The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-05
THE CAMPAIGN IN CANADA.
BOTH PARTIES PREPARING FOR
WEDNESDAYS BALLOT WAR.
An Unusually Large Vote IL Looked
for, and the Victory IL Claimed
by Each side-Result Will Be
Close, with the Chances Said to
he I'm vavor OF the Liberal Party.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
OTTAWA. Nov. 4--The brief space YET
remaining before polling viii take place
in the pending Canadian elections can
now make little, II any. change IN tne
political situation as affecting the Two
contendng parties. which seem to nave
mutually paused to take breath for the
final assault. The interest manifested
throughout the country over the ap-
preaching polls, the outcome OF when
is bound to have so important bearing
upon the future of the Dominion, promises
an unusually large vote of the Canadian
electorate. It Is safe to say that never
In the history OF this country has
government appealed TO the people with
stronger case. and never before have
tR issues al stake been so strikingly I'M
pUftant. in an imperial sense. as between
the political contestants. The sympatnies
OF the British press are strongly in favor
OF the Laurier government and the sem
timent of the independent portion OF the
Canadian press shows a similar trend
There is now no tariff policy at issue.
for the Liberals have tacitly adopted
the protective principles established by
their rivals. The only difference. In this
respect. seems to be that Conservatives
advocate an increase In the protective
duties for Canada, the repeal OF the Brit
ish preference and the adoption OF
measure Of tariff protection within the
whole empire against the world.
Among the matters which the outcome
OF the present elections will materially
affect is one Of great national Importance
to Canada, viz. The immediate develop
ment OF the transportation projects which
the government. since II took office, has
boldly and successfully promoted. The
opposition OF the Conservative party to
the transportation policy inaugurated by
the government. involving, as II does.
the expenditure OF enormous sums OF pub
lie money in the proper exploitation or
the vast enterprises embraced In that
policy. plainly indicate a less aggressive
and decidedly dilatory action along these
lines should Sir Charles Upper regain
power in Canada
The aim OF the raurier administration Is
to divert. with the least possible delay.
the great bulk OF the carrying trade OF
the West from American channels into
Canadian waterways and over Canadian
railways to Canadian ports of shipment.
To attain this desired end, immense sums
Of public money have been appropriated
In deepening and improving the canal
system OF this country. extending its
railway lines and improving the shipping
facilities at the ports of Montreal and
Quebec.
EnIarging Canal System.
Recently the canals of the upper st.
Lawrence has been deepened to admit
OF the passage of vessels with a dranght
OF fourteen feet, whereby VI II anticipated
that a large volume OF trade will he
drawn away from Buffalo and New York.
II IA also confidently expected that the
great manufacturers of Chicago. Cleve-
land and Pittsburg, and other United
States ports. will charter boats direct to
Liverpool. England. via the port of Mon
treal and return. A steady increase of
trade, following the deepening OF the
canal system, Is now looked for. and
Montreal Is expected 70 become. after
the governments projects there have been
completed. the rival OF Buffalo and the
popular way to the sea from the West.
The new fourteen-feet system OF canals.
when completed from the Great Lakes
TO Montreal Is by no means a hnaiity.
however. The tendency OF all the new
Georgian bay as the terminal of the
deep-water navigation of the upper lakes.
Probably 800 miles of transportation Is
points instead OF at Buffalo The OPEN
ing a few days ago, of the Great North
ern railway with It's terminus at Quebec.
provides railway facilities for handling
through traffic from Parry sound. This
new rail route will place freight from
the West alongside ocean ships at Quebec
without breaking bulk, and II Is predicted
that 1t viii prove a most important factor
IN the governments plan for the diversion
Of the Western traffic into Canadian
transportation channels. In. connection
ocean steamships. of i5,W0 tons each.
has been engaged to operate from the
port Of Quebec next year.
Another great project promoted by the
government and which IL designed to
form the connecting link OF the Canadian
grain route. during the months that II IL
necessary TO extend IL TO winter port
on the Atlantic seaboard. is the proposed
construction OF the great bridge across
the st Lawrence at Quebec. tho corner
stone Of which was laid by Sir wilfrid
| Y I'll fap faNa will
S. 0n0, 600, Four railways are already In
terested IN the building Of this great
structure, to which may soon be added
another. the Quebec 4 Georgian Bay
Railway. new trial route now under
construction from Georgian bay 10 Que
bee. The promoters Of this road expect
70 be able TO turn Quebec into an all the
year round seaport. Sir wilfrid Iaurier
also promises that. II returned to power.
his government win at once take up the
question of winter navigation OF the St
Lawrence which Is now considered a feas-
ibie undertaking. Il is nearly half CEN
fury since a bridge 20 connect the shores
OF the St Lawrence, at Quebec, was pro-
jected. and the speedy construction and
completion Of this vast enterprise, as
well "a others equally important In solv-
ing the transportation problem in Cana
da. depends largely upon the success Of
the Iaurier government at the polls
Chances Favor Liberals.
The electoral battle in Canada has been
hotiy and bitterly fought during the short
time which has elapsed since the DISCO
tuition OF parliament, and az this late
STAGE In the contest the victory seems
s,iil 20 incline towards the government
side Political experts on both sides are
now figuring on close result. the minis
terisiists anticipating a majority % al
least seventeen over their opponents
while the opposition claim that Il will
show fourteen In their favor Indsptn-
dent politicians and the nonpar,isSn press
OF the couatry generally agree IN the
opinion that the government will likely
be sustained by a narrow marEfn Apart
from the exaggerated predictions Of cam
paign managers throughout the Domln-
Ton, the expectations az political head.
quarters ~ the government party AZ
the capital are that the contest will Be
close but decisive one. IL should also t,.s
borne In mind that there are i've con-
s,ituencses IN Canada 10 which the elsc-
sons will not be held until dase some
weeks later than that fixed FOR the gem
eraI poll. Two OF these are IN British
| Columbia two Ia Quebec and one ia ON
tarfo. In the possible event Of the yen
eraI result on the 7th instant approach
| ing A tie between the PARTIES thaas con-