The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-04-07
MESSAGE BRIEF
BUT TO POINT
Reciprocity Is President Taft's
Only Theme.
TELLS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS

hecites importance OF Measure to
People Of Country and Failure Of
Last Congress to Ratify Agreement
Negotiated by State Department
With Dominion Of Canada Officials.
Is Accompanied by First Measure,
Copy Of Agreement and All Papers.
Washington, April 5. - President
Taft today transmitted to the Sixty
second congress, convened in special
session, message urging the prompt
ratification of the reciprocal trade
agreement negotiated by Secretary
of State Knox and representatives OF
the Dominion of Canada.
Considering the importance of the
subject under consideration. the mes
sage was one of the shortest docu-
ments ever presented to congress by
a president of the United States.
Accompanying the message were
copies of the agreement and the orig
inal message urging its ratification.
The message in full follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
II transmitted to the Sixty-first con-
gress, on Jan. 26 last, the text of the
reciprocal trade agreement which had
been negotiated under my direction
by the secretary of state with the
rnn tpft 30
Canada. This agreement was the con-
summation of earnest efforts extend
ing over period of nearly year on
the part of both governments to ef-
feet trade arrangement which, sup
plementing as it did the amiable set
tlement of various questions of Dip
lomatic and political character that
had been reached, would mutually
promote commerce and would
strengthen the friendly relations now
existing.
Test Public Pulse.
The agreement in its intent and in
its terms was purely economic and
commercial While the general sub
ject was under consideration by the
commissioners, l felt assured that the
sentiment of the people OF the United
States was such that they would well
come measure which would result
in the increase of trade on both sides
of the boundary line. would open mp
the reserve productive resources of
Canada to the great mass of our con.
sumers on advantageous conditions,
and at the same time offer broader
outlet for the excess product OF our
farms and many OF our industries.
Details regarding a negotiation of
this kind necessarily could not be
made public while the conferences
were pending When, however, the
full text of the agreement with the
accompanying correspondence and
data explaining both its purpose and
it's scope became known to the peo-
pie through the message transmitted
to congress, it was Immediately ap-
parent that the ripened fruits of the
careful labors of the commissioners
met with widespread approval. This
approval has been strengthened by
further consideration of the terms of
the agreement in all their particu-
lars. The volume of support which
has developed shows that it's broadly
national scope is fully appreciated
and is responsive to the popular will.
House Passed Bill.
"The house of representatives OF
the Sixty-first congress, after the full
text Of the arrangement with all the
details in regard to the different pro.
visions had been before 1t, as they
were before the American people,
passed a bill confirming the agree
ment as negotiated and as transmit
ted to congress. The measure failed
Of action in the senate.
''In my transmitting message Of
the 26th of January l fully set forth
the character of the agreement and
emphasized its appropriateness and
necessity as a response to the mu-
tual needs of the people of two coun-
tries as we'll as its common advan.
tages. now lay that message, and
the reciprocal trade agreement, as
integrally part of the present mes.
sage, before the Sixty-second con-
gress, and again invite earnest atten-
tion to the considerations therein
expressed.
Bows to Public Sentiment.
81 am constrained in Difference to
popular sentiment and with real
izing sense of my duty to the great
masses of our people whose welfare
is involved, to urge upon your con-
sideration early action on this agree
ment. In concluding the negotiations
the representatives of the two coun.
tries bound themselves to use their
utmost efforts to bring about the
tariff changes provided for in the
agreement by concurrent legislation
at Washington and ottawa. l have
felt 1t my duty, therefore. not to ac-
quiesce in relegation OF action until
the opening of the congress in De-
cember, but to use my constitutional
prerogative and convoke the Sixty.