The Evening Star MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1920.

Evening Star, Issue 17324, 12 April 1920, Page 4

The Evening Star MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1920.

£hb choice of a representative for the Bruce seat in the Bruce By-election. House of Bepresen't tatives to succeed Sir James Allen, the new High Commissioner, should not be a perplexing problem for the electors. There is a straightout contest, and both candidates are well . and favorably known throughout the dis- , trict: Each contestant admits that his opponent is a fine man, and both have conducted their platform campaign in an admirable spirit of friendly competition. If it were not for the fact that people -will take sides in politics, the Bruce electors could be happy with "either Mr James Begg (Reform) or Mr John Edie (Liberal), and could certainly depend* on conscientious service. All things considered, the balance of favor leans towards Sir Begg, . who has made an excellent impression throughout the wide electorate, gaining respect for his earnestness and for his 'thoughtful views on reconstructive politics. Then Mr Begg has an undoubted advantage in following a parliamentary veteran whose sterling service for hifl country and Empire should strengthen the party's claim to what hitherto has been a Eeform stronghold. It looks as though it will remain a Government seat for some time yet. Mr Edie has taken throughout his campaign the line of ah ardent Oppositionist, t alert to the weaknesses of thf Eeform Administration, and critical of their acts andservice. He ranges Mr Massey on his aifle in respect to the ancient argument that a strong Government necessitates a '■strong Opposition. It is a sound argument in theory when used by the Oute; but Mr Massey, as leader of the Ins, would now contend that a strong Opposition would merely hinder the progress of a strong Government. In parliamentary - practice under the party system there is much less virtue in Mr Edie's argument than most people without intimate know- . ledge of party government are prepared to believe. It is quite ttue, as-Mr Edie ]j»aid at Milton on Friday night, that

the" Reform Government- are strong ; enough '-without the member for Bruce; ' bub it is equally true that tho Government would be stronger with, Mr Begg jas Sir James Allen's successor. Mr Edie has,' -however, great confidence in his re- | newed candidature, and justifiably dej scribes as "no mean achievement for a young politician" tho fact that in December last he got within 126 votes of an opponent like the ex-Minister of Defence. There is also some justification for his too keen contention that there should have been no need for the present byelection, since Sir James Allen practically had in his pocket at the General Election his appointment as High Commissioner. Here, again, Mr Edie lacks intimate knowledge of party tactics.- No party Government have ever been known to weaken their strength deliberately at a General Election. The harvest is always gathered before the distribution of awards and the thanksgiving. A 6 for Mr Edie's contention that tho law should be amended so as to provide that if a member of the House of -Representatives retire during his term the next man in order at the poll should take the I seat, very few people indeed will support it. Such a method would eliminate corrective reflection. The spirited address by Mr Edie at Milton calls for little comment. It was to the point generally, and was robust in its frank criticism of the Eeform policy. But it was less constructive in character and aim than Mr Begg's thoughtful speech at tho same place 'recently, and rather less convincing in claim for preferment at the poll on the 11th. But Mr Edie is entitled to much support for the spirit in which he has, so soon after his initial effort, conducted his platform campaign and advocated his 'policy of a strong Oppositionist.