Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-15

Nature and Limit of Disturbance
AlOnG Northern border.

Nature and Limit OF Disturbance
Along Northern border.
New York Tribune (rep).
To most OF the objections made to the
Canadian reciprocity agreement the old
maxim Of Latin jurisprudence applies-de
minis non curat leX-"the law does not
concern itself about trifles" Il Is note
worthy that the opponents OF the agree
ment do not alege that Il will prove in
furious to the country at large. They do
not even challenge its obvious benefits
from the point Of view OF national policy.
Their reluctance to approve It is based on
the assertion that It win upset conditions
here and there for fifty or 100 miles south
ward along the Canadian border and will
do certain amount Of damage; as yet
unascertainable, to borderlRnd interests.
1t Is also noteworthy that even In the
border states that Is no agreement as to
the injurious effects of a freer exchange
Of products. Flags are reported to have
flown halfmast on Friday in Gloucester
Harbor, and Representative Gardner OF
the Gloucester district has condemned the
agreement to admit Canadian fish free as
a death blow to the Massachusetts cod
fishing industry, Yet even In Gloucester
there are those who maintain that its
prosperity as q port win not be affected
by the agreement and who cite the days
between 1860 and 1866, when Canadian fish
came in free under an earlier reciprocity
treaty, as the golden era of Gloucester's
progress. During that period the city in
creased about 20 per cent in population
whereas in the last fifteen years it's popu-
lation has been actually declining. Most
Of the representatives from Massachusetts
are heartily in accord with the admlnistra-
TONS reciprocity policy.
Senator Hale is quoted as believing
Names prosperity to be imperilled by the
free admission OF Canadian potatoes and
other agricultural products. But the city
of Portland seems to be entirely pleased
with an arrangement which will un-
doubtedly enlarge its business, and in the
Maine legislature a resolution has already
been introduced commencing the reclp-
rocity agreement and asking congress to
pass the legislation necessary to carry It
INTO effect. Some of the Minnesota repre-
sentatives are hostile TO the agreement,
but others strongly favor IL. The border
states are by no means a unit In deprecat-
ing action which would push the boun-
daries OF our economic system further
north and permit an exchange of products
beneficial 10 both sides and helpful in
cementing friendly relations between the
two communities.
AS matter OF fact. it will be difficult
to organize purely local dissatisfactions
sufficiently to overcome the increasing
pressure of public opinion in the rest Of
the country in support Of the agreement
Circumscribed local interests will have TO
give way to the general good, especially
when those interests are not likely TO be
able 70 make out a case Of more than mod
crate and temporary inconvenience. Within
"a few years, we believe, the conditions
created along the border by the present
tariff law on food products will disappear,
and the foodstuffs both OF Canada and
the United States will find a common and
equally profitable market.