The Detroit times., 1911-06-08
N|[s0h ANSWERS
FARMERS PLANT
IN RECIPROCITY
rsIls Board Of Commerce Members,
hhoat ON Annual Outing, That In
ports Of Canadian Wheat Won't J.
Disturb Home ProdnGers. -.
Says Population in the United States
Is Rapidly outgrowing Produc-
ton Of Farms.

The first event on the Board Oh
Commerce cruise program. after the
city OF Cleveland was well under way
"Wednesday afternoon. was a taik-py
President McRae. Mr.. McRae urged
the necessity OF a building TOT the
board where the various gatherings
could be held. A hall large enough
10 be used for conventions and q DIN
Ing room to seat 500 were the most
Important features mentioned. II ID
proposed to erect the building on the
ate OF the present quarters. Inc
building might also be made the head
quarters OF several other quasi-puo-
lie organizations. the president SAID.
President McRae also presented
gold badges TO the members OF the
cruise committee who have worked
hard to make the annual outing a
success.
In the evening Secretary OF Agricui-
ture James Wilson, the personal repre-
tentative OF President Taft and the
ruest of honor on the cruise, deliver
ed his address on reciprocity, paying
particular attention to the effect OF
the agreement on the farmer. Secre-
tary Wilson spoke In part as follows:
ssIJnanimity is never had In great
national movement Our whole his
forv furnishes illustrations that Will
readily occur to the minds OF our
people--the Louisiana purchase, the
acquisition OF Texas, OF Alaska. etc
we had reciprocity treaty with Can
ada that lasted for eleven years ana
worked to the advantage OF both coun-
tries.
"Discussion has been going on Tor
some time in our country with regard
10 closer trade relations with Canada
purpose calling your attention 10
some features of interest along this
E line that have not been discussed, ow-
ing to the difficulty OF getting facts.
The cost of labor Is one OF the most
important. as II touches the funda-
mental principle upon which the
American theory Of protection has
been established and maintained.
Farm help in Canada costs about as
much as tie average In the Uniteo
States. Adyices from Ontario quote
wages OF farm help at $500 per annum
with board. In Manitoba they are
SIS per month, except In harvest
when wages are $40 TO $50 per month
with board In Saskatchewan wages
are SIS per month except In harvest
when they are $3.50 per day or $40 TO
$50 per month. with board. In Al
berta wages are s25 to $50, and In
harvest $35 per month, with board. In
British Columbia wages are $25 to $40
per month, In harvest $50 with furri-
ished room only. Wages are going up
AZ more settlers take mp homes. and
comparatively few go to work for
wages. The Canadian Census Month
" reports wages the year round at
t35.15 per month for males and 5000
for females, counting board. There "
really no reason why farm help on one
side or the lire between Us and Can
ada should accept lower wages than
are paid on the other side.
Relative Values Of Land.
"A very important feature In the
minds Of people who oppose recipro-
4 city is the price Of land In Canada, as
compared with the United States. The
Canadian Census Monthly gives US the
. average of farm lands In the Domin-
: ION az $38.45 per acre. Western Can
ada did not begin to settle up until
our best lands In the United States
nae gone TO- the nomesteauer. Inc
lands north of our border are good.
many OF them, but the summer Is
shorter by q month to two months.
This prevents the maturing of corn,
and wheat Is often frosted. which viii
make distinction for all time be-
tween those lands and the methods OF
farming Them and the lands and
methods on our side OF the line.
with the exception OF small part
+ Of the province of Ontario, the lands
Of the Dominion Of Canada are north
Of the corn growing line, and II Will
Be found profitable to inquire into the
climatic conditions north OF our
boundry so as to arrive at safe con-
; clusions with regard to the effect OF
temperature on the production or
crops. We find then that the range
In the length OF the season between
Z the killing frost OF spring and the
killing frost OF fall, Is about three
months north OF the line and nearly
I'VE months south of the line.
1T IL evident that the farmer grow,