The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-22
POLITICAL LANDSLIDE
Conservatives swept Everything Be
fore Them In Ontario With the
Busaboo Of Annexa-
tion.


suffered an Overwhelming defeat in.
the Canadian elections.
BY a political landslide the liberal
majority of forty-three was swept
away and the conservative party se-
cured one of the heaviest majorities,
upwards of fifty, that any Canadian
party has ever had. Seven cabinet
ministers who had served with Pre-
mier Laurier were among the defeat
ed candidates.
The liberals lost ground in practi-
cally every province of the dominion
small Where the conservatives won
their majorities were tremendous. On
tario, the leading province of Canada,
declared almost unanimously against
the administration and reciprocity.
Robert L. Borden, leader of the
conservative party. win shortly be-
come the prime minister of Canada.
He will be supported in parliament by
working majority of members far
more than ample for his purposes.
What It Means.
The government defeat means the
Fielding Knox reciprocity agreement,
ratified by the American congress in
extra session will not be introduced
when the twelfth parliament assemb-
les next month and that revised
basis of trade with the United States.
looking to closer commercial relations
will not be possible in the immediate
future. The conservatives are COM
mitted to a policy of trade expansion
within the empire and closed door
against the United States.
Although reelected in two constitu-
encies in Quebec the defeat of the lib
eral party also means the retirement
from public life of Sir Wilfrid Laurier,
who for nearly two decades has di-
rected the destinies of the dominion.
Several times during the bit.er cam
paign which preceded Yesterdays cleo.
tion the venerable premier said that
defeat of his party at the polls meant
the end of his career: that he never
would consent to lead majority in
opposition to a conservative govern.
rent.
Sweep in Ontario.
A liberal membership of fifty-three
from Quebec was cut down to thirty
Blk, which, taken alone, seriously
threatened the supremacy of the par.
ty But it was in Ontario that the
conservatives won their greatest vic
tories Spurred on by appeals to pa
triotism and the cry that reciprocity
was the entering wedge for annexa
tlon, the conservatives swept nearly
everything before them That prov
lnce, which in the last parliament was
represented by thirty-five liberals and
hfty-one conservatives, will send O
ueiegation to the next composed oil
thirteen liberals and seventy-five con
servatives A notable feature of the
defeat was the opposition's capture o
TWO hitherto liberal seats in Saskatche
wan.
Laurler Accepts Decision.
There is no doubt that we have
neen decisively defeated declared
Sir Wilfrid Laurier early in the even
ing at Quebec to group of friends
VINO had gathered with him to heal
the returns. Il gladly lay down the
premiership, burden which have
carried fifteen years. We believed
lnat in making the reciprocity ar
raheement we had done something
winch would be greatly to the benefi
81 the people of Canada. The elector.
nave declared otherwise, and bow
70 their decision. regret that W,
nave been unable to carry reciprocity
"nich ] still believe would have pro
lhoted the material advancement o
canada, and would have promoted tn,
growing friendship between the Unit
ca States and Great Britain. How
ever the country has spoken; W,
So,
Unexpected Landslide.
The landslide was not expected b,
elener side. The liberals were conf