New-York tribune., 1908-11-08
NEWFOUNDLAND RIVALS
Charges against the Government
Platforms of Parties.
tFreu a Special Correspondent Of The Tribuna-

Toronto. Nov. s-The little but ancient British
colony Of Newfoundland has just held its general
election. The Liberal government, under Sir Rod
ert Bond appealed for third term Of popular con-
s6e-cs The opposition after varied mutations
and conditions Of leadership had settled down TO
the fight under Sir Edward Morris, who was Ior
years a member OF the Bond government, but had
resigned IN 1891 owing to some question OF com
pliceted personal ana labor character. Sir Robert
has been a OF stormy petrol IN Imperial ano
international politics for years HIS treaty In 1881
with MI Blaine when the latter was United States
Secretary Of State. antagonized Canada by giving
the United States fiscal preference over CANADIAN
products and its disalovance by the imperial gov
eminent under the protest from Sir John Macdon-
aid that such q policy endangered empire UNITY
embittered feeling In Newfoundland against the
Dominion
Sir Roberts efforts in 1892 to bring about conted-
GRAFTON with Canada resulted in failure owing to the
latter country not making large enough oher or
agreeing to sufficiently generous terms, and since
then his elections have been fought upon OASIS OF
intense hostility anything even approaching union
with Canada His second effort to obtain United
States reciprocity resulted IN the Bono-Hay treaty
q. 1872 but the prolonged 'hold-up' of this ar
ra1genent in the Senate at Washington created
keen resentment IN Newfoundland against the
United states snd the final outcome was the re-
1aliatory fishing regulations which have In recent
years stirred up the Gloucester fishermen, caused
prolonged negotiations between the United states
and Great Britain and aroused some feehg N tIo
island colony against Great Britain herself
siderably OF late years The hard times from which
came the confederation negotiations have long sfnce
passed away. The Reid-Newfoundland railway mo-
nopoly has been created and amended and IN part
abolished while giving TO the colony an important
transportation system. The EarmsTorths are now
developing the islands great pulp resources In It's
appeal TO the people the government party TOOK
fun credit Itself for recent years OF prosperity
and denounced the opposition as being revival OF
TIE oldtime Tory organization which was described
as extraragant and reckless. Rs the parent OF un-
limited concessions to the Reid company as the
author OF high tariff prices and the cause OF past
financial depression. The government asserted II
had reformed the Reid contracts, established a
splendid coastal service and lowered passen-
e7 and freight rates, remitted duties upon artces
Of daily consumption 70 the nsherTnen totaIllns
q 915 900 in eight years while expending considera-
bic sums in the erection Of wharves and harbor
improvements: passed g beneficial workmen's com
pensation act and placed various articles OF special
agricultural requirement upon the free ISL I'M
proved the mines regulation act and made many
kinds Of mining machinery free; helped the lumber
men by its important arrangement for the estao-
EshTnent of pulp and paper industries and reouced
general tariff taxation by $1,000 in eight years.
while at the time expending $4csvoV upon
roads s357 OcO upon marine works and $4,000 upon
education.
Ia his manifesto 10 the people Sir Robert de-
clared he had fought great fight against Amerf-
aggression and had stood by the coionyS IN
terests against even the mother country oesiIo
for peace and harmony with the United States. He
declared in favor Of an old age pension system
subject 10 the advice OF q committee recently ap-
pointed 70 study the question, and denounced the
opposition as pledged to a Reid domination over
the country to & policy of dnacIal bankruptcy and
10 Canadian confederation. Sir Edward Morris at
tackled the government all along the line. He de-
scribed il as Indifferent 10 labor interests, de-
nounced It for the failure Of various industrial en-
terpTises which Il had either initiated or eided
during eight years ot power condemned II for haV-
ing in the United States dispute accepted reference
10 the Hague Tribunal, with Canadian (Sr T.
FHtzpatrickD as the islands arbitrator, and pro-
claimed the existing depression in the fishery in
serests as subject immediate betterment under a
change OF government. Confederation was repu-
dated in words as strong those used with such
lack OF success by the opposition Of four ago
ana varied arornises were made Of comprehensive
and diversified character. Special promises were
given TO the labor interests