The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-23
THE RECIPROCITY ELECTION.
BOTH PARTIES CONFIDENT IN
CANADA.
Believe That Cities VIII Go For Con-
s~rvsuves, With Rural Districts
Supporting Liberals.

Montreal. Sept. ao.-This election
eve. when a great question mark lies
across the Canadian map from At
iantic to Pacific. finds the domirion
more interested In itself and the
whole world more Interested in il
than ever before. Tomorrow will
answer questions vitality affecting the
country and nearly az deep concern
lng the United states--shan the
IAurier regime continue and shall
Canada by giving the government
party Of the last Is years contin-
usncs Of power. put into effect the
reciprocity agreement already rat.-
ned by the republic across the bord-
err?
On this might before" the leaders
on both sides are expressing ex.zeme
confidence. The government. papers
this evening assert that the Liberals
will win by so majority ttus increas-
ing their strength In the 18th parlia-
ment's house OF commons by seven
seats On the other hand the opposi-
ton papers claim ali sc1ai majority
for the party Of r. l.. Borden the
conservative leader, and point witt,
uneouivocal certainty to the gov
ernment's defeat and its realization,
that defeat N impossible.
The Montreal Star. which has
conducted an especially a<gressiv,,
sntireciprocity campaign. prints II,
large type tonight the statement.
Government defeated" Newspapers
on both sides support their claims
by detailed statements telegraphed
by the party organizers In the capi-
tails of each Of the 10 provinces.
Others who claim the oprortunity
fof imperisl surysy nay. theys expect
tns government to be returned with
reduced majority. ranging from
20 TO 80. II Is generally conceded
that the province Of Quebec holds
the key to the situation. During the
rs years that Sir wilfrde Laurier
has been In power this province al
ways has rolled up a majority suffi-
cient tn offset adverse voting I'm 9TH
er provinces. SO consistently has
this been the case that II mas come
TO be regarded as a certainty and
In recent elections the Conservatives
have made but infrequent and spas
modic attempts to gain any seats
here.
The National party In Quebec has
paid but little attention to recipro-
city. II has conducted Its campaign
upon opposition to governments 3
naval programme end the record
Of the government In general. 1t has
beer led by Henry Bourassa, a form
or Liberal member Of parliament, who
is not at this time a candidate. The
Tstionalists also have the support
OF number OF French and English
newspapers. On the question wheth-
er this enthusiasm fas been coined
into votes against the government
probably hangs the fate OF Laur-
ier's political future. Extreme Ma
tionalists are chiming that their
party. together with the straight
Conservatives. will elect SO members
from Quebec at tomorrow's election.
II they do. II In generally conceded
that the government will be defeat
ed. The election OF one-half this
number would have the same result.
In the last parliament the Conser-
vetives' seating was IL.
The Liberals. however. have not
overlooked Quebec. They have con-
Quoted strenuous campaigns there
and claim that the old province will
roll up the customary majority for
Its favorite son. Sir wiIfrid Laurier.
The premier himself ordinarily not
much given To boasting. has deciar-
ed himself thoroughly confident OF
winning. while II. L. Borden the
Conservative leader In n formal
proclamation issued on the eve of
the election. says tho prospects new
er looked brighter for return OF
thu CONSERVATIVES IN novvar