The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-27
THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN MAJOR BUTTE
AND JAS. J. HILL OVER RECIPROCITY

great deal OF interest has been
aroused over the state in the contro-
versy between Jas. ]. Hill and Major
c. w Buttz of Buttzville, n. D.. re-
garding Canadian reciprocity. Cong. l..
b. Hanna brought the whole Of this
controversy before congress in his
speech against reciprocity. Following
dis a reproduction OF that part OF the
speech concerning this controversy.
Mr.. Hanna said:
Also letter from Hon. c. w. Buttz,
of Buttzville, N. D., to me together
with copies of letters received and
written by him:
Washington, d. c., Feb. 16, 1911.
Hon. L. b. Hanna, Il
House Of Representatives,
Washington, d. c.
My Dear Sir: AS a farmer and con-
stituent of yours, having resided in
North Dakota for more than thirty
years last past, l write to thank you
for the effort that you have made and
are making in congress to protect the
interests of the farmers of our whole
country, and especially our own Sec
ton, against the adoption of Mr. Taft's
free trade agreement for farmers.
have also been trying, In way, to
help defeat that agreement. here
with inclose to you copies Of some corr
respondence have had on this subject,
hoping that you can use IT for the pur-
pose Of helping our cause.
have the honor to be your constit-
uent and friend,
c. w. Buttz.
Maj. Buttz's Letter on Reciprocity.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 80, 1911.
To the Honorable George T. Oliver,
United States Senate, Washington,
ID. C., and James j. Hill, Esq. st.
Paul. MINI, part owner and full con-
troller of the two northern transcon-
tinental railway lines leading from
Minnesota to the Pacific ocean and
the many feeders or branch lines
Of said railroads running into north
western Canada.
Gentlemen: I read in yesterdays
Sunday papers both of your views or
statements in regard TO the new tariff
treaty with Canada now pending in
congress.
AS / understand the situation, Sen
| ator Oliver is opposed TO granting free
trade" for the products of the farmers
and Mr.. Hill wants all duties removed.
so far as they relate to the products Of
! the farm.
In other words, Senator Oliver is OPP
posed to and Mr.. Hill Is in favor OF
the new treaty with Canada.
Senator oliver, on Saturday night,
at Pittsburg, is reported to have said,
while addressing 400 or more mem
bers Of the Young Mems Republican
Tariff club as follows:
Farmers Will Be Losers.
"As result of this, therefore, our
manufacturers, merchants, and indus
trial laborers will profit at the ex-
pense of the farmers. The farming in
terest always has been one Of the great
| bulwarks of the republican party, and
while / naturally hesitate about an
! tagonizing any important measure ,fav-
| ored by the administration of Presi-
| dent Taft, will have to experience a
J change of heart before l vote to deprive
one class of our industries of that pro-
lection to which they are justly entit-
led under all the theories and prac-
tees Of the republican party for the
benefit of others
As a resident Of North Dakota and
quite extensively engaged in farming.
write to thank Senator Oliver for
having uttered the foregoing senti
ments. Your position shows that you
not only correctly represent the great
state of Pennsylvania, but the whole
country.
The farmers, and more especially
| those residing in the northwest, are
entitled to the same degree of tariff
protection for the results of the four
teen hours day work on the farm
as those who raise cotton, tobacco,
sugar, and rice south of us: also the
same as the producer of oil, minerals,
and materials of all kinds, including
manufactured articles used by the peo-
pie.
/ believe that all unbiased people
not controlled or Influenced by selfish
personal interests will applaud and
| thank you for the efforts that you are
making for all the people.
While the duty Of 25 cents a bushel
on wheat does not make that difference
in the price realized between the grain
growers of the two countries when
| they ship from their own ports direct
to Europe, yet at all times in the
| northwest the farmer on our side of
the dividing line realizes from 10 cents
to Is cents per bushel more than his
neighbor on the other side of the line.
And this applies not only to wheat. but
| more especially TO barley suitable for
brewing purposes. Remember that
nearly all our barley used in the Unit
ed States is produced mostly in the
west and northwest of our country and
comes in more direct competition than
any other kind of grain with the Short
crop season" of northwestern Canada.
| Barley natures from twenty to thir-
| ty days earlier than wheat, and quite
often the early frosts of northwestern
| Canada affects the wheat crop. but
never catches the barley crop. II you
remove the 80 cents per busheI tariff
/ from barley, then northwestern Canada
will food the United States with cheap
! barley, mostly for our brewers. OF
course 1t may reduce the price of beer.
ETC., then you will have the temper
ance people after you.
| The public must remember that
! while the United States has many mil
| lion acres Of public lands left vet only
small amount of It is arabic or suit
able for "homesteads" without expen-
sive irrigation. About all the choicest
arabic public land has been taken I'm
by actual settlement during the last
thirty years
Consequently land seekers who 20 to
| the northwest looking for lands ,a,,s4