New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-07
No PARALLEL.

1t is no wonder that some Of the
auditors in the Senate chamber Uttered
when Mr.. Cummins called attention last
Wednesday to what he considered an
inconsistency in President Taft's Fourth
of July speech on the effects of reel
nrocity with Canada. They could hard
" fail 10 see the humOr of such a
charge when brought by a statesman
with so precise Il record for straight
thinking on the reciprocity question as
that Of the senior Senator from Iowa.
Last week. when Mr.. Cummins was in
the midst of an argument intended 10
prove that the free admission of Cana
dian food products would force down
tie value Of similar domestic products,
lie was asked whether he could recall
this passage from his inaugural address
f 1904 especially directed to the Iowa
farmers:
Which would Won rather do, >lose the
markets which will be created by our
vast exports into Canada or meet Can
ada in competition IN the things which
YOU produce? ! assert confidently that
iu the sharp struggle with Illinois, Wis
censiu Minnesota the Dakotas, Ne
braska. Kansas and Missouri YOU would
never be able to discern the influence Of
Canada i'm corn. oats, hay. barley, cattle.
horses. hogs, butter and eggs.
The impact Of the deadly parallel put
the Iowa Senator on the hospital list,
and the Senate was amused TO find him
ready 10 play again with 4 weapon
which he hadn't realized was loaded.
The parallel which he drew on the
President had however 10 powder
charge In If. Mr.. Cummins tried to con
Wet M Taft Of inconsistency in say
ing in his Indianapolis speech that reel
procity with Canada would not matori-
.ally reduce the cost of living in this
country and yet that its beneficial cf-
fects would bc felt appreciably 10y the
peop!e Of Indiana But these two state
meuts are not in conflict with each
other What Mr. Taft said on the first
point was:
1t is my own Judgment that the reel
procity agreement will not greatly re-
duce the cost of living. If at all. 1t Will,
however. steady prices by charging the
reservoir OF supplies for those things
that are raised in both countries. and II
viii make more remote the possibility
of cornerinE commodities and eXtorting
excessive prices for them from the public.
It was entirely consistent with that
view 10 maintain that the people of
Indiana rs consumers would benefit
from the enlargement and Steadying Of
the domestic market which would result
from the frcer entry of Canadian food
PRODUCTS, building stone and lumber. 1t
was as producers however. that the
President said the people of Indiana
would be much more decidedly benefited,
since the Canadian market would be
opened 10 their vegetables, fruits and
manufactures.
The advantages resulting from freer
exchanges with Canada will be widely
diffused. not parcelled out TO few
classes or interests. In the Middle West
and Northwest they will be chiefly such
as come from an enlargement of tribu-
tary territory into which manufactured
articles can be sent The opening Of the
West Of Canada 10 American trade will
stimulate the growth of varied indus
tries in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebrask and
the Dakotas, just as the opening Of our
own Northwest tended powerfully to de-
velop the Middle West. Reciprocity
with Canada does not mean the playing
off Of the American farmer against the
Canadian farmer, except In very cir
cumscribed way. 1t means rather the