The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-29

strongly favored, and was pushing be-
fore the commission now sitting in Lon
don.
Hon. G.. Blair is one Of the able law
yers and by all odds the shrewdest
politician in New Brunswick. He can
transpose a defeat into victory easie:
than any man in the business. In fact
he doesn't know the word defeat. Many
years ago he was elected to the local
legislature and sat in the opposition
until called on to head 1t. He amused
himself by springing votes of want of
confidence. Nothing came of them,
however, until one day to the surprise
of everyone, three Of the governments
supporters Topped and Mr.. Blair form.
ed new ministry. That was way back
in 1882. Mr.. Blair has been the leader
of the New Brunswick government ever
since. Whenever an election came
around, 1T did not matter whether a
majority of the men elected were fol
on against the government, when the
next legislature assembled and Mr..
Blair opened his samples, he always
found there were enough voting for
him to sustain him in office. They
couldn't loose him. He is an able de-
batter, an eloquent speaker and man
of excellent presence. Few In the OPP
position ever cared to stir him up for
he is always ready to send back as hard
or harder than he received. In the
legislature it was always known when
he had something bottled up, for he
had a habit of sitting with his hat on
whenever he intended to make a
speech.
During last year during the general
elections he was elected to the house
of commons and selected for the impor-
tant position Of minister Of railways.
If he proves as skillful in Dominion
politics as he did in provincial politics.
the Conservatives of Canada can bid
goodbye to all hopes of ever getting
back into power again He may be the
only man elected by the party he rep
resents, but when it comes to the first
vote in the house, they will be falling
over themselves to support him.
George J. Grant, of ST. Paul, is a rela-
tive by marriage Of the distinguished
Canadian.
Minister Davies is brother of AS
sistant General Passenger Agent Ben
| Davies, of the Great Northern railway.
Speaking of his mission Mr.. Davies
said:
81 am en- route to Victoria to attend the
sitting of the arbitration board appointed
to adjust the differences arising between the
American and British governments over the
Canadian seal fisheries. The British govern
ment has presented a claim of half million
dollars against the government of the United
States and the merits of the claim VIII be
tried before the international commission The
| first sitting occurs at victoria, ana the SECOND
at San Francisco, at which the government
of the United States will offer testimony in
rebuttal. The court is now in session. The
United States is represented by Hon. Don.
M. Dickinson and one other.
1t is said that their visit may result
in some important developments as to
the proposed Crows nest line.
Col. Domville, who is also a mem
Der of the party, talked along the same
lines as Mr.. Blair on political topics.
He thought, however. that the imperial
federation scheme, which was aimed to
secure better commercial relations be-
| tween England and her own colonies
and between the several colonies, would
be carried to a successful completion.
The gentlemen will leave today via
the Great Northern for Seattle from
which city they will Immediately pro-
ceed to Victoria. They would have
| gone yesterday, but delayed their de-
parture in order to make sure Of get
ting through the storm district Of North
| Dakota.