OCR Text |
Show OPPOSING RECIPROCITY. First the Gloucester fishermon raised their voice against Canadian reciprocity, reciproc-ity, because it included reciprocal com-merco com-merco in fish. And now the standpatters standpat-ters arc working up an agitation among the farmers against the ratification of the Canadian reciprocity agreement, be-causo'tho' be-causo'tho' allege that it would tend lo reduce prices of foods in this count rj' and make living chenper, thus depressing depres-sing their prices. But in viow of tho fact thnt the samo interests that are making this plea are tho interests thai also deny thai the tariff has any effect ef-fect in increasing the cost of living, it is manifest that these two pleas do not go well togother. If it is true that reciprocity re-ciprocity with Canada would reduce the cost of living, then it is a plain case that the tariff increases that cost. And so, it will be tho office of sorao expert to figure out how much tho laboring man gains when tho tariff affords him bettor wages and at tho same time increases in-creases to him tho cost of tho necessities necessi-ties of life. Either tho standpatters will have to abandon tho proposition that the tariff does not increase tho cost of living, or they will havo to cease their opposition lo tho Canadian reciprocity reci-procity agreement. As a matter of fact, Canada docs not ship enough agricultural products lo materially affect the mnrkcts in this country. Tho United Stales is such an immensely productive country in all agricultural lines thnt the reception among us of all that Canada could raise and spare would amount practically to nothing. And in this connection the words of President McKinlcy that "reciprocity "re-ciprocity is the handmaid of protection" protec-tion" cannot be forgotten; and the fealty of Mdvinlc' to protection is unquestionable. Another feature of this agitation against reciprocity is that it comes from Iowa. -Minnesota, and other States whero tho demand for tariff has been the weakest, and where the rebellion against the bunko tariff law, that was passed in 1909, was the strongest. The Senators and Representatives from those Slates, and from other States which havo considered this bunko tariff, tar-iff, passed by and for "the interests," as oppressive upon the people, opposod that new tariff law on the oxpross grouuds that it increased tho cost of living, was unnecessary in many of its schedules for the protection of American Ameri-can labor, and was oppressive upon the general public in its operations, can hardlv with any show of consisloney oppose this agreement. And now to havo the contrary voico come from that very region, seems liko the reversal of a settled opinion. President Taft is unquestionably a good Republican, a protectionist Republican; Repub-lican; it will be idle to undertake any showing against him on account of party regularity, parly fealty and party good faith, lie expressly quotes Ale-Kinle", Ale-Kinle", "the apostle of protection, " in support of his efforts. Jt is no secret that, although he was brought over lo the support of the Paync-Aldrich tariff law, he never in his heart approved it. And in his latest annual iucssago to Congress he expressly insisted that this tariff law should be amended schedule by schedule, each on a separate basis, and each at different times, as tho wrongful nature of the schedulo was shown by the investigations of the tariff tar-iff board. It is ovident that President Taft is very much in earnest in his efforts ef-forts to have the Canadian reciprocity agreement ratified by Congress. And if the present Congress fails or refuses' such ratification, it is altogether probable prob-able that he will call an oxtra session of the neiv Congress, as ho has already intimated that ho would do. and put tho question up to that body. |