146 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



ll-EBKUARY 1, 1911. 



csts in common it is not surprising that the importance 

 of establishing a closer trade relationshii). especially 

 in view of the remarkable development of the natural 

 resources of both countries during the past two years, 

 should of late force itself upon the attention of states- 

 men on each side of the border. Attempts have been 

 made from time to time to get Congress to adopt a 

 reciprocity agreement that would be fair and etiuitable 

 to both Canada and the United States, but thus far 

 they have met with indifferent success. 



I'resident Taft, who, even his enemies will concede, 

 is a broad-minded and far-seeing executive, realizing 

 that the time has arrived when something slunild be 

 done to promote our commercial relations with 

 Canada, has presented to Congress for its considera- 

 tion a reciprocity treaty that is wider in scope and 

 more revolutionary in character than any hitherto 

 brought to the attention of that body. 



The agreement, which has been prepared with great 

 care by representatives of both countries after many 

 conferences, provides for the mutual free entrance of 

 live stock, agricultural products, fruits and fish, and 

 for making paper, wood pulp and pulp wood mutually 

 free whenever the Canadian restrictions on e.xporta- 

 tions of these articles are withdrawn. The treaty 

 arranges also for a concession on agricultural imple- 

 ments of certain classes and on a few kinds of iron 

 and steel products. 



Anticipating that the treaty may arouse opposition 

 because of its apparent violation of the protective 

 principle so long maintained by the government, Presi- 

 dent Taft, in his message accompanying the docu- 

 ment, holds that a commercial agreement with Canada 

 'l3y which we shall have direct access to their supply 

 of natural products without a prohibitory tariff, is not 

 a violation of the protective principle because that 

 principle does not call for a tariff between this coun- 

 try and one whose conditions as to production, popu- 

 lation and wages are so like ours, and when our com- 

 mon boundary line of 3,000 miles in itself must make 

 a radical distinction between our commercial treat- 

 ment of Canada and any other country." 



The President contends that if adopted the treaty 

 will cement friendly relations with the Dominion be- 

 cau.se of the settlement of controversies that have 

 lasted for a century, and will prohiote good feeling. 

 Moreover it will extend the market for numerous 

 products of the I'nited States and deepen and widen 

 the sources of food supply in contiguous territory, 

 and greatly facilitate the movement. 



As was to be e.xpccted, the proposed trade agree- 

 ment has aroused considerable discussion throughout 

 both Canada and the United States. ]\Iembers of 

 Congress representing the Northwestern .States pro- 

 test against it on the ground that it will seriously in- 

 fringe upon the barley, flax and cereal interests of 

 that section of the country. Members representing 



lumber States both North and South are opposed to 

 some of its provisions on the ground that if adopted 

 their business will be greatly injured. 



Shrewd observers at Washington declare that it 

 will be impossible to secure action on the treaty at 

 the present session of Congress because of the pres- 

 sure of other business and assert that it would not be 

 surprising if an extra session should be called for 

 its consideration. In any event it is not likely that 

 the treaty will be adopted in its present form. 



Just what the final effect of the adoption of a 

 reciprocal agreement like the one recommended by 

 President Taft will have upon business is wholly 

 conjectural. The reciprocal feature of the McKinley 

 tariff law, of which so much was expected, did not 

 materially increase our trade with any other country. 

 Brazil buys more rubber goods from other countries 

 than from us although there has been a heavy reduc- 

 tion in duties on imported American products. As 

 for Canada it may be said that while she admits 

 British rubber goods at a very low preferential she 

 keeps on buying large quantities of the jirdducts of 

 the United States. 



WHY THE TRADE PAPER AD. PULLS. 



THE manufacturer or wholesaler who neglects to 

 take advantage of the assistance of a good trade 

 paper in promoting his interests is losing the aid of the 

 most powerful selling force with w-hich the commer- 

 cial world is acquainted. Advertising has been defined 

 as "salesmanship on paper," and it does not require 

 very much figuring to prove that it is the cheapest 

 way of selling goods yet discovered. 



The chief value of the trade paper lies in the fact 

 that it segregates from the great mass of business men 

 those who are specially interested in a particular in- 

 dustry and gives the advertiser an opportunity to 

 present to them directly the message he wishes to de- 

 liver. It reaches the very men who need what he 

 wants to sell. No manufacturer, however rich he 

 may be, can aft'ord to send salesmen to call on each 

 one of them individually. 



The representative trade paper is regarded as an 

 authority in its field. Its editor is usually a man of 

 commanding ability who possesses an expert knowl- 

 edge of the business, who watches what is going on 

 in all parts of the world, and who is ever on the alert 

 to protect or promote the interests of his constituents. 

 Through the aid of his correspondents and his staff 

 of experts he keeps his readers informed of every im- 

 ])ortant news event connected with the trade; he pre- 

 sents technical articles dealing with improvements in 

 the processes of manufacture ; he analyzes markets 

 and trade conditions and points out their significance; 

 he calls attention to new fields for the exploitation of 

 certain products, and makes valuable suggestions. 



