Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-15
OPENS CAMPAIGN.
ontario Receives Premier Laurier with
Enthusiasm.

Hamilton. Ont, Oct. f4-Sir WilfriI
Laurirr hrsa'' his ontario campaign
here witt the greatest meeting 50 far
h.'d III the present Canadian election
campaign. The hall, which accomo-
dates tVe thousand people. WAS packed
as closely Is Il box cranECd With slr-
dimes, and many stood OutdnnrS and
out "f hearing of the p"cmier's speech,
Ollie aAd on"-hal; hours short. 1t was
i"v"'cd mainly to triumphant cXplana-
lions of his scheme, as adopted by
tanada's dissolved Parliament, for
Railway.
His points, elaboratcly argued, We're
that the railway in its western division
was a necessity to Manitoba and the
Territories; that everybody aCknowl-
edged this that the Grand Trunk
Company, seeing its opportunity in the
specified necessity, proposed to build
n new line through the prairie region
and carry it eastward to a junction
with the existing Grand Trunk system;
that this project meant that the Cana
dian west should remain forever
tributary to Portland, Me-, where the
government aid to the scheme would
have meant Canadian substituting of
n project designed to keep Canada
forever in that position of tributary to
the United States in which Canada had
been placed by the errors of the Eng
lishmcn who, fifty years ago, planned
the Canadian railway system; that
consideration for the political and COM
mercial independence of the Dominion
forbade the ministry to aid such
project; that the Grand Trunk Com
pany was therefore told that it could
get no government aid except upon
condition that it would undertake, in
addition to it's Western project, to
lease and operate an Eastern division,
designed to deliver the Western traffic
to Halifax and st. John, this division
to be built and owned by Canada, sub
iect only to the lease; that construc-
ton of this division afforded the only
possible chance of diverting the West
ern Canadian traffic from United
States ports; that the fight against
geography was to be made on terms
which could put the Canadian treas
| ury to an ultimate expense of only
| s13,000,OO0, seeing that the Grand Trunk
Company engaged to build the West
ern and absorb the Eastern division
on specified terms which would relieve
| Canada Of ali except the stated eX-
! pense; that the bargain was altogether
| in the public interest, and that his
| government cheerfully proposed to
stand or fall by it.
| Laurier was in excellent form and
strength. His audience rapturously
applauGed him. This may be ex-
planned partly by the fact that Hamil-
| ton. the second city of Ontario. has
prOspercd and grown greatly under
the Laurer Administration. 1t ap-
pears. however. that Laurier is well
coined by the Ontario public with en-
thusiasm more notable than was
anticipated. For some weeks the
electors have been listening to and
reading the speeches of Mr.. Borden,
leader of the Opposition, without being
BILE to gather from them any good
reason for opposition to Lauricr or his
railway scheme. Mr.. Bordcn's tour
has been described as "dull and alarm
ing" inasmuch as his criticism of the
railway project was neither clear nor
| straight" while his alliance with the
Socialist element, which proposes gov
eminent ownership of railways. teie-
graphs and telephone, has offended and
worried all the moneyed interests of
the country.
There is every appearance of a
strong tide in Sir WiIfrids favor. Good
Judges, who doubted last week that he
could gain a majority in this province.
now appear convinced that he stands
good chance of doing so.'