The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-10-18


welt, while he was speaking in tn,
Massachusetts, primary campaign a
few months ago, had the assurance t,
say that the paper manufacturers were
not treated fairly in the Canadian re-
ciprocity agreement.
l am now discussing simply the Ct
feet of this declaration by President
Roosevelt in connection with Cana
dian reciprocity. The effect was to
help forward the newspapers in their
program. We ali know that it was
the tremendous pressure aroused by
the newspapers which brought up t! {
reciprocity for attention and drove it
through in this country. This pressure
of public opinion and insistent demand
was made so great because of the
widespread popular discomfort with
the high cost of living, or the cost of
high living, whichever you prefer to
call it. The newspapers spread the
idea that the high cost of living was
a very serious evil and that it could
only be relieved by the free importa-
ton of foodstuffs from Canada, which
should be made the basis of a reel
procity treaty to include also the free
woodpulp and print paper desired by
the newspapers. The popular agita-
ton about the high cost Of Twin, had
been growing all through Roosevelt's
in passing that during all the term of
his presidential authority, although
the cost of living was going steadily
up and up, Mr.. Roosevelt made no NJ
tempt to investigate the matter Or TO
find out the real causes of the difficulty
or to seek for a way of relief for the
people. And after the reciprocity act
had been passed by our Congress we
found that the newspapers had, after
all. cared chiefly for their own partic-
ular proposition, for it was discovered
that the only items as to which the
duties on imports from Canada were
abolished irrespective of the action of
Canada-the only articles in all .hc
great array of articles affected by the
measure which the United States -ad-
mits from Canada free of duty al
though Canada refused to ratify the
treaty-are the wood pulp and print
paper desired by the newspapers.
Early Progress of the Reciprocity
Movement.
have reason to be acquainted with
the origin and progress of the reci-
procity movement, for fought from
the beginning, on behalf of the farm
ers, against the idea of reciprocity
with Canada in farm products. The
beginnings of the movement were
long time ago may say that num-
Der of years ago, in company with the
wellknown former Master Of the Ma
tional Grange, Mr.. Aaron Jones, of
Indiana, went to Quebec and at the
meeting there of the Commissioners
of the United Stats and Canada then
endeavoring to secure closer trade re-
lations, we protested against any re-
ciprocity involving free importation of
farm products from Canada. The
leader of the commissioners from the
United States was Mr.. Fairbanks,
afterwards vice-president under Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
We can not forget that, prior to the
reciprocity effort of President Taft,
the high cost of farm products to the
people of the cities and the agitation
resulting therefrom, led by such news
papers as the New. York World, had
brought an apparently overwhelming
demand from all the great cities that
all staple food products from all over
the world should at once be put on
the free list. The clamorous demand
| for this was very impressive and a
weaker man that President Taft, or
one more inclined to seek the popular
| ity of the movement would no doubt
have yielded to the demand. OF
course free farm products from all
| over the world means much more
than free farm produce from Canada
alone. To admit such products free OF
duty generally, or from all over the
world, means to admit them free from
Mexico, from Argentina, from Brazil
from all South American countries
from Australia, New Zealand, and all
countries, islands and territories. II
was this situation that confronted
| President Taft and we must admit
that he handled it prudently and care
fully. 1t was evident that some meas
ure of relief would have to be granted
to the people of the cities, and that il
was not only necessary for the people
but also urgently required for the
welfare of tn Republican party. There
had been food riots from the same
cause in various cities of Europe. The
President was opposed to the genera
reduction or. removal of duties on al
farm produce, and in the light of re.
cent events no one can question tht
sincerity of his devotion to the pro-
tective principle. He was also re
luctant to permit the disturbance o
the duties on farm products from
Canada, but in view of the genera
sentiment among all classes in thu
cities, fostered by the newspapers
that reciprocity with Canada was thu
thing needed to make easier the cos
of living and that it was an approved
Republican policy which would do M
harm. but rather save, the protective
tariff, the President felt it his duty IL
the difficult circumstances requirct
him to 60 on with the negotiation o.
q treaty and the legislation inciden
to Il. And having set his hand t
the plow he would not turn back bu
plowed straight furrow RICH
through to the end and we can no
holm rcsoectinC him for that.