New-York tribune., 1911-02-23
WANT RECIPROCITY,
BUT NOT ANNEXATION
Hugh Guthrie, Canadian Member
OF Parliament, Speaks with
Sanction of Premier.
PLAIN TALK AT BUFFALO
Secretary Wilson of Agricultural
Department Also Guest OF
Honor of Ellicott Club, and
Favors Agreement.

Buffalo, Feb. 22--Hugh Guthrie NJ !"
OF Guelph. Ontario, member or the b,O
| eral party and q stanch supporter Oh t"'
Laurler government. and James NnSo,'
Secretary of the Department or A8rlcu''
ure. We're the guests of honor to-nisHI
the Washington day celebration Oh VIC
Elllcott Club Both spoke on the peHuI"s
reciprocity agreement between the Chl'eu
states and Canada. Mr.. Guthrie deciai
ing that he spoke with the sanction anu
approV al Of Sir IYilfrid Laurier, emphau-
cally declared that there was not the silgh'
est sentiment In favor Of annexation III
Canade and that II the pending agreement
tends 20 nulIify in the slightest degree,
either now or hereafter. the allegience OF
Canada TO the imperial crown OF Great
Britain 'he Parliament and the people Oh
Canada will nave none Of it. Mr.. Guthrie
said
| state plainly and positively that there
Is In Canada no sentiment i'm favor or an
nexation TO the United States. do not
know Of one single public man In Canada
who harbors such thought or would coun-
tenance t,sila such suggestion Any dream any ny
wish or desire on the part OF the people OF
the press of the United States that any
political change. however slight, may in
the future result from the present pro-
poSSIS, so ar as canada is cOnCeTlSu, iHuol
be eliminated absolutely from the discus
sion Otherwise the Judgment OF Canada IN
regard 10 the matter will be plain, unnis-
taxable and unalterable, and may be ex-
pressed in your own characteristic Fernacu-
lar, not for OURS"
Loyal and True 70 England"
However great might be the advantage to
Canada from the adoption Of this arrange
ment, Canada must and will refuse i II
,w. eli de 20
our allegiance, the trust and devotion which
Canada to-day reposes in the imperial
crown OF Great Britain. l do not for O.
moment suggest that THE commercial ar
rangement win or can have such an effect
| do not believe II will now or hereafter.
But SO loyal and true are the people OF
Canada 10 the motherland that II they pe-
come convinced, or even II their suspicious
become actively aroused that that which
upon tho face Of IL is purely and simply
commercial proposal Of the most friend
~ and beneficent kind, has In it now or In
its SUBSEQUENT operation may exhibit any
motive. design or even tendency TO affect
to the extent of one jot the present polt-
ical allegiance or national status OF Canada,
the Parliament Of Canada and the people or
Canada will have none of il.
We must deal with absolute franknesS
with each other in regard to this phase or
the subject, and the frank and candid man.
States and the Secretary OF State have ex-
pressed themselves during the last week
ras been greatly appreciated In Canada.
And let me add" said Mr. Guthrie,
Weighing his words carefully "by way Of
confirmation, that the language I have
used and the sentiments | have expressed
Upon the question of annexation which
some Of your people and press have sought
to drag into this discussion have the direct
sanction and approval Of the Prime Minister
of Canada"
Secretary Wilson Talks.
Because Of the similarity in laws. Ian
guage, occupations and lines Of commercial
development in Canada and the United
States, the proposed reciprocity agreement
holds a peculiar position with respect to
the protective tariff policy OF this country.
in the opinion Of Secretary Wilson. who
quoted specific figures to support his dec
laration that the agreement would prove
mutually beneficial to the two countries
Closing this portion of his address, he sad:
II we were to make such trade arrange
ment as this with Europeans, we would be
substantially on a free trade basis with
Ieople who have cheaper labor than we
have, and We would thereby destroy the
protective principle at once.
Farm help in Canada costs about as
much as the average In the United States.
Wages are going UP as more settlers take
up homes. and comparatively few go TO
work for wages.
70 The question pending with regard 10
reeipdrocity seems 10 be UP to the farmer.
is he willing TO have the government enter
into a trade agreement by which the de-
velopment OF the United States and the de-
velopment OF the Canadian people shall be
furthered, or is II desirable to limit our IN
tercourse with the Canadians to the actual
tiles OF the present day? 1t should be re-
membered that the Canadian Is one OF our
best customers. We sell more to Canada
than we do 10 any other country except
Great Britain. II we can extend that
trade so that the business of both coun-
tries will increase. II Is a consummatlon
Is raising considerable wheat, and will
raise a great deal more. but a careful in
uuiry into our greatest farming sections
shows that Just as soon as pioneers are
able TO bring about the system OF farming
that sells nothing from the farm except
finished articles like horses, meats and
dairy products. they do It. Millions of
farmers in those states have reached the
point where they raise no wheat at all
first because II exhausts the soil. and,
next, because Ii Is more profitable 10 pro-
duce the highest selling articles
Martin f. Glynn, OF Albany, was the
orator for the occasion.
Norman r.. Mack, chairman OF the DEM
ocratic National Committee, gave his eX-
planation Of what Champ Clark was driv
ing at when he started the annexation
talk.
"Mr Clark is joker" said Mr.. Mack.
There Is no Significance In what he said
And | pledge TO YOU that the Democratic
party. including Mr.. Clark. will be found
acting with President Taft to bring about
reciprocity"