Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-03-28

The disposition of some farmers to tiea
from President Taft to Col Roosevelt on
.the reciprocity issue persuaded Repre-
SEM alive Kahn to look into the record
and bring it forth into the light of daN
Only a week after the reciprocity meas.
ure had passed the House. Mr.. Roose.
Welt made two speeches, ono at Grand
Rapids on February II. 1911, and tho
other two days later. at the Lincoln Day
dinner of the Republican club Of New
York. If Col. Roosevelt IS to be preferred
over Mr.. Taft on account OF the reci-
procity issue. It becomes important to
consider his own position. This Is whaA
he said at Grand Rapids:
| Here, friends in Michigan, right on the
northern frontier. I have the peculiar
right TO say a word OF congratulation To
YOU and to all of us upon the likelihood
that we shall soon have closer reciprocal
tariff and trade relations with the great
nation to the north of us. And I feel 50
pleased. primarily because l wish to see
the two peoples. the Canadian and the
American peoples, drawn together by the
closest ties on footing Of complete
equality Of interest and mutual respect.
| | feel that II should be one Of the card.
nal policies OF this republic to establish
the very closest relations of good viii
and friendship with the Dominion OF Cans
ada"
And to the members Of the Republican
lcub Of New York. addressing himself
to the same topic. he spoke as follows,
Il want to say how glad am at the
way in which the members Of the club
here tonight responded to tho two APP
peals made to them to uphold the hands
of President Taft, both in his effort to
secure reciprocity with Canada and In his
effort to secure the fortification Of thu
Panama Canal.
And in addition to what has bean said
about reciprocity with Canada, I would
like TO make this point: 1t should al-
ways be a cardinal point in our foreis u
policy to establish the closest and most
friendly relations Of equal respect and adj
Vantage with out great neighbor on the
north. And hail the reciprocity arrange
: ment because it represents an effort "a
bring about a closer. a moro intimate
moro friendly relationship OF mutual
advantage on equal terms between Can
ada and tho United States"
On September 8. 1910. Col. Roosevelt
spoke at Sioux Falls. S. D.. and again
: at Sioux City. Iowa, At Sioux Falls hl
said:
n II think that the present tariff 9TH
e Payne Law Is better than the last and
: considerably better than the one befoy<
the last. but It has certainly tailed Il
i give general satisfaction
a Discussing the tariff at Sioux City. b
s again agreed fully with President Tat
= with regard to the tariff. On that 90
: casion he endorsed the Presidents tari3
n commission plan and gave the Presiden
n credit for having advocated this commits
! sion from the beginning. He lauded tn
maximum and minimum provision Of tn
n Payne law and continued:
= And here again wish to point %
n that the value Of the provision has de
II pended largely upon the excellent worl
l. done by the administration in tho negu
J. tiations with the Dominion Of Canada
c which We're the most difficult Of all. am
yet in my eyes the most important be
cause I esteem it Of vital consequence
W that we should always be on relation
:. of the highest friendship and good vii
ar with our great and growing neiehbor
"a the north"
IN Reciprocity Is no longer an issue II "a
to American farmer was ever in danger
injury from II, that danger is past. Can
W ada did not recognize that danger. II RI
~, jected the pact. because It saw In II greas
,r cr advantage to tho American farms
A. than 10 the Canadian. And fresiden
Taft inaugurated and promoted the grea
-, policy because he saw In 1t the created
e., good to the American people, ehtiret
honest and courageous In his conviction
rs unwilling TO abandon them because the
~ carried with them the danger Of politics
injury TO himself
Those farmers, what at that time wes
~ frightened have long ago forgotten the,
y, " grievance. IL ever they entertained ON
Ana as between MIR. Taft and Mr.. Roos>
" welt. they have no choice, They canine
a. abaLdon the former for the latter on az
lis count of the Reciprocity issue-which. q
any rate. again quoting Col. Roosevelt
rs now dead