El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-14

= ONTREAL. Canada. Sept IA
N "a The naval question Is not the
lYl issue in the present campaign
IN Canada in the sense that
the naval policy Of the Dominion; but.
nevertheless. 1t is the issue which pos
sibly, even probably, will determine
the event Of the election-and that ut
dement's of American reciprocity.
Liberal Party Victorious.
For the space OF fifteen years. In
election after election. the Liberal
frid Laurier, has triumphed by virtue
of the votes of the French Canadians
of the province of Quebec. In this
campaign the effort IS being made by
to win away from Sir Wilfrid the sup
port OF his French-speaking compa-
triots. The government has not often
ed the people Of Quebec by negotiating
the reciprocity agreem-s,r
United States. for it is quite generally
conceded that upon the clear cut issue,
Quebec would vote largely in favor OF
reciprocity. The anti-Laurier forces
in Quebec, in dealing with the French
reciprocity and its possible evil eff
fects on Canadian prosperity. They say
nothing at all of what they say in the
other eight provinces OF Canada about
part Of the advocates of reciprocity.
For in Quebec the movement against
Laurter Is based. not upon the ground
that he is disloyal TO England. but that
he has been so loyal to the Empire
that he has prejudiced the interests
and independence Of his French-speak-
ing compatriots.
In Quebec. among the French-Cana-
dians the opposition to Laurier Is
based on a radical protest against the
Canadian naval policy as proposed and
adopted in the last parliament part
of this opposition is frankly conserva-
leadership of F. D. Monk The
portion Is compare lively small, and, 1t
Is safe to say. causes Sir Wilfrid but
little uneasiness.
The New Opposition.
Another portion OF the opposition is
the new Nationalist party. led by
Henri Bourassa. and of the strength
Of this faction nobody is able TO Judge
should be negligible, there is little
doubt that the Liberals will win on
September 81, and that the recipro-
city. pact viii be ratified soon after
parliament reassembles In October.
AS represented In parliament there
were three distinct views of the naval
problem. The bulk OF the conservative
party, led by Mr. Borden, was extreme
ly radical, advocating direct aid TO
the British admiralty from the Cana
dian treasury. The French conserva-
tives, led by Mr.. Monk, were extremely
conservative, obJecting to any apprO-
prfatfon OF Canadian money for naval
purposes The liberal majority, loyal
to Sir Wilfrid Laurier. adopted a
moderate position and established a
separate Canadian navy of defence.
The German war scare IN 1909
caused a tremendous agitation through
out the British empire in favor Of I'M
mediate and effective measures to as
sure the permanence of the British
supremacy on the seas. In response to
the resolutions of an imperial con-
ference held in London. the self-gov-
erning British colonies agreed to give
substantial aid TO the British navy
which is supported entirely by taxa
ton upon the people of Great Britain.
Canada consented TO the withdrawal
of the British navy from Canadian wa
ters and established separate Cana
dian navy for purposes OF coast de-
fence.
The Navy Bill.
The bill for the establishment Of
the navy was presented IN parliament
in January, 1910, by the prime minis
ter. In the first speech made on the
question, Sir Wilfrfd outlined his poll
icy He stated that the navy service
bill followed In general lines the exist
Ing militia act except that IN the
case of the militia. the whole. male
population OF Canada from the age OF
IL to the age OF so is liable to military
service, while under the naval act.
every man who will be enrolled for