Evening star., 1923-05-25
EDITORIAL DIGEST

The former treaty was accepted hy
our government. but only after
very strenuous contest. Washington
may be inclined to let well enough
alone"
The New Haven Journal-Courier
feels certain the entire problem will
be placed squarely up to President
Harding, but suggests we do not
know what the administration will
do with this proposal. We fear ii will
do nothing outside of an expression
of good will The republican party
has not yet recovered from its blind
faith in protection for projections
sake, but, if American public opinion
would fasten itself on this subject
and make itself felt, a new business
era would open for both countries on
a mutually profitable basis" This
view meets opposition from the
Springfield Republican, which char
acterizes the Fielding suggestion as
properly described by the over
worked word gesture 1t is perfect
~ understood in Canada that the
American Congress is hostile to reci-
procity. and Mr.. Fielding's invitation
is obviously a maneuyer to placate
the western progressives, VINO desire
an arrangement that would create
larger market for their grain in the
United States" This is about the
opinion entertained by the. Norfolk
II,
either the executive or legislative
route the chances for reciprocity ap
pear remote. Canada lost the best
opportunity to level tariff barriers
along the border when it defeated
the proposal of President Taft"
Incidentally the Lansing State Jour
nal carefully points out under this
arrangement the reciprocity agree
ment would chiefly favor the pro-
ducers of Canada. Because OF her
greater spaces and cheaper lands,
agricultural crops can be produced
at less cost than in the United States.
Our increasing population and dwin-
ding agricultural areas mean higher
costs, so that in return for letting
Canadian crops in cheaper we would
export. Consequently IL we are 70
agree to reciprocity it would be with
the idea of benefiting the consumers
in the United States, and not the pro- /,
ducers. Opposition from the farmersf
would be certain and with that class
organized now in blocs. it could
WELD sufficient political influence
probably to defeat such Il mDyement.
If any American party is to suppoTt
Canadian reciprocity it must be pre-
farmers. Consequently there is small
practical hope for what is theoreti-
cally right" The intent of the offer
is splendid, the Waterloo Tribune be-
ueVeS, ana 'tnere Is no cneap IOTelg u
labor in Canada. The people of the .
two countries aspire to the same ends
Living conditions are much the same.
Canadian labor and American labor,
in manys fields. are affiliated. If we
legislate against Canada we can ex-
pect Canada to legislate against us
"Demagogues will again. cry out
against the plan, here as in Canada.
says the Grand Rapids Press. but
the nations are too near in their in
terest to listen. The trade between
the two nations steadily surmountS
tariff obstacles and has long sur
passed the British Canadian COM
merce. New York persistently gains
as a Canadian, as well as an American
finance center. American factories es-
tablish Canadian branches. American
tourists and Canadian tourists flock
back and forth. 1t is a strong stream,
and significant, which flows between
these neighbors. 1t announces'a nat
ural unity against which no customs
line can prove useful barrier, or
anything but a TOLL Because the
plan would affect only the farmers,
as outlined, however, the Wiikesbarre
Record is certain it cannot. be made
effective now because the Inanufac-
turers would be as much in favor OF
reciprocity as they were years ago,
but the farmers are strong enough
now to put the veto on the rproposi-
ltioI." so .,,sst