The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-09-28
TALK IT over
Result Of the Canadian Election Being
Discussed Pro and Con.
WILL IT HELP OR HURT

Trying to Figure Out, the Old
Guard Republicans Being Inclined
to the Belief That 1t Will Heal the
Party Breach;
A Washington dispatch says the
question which is agitating the lead
ers of political parties and factions
is how their fortunes in the approach
ing national campaign will be affect
ed, by Thursdays defeat of the Laur-
ier government and Canadian reci-
procity. It is evident the replies
would be as varied in character, as
were the political views of the fac
tions which fought over the question:
during the special session of con-
gress.
Official Washington closely follow.
ed the returns from Canada Thursday
night but remained silent regarding
the outcome. Huntington Wilson,
acting secretary of the state depart
ment, declined to make any state
ment, and there was no other high
official in a position to discuss the
situation. The unofficial view was
that as Canada had rejected the
agreement there was nothing for the
administration to do but make the
best of the matter"
That the rejection of the Canadian
agreement will have strong bear
ing upon the campaign of President
Taft is not doubted. Some Of the
"Old Guard" Republicans who sup
ported the agreement against their
better judgment" are saying it's de-
feat will strengthen the Taft admin
istration by removing the. only issue
on which there was any disagreement
with the president
Most of the insurgent Republicans
we're opposed to the agreement and
they believe their position has been
made much stronger. There was no
one in Washington to speak even tn4
formally for the Democrats. A maj
ority of that party in botn senate
and house voted for the enactment
and without their votes the Taft pro-
gramme for the special session would
have failed. .,-,
Some of the friends of the Caradt-
an agreement do not hesitate to
charge the Canadian defeat of the
Laurier government to the "annexa-
ticn bogy." One of the excuses for
this issue was suggested by speech
of Champ Clark, of Missouri, now
speaker of the house, which he deliV-
cred in favor of the agreement dur
ing the last session Of the Sixty
first congress, when the agreement
was passed by the house and held up
by the senate. 'Mr. Clark was max
ing plea for wider market and in
giving his reasons for supporting the
Canadian agreement said:
81 am for it because I hope to see
the day when the American flag will
float over every square foot of the
British North American possession
clear to the North Pole. They are
people of our blood; they speak our
language; their institutions are much
like ours. They are trained in the
difficult art Of self-goVerpment. My
judgment is that If the treaty Of
1854 had never been abrogated the
chances of a consolidation of these
countries would have been much
greater than they are now
The Canadian press or at least no
small padt of it, accepted Mr.. Clark's
statement as confession that the
real motive of the United States was
to promote annexation. In vain Mr..
Clark explained that the remark was
emi-jocular," although representing
his personal desire. The chance re-
mark was one of the chief arguments
of Canadian opponents Of the agree
ment.
Added Importance to Mr.. Clark's
remarks was given when he was later
elected speaker, and as such became
the leader of his party. Many per-
sens, because of these circumstances,
were attributing the political down.
fall Of the premier Of the Canadian
government to the speaker OF the
A,,or;,,n bouoa of renrcnt otiyeS