The Detroit times., 1911-06-07
RECIPROCITY FOES
DON'T KNOW FACTS,
SAYS WILSON
Secretary Of Agriculture Declares OPP
position Comes Largely From Those
Misinformed- Pact Will Aid,
Not Injure, Farmers.
Senator William Alden Smith De-
nounces the Treaty as Unfair, In
equitable and Unjust"

''If thought for one minute that
the reciprocity agreement would harm
the American farmer in any particu'
lar would not think OF supporting
It," said Secretary of Agriculture
James Wilson, Wednesday morning.
The trouble with this whole discus
sion is that there are not enough
people who have the facts on II. Most
OF the people who are talking against
Il do not know the situation. Re-
ciprocity will not harm us because
We are sending great deal more In
to Canada than Canada sends to US.
Il understand that the lumber in
terests do not want competition with
the lumber OF Canada, and they are
posing as the first friends OF the
farmers In order to keep Canadian
lumber out OF the American field /
understand, also, that there are pulp
manufacturers who do not want the
competition of Canadian pulp, but J
do not know much about that sub
ject.
"A large majority Of the senate Is
In favor OF the reciprocity agree
ment. II looks also as IL the Root
amendment would pass. but amend
ments are dangerous, for there Is no
telling how far they may go IL they
start amending
Reciprocity. continued the secre-
tary, will open up the Canadian
markets for our factory products, for
fruits and meat products and will
greatly stimulate trade in every line.
The farmer will derive as much Vens-
At from this as anyone"
The secretary who came to take
In the Board Of Commerce cruise, ar
rived early Wednesday morning and
was met by President McRae and
Clyde |. Webster, chairman or the
cruise committee. He was taken to
the Detroit club for breakfast and for
q trip to Crosse Pointe and Belle Isle.
The secretary looks like states
man of the old school, appearing in
long frock coat, with narrow
black tie. He wears close clipped
gray beard and the cigar fits Into the
picture as II II belonged there.
Secretary Wilson told OF how he
started the beet sugar industry in
Michigan which has grown 10 be one
of the most important industries. IN
the state.
II started to get the farmers to
grow sugar beets the day after | went
into Office under Mckinley, and We
are making experiments all the
time" he said THE state of Michi-
gan could grow enough sugar to sup
ply the country, In few years we
can take OF the tariff on sugar. The
American factories get more out OF
their sugar beets than the foreign
factories do, but the American farm.
er does not yet know how to grow the
beets to get the most out Of their
land. That Is what the department
of agriculture Is trying to teach
them"
Senator William Alden Smith, who
arrived Monday night to go on the
Board OF Commerce cruise. shows no
intention of backing down an inch In
his position on reciprocity. The SEN
ator, who was a member Of the party
In the Detroit club, Wednesday morn
ing, said:
"The people OF the state Of Michi-
gan know from my 16 years OF SER
vice in congress that I am protec-
tionist and not free trader In whole
or In spots, where any large number
OF our citizens are vitality affected.
The so-called reciprocity agreement Is
tContinued on page 1z.)