The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1911-07-29
Ancient Order OF Cleaners


ington, d. C.
My Dear Senator: You will,
am sure, pardon me for writing
you again with re- erence to the
ratification of the so-called reci-
procity treaty with Canada.
AS the time approaches for a
vote in the Senate on this very
important measure, interest among
the farmers has grown to fever
heat, and flood of letters reaches
my Office every day, asking if it is
not possible to do something
more to prevent the ratification OF
this treaty; if in some way the at
tention OF the Senate can not be
called to the far-reaching effects
of the proposed legislation; if the
farmers side of the question can
not in some manner be presented
so that their interests may be SER
iously considered. The past few
days have brought So many re-
quests that | can not refrain from
writing you, and | do SO, not with
the hope of suggesting anything
new, but to conscjentiously pre-
sent, so far as | am able, the atti-
tude o.: the farmers on this vely
important question.
You will remember, Senator
Smith, that the organized farmers
of this State sent a special mes
senger to Washington during the
closing hours of the last Congress
bearing petitions signed by more
than 10000 farmers, asking that
the reciprocity agreement be not
ratified. You will be interested to
know that these signatures were
secured within 4S hours by farm
ers who went among their neigh
bors, through snow banks and over
almost impossible roads, explain
ing the treaty and securing the
signatures of Their brother farm
ers.
From that day to this interest in
the proposed treaty has increased
and as the farmer has studied its
provisions he has become convinc-
ed that the treaty in its present
form is unfair to the agriculturist
that its adoption will disturb ex-
isting satisfactory conditions, re-
adjust farm values, and place the
farmer in positicNl where he
must OF necessity be prepared to
accept the result, whatever it may
be, and calmly await the final, adj
justing to the balances before he
can reach out and again lay hold
OF something tangible.
You have heard from several
different interests in Michigan,
and it has been stated that the far
mers who have signed the petitions
to be presented to the Senate and
written thousands of letters to
their Representatives have not
read the bill and there ore do not
understand its provisions.
You are sufficiently familiar with |
the cost OF producing crops in the
State of Michigan to know that
for IS OF the IS years referred to
in the accompanying schedule the
farmers OF Michigan and adioln-
ing States could not, through any
plan, save soil robbery, make
living, to say nothing OF striving
to make profit. You will find
that during the past IS years the
farmers OF Michigan have seen
but 5 profitable years. Is it pos
slble the peoples representatives
have forgotten that within the per-
iod mentioned the farmers of Iowa
and Illinois burned their corn for
fuel. finding this course more pro-
fltable than to sell it at the market
price and buy coal?
You will note that during the
last five years the farmer made a
proht, and that profit went into
needed improvements about the
tarm; better buildings, better farm
and some o: the home
comforts and conveniences. Men
returned to the farms, and the t
problem of the high cost OF living
was soon solved. {
During these five years OF pros
perlty on the farms the wealth I
ound its way to the cities. Thous- 5
lnds OF people in the city OF De-
rot and in every other city of
and hundreds living in p
the little villages are riding in +
heir gasoline cars which are more t
luxurious than the golden char +
OTIS OF the kings of old. t
The wives and families Of hun e
Dz$X30&$xX5 | II