CANADIAN ELECTIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3002, 27 September 1911, Page 30

CANADIAN ELECTIONS

MR TAFT'S ALLEGED TACTICS. LAURIER GOVERNMENT DEFEATED SIR WILFRID LAURIER'S INTENTIONS. AIM OF THE CONSERVATIVES. " OTTAWA, September 19. A sensation has been caused by the publication of statements, authorised by the Thiel detective agency, that President Taft had incited Mr Hearst, the American newspaper proprietor, to flood Canada with election literature favouring reciprocity. Mr Borden, the Conservative Leader, has issued a manifesto pointing out that Reciprocity means the final absorption of the Canadian fiscal system, in that of the United States. The sensationaJ disclosure that Mr Taft had arranged with Mr Hearst to send a special correspondent to Ottawa to conduct a campaign on behalf of reciprocity, and to aid the Liberals in their fight, has aroused a storm throughout the Dominion. The Conservative journals accuse Mr Taft of being an arch-plotter, and of interfering with a foreign country's politics to bolster up the failing fortunes of the Republican party. Mr Hearst's representative, who is a close friend of Mr Taft, had arranged to participate in Mr Taft's tour this month, but on receipt of urgent orders he was sent to Ottawa. There is an election scandal in Quebec East. Sir W. Laurier's opponent in that electorate asserts that he was offered a large sum of money if he would retire. On the oilier. hand, his opponents declare that Ledue himself offered to retire if given a position, especially that of secretary to the Canadian Commission in Paris. * Some arrests are imminent. September 21. All the Ministers excepting the Hon. W. Pugsley, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and the Hon. F. Oliver were defeated. There were sweeping Conservative gains in British Columbia. All the Conservatives and 12 Nationalists were returned for Quebec. The Hon. W. Templeman, Minister of Mines, was defeated in Victoria.September 22. A number of election results are still to come. The latest available figures show that the Conservatives returned number 113, the Independents 12, and the Liberals 88. The significant feature of the elections was the Ministers' definite lavish promises made in various cities of great public works which would be undertaken if the Ministers were victorious. Sir W. Laurier was unwilling to lead the Opposition in the new House. His retirement is practically decided. Great disappointment exists in the United States at the result of the elections. The Governor-general (Earl Grey) will probably remain in Canada longer than he intended, in order to form a new Government. Mr Borden will be asked to accept the Premiership immediately the definite official returns of his election are available. The result is still doubtful, and a recount may be necessary. September 23. The final figures of the elections show that the Liberals have gained 82 seats and the Conservatives and Independents 135. Mr Borden, the Opposition Leader, was elected by a small majority. September 24. Sir W. Laurier has revised his decision to retire from politics, and has announced that he will remain with the party for some time. He ie now making preparations, to quit office immediately. Mr Borden states that 30 years hence the people of Canada will look back on the recent election as the turning point in their destiny. The Conservatives would endeavour to build up Canada as an autonomous nation within the Empire. It is expected that the results of the elections yet to come will result in the further defeat of the Liberals. In the course of an interview at Vancouver Lord Charles Beresford congratulated the Canadians on the results of Hie elections. He alluded to the effect on trade of the opening of the Panama Canal, and also to its strategic effect due to the alteration of the world's trade routes that would follow'. He would like to see all English-speaking nations so strong as to be able to command the peace of the world without any other alliance. Regarding the Oriental awakening, he said that cheap labour was certain to menace the future of all industrial nations. WASHINGTON, September 22. The United States press blame Mr Champ Clarke's annexation speech in Congress for the defeat of reciprocity, but Mr Clarke says it was President Taft's speech on the subject of "At the Parting of the Ways." This, he claims, did more to defeat reciprocity than anything else. At Chicago there was a sharp rise in wheat consequent on the defeat of reciprocity. NEW YORK, September 24. In the course of an address at St. Louis President Taft said he was content to abide by the result of the Canadian elec-

tions. He regretted the failure to pass reciprocity, but he had been long enough on the bench to know when the final decision was given. Congressman M'Coll, who introduced the original Reciprocity Bill in the House of Representatives, says that a puerile annexation bogey had led Canada to reject as golden an opportunity as she .was likely ever to have. The Chicago wheat market has completely recovered its stability, which was temporarily affected by the defeat of reciprocity in Canada. LONDON, September 22. The Westminster Gazette (Liberal) says that there are many grounds for encouragement and consolation in the of the elections. It does not consider that reciprocity with America conflicts with the Imperial connection, but it would rather see Canada reject it than support reciprocity with the intention of weakening the Imperial tie. The Pall Mall Ga.zette (Unionist) says : " Canada's vengeance has fallen with terrific, weight on the fatuous politicians who lent themselves to a policy of subversion. We can, however, afford to thank Sir W. Laurier for his past work as an Imperialist, since hia last desperate throw for office has failed." The Star (Radical) says:—"The Bor-den-Barrusa alliance is a purely opportunist one. The Canadian Protectionists ai-e ready to sell anybody and anything in order to secure votes." September 22. Mr Joseph Chamberlain, in a message to the newspapers, congratulates Canadians on the repudiation of the Reciprocity Agreement. He adds that the victory in favour of Preference was most satisfactory. September 23. The Times states that the victory of Sir W. Laurier's opponents is more than a victory of a party, it is a reassertion of the Canadians' established faith, from which they and we, their kindred, mean never to depart. The Telegraph states that the electors declared for the old Imperialism, and rejected the lure set before them. BERLIN, September 23. The- German press regard the Canadian election as a victory for economic Imperialism. TRADE COMMISSIONER'S COMMENT. AUCKLAND, September 23. Mr W. A. Beddoe, Trade Commissioner for Canada, interviewed on the subject of the defeat of the Laurier Government, isarid that as the election was probably "fought on the question of reciprocity with the United States, the Conservatives' victory must mean that the reciprocity proposals will be killed, as it was necessary that this agreement should be approved by the Parliaments of the United States and Canada. Mr Beddoe said the change in party would not involve a change of Canada's Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. As to the effect of the change in respect to reciprocity, Mr Beddoe said that had the agreement been carried all the natural products of our country, which were the same as these to be admitted to Canada from the United States free, would also have gone in duty free. Mr Beddoe received a cablegram stating that six Ministers had been defeated, and no doubt the Liberal party was defeated. (From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, September 24. The defeat of the Liberal party at the Canadian elections, involving as it does killing the proposed reciprocity agreement with the United States, has also a bearing upon the posse bility of the markets of the oversea dominions being opened to certain of New Zealand's natural products. In order to get some idea of the position a reporter asked Mr W. A. Beddoe (Canadian Trade Commissioner) whether the falling through of the reciprocity agreement would in any way affect New Zealand trade. Mr Beddoe replied that had it been carried all the natural products of this country, which were the same as those to be admitted free from the United States, would also have gone in without paying duty to Canada. This means still closing a market to New Zealand's chief product, butter. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphed last evening .that the news of the defeat of the Laurier Ministry created great interest in Parliament. The general feeling seemed to be one of satisfaction, because it was recognised that Sir Wilfrid Laurier's Imperialism was becoming more and more a minus quantity. The defeat was not expected by some residents here, who are closely in"touch with Canadian affairs, as advices received by the last mail from people in official positions in Canada were to the effect that Sir Wilfrid Laurier would come back to power, though with a greatly reduced majority. The change in Ministries will most probably mean that Earl Grey, the Governorgeneral, who is just on the point of returning to England, will have to remain in Canada for some time longer, as the Duke of Connaught would not be likely to take up his new position until the new Ministry is installed in office.