Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-02-03
FIGHT IS BREWING
ON RECIPROCITY
NoRrHwEsT AND WEST ARE NOT
GENERALLY OPTIMISTIC
TOWARD TREATY.
CITIES FAVOR; COUNTRY AGAINST
Nj. Tawney Attacks Free Barley
Representatives Of Farmers
Are Ready to Oppose
Agreement.
CITIES FAVOR; COUNTRY AGAINS'

Washington, Jan. 28.-The attitude
of the Republicans in congress from
the northwest and west generally
toward the Canadian reciprocity prop.
osition, as was disclosed in their com.
ments upon the matter does not war
rant the optimistic view of the stua'
ton and the prospects of passing the
necessary legislation by congress that
is displayed by President Taft in bis
discussion of the subject.
AS was pointed out several weeks
ago, when the outline OF this plan for
cheaper food products was first given,
it will be combated very sharply by
the representatives Of the grain grow
ing sections, but senators and repre-
sentatives from the cities will favor It.
Dakotas Are Opposed.
Senators like Mr.. McCumber, OF
North Dakota, and Mr.. Gamble, OF
South Dakota, who have been favOring
increased rather than reduced duties
on agricultural products. will certainly
oppose these reduced duties. They de-
clare it is a sacrifice Of the farming
interests of the country and that with
out adequate returns in other direc.
tions. Senators Nelson and Clapp, OF
Minnesota, decline to discuss the sub
ject until they have time to study it.
But it is at least safe to place Mr..
Nelson as being against it. Upon fro
quent occasions he has declared that
protection was retained upon asricul-
tural products when it was not needed,
but as soon as Canadian competition
became a real menace to American
farm prices it is proposed to remove
the duties.
Nye Seems to Favor Plan.
Representatives Nye. Stevens and
Miller, who represent the industrial
centers of Minnesota, are inclined to
favor the agreement. They believe 1t
is way toward cheaper food. The
position of Senator Clapp may become
troublesome to that senator in this
matter. He so urgently demanded re.
auctions in duties in the interests Of
lower prices that it may be embarras.
sing to him to reject a plan that is ad
vanced with the avowed purpose Of
lowering prices.
But among some of the senator's
colleagues who voted with him on the
tariff law. notably Senators CUMMING
and Bristow, there is not very cor
dial feeling toward the agreement.
Senator Bristow said that he would
prefer to vote for free trade with Can.
ada than for a scheme which made
farm products free and retained duties
on packing house products.
Tawney Hits Barley Schedule.
Representative Tawney sharply at
tacks the placing of Canadian barley
on the free list.
1t is pointed out as reason for op
posing this course that Minneapolis.
under barley protection. has become
the barley market of the country and
that buyers from even the Eastern
states buy in the Minneapolis market
To surrender this market to Canada
is regarded by several of the Western
and Northwestern men az the height
OF unwisdom.
the members from the agricultural
sections of Minnesota and other of the
northwestern states declare they will
oppose the trade agreement.
Representative Hammond. who will
oe member Of the Democratic ways
and means committee in the next
house, is not ready to commit himself
1t will be recalled, however, that in
an interview which he gave after be
ing named to that position, Mr.. Ham,
mond intimated he would be favorable
to lower duties on food products II
lower duties could be secured on manu-
featured products.
1t was disclosed by the comments Of
senators and house members that they
do not expect the Canadian agreement
to be approved by congress at this ses.
sion. They say there will be some
chance in the next congress. with a
Democratic house and some Of the
strongest of the ultra-protectionists out
of the senate.
1t was said that even should the
house accept the terms of the arrange.
ments. which Republican high tariff ad
vocates did not concede 1t, could not
pass the senate.
These prophecies were carried to
the White House by members. Mr..
Taft, it is said, received them with
smiles, which indicated that one de-
feat would not turn him from his pur
nose: "