The Washington times., 1911-05-10
TO GET RECIPROCITY
CANADA MUST Be
ANNEXED, He SAYS
Only Possible by Absolute
Commercial Union,
I Ladd Asserts.
TAFT MEASURE is
AGAIN ATTACKED
Grangers From New York and
Michigan Show Hostility |
to Treaty.

The Senate Finance Committee was
biuntly told today by George s. Ladu.
chairman of the executive committee OF
the Massachusetts,. State Grange, that
reciprocity with Canada was not pos>,.
Die except by absolute commercial union
with that country. He declared further
that commercial union would be the
hrst step to annexation, and that, in
stead of talking about ratification of
the pending agreement, Congress might
as Well take steps to authorize the
president TO open negotiations with
Great Britain looking TO the annexa-
ton of Canada.
Compares Tariff Rates.
Ladd, in speech, laid stress on the
comparative rates of duty on articles
imported into Canada and which were
OF use to- the farmer, and on like ar
ticles imported into the United States.
He sought to show that the Canadian
farmer had all the advantage. Among
other things, he cited the fact that the
duty on earthenware was Is per cent
In Canada and 60 to 20 per cent in the
United States
He called attention to the lead duties,
leau being used in the manufacture of
paints. In Canada, lead is free and in
this country bears duty of so per cent,
In the case of dress goods, he showed
mat the Canadian duty was 20 per cent
while in the United States ii was so per
cent Mr.. Ladd made a long list of
comparisons of the same general tenor
IN view OF these duties, he deduced
the proposition that unless Canada ana
the United States Were united in COM
merclal union against the world, ii
would be ruinous to the farmers of this
country to have the gates let down
through a Canadian reciprocity agree
ment.
The committee again today got q
lot further information as to the hos
tillty of the farmers to the reciprocity
agreement.
l. One of the witnesses was Frank N.
Godfrey, master of the New York State
Grange. Mr.. Godfrey told the COM
mlttee that practically every one Of the
go local oranges in the State of New
1ork had passed resolutions against
the agreement. He claimed that the
prospective reciprocity arrangement
with Canada was already discouraging
the New York farmers.
II mas discouraged many young
farmers, said he. II have come in
young men and it has discouraged
them from buying farms 1t has dis
courageo the boys in the agricultural
college work. Some of them are al
ready turning to other lines"
Threat for Taft.
A stir was caused by n. P. Hull. mas
ter of the Michigan grange, which has
5000 members. He had some observa-
tons 10 make on the political side of
the matter, and on the Presidents atti-
tude. He exhibited some sample peti-
tions from the residents of various pre-
cincts in Michigan. They contained the
words: ''ie
We hereby agree that we will never
support any man for Office that works
for its passage"
Senator Williams, recalling the cool
reception the President gave the
Grange. inquired what statements had
oeeh made TO the President: and wheth-
er the same things were told to him as
TO the Finance Committee.
we said enough said Hull.
He then added:
When the President of the United
states looks around and sees that the
majority of his own party in the House
votes against the agreement, and ii Is |
taken up and passed by the opposition, |
and the opposition says it IS done for |
the purpose of putting him in a hole, |
there are naturally some CALLED spots |
on him."
White House Episode.
Mr.. Hull said the newspapers had not |
told all the facts about the White House |
episode 1t is declared by some Of |
those who were present that President
Taft rebuffed his callers much more
severely than the news reports have in
diCated, and that they were indignant
about il.
Northwestern farmers have begun to
pour into Washington to oppose the
agreement. Minnesota sent large
delegation of Grange representative,
who arrived last night. North Dakota
has also sent a large delegation to fight
the agreement.