The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-02-15
RFc,Roclry WITH CANADA

RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA
III reciprocity with Canada eonstr
tuted the entire plan Of tariff reform
we would oppose III but il constitutes
only its preface If Il were proposed
to repeal or reduce certain duties
that are already low and leave un-
touched those that are highest and
most oppressive we would say let the
tariff stand as ii Is. But the election
OF a Democratic house Of representa-
tiyes has brought the country face TO
face with reduction that will be de-
cisive-a reduction GO Which reel
pr0city with Canada Is but the pre-
lude
Considered from an economic stand
point we believe that reciprocity
with Canada Viii accomplish very
little The industries Of Canada and
OF the United State are very similar.
Generally speaking, the duties on
such products as Canada would fnn-
ish are low. Except ais our country
produces some crops thl@ Canada
does not produce, the agricultural
products OF the Two countries are
almost identical and each country
producing In excess of Its needs has
q surplus lof export
we do not believe that the farm
values OF most agricultural products
OF the United States would be de-
creased If they We're placed on the
free list In other words, we do not
believe that the tariff protects the
growers OF our leading agricultural
products. II 100000 bushels Of corn
were produced Within q few hours
drive 0f Guthrie. by 10000 different
men, each needing 10 sell, and Guth
rle could use only 100000 bushels, the
price OF corn in this city would drop
to point where it would be more
profitable to pay freight on it and
ship Ii TO a section that needed 500
600 bushels more than ii produced.
Until IL reached chat point the 10000
producers near Guthrie would cut
prices.
But If five or six spectators bought
up the entire crop around Guthrie
and could succeed IN having the corn
from other sections shut out OF this
city. they could ship 100000 bushels
get m0re In Guthrie for the 100000
tnan they could have gotten under
natural conditions fer the 100000
Where natural conditions prevail
foods are cheaper in the country that
produces a surplus to sell than in the
country that must buy to make up
deficit Since they are higher IN
the United States, which produces
surplus, than In Europe that has to
buy and does buy largely from the
United States, aud pay the added cost
OF transportation, it Is evident thai
this is due TO artificial conditions
and such conditions can only be pro
duced by combination. The farmers
millions OF them-are TOO nnmef-
Gus 70 combine. The combination is
made by q few wealthy distributors
and they get the benefit Of it. No
nan robs for another
IL may be asked why can't the
farmers take advantage of these arti-
ficial conditions? Deea'ise they are
not made while the products are in
the hands Of the farmers rhe men
who make these conditions do SO
orly for personal gain aud il prices
rose while they We're buying they
would have no inducement 10 buy.
Here and there d farmer may hold
his crops until prices are raised BY
combination, bat If many Of them
lid this no e0naiul0 ion would be
formed. Tie farmers get nothing but
the crumbs Of tae protection on farm
products The feast Is for the com.
blning distributors.
90 We are sure that the farmers OF
the United States would n9t lose by
the free admission oG Canadian food
stulfs and we confess 10 d doubt as
70 whether the consumers would gain
much. II would an depend oh wheth.
of the cOmbinatics aat have made
artificial conditions in this country
could carry the q IA weight that
Canada would th-0N IN.
So, while we e TT looainq for q
bag Of gold At the el3 81 ihe rain.
bow, We thiHh reclf@eiiy with Can.
ada would do rasae more GOOD than
harm. As d MATTER 0i p0ieT the
Democrats should support Il sa AZ ID
avoid the necessity Of explaining 10
the millions who expect much from
It Why they didn't 40 what they
could 70 bring Il about