The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-17
.LAUR|ER COUNTED
 ASURE WINNER EEI I'll UINv UvlvVEWy III Both Sides, However, C0nfi-
 dent of Victory CITY VOTE sKEPTICAL
Reciprocity's Strongest Gains Are in Country Districts and the Worst Losses in Cities-Montreal
 Herald's Forecast

Ottawa, Ontario, September 16.-(Spe- cial )-However the Canadian elections go Sir Wilfrid Laurier is assured of his seat for today R. Leduc. who had been nomi- mated to oppose the premier for Quebec, east, retired, leaving clear field for Sir Wilfrid.
 Or account of an invalid nomination pa- per at Two Mountains, Quebec, J. C.. Ethier liberal is likely to be elected by exclamation.
 With the election less than a week away and the nominations all In, the result is really more in doubt than it has been at any time since the dissolution of par llament. The best opinion of unbiased observers here is that Laurier will win, but that his majority will be slightly re- duced.
 Both sides are confident Laurier says he is coming back stronger than ever. Sifton says the government will be de- feated. Down In Noya Scotia conserva- tive predicts a majority for his party in the IS seats. The other side will concede only four conservative seats. An opti- mistic conservative from New Brunswick states there is very excellent chance of New Brunswick reversing completely it's late party standing of Il liberals and two conservatives.
 MT. Pughley, on the other hand, talks about a solid IS. And that's about the way it stands.
 The same spirit of confidence Is still displayed by both sides. There is some good reason for each to pc confident No one remembers when so many voters announced their intention of changing their politics and as the in- dependents are uncounted each side claims to have the majority Of them. The drift to the conservatives Is in cities and towns, where industrialism that thinks 1t is menaced by reciprocity is strongly entrenched, and where lot of ordinary people think their liv- ing will be made more costly If the al- ready prosperous farmers ship lot more of their produce out of the coun- try.
 Continue Battle
 Already there is much talk among conservatives that If the government should win the opposition would con- tinue the battle In parliament and force another election, trusting that. they might win In that event. It Is doubtful If such tactics would avail anything. however, as the country would resent further blocking of what was ohs..iously the peoples will by majority, not to speak of the upset ting of public business by two cleo tions in few months. eI
 Although in practically every constitu- ency there is warm contest, and each side is making good show of it's mettle, desperate efforts are being made by the conservatives to defeat Graham, minister of railways, in Brockville; Paterson, min- ister of customs, in Brant, and King, min ister of labor, in North Waterloo.
 Paterson is in most danger. though part of Kings following is the city of Berlin where the manufacturers are firmly es- tablished. Paterson is opposed by Fisher, a member of the provincial legislature, a variety of candidates of whom the oppo- sition have seven in the field in various parts of Ontario This province will un- doubtedly see a good many changes, as each side Is boosting, with a good show of reason, of the seats it will win from the other.
 Montreal, September 16.--The Montreal Herald's canvass Of Canada indicates the return of Sir Wilfrid Laurier by 51 ma jority. The canvass indicates the next house will stand: