New-York tribune., 1901-10-14
POLITICS IN CANADA.
THE PREFONTAINE-TARTE QUARREL
OVER THE REJECTION OF JAMIE
SONS ELEVATOR PLANS
FOR MONTREAL

Ottawa, Ont Oct 1s (SpecaD.-The sound
and fury of the Prefontaine-Tarte ruction would
seem to indicate a tremendous Ministerial party
split down in Quebec. but Sir wilfrid Laurier
shows signs of distress. and Tarte himself
laughs at the tempest he has been the means OF
raising. Prefontaine, who is member of Parlia-
ment for Maisonneuve. and Mayor and Of the
Harbor Commissioners of Montreal, considers 1t
his mission oust Tarte from office Minister
Of the Crown and fill the vacancy himself. Tarte's
rejection OF Jameson's elevator plans for Montreal
offered Prefontaine opportunity TO start in to
damage Tarte with the party. and through the
party with Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and thus hasten
Tarte's downfall and exit from the federal Cabi-
net Hence the din and uproar of the last week.
with which the papers have been filed and COM
pared to which the cry for the removal of the
Governor-General raised by Prefontane few days
before a trife.
The elevator story In which all this originated
is one in which New-York. Buffalo, Chicago. De-
troit, Boston and Duluth are all more or less in
terested and there probably will be some curl
osity In those cities know what sort of per-
sonage this Mr.. Tarte is, who is frequently loom-
ing up in the papers as the central attraction in
some sensation in which the United states,
England, France and Canada in turn con-
cerned In the United States Mr.. Tarte has been
constantly figuring in connection with the terminal
plans at Montreal of Captain Wolvin. OF Detroit;
the proposals of the Buffalo syndicate for Montreal
elevators and St. Lawrence transportation and
the half dozen or more shortcut railway schemes
and canal projects TO divert the through IraIuC
of the Western States from the established chan
nels the United States and capture it for Canada
In England he found himself suddenly thrust into
prominence by his speeches in Paris on the French
Affiliations of the TO which he belongs In
Canada and the manifest destiny of the French
Canadians rule by weight of numbers in British
North America In France he rose in day to the
heights of giddy popularity from the same causes
that made him object Of distrust on the other
side of the Channel
hi 1s -rrhfr
winds OF political passion and fierce hatreds.
On the floor of Parliament. on the platform, IN
the press. in his own party and among the Bleus
Tarte is never suffered to remain for any length
of time in the background. His enemies are al
ways finding charge Of treachery. dis
loyalty dishonesty against the minister. and
there Is nothing too bad for Tarte. But through
1t all the unbounded confidence his chief, Sir Will
frid L4aurier reposes in Tarte remains unshaken
and with the Prime Minister there is nothing too
good for Tarte.
Mr.. Tarte is a slender man. past the middle age
brow and thin face, keen. quick eyes. dark hair
getting gray, nearly always wears black, with
long, double breasted skirt coat and high hat, and
is hardly in repOse except when asleep. He IS
a man of unusual nervous energy, a worker. a
fighter. quick in action. in all his movements, In
come tripping eacn other and he stammers in mo-