Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-24
Is Reciprocity Fake Dying?

ed TWO, tnfee or even falI q dozen COL
umns daily to its opposition to reei-
procity now a column day seems to
crafty its appetite. Is it being
gradually converted 10 the Lewiston
Journal doctrine?"
To show our Yankee proclivity we
answer the last question first and the
others interrogatively-NOT BY A
JUGFUL, Where is your evidence
of sure defeat?" We fail to see it. If
we have devoted more ~ Jour. energies
to other vital questions before the peo-
pie it is because we discovered, some
time ago. that the opposition to fake
reciprocity could take care of itself.
If you can discover any evidence of
sure defeat of those who are oppos-
ing reciprocity" you can discover
tears in the eyes of the man in the
moon.
When we began the fight against the
unfair measure called a reciprocity
agreement with Canada" we stood
practically alone among the daily
papers of Maine. and of New England
for the matter of that. At the start
we conceded defeat and publicly adj
mitfed that il was like butting ones
head against a stone wall. But we
determined 10 fight TO the end because
We believed We were right and were
voicing the heartfelt desires of our
farming friends. Whether we have
succeeded in any manner in staying
the attempt to bully this unjust piece
of attempted legislation into law or
not, we do not claim to judge, but we
have the satisfaction of storing away
hundreds of letters of approval Of our
course-and they come from the peo-
pie with whom we expect and hope 10
live and die.
Perhaps our neighbor thinks we are
devoting too much space to our OPP
position 10 the liquor trust and its
Maine agency the Democratic party.
Perhaps this particular critic of ours
would rather We should devote more
time and space to reciprocity than to
showing up the methods of those who
would boost liquor license upon us.
But whatever our critics think they
seem TO know where to find us on
questions of vital interest to the pub
lie. We do not think we have so far
neglected reciprocity" that any one
will seriously consider that we have
gone over TO the enemy, our friends.
We applied what anti reciprocity lini-
ment we had in stock and have pa
tiently awaited for it to soak in. If
any of our friends are watching Wash
1ngton they can see for themselves
whether or not the cause we represent
is getting itself in the middle of the
stage. Three months ago we could
not see how the measure could be de-
feated but we did hope and appeal for
some sort of concession To the farm
ing interests. OF late we have had
the pleasure of recording accessions to
the ranks of the opposition. both in
press and in Congress. The farmers
have become active and insistent for
their rights and one after another
papers and representatives are coming
to@see the light. Every day they are
hearing from home" as did the Maine
Democratic Legislature.
On Monday the Boston Transcript
(Which has consistently but fairly
favored the reciprocity plan from the
starD published the following from its
Washington correspondent:
Having been forced into it. the
U. $. Senate contemplates doing
business next week. 1t has done moth
ing so far and is inclined to do moth
ing. La Toilette has started business
with the Lorimer case, Borah of Idaho
with his resolution for the election OF
senators by the people. and the Presi-
dent would like TO get action on Cana
dian reciprocity. II is no secret I'm
Washington, however. that the rres,-
dent does not care how soon Congress
leaves town after the reciprocity bill is
The bill has not a sincere friend I'm
the Finance Committee except among
the Democrats. Root OF New York
although the city demands the legisla
tion, has done nothing whatever 10
help the administration and his
amendment TO the pulp and paper Sec
ton, offered this week, will not grease
the legislative ways, TO say the least
Ii was bit of a shock 10 Washington
when the President followed the Root
amendment so swiftly with a formal
remark from the White House that he
would accept no amendment Sena-
tor Lodge never has concealed his opr
position 10 the fishery provisions and
he viii be heard either Ia committees or
On the floor In defence Of the fisheries
before the session Is over. But Mr..
lodge makes the practical point that
II We ever have free trade in fish the
tsrns should be equal ana the yarn