The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-31
TO MARK
BIRTH OF STATES
ALBERTA AND SASKATCHEWAN
TO BE MADE PROVINCES.
Earl Grey and His Countess and Sir
Wilfrid Laurier Will Attend the
Splendid Ceremonies at Edmonton
and Regina-School Legislation Issue
Still Troubling.

Special to The Journal
Winnipeg, Man., Aug. 31.-With
every assurance Of a bountiful har-
vest, with the actual beginning Of the
construction Of it's new transcontinen7
tai railway, with investors and settlers
rushing in from every side, the people
of western Canada will celebrate the
Inauguration of provincial institutions
with all the enthusiasm that these aus
picious circumstances would naturally
suggest.
Alberta will have the first celebra-
ton in the temporary capital, Edmon-
ton, on Sept. l, and the citizens of
that northern metropolis will endeavor
to make such showing as will i'm
prove the chances of their town to re-
main the seat of government, to which
older and more substantial Calgary
strenuously lays claim. There will be
plenty of outside aid to make the dis
play an imposing one. Viceroyalty
will be there represented by Earl Grey
and the countess, with a gorgeous es-
police; so will Sir Wilfrid Laurier,
Canada s renowned premier, with sew
eral of his colleagues AS soon as the
pageant is over in Edmonton the Wis
itors will rush back to Regina, where
similar ceremonies are to take place
on Sept. 4, to mark the birth Of the
province Of Saskatchewan. o.. d.. :. d.
Americans Prominent.
American settlers are taking an ac-
tive part in the organization of these
demonstrations In Regina the impor-
lance Of their cooperation was so gem
orally recognized that there was a sep
arate American committee to help in
the work of organization for the great
day.
The part which these settlers will
play in the elections which are to fol-
monies will not be less important. AL
tho American-born immigrants who
have only recently crossed the line can
not vote, there is a large proportion of
who have been long enough in the
country to qualify for naturalization,
while those who went. to the states
from British possessions and became
American citizens are restored to their
full political rights as British subjects
six months after they have entered
Canada, if they only take the pre-
scribed oath to renew their allegiance.
In this way a large number Of peo-
pie who have been trained in Ameri-
can political methods will have the
right to vote at the coming elections. Z
No Vote on Constitution.
Altho the promotion from the rank
of territory to that of statehood cor
responds in many ways to admission
to statehood in the union, no Canadian
vote on its constitution. That instrl.
ment, in theory, is a grant from the
crown; in practice it is the work OF
the Dominion parliament; and the par.
lament of Ottawa has legislated with
a view of carrying out certain ideas
which were the basis of the Canadian
confederation as much as to meet the
wishes Of the people of the new prov
ince.
Thus the new provincial governments
are restricted in many ways: they will
not have the control of the public lands
within their territories and must re-
spect the rights Of the Canadian Pacific
railway in the matter of taxation; in
legislating on educational matters they
must respect the vested rights Of reli
gious minorities to separate schools, nor
can they erect such divorce mills as
made Dakota famous.
! In the work Of practical organization
the people will also have their judges
| and lieutenant governor appointed from
above. The latter official specially
will play an important part at the out
set as he would have the absolute power
| to select the first provincial cabinet
and will no doubt do so in a way tc
meet the views Of Ottawa.
| First Elections in November.
That being the situation after the
| provincial regime is inaugurated in AL
berta and Saskatchewan, the people viii
nevertheless have an opportunity to ex
press their view of the constitution
given them, when the first elections fol
the legislature are held in November
/ When the bills to give provincial statu.
to the western territories were first in
troduced at Ottawa, it was stated il
this correspondence that it was as wei
to hoist the storm signal over that pc
litical field The storm has been stead
lily brewing and it will burst locally
with a vengeance after the Inaugural
| tion ceremonies.
/ Already the action Of the Laurie1
i government in restricting the powers o.
4 the western legislatures concerning thu
! schools and the public lands has beer
the subject of violent agitation all owe
Canada In Ontario great effort wa
made to secure verdict against thu
Laurier policy, when two parliamentary
i alactions came IN. hit If failed. Thi