Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-06-22
REC|P ROC|TY ON
BROADER LINES"

This newspaper hears of rather
general complaint from the west based
upon the assumption that the reel
procity agreement reached by COM
| missioners of the United States and
Canada, and now before Congress in
the form of a bill, will work out some
| how to the isadvantage of the Ameri-
can farmer. 1t is an interesting cir
cumstance that the same belief is
entertained very largely across the
border with reference to the Canadian
farmer. Moreover, it is held by OPP
pOnents Of the measure on this side
that reciprocity will operate to in
| Jure the manufacturing industries of
the United States. Per contra, this
newspaper is in receipt of a protest
from Canada on the ground that re-
| ciprocity will operate to destroy the
infant manufacturing industries of
| the Dominion.
Now, as matter of fact, no hui
man being is capable of foretelling
| exactly how reciprocity will operate.
The best that may he done in this di-
recttOn is to take, as we know them,
the facts concerning the present trade
relations between the two countries
under a protective tariff system, and
from them draw rational conclusions
as to the change that will occur in
these relations under a free trade
system. Of Canada's total imports.
OF the merchandise she purchases
throughout all the world, 81 per cent
comes from the United States. This
country sells Canada merchandise now
at the rate of $284,935, 900 per annum
These figures are from reports lust
received by the state department.
Canada, therefore, is a splendid Gus
toner of the United States, and for
selfish if for no higher reasons she
should be treated with all considera-
ton. But, asks western correspon-
dent, if the United States is DESTROYS
of being more friendly with Canada,
or if the United States is anxious to
be just in its relations with Canada,
why ask the American farmer to make
all the sacrifices? 1t would not be
fair to him to do so. He is not
going to be asked to do so. Touching
upon this very phase of the matter,
on April IL of the present year, this
newspaper said: F'It has been shown
that the surplus ofCanadian produc- |
ton is not sufficient to affect prices |
perceptibly in the United States.
The flow of trade between Canada |
and the United States (under the re- |
ciprocity agreement) will soon be- |
come as normal as the flow of trade |
between the different states of the |
Union. Prices on both sides Of the |
line, except where they may be af-
fected by purely local or extra ordin- |
airy conditions, will find a common !
level. The cost Of living manifests |
downward tendency now. This |
tendency may continue after recipro-
city shall have gone into operation. |
but it will hardly be appreciably af- |
fected by it. Reciprocity will |
make for freer trade relations between |
the two countries; it will stimulate |
production in both countries; it will |
enlarge the markets and oppOrtuni- |
ties Of both countries; it cannot; in |
the very nature of things, hurt either
country
Since that writing many of the fore
most men of the West have express,
ed views strikingly in line with our
position. Among those who have de-
clared that reciprocity cannot hurt
the western farming or any other elias
Of producers in this country is Gov
ernor Osborn of Michigan. He has
put the proposition on lines as broad
as those taken by President Taft who
said at Columbus, O., "Reciprocity
with Canada will benefit the entire
United States, farmer, manufacturer,
railroad company, middleman, ware
hoQseman, In the United States
Senate yesterday, Senator Gore, reply