The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-22
The APPROVAL
OF STRAIHCONA
It Has Raised the Chamberlain
Preferential Proposal to Live
Issue in Canada.
The Imperial Congress Of Chambers
III Of Commerce Talks of -
Little Else. ~ %
From g. Staff Correspondent.

From a Staff Correspondent.
Ottawa, Aug. 32-secretary Chamber I
lajn's proposal for a British preferential
will be discussed with increased vlgor by
the Canadian. public, as a result Of the |
meeting in Montreal Of the Congress of
Chambers Of Comm cree Of the EMPIRE
which began last Monday. This is the
fifth session of the congress, but the first
one held here. The other four have been
held at various points in the empire,
Australia having, had one and South Al
RIGA another. Heretofore a great variety !
of subjects has, been discussed at these
annual conferences, but at Montreal the
Chamberlain proposal has attracted the
most attention and other questions. have
been sidetracked in its favor ."4
To-day the delegates are here in Otta-
wa, where they are being entertained by
the citizens and shown marked attention
by members Of parliament, including the
ministry. .-.-...., . 4
| That a discussion of imperial commences
and the need for closer union between the
mother country and the colonies should
attracted attention in Canada was to have
been expected, for the congress is made
up Of the leading business men of the
empire. England, Of course, is strongly
| represented, and the attendance; from the
colonies is also large. There can be no
question but that the congress as a Whole
is thoroly representative of the most pro-.
gressive and intelligent commercial
| thought of the broad British domain
There is no surprise, therefore, at the in
I terest which the discussion has created;
the surprise lies in the fact that com
MERGE should be discussed, almost to the
neglect Of other topics. = -.
$50 Effect on Public Sentiment
It is too early to know what the effect
of the congress will be on Canadian public
sentiment, but that it will be far-reach-
4 i,1o io M at what deci-
sion the congress may arrive regarding
the Chamberlain proposal. All admit the
difficulties of the situation, but business
men are beginning to say for the first
time that perhaps there should be an eff
t fort to overcome them. At the threshold
of the matter stand two apparently ir-
reconcilable differences of opinion. Great
Brtains working people, on the one hand
believe in the virtue of cheap bread, and
r Canadian manufacturers, on the other, in
r sist that the home market for manufac-
y tured goods must be preserved for their
;, use by high tariffs. If England and the
colonies really desire to approach the sub
! ject in a spirit Of fairness and mutua
|, concession, it is now thought here tina
n something may possibly be done. At the
: height Of the discussion came cablegrams
b to Canadian newspapers from London
quoting Secretary Chamberlain to the eff
feet that his policy, if carried out, would
not increase the cost of food to- British
, subjects. If he can make that assertion
+ good at home, many Canadians believ
d that the greatest difficulty in the way o
E the preferential will habe been removed.
. strathcona's 20. X"
c: The one overshadowing figure in Can
o adian public life to-day is Lord Strath
;. cona high commissioner, and affection
Z ately referred to by the people as 9Th
;. grand old man of Canada" He is tn
:. honorary president of the congress sitting
8 in Montreal, and in that capacity he mad
:. one of the opening addresses. Only re
i Gently returned from England, where h
:. went for the express purpose of inform
:. ing himself regarding imperial matters G
- interest to Canada, it is regarded as sig
). niticant that his address Of welcom
=. should have been an unqualified indorse
:. ment Of the Chamberlain proposal and
:. request that the people Of Canada, fo
:. their own and the empires good, shout
= adopt it. That Endorsement has don
a more to give the Chamberlain preferentis
3 assured standing in Canada than every
- thing else that has occurred since it wa
first announced.
"A Press Stands by Him.
"a All Of the leading Canadian newspaper
discuss the Strathcona address in serior
. vein, and not one has taken issue with
n No matter what the politics of the new:
-. papers, liberal or conservative they a.
81 tach the highest Importance to the ve1
cradle lords words, and If they do n,
indorse them specifically, speak in we
that shows that they have made dee
III impression. This, from a double 1eade
IRE editorial in the Montreal Star, perha]
- the leading conservative organ in Il
,ot dominion, will give some idea of the WE
IS. the Strathcona address was received:
A. Coming from man In his position, and esp
M cialy coming from himself, the speech will
On regarded thfuoue canada as OF the greatest 81
nifcance and Importance. No man has bett
tut right to speak upon behalf Of the whole peor
of the Dominion, and no man has, a better undt
i6s standing of the interests and needs OF Cana
ed than the high commissioner.
Brassey Not Listened To
'rn Lord Brassey Of London, one of t
leading commercial authorities of En-
ed land, followed Lord Strathcona, and in
int elaborate speech opposed the Chambe
lain plan; bat Canada will forget what