Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-25
aRaoinrnoitxr Bill Passed.

the paper and pulp section becomes
operative at once, but on the other
sections it is necessary to Secure .ht
ratification of the Canadian Parlia-
ment. There is such strong opposition
in the provinces to the agreement that
il is quite likely to be late autumn be.
fore the measure is ratified. if at all.
1t may be necessary to take the whole
matter before the people in genera
election to sustain the attitude of the
government.
So far as the Kennebec Journal is
concerned. we have fought the meas
ure early and late. because we believed
ii was unjust and inconsistent with
the attitude of true Republicaaism.
We believe 1t to be. as we said at the
start. an opening wedge for free trade
which the Democratic party would
lose 10 opportunity to drive home.
Just how far our prediction has been
fulfilled may be seen from the attitude
of the Democrats in the United states
Senate. While "a Republicans voted
against the measure. in the final SEN
ate vote. only Fl voted for it, and at
the same time, the entire Democratic
vote Of the Senate. with the exception
of three. were for reciprocity. 1t is
thus at the end of a battle of 109
days, in extraordinary session, a Dem
ocratic measure that has been passed.
The Democratic leaders in the nation
al government. and all over the coun
try, are claiming the measure as their
own, and they are proud of 1T. And
now they say, Let us go ahead and
further perfect our free trade pro-
gram"
One Republican senator is said to-
have laconically described Saturdays
vote as THE Republican Bull Run"
1t is safe to say that many of the Re-
did so because they did not dare to do
otherwise. Those who openly opposed
ii, fought as best they could, but they
were defeated and should feel as we
do. no responsibility fer the defeat
a dissolution of the Canadian par
liament and an appeal to the country
in a general election, with reciprocity
as the iazue. is a course left open for
the government One cabinet minis
ter is quoted as saying; THE only
thing that now stands between the
Canadian farmer and free entry into
the great American market, is con-
servative minority in the House. The
harvest is progressing. and Canadian
crops never promised more bountiful
yields The farmers soon will have
greater quantities of produce than the
home market can absorb"
In this Canadians words. we find
notification of our arguments against
the measure at the last session of
Congress: that. with the vast reaches
of virgin soil at the hand of the Cana
dian farmer, with a great marked at
the door, the production of Canadian
agriculturists would be so largely in
creased as to menace the very exis
tence of the small farmers along the
border. and particularly in New Eng
land We expect to see the agricul-
tural production of the provinces
doubled and trehled in the near future
under the stimulus of this arrange
ment. which affects only the farmers
of the United States. while opening a
field to all trades of the provinces
Had il been so constructed as to bear.
American manufacturer and the Am
erican capitalist, as it bears upon the
American farmer, we should have sup
ported the administration. As 1t was
presented, we opposed it, and we are
glad of it.
Rut, now that the policy is fixed be,
yond recall by the American people
let us make the best of 1t until it hal
been given fair trial Let US not b,
pessilnistie regarding the results
which may not be expected immedi
ately. but, rather, trust to states
rnan-iike handling of other importsn
questions before the people at thi
time, to ameliorate in some degree
the bad effects which may be expected
as the results OF an unjust and unfai
trade arrangement. Let US hope |
will not be as bad as We have expect
ed Let us hope that conditions vii
actually improve. as President Tai
and other leaders for reciprocity claim
There is no doubt that certain ele
ments of the American public vii
benefit to some degree by this ar
rangement If we do not suffer fror
II. let us be frank and honest enoug
to say 50 and give thosel who hav
Fought this measure through. beredi
4