Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-23
GRANGE LEADER
. IN ATTACK ON
CANADIAN PLAN
FORMER GOVERNOR BACHELOR
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SAYS FREE
III TRADE IN FARM PRODUCTS
WILL INJURE FARMER.

Washington, d. c., Feb. 21.-Farmers
registered protests against Canadian
reciprocity in the hearing today before
the senate committee on finance. For
mer Governor N. j. Bachelor of New
Hampshire, master Of the National
Grange, made the opening arguments
and announced that If the committee
had the time to hear them he would
Fhe followed by masters of oranges OF
the states of Indiana, Delaware, Mich
fgan, Ohio,g Pennsylvania, Maryland,
New York, West Virginia, New Hamp-
shire Connecticut and Massachusetts
as we'll as representatives of various
states of dairy, horticultural and other
associations.
The witnesses today received valu-
able assistance from Senators Hale,
McCumber and Smoot, who evidenced
sympathy with their attacks upon the
agreement and aided them with ques-
tions. Senator Stone took the lead in
cross examination and as result some
interesting arguments were heard.
In the opening statement Mr.. Bach
elder asserted that 100000 farmers
were united in opposition to the agree
ment and he said he voiced their pro-
tests against free trade in farm pro-
ducts while protection was continued
upon such articles as the farmers are
compelled to buy. He declared that
Canada was the only country which
the farmers had to fear and that free
trade with that country meant that the
farmers would derive no benefit what
over from the tariff law. He denied
that cheap food would result from the
consummation OF the agreement.
Hill Held Interested Party.
A letter charging that James J. Hill
of the Great Northern was interested
in the agreement because the railway
would profit from reciprocity with Can
ada was read in the senate today. Mr..
Gronna, the new insurgent senator
from North Dakota, sent the letter to
the secretary's desk and had it read.
Free trade with Canada, based upon
identical tariffs of that country and the
United States, as applied to all other
countries of the world, was discussed
by the ways and means committee of
tie house under resolution which
contemplates a commercial compact
between the two countries, whereby
CQey snail agree 10 eStdDllSH lueullCdl
tariffs against all other countries. All
duties between Canada and the United
States on the products of either, are
then to be abolished. The committee
took no action. =
Carter Says Bill Will Pass.
The reciprocity agreement with
Canada will pass the senate. This was
made known by Senator Carter of
Montana as he was leaving the white
house after a conference with Presi-
dent Taft. Personally, Senator Carter |
Is opposed to the measure. Repre-
sentative Mccall of Massachusetts,,
who introduced the bill in the house,
also conferred with the president and
Is hopeful of the bills passage.
Manufacturers for Reciprocity.
President Taft has been informed by !
he secretary of the American Manu-
lecturers Export association that about |
81 per cent of the members of the !
In letter ballot have |
voted in favor of Canadian reciprocity, |
while number of others were partly |
adorable to it.