Reciprocity with Canada

450 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . tion that might be raised. The first immediate disadvantage might be found in the cattle industry of the West. The decrease in cat- tle, however, both in the United States and Canada, is so rapid that both countries will find it difficult to maintain a normal sup- ply. True, many cattlemen believe that the scarcer cattle become, the higher the prices will be. That is a mistake. Beyond cer- tain limits prices cannot very well go, because consumption will cease, and there are other articles of diet that provide the human body with the protein which the beef furnishes. The standard of living in Canada is so similar to that of the United States that the question of underpaid labor cannot arise, neither does the cheapness of land count in the question of prices. Canadian land is going up rapidly in value, and will be governed the same as land is governed in price in the United States — by its productive power. The question may be asked, "What are the foremost reasons for reciprocity between this country and Canada?" The first reason, in my opinion, is this: If we do not accept reciprocity now, Canada will take steps as fast as possible to cut off our exports to that country, by the establishment of new manu- factures, and by other means. We now enjoy an advantage in our trade with Canada that we cannot hope to hold without conceding something as a matter of fair play. In the second place, there is no more reason why a tariff line should be built up between this country and Canada, than there is for constructing a tariff wall between the different states. If reciprocity prevails, it will lead to the construction of railroads north and south across the boundary line. In a commercial sense, it will mean the enlargement of our country, ty the facility which will be given to commerce. Canada will not be governed in this matter by the wishes of the mother country. Our neighbor enjoys absolutely a right to fix her tariffs according to the wishes of her own people and her own best interests. Third, Canada would really take more from us under reci- procity relations than we would require of that country. Canada needs our fruits, both fresh and canned, as well as our enormous quantities of machinery. Utah, by railroads, is in direct communi- cation with Alberta. Her orchards and her canning factories

RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA. 451 would immediately respond to an enlarged market in that province. As a sheep country, Canada is really a negligible quantity. The prices for mutton today, in Lethbridge,are higher than they are in Chicago. The price of wheat in Canada is determined largely by the Liverpool market. If we except the needs at Minnesota of Canadian hard wheat, which the United States cannot well produce, the wheat market is not likely to be long disturbed. As for the lumber interests, one of the greatest menaces to the building operations of the United States is found in the fact that so much of the timber land in this country is in the hands of great monopolies. Many will remember the predictions of grave consequences to this country when similar legislation affecting the Philippine Islands and Cuba was under consideration. Our concessions to these islands were made, and the people generally at this time have for- gotten that there was even an objection made to them. As for the evil consequences, they evoke, at this lapse of time, merely a smile. If reciprocity succeeds, it is safe to say that five years will not pass before we shall have forgotten that an objection was ever raised, and when we are reminded of its benefits, we shall wonder what all the trouble was about. CASA DE ADOBE, AN ADOBE HOUSE, CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO

COMMERCIAL ST., CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO. A RESIDENCE STREET IN CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the present seat of the Mexican revolution, was placed under martial law on February 15, by General Navarro. All the business and amusement places were closed, and the General took possession of the Mexico Northwestern, which leads to Casas Grande*, declaring he will operate the railways. He will send out forces of sol- diers from Juarez to hunt for insurrectos, east, west and southwest of the city. The city is located just across the Rio Grande, opposite El Paso, Texas.