OCR Text |
Show I Reciprocity From what a Washington paper says the reciprocity bill will go through without with-out hindrance. There are enough de-mocrates de-mocrates to carry it through. It seems that they are determitied to do or die. A number of tests have been made to see how the votes will be cast and upon up-on this evidence it is predicted that it will go through without a hitch. Various test votes in the house have shown that the democrats have ample power to carry out their program, practically prac-tically without let or hindrance. It appears ap-pears to be their determination "to do or die," and "not to reason why;" they consider that they have their plain mandate man-date from the people and that all they have to do is to obey that mandate, without unnecessary parley or delay. The Canadian reciprocity bill is book-I book-I ed for speedy passage by the house practically prac-tically without discussion; and there are no signs of any hitch for it in the senate. The only objection to reciprocity has been from the farmers, who have complained com-plained that while it puts on the free list the things which they produce ic keeps the tariff tax on the things which they use, thus giving the short end of the bargain. To offset this, the democratic leaders plan to adopt a "farmers' free-list" bill. This if it gets by the senate and the president will take the protection oil" r all the leading articles needed by farm-3 farm-3 ers, such as agricultural implements, bagging, bale-ties wire fencing, leather, flour, meats, lumber, sewing-machines, j etc. 1 Chairman Underwood of Ala., head of the ways and means committee, in ex-? ex-? plaining this legislation, says that it is demanded bv a big majority of the peo-) peo-) pie, and 'h , r. the democratic party, al- ways solicitous for the masses, will " therefore put it through or place the responsibility re-sponsibility for its failure on someone else. This bill has caused an awakening in the old world and manv jealous nations are looking on and asking where they 3 come in at. Uncle Sam is not slow to inform them that they don't come in at all. This fact linked with many others i have lead many Canadians to believe that the United States is now taki ig the first step toward annexation, and the Z feeling is very bitter against it in places. ( Many Americans have gone into Cani la I ana settled and more are going in every C day and many fear that this increase is also a step towards annexation. These are a few of the prevailing conditions which lead the foreign nations to ask why they are not o i i.ve a chance in the reciprocity game A number of the nations of the old we Id have been observing the recent pleasant exchanges between the United States and Canada with a jealous eye and they are beginning to inquire quer-ulouslv, quer-ulouslv, "Where do we come in?" Uncle Un-cle Sam's answer to them is that they are not in it at all. The state department has had to let the Europeans know this in so many words, and the customs court of appeals has also rendered a decision which fully sustains this view. It is usual in treaties treat-ies now to insert a clause known as the "most-favored-nation" clause, which , provides that the parties will grant to each other all the privileges granted to the "most-favored-nations," There is such a clause as this in most of our treaties wilh the European countries, coun-tries, and the argument of these countries coun-tries is that if we are now to give free entry to Canadian produc.s under reciprocity reci-procity we are bound to let European goods also come in free. But Uncle Sam can't stand this, of course. He holds that the reciprocity treaty with Canada is a special bargain, made on mutual i considerations, which ocher conntries ! have nothing to do with. If they want to enter into similar bargains and are willing to make con-! con-! cessions on their side in return, he will i consider that but every tub must stand , on its own bottom. He cites the fact that the European nations have reciprocal recipro-cal trade and other arrangements be- tween themselves which the United States does not share in, and he thinks that a good rule shoul J work both ways. , Nevertheless, the adoption of closer trade relations wi ,h Canada is going to bring up some ticklish questions between be-tween us and the other powers. |