The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-10-28
Monday. October %, 1912.
RECIPROCITY AND THE FARMER
VOTE.

Canadian Reciprocity probably more
than any other one thing has
pretudiced a large number OF farmers
against the administration OF VIM. IL
Tart. Right or wrong. many farmers
who we're lead 10 believe that the
Reciprocity treaty surrendered their
interests without securing for them
any compensation. The InteIligeneer
has never believed this view was cor
rect II believes that the American
farmers would not have suffered in
the slightest degree from Canadian
competition. that the markets for our
manufactured products would have in.
creased. that our railroads would have
been strengthened. and that our com
merce would have been stimulated
by the Reciprocity treaty. Regardless
however. OF the merits of Canadian
Reciprocity, one essential fact seems
TO be overlooked. That is. the DO
sitions Of VIM. H. Taft. Of Theodore
Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. are
exactly the same on this subject On
-FOUR different occasions while the
Canadian Reciprocity treaty was pend.
ing and Immediately after its defeat
Theodore Roosevelt publicly. clearly
and positively declared himself not
only for the principle OF Canadian
Reciprocity. but for the particular
measure prepared and framed by the
Taft administration. Writing TO Mr..
TAFT, while the Canadian Reciprocity
treaty was pending. Mr.. Roosevelt
said:
Dear Mr. TAFT. az once took In YOUR
ltIter ana went over DO with tl,. CutIaoIr
tuitors- 70 seems to me tn.f
what you propose To- do with Car,r. H.
sSai hrse from every Standpint. : firu-
~ neHtFc IN Ire" trade with Canada for
ooth economy and political reasons A.
~ NdN' labor cost IL substantially tn.
same IN the two countries so that Won
are amply justified by the uIaffor,,,
Nhether canada Will accept such rect
Proclty DO not know. but II ~ greatly
10 your credit 10 make IN. EFFORT I;
may damage the Republican party for n
MhiIe hut 10 viii surely benefit the party
IN the end. especially " you tackle wool
cotton, etc, as you propose"
In an address al Detroit. Michigan
few weeks later. Mr. Roosevelt said
.II"rc. friends insNIu,higun. right ON
the northern frontier. 7 have the racfiI-
Jar iiEht 20 say word or conErlfrf,tlpr
10 YOU aud 20 all OF uS upon tre ItFefl-
hood that We shall soon have rf,a..r 70
tiprocal tariff and trade relations win
NE great nation o. the north Of ,.-
,NpI laus.'. Aud feel sp pleased. pf.-
marty neDaus" Q wish 90 See th. tpp
peoples. the Canadian and th. America,
pfcpl~~. drawn together hv tr. rIl-...f
ti- on a footiar Of complete equality Of
IiIff. ~ anu mutual respect. tAYriHriseI
] feel tIat 10 should re one Of the cnrdI-
nal policies - this republic 10 s-t,..t..,
l.r WY closest relations or good VIII
ana friendship win The 1i1nl. nfou ~
canada tAppIauss. Theodore r,,o..-
Welt
And in an address before the New
York Republican Club. after the
Canadian Reciprocity treaty had been
rejected By the Canadian voters. Mr..
Roo ovelt again gave his explicit APP
p-ov~' p ne treaty:
wont fo aIr how GLAD ! am ~ fre
Wy 100 NhiI on" members off OBJ. club
peals made Co them To- lplsIi fh. Ja,ii,
or president Tar. both 100 BITS effort o..
d" 20 fflfi.HfIuu OF fIe Panama
80 ,'',, ',, all,.'',. i9 WHgt has b""
would like fn mako f.ia rofnf rf .fa-. ID
Hlw avs 'r cardinal inirf .n nur r.rsflu
IoliCy to establish TIE closest ana most
friendly relations OF equal respect and
tHnttrrs With our Ereat uaI-nn9r on
the north And 7 bail tine raUIpr1aItr ar-
nnsem. no because 10 represents ar ~
lort 70 bring about "a closer. a more IrrI-
male, more friendly rtfafInuaUIu .f
mutual alVau'ace 600 equal TERMS he-
tween canada ana the TINTED SfItr..
Concerning Woodrow Wilson. 30 q,
only necessary 20 say that a large ma
jorIty Of the Democratic members of
Congress not only supported the
Canadian Reciprocity treaty. but were
earnest advocates Of its passage. that
u vas approved by Democratic
caucus and supported by Democrats
as a step towards The freer trade re
lations 70 which they aI stand com
mitted. 70 VII bo seen. therefore
that there is absolutely mo- difference
among the three Presidential candi
dates as 20 this important question