San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-16
Finance Minister Fielding,
IS, Takes Over Pre-
mier's Duties.
DISCUSSES THE TARIFF
Recalls His Part in Avert
ing Tariff War Between
u. S. and Canada.
BY EDWARD PRICE BELL

and the Chicago Daily News.
Copyright. 1928.
~ Ottawa, Ont, Sept. 15.-The Hon.
William Stevens Fielding. who will
|be Is in November, has assumed the
premiership duties of Canada in addi-
ton to those of his own portfolio.
the ministry of finance, and he car
|ries this double burden with a re-
serve Of energy that enables him to
discuss dominion and international
affairs with visiting journalist.
Premier Mackenzie King has taken
refuge in the woods to prepare for
the responsible labors of the forth
coming imperial conference. in Lon
don. In his spacious official cham
|bers on parliament hill sits Canada's
(great elder statesman, Mr.. Fielding,
white haired, white beared, alert,
quick spoken and smartly dressed. All
|who have relations with him marvel
lat the clarity Of his mind and the
Fapidity of his speech.
Mr.. Fielding. though refusing form
|ally to be intei .iewed, talked freely
on pending national, imperial and
international questions. He thinks
THE most important natter between
Canada and the United States is the
tariff. He recalls with qualification
his part in averting a Canadian
American tariff war in 1910, and his
contribution to the proposed recipro-
city agreement in 1911. 1t is still
|his conviction that this agreement
still is good one for both countries,
and that the Canadians made mis-
take when they rejected it.
Tariff Poor Subject.
One gathers that the tariffs do
not delight Mr.. Fielding. He ap-
bears to be convinced by none of the
|protectionist arguments. 1t would
be safe to say he sees little. good for
anyone in the Fordney tariff. and
be feels particularly certain that it
Is calculated to do nothing but harm
|as between Canada and the United
States. 1t destroyed the cattle trade
bf Western Canada with the United
States, forcing cattle raisers there TO
Ship their product across thousands
bf miles of land aud water instead
merely to Chicago. England was
Induced to lift her embargo on Cana
Han cattle and the British market is
being successfully used in spite of
| he distance.
When Americans request Cana
Eians to be "neighborly" in such
matters as rum running, water di-
|fersion from the great lakes, and
bulp wood for the manufacture of
baper, Canadians are disposed to
suggest a reciprocal "neighborliness
| n the arrangement of American i'm
borts and import regulations affecting
canadian products and commercial
facilities. However, statesmen. of the
Experience and sagacity of Mr.. Field
Ing always look for points of agree
|nent rather than dwelling upon
grievances, confident that fairness will
Obtain when both sides consider the
whole problem.
Fielding Is Outspoken.
1t is one of Mr.. ,Fielding's convic-
| ions that no settlement is q settle
|nent unless it is a right settlement,
Ind he believes that no right settle-
|nent ever penalties one party for
The benefit of the other It was this
feteran Nova Scotian statesman who
Introduced the British preferential
Tariff in the dominion House of Com
mons in, 1897. He wanted British
foods to have preference for the
Canadian market. not because he be-
ieved that Canada should make sacri-
ices for Great Britain:s sake, but
because he thought such preference,
' II things considered, would be good
Or Canada. q. ~,
This is Mr.. Fielding's attitude to-
yard the whole conception of prefer
ntial tariffs within the British Com
nonwealth of Nations. He thinks
any one dominion wishes to give
reference to the motherland it should
o so freely and without expecting
he liotherland necessarily to give the
oAinion a corresponding or COM
Sensating preference. In other words
he acting premier of Canada believes
hat imperial preference should is
|ue from anticipated benefit for those
living it and not from some idea of
bargaining. 1t is his theory that
permanent. national contentment can
|pring only from the consciousness
II a people that no artificial economic
arrangements are impairing that peo-
3le's natural prosperity.
Canada goes to the imperial con-
erence without a definite program
| nd without positive aims of a novel,
| till less a sensational character.
UGH leaders as Mackenzie King and
Fielding have faith in the established
Processes of constitutional develop
bent, and would view proposals of
brupt and arbitrary change with |
|isapproval. However hazy they may
e on the form, the British Common
|ealth is likely ultimately to assume
hey are agreed on the proposition
hat imperial solidarity is contingent |
I pom the freedom of the constituent |
bates from any centralized machinery |
+ authority.
Unrestricted nationhood' will Be |
fanada's watchword in London, yet |
err voice will be emphatic for the
osest imperial cooperation con-
Istent with the voluntary principle.
Without quoting either the premier,
Ir. King, or the acting premier.
(r. Fielding, one may state that they /
pillow in the footsteps of that great
anadian and equally great interna-
[onalist, Sir Robert Borden. in their
Eplicy of friendliness to the United
Ftates and their faith that the
strengthening of the conf ence of
reat Britain and the United States
each other. together with their
bmbined constructive influence with
ther nations, finally will lift hui
anity above the plans of periodic
foodshed.
Beautiful Roselawn Cemetery, not
graveyard, a beautiful well kept
lrial park. Crockett 16SS.-(Ady.)