The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-23
SCHOOL ISSUE
STILL TROUBLING
Ontario in Strong League with
the West Against Policy of
Premier.
L.AURIER SETTLEMENT
DOES NOT SETTLE
Government Urged to Abandon
Its Attitude or Appeal to
the Country.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal
Winnipeg, Man, March 20 The
gathering clouds of discomfort in the
English provinces of Canada grow
apace and the so-called coercion clauses
in the autonomy bills referring to sepa
rate schools in the new provinces or AL
berta and Saskatchewan bid fair to
government, which received fresh
lease of power last November on the
popular Grand Trunk Pacific project.
Territorial towns have held mass
meetings called by their mayors and
passed strong, condemnatory, resolu-
met and called on the government to
stay it's hand, and Ontario particularly
has been most energetic in it's protesta-
tions against saddling the new
provinces with separate schools in per-
petuity.
For instance, on Monday tremend-
GUS massmeeting was held in Toronto
in which leading educationalists and
representatives of all protestant de-
nominations demanded that the govern
ment abandon the clauses in the bills,
or appeal to the country, and stern de-
mands were made for equal rights for
all and special favors for none.
Changes Which Do Not Change.
The clauses which proved such a fire.
brand to the west, after much discuss
ing in caucus by government members,
have again been recaSt, 1T IS said, with
the concurrence of the western repre-
sentatives in the federal house. But
eminent jurists say the difference be-
tween the new sections and the originals
is very shadowy, when the debatable
provisions are stripped of their cum
brous phraseology.
The second reading Of the bill is now w
before the house. The weak point OF
the matter is that Mr.. SiftOn announced
his resignation, because he was sighted
by the premier in not being consulted
in drafting the bill, and on top of this
comes the grave mistake of Sir Will
frid in not consulting F. w. G. Haultain,
premier of the Northwest Territories,
the accredited representative =, Of the
people mostly concerned in che matter.
He is at Ottawa for that purpose, and
notwithstanding his official position
and his brilliant legal attachments, the
federal premier did not condescend to
refer the matter to him, and Mr.. Haul
tain authorizes the statement that he
and his conferees in the territorial gov
eminent have been ignored in the draft
ing of the clauses and that they were
unaware of their purport.
This cavalier treatment of the Ter
ritorial cabinet, and Of the energetic
ex-minister of the interior, has raised
a terrific storm of protest turnout the
Dominion, exceptiong, of course, Quebec
always excepting Quebec-for with
its tremendous following in the house
and the sagacious and powerful lnfiu-
ence, mostly nnspoken, of the hierarchy,
it is debating Laurier's policy in this
regard. And there is no doubt that he
will endeavor to push it thru.
Crisis Is Approaching.
Tha iss,,e ia a momentous one and the
situation is particularly grave, as car
be seen by the lampoons, cartoons, reso
lutions, etc, that like dragon teett
are appearing all over the land. A
great constitutional crisis is approach
ing; u;o o,-,ua +,o n,ora ,;1,.7 ~
Quebec, and the banner province OF the
English, is afame; Manitoba, savage a.
the stultifying of it's size by reason o.
it's school system, is fercely indignant
the Territories helpless in their wratl
and their partially disorganizeed state
while the far-otf maritime provinces ar
resoluting' in great volume.
The federal house, which is positivel,
swamped with stacks of petition
every day will divide according to rae
and creed, not politics; the people, tn
done this. The English and Frenc]
Canadian stand face to face, and tn
Protestant and Catholic, 10th to tax
issue, are forced by the exigencles o
the situation into hostile camps.
For instance, the conservative mem
bers at Ottawa met to disagree o.
Tuesday. i French conservatives vii
vote with fhe liberal Laurier and Eng
1ish conservatives with the opposition
Confusion reigns supreme.
Fair Settlement Not Expected.
In the Territories, where many in
migrants of many nationalities, lncluC
ing large drafts from Great Britai
and immense colonies from the Unite
States, have settled; public opinio
is not crystallized. However, the mos
advanced party now coming into exist
yocates Of an unconstitutional idea ar
becoming numerous from the daily n
ports of the west, and from BIRTHS
and imperial point of view the move
ment is alarming.
The crux of the question will b
reached at the close of the second reat
ing Of the now famous autonomy bill
and their inhammatory school clause
and a fair settlement Of the vexe
matter is not expected by the wester
people.
/. American settlers with broad idea
of how their own schools are governe
\ are mighty influence in the prairies :
this particular juncture, but simils
f. system to theirs seems almost too GOO
to expect. The Canadian premier
/ schools of the states and it's g carniv
of crime,'' has stirred popular feelin
to the breaking point.
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