The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-02-23
RECIPROCITY, PRO AND CON.

many years master of the Maine State
Grange, is said to be in favor of it, while
the present State Master, Stetson, is
opposed, although some of the subordi-
nate oranges are said to be in favor. The
press of Aroostook county is outspoken
in its opposition. The Aroostook Repub
lican says: 1.-The whole summing up of
the arrangement proposed is that Canad-
ian farmers will get the doughnut and
the farmers of the United States
the hole" On the other hand the
Maine Farmer says: eve note with
surprise widespread opposition to the
proposed Canadian reciprocity treaty,
and that much of that opposition is from
the farmers of Maine" That opposition
need occasion no surprise, as all the teach
ings of the press and politicians have been
designed to create that sentiment. The
Maine delegation in Congress is opposing
the measure, and there is said to be some
question whether the bill will ever get
out of the finance committee of the Sen
ate. A Washington special says that
"Senator Hale is fighting the measure
to finish and apparently will exhaust
every possibility of dealing it death
blow"
There is the same diversity of opinion
all over the country. The attitude of
the State Grange Of Massachusetts is
thus disclosed in telegram from the
chairman of the executive committee to
the president of the Massachusetts SEN
ate: Farmers are opposed to Canadian
reciprocity. The grange position is that
the farmers should receive exactly the
same measure of protection as the manu-
features and that if there is any reduc-
ton on farm products the tariff should be
reduced at the same time on all manu-
featured articles the farmer buys"
State Legislatures, boards of trade
and chambers of commerce have declared
for and against reciprocity. Gloucester,
Mass, is divided on the question. Lum-
bermen from various sections of the
country have protested against ratiica-
ton of the Canadian reciprocal agree
ment. In an open letter to the legisla-
tive committee of the National Grange
James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture,
makes answer in behalf of the administra-
ton to the National Oranges declared
opposition to the proposed agreement.
Secretary Wilson argues that the cost of
production in the United States and Can
ada is more nearly identical than it is
between the United States and any
other country; that the same difficulties
with regard to farm labor exist on both
sides of the international line, and that
Canadian and American farming meth
DDS are virtually the same. He says
that the town population has grown
last n than the country population, that
Prices for the necessities of life have
been high and wages, stipends and sal
aries have not kept pace with the in
crease in the price of food. There was
a demand for lower tariffs during the
last election by the population of the
SNN'4tS' 4llc1l IIJ.SlSSJ CdIIlGU IHe GlGC-
ton by default. The farmer either SYM
pathized with the town dweller, or he
stayed at home on election day and husk-
ed corn. A new Congress was elected
along lower tariff lines, if it had any in
structions from the people. The Repub-
hcan party is protectionist party; the
Democratic party wants revenue tar
ifs
IN an address at Columbus, Ohio, Feb
ruary 10th, Mr.. Taft spoke in behalf of
Canadian reciprocity and made direct
appeal to the American farmer on that
issue. He said that the impression which
had gone abroad that reciprocity with the
Dominion would injure the farmer was
entirely without foundation, and by stats
tics and argument he sought to back up his
assertions. Mr.. Taft said without reser-
walton that the agreement would be a
benefit rather than a detriment to the
agricultural interests of this country.
He said he made this answer to the crit
lclsm directed against the measure pre-
sumably on the part of the farmers. As
for himself, the President said, he felt
that the undoubted general benefit of
the agreement would entirely vindicate
those who are responsible for it. The
greatest reason for the adoption of the
agreement, he argued, is that it will
unite two countries with kindred people,
living together across wide continent,
in commercial and social union to the
great advantage of both 'Such re-
suit, - added the President" ''does not
need to be justified by nice balancing
of pecuniary profit to each.''
The Canadian government and the Ca
madam people seem to be generally in
favor. The Hartland, N. B., Observer
says: 'Never since confederation has
there been such golden prospect for
Carleton county farmers as is held out
by the new tariff agreement. Through
out Canada the message that Hon. Mr..
Fielding bore was considered the most
important achievement ever made for
the Canadian people," Mr.. Fielding, the