy and their policy"
Senator Gamble pointed out that the
measure had been passed both times
in the house OF representatives with
a majority Of the republicans against
it.
"Under such conditions" he said. cit
can hardly be claimed that this is a
republican measure as far as legisla-
tive action is concerned. I feel at
liberty, therefore. and am disposed to
exercise my own convictions inde-
pendent of executive action
Referring to President Taft and his
participation in the matter, Senator
Gamble expressed confidence In the
wisdom, character, patriotism and
unselfish devotion to the public Of the
president of the United States
With the highest respect for the
president" he said. and with great
confidence In his wisdom. / am unable
to follow him in the proposed legis-
lation. / have no criticism to make
upon the president for the course he
has pursued. would have pre-
ferred, however, that congress in the
first instance had been advised with
and consulted therein and we would NOT
then have here a proposition of exc
cutive origin which we can only ar
bitrarily dispose OF"
The bill was referred to as a revis-
ion of the tariff so far as the farmers
products were concerned without any
equivalent reduction Of duty on the
things he is compelled to buy.
Senator Gamble said that the far
mer is apparently to be sacrificed, his
prosperity checked and his opportunity
for extension and enlargement cur
tailed. In this respect he is practic-
ally helpless to protect himself by
combination or otherwise, said Sem
ator Gamble, to save himself from the
general onslaught. The bill, he said,
gave advantage to the manufacturing
interests and would seriously depress
the value of farm lands in this country.
"Can 1t be expected, he added, that
the agriculturist will sustain the party
under policy which must necessarily
depreciate the value Of his holdings,
make unremunerative his employ
ment, lessen the price OF the things he
has to sell and to place him in COM
petition with a foreign people whose
production is from cheaper lands and
at lower costs.