Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 241, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1912 — ROOSEVELT AND RECIPROCITY ISSUE [ARTICLE]

ROOSEVELT AND RECIPROCITY ISSUE

INBIMCERITY AND DEMAGO&IBM OF THIRD TERM CANDIDATE SHOWN.

WHY HE SHIFTED POSITION He Nut Only Favored Reciprocity but Wrote President Taft That He , Firmly Believed in Free Trade With Canada. Although reciprocity is now a dead issue, it is worth while, for the enlightenment of-*those who oppose President *Taft for his endorsement of reciprocity, to recall the position taken her Colonel Roosevelt upon that question. Mr. Roosevelt favors free trade with, Canada and was an ardent advocate and supporter of reciprocity until he found that Its endorsement would not help him In his third term race. President Taft, while he was considering the question of reciprocity, naturally consulted with ex-President Roosevelt. He knew that Mr. Roosevelt hail been president, that he was f«mfflnr with the subjeqt and that he was, at that time, a good and loyal Republican. When, In the course of a lengthy letter, he asked Mr. Roosevelt'S advice, he reviewed both sides of t2ks matter in impartial fashion. Mr. Roosevelt's reply was not only a full endorsement but he went so far as to advocate absolute free trade with Canada. Mr. Roosevelt wrote as follows: Roosevelt for Free Trade With Canada. New York, Jan. 12, 1911. Dear'Mr. President: • •#.••••• It seems to me that what you propose to do with Canada is admirable from every standpoint. I firmly believe In free trade with Canada for both economic and political reasons. As you say, labor cost is substantially the same in the two oountries, so that you are amply Justified by the platform. Whether Canada will accept such reciprocity I do not know, but It Is greatly to your credit to metre the effort Dear yours, , THEODORE ROOSHJVBLT. Net only In his letter to President Taft, but also a speeches Mr. Roosevelt endorsed reciprocity. At Grand Rapids, Mieh., on February 12, 1911, be said: “Here, friends, in Michigan, right on (he northern frontier, I have the right to say a word of congratulation to you and to all of us upon the likelihood that we shall soon have closer reciprocal tariff and trade relations with the great nation to the north at us." And in a speech before the Republican dub of New York dty, delivered on February IS, Mr. Roosevelt gave emphatic endorsement of President Taft and reciprocity in the following words: “I want to say bow glad I am at the way in which the members of the club here tonight responded to the twe appeals made to them to uphold the tends of President Taft, both in his effort- to secure reciprocity with Canada and la Ms effort to secure the fortification of the Panama canal." Explanation Ores Not Explain. In the face of this record Mr. Roosevelt now explains his antagonism to reclfseatty by saying that he did net fully understand the proposition and of Mb details.

Mr. Roosevelt’s explanation is unworthy of consideration for two reasons. In the first place, a-man in his position from whom advice and suggestion had been sought by the president of the, United States ought not to admit having hastily endorsed reciprocity without knowing what he was doing. As a matter of fact, Mr. Roosevelt's letters and speeches above quoted are exactly In line with Mb record. More than this, Mr. Roosevelt’s explanation is an Insult to the Intelligent voter because in his letter to President Taft he says, “I firmly believe in free trade with Canada." This is going farther than President Taft ever went, because Mr. Taft’s idea of reciprocity was to obtain valuable consideration in return for concessions granted. Roosevelt’s free trade proposition If enacted into law would break down all the barriers between Canada and the United States and would cause tremendous financial loss to American farmers. The fact Is that Mr. Roosevelt was heartily In favor of reciprocity and of free trade with Canada until be made hia tour of the west before the Republican national convention, when he found that reciprocity was unpopular. Then he shifted. His present attitude demonstrates his ntter insincerity and shows that he Is ready to do anything to catch votes. He is ready to endorse anything that he .believes Is popular and to condemn that which he thinks is unpopular without regard to Ms own convictions or wise governmental policies. The manner in which he has suddenly reversed himself In the hope that by so doing he would gain a few votes is an example of demagoglsm thoroughly typical of his character. It is also important to remember that if a Democratic president should be elected reciprocity with Canada would soon be an accomplished fact, inasmuch as the Democrats in the house of representatives voted for it and also voted against repealing the law which had been passed. Democratic reciprocity Is the kind that the Canadian newspapers are hoping Canada will secure, because it will mean that Canada will get everything from the Ur’texJ States and give nothing in return.