Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-06
Disproven Claims vs.. Facts.

Disproven Claims VS.. Facts
The following specimen OF free
trade logic is typical 1t is from the
Portland Argus, and quoting from the
Christian Science Monitor. we nope
oil our readers. whether they believe
in protection or free trade, Will feau
IT and ponder its real meaning;
In the recent congressional election IN
the Third district as in the precealis
presidential campaign, the RepuoiISSaali2
in this state made point OF at az re :,
fhe Underwood tariff in its alleged efeet
iInan the farming interests Oh Maihe.
They predicted widespread dlsastel ~
those interests, and eXerclsed tiIe 5iI
imagination in enlarging upon the Gyms
of Canadian competition which, lney
said. were certain to follow the operation
of the new tariff. No DOUBT many Maliae
farmers, not yet freed from the p loeeS-
zionist fallacies inculcated by a genera
tion or two of standpat doctrina1rles,
were Impressed and their fears aroused
bv these gloomy forebodings. NOW they
will begin to realize now they %ere tariff
has been in effect but few weeks, ana
already the fear of low-priced Canadlah
competition is shown to have no basis IA
fact The only interests the opening OF
The American market has hurt. are the
interests of the Canadian consumer.
How the new tariff has operated is
shown by the Christian Science monitor,
.grhe new United States tariff law.
so far as it affects foodstuffs, IS doing
precisely for Canada what the aaVoeales
of reciprocity predicted would result .il
from a lowering or a wiping out OF the
duties on this side in the absence OF
reciprocal arrangement. The markets OF
the United States are now open freely 10
a long list of Canadian food products;
hot m
creating a scarcity and consequent nigh
prices across the border The importa-
lions have not perceptiblv lowered prices
on this side; they are absorbed by, lost
in, the American market. American
farmers objected to reciprocity because,
as they claimed. the pouring into TINS
country of Canadian farm products
twould lower prices The pouring in OF
these products under the Underwood
tariff law has not lowered prices in the
United States; ii has increased prices in
Canada"
The Kennebec Journal would call
attention to the honest admissions of
that the thrush of Canadian product
has not reduced prices to American
consumers. that it has proved a
hardship to Canadian consumers is
just as evident. But here is the real
point of it: Canadian producers are
wide awake to the possibilities of
their own better market prices back
ed by the richest market in the
world-the American-at their door.
We have information from various
sections of eastern Canada that
farmers will respond to the call of OPP
portunity in 1914, in magnitude be-
You'd the widest dreams of anyone
up to one year ago. Men who have
planted one-half acre of potatoes will
increase their acreage to anywhere
from ten to $50. Every dairyman and
poultryman has his dreams and
schemes for fortune.
The first direct effect of the new
Wilson law" is a remarkable agri-
leultural and Industrial boom for Can
ada 1t has not reduced American
tprices but it has reduced the courage
,of American producers in a degree
corresponding to the optimism in
Canada never before known.
A shrewd Maine student of condi-
tons, who has just returned from
Canada, declares that Maine raised
potatoes will be worth less than 80
cents per bushel on board the cars,
in year from now. We hope he is
mistaken, but with the knowledge of
market conditions in the United
States, and urged on by instantly
higher prices and stronger markets
in his own country, what might we
naturally expect from the Canadian
agriculturist? 1t takes something
more than pigheaded repetition of
disproven and discredited policy to
overthrow the logic of visible facts.
Denying the declaration of the
Monitor, we would call attention to a
fact known to all, that the reciproc-
ity advocates claimed their arrange
ment would promptly reduce living
cost in this country. Have you no.
tieed any such phenomena? The
Monitor contradicts itself in the first
dozen lines; the Argus weakly copied
1t, and seemed to think it's readers
wouldn't know any better.
!