El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-22

II oLITIcs in Canada, as in every
lied world, is affected by the
many new problems that have arisen
from the modern development Of in
dustry, and which were as utterly IN
known to the trainers of the Canadian
constitution OF 1857 as to the fathers
of the American constitution of 1877.
Canadian methods Of dealing with
these politico-industrial problems are
of greater interest to Americans than
those of any European country, be-
cause industrial conditions in Canada
more nearly approximate those Of the
United States
The problems arising in connection
with railway development and control,
of banking and currency, of labor or
CARNATIONS and strikes, of industrial
combinations and trusts, of the tariff;
ALL are receiving the especial atten-
ton of Canadian statesmen, whose
supporters flatter themselves that
Canada is making greater progress to-
ward their ultimate solution than the
United States.
Are Deceiving Themselves.
Tt is to be doubted if Canada is real
ly as far ahead of It's southern neigh
Dor in some OF these matters as the
Canadians appear to believe. The rea-
son is that Canada is in practically
the same position with respect to in
dustrial development as was the United
States between 1870 and 1899. Rail-
roads are being built by government
aid in Canada now as they were then
in America; farm lands are being CIV
en- away in prodigal profusion to at
tract settlers; capital is encouraged to
promote industry and industry has
few others duties than the collection
Of capital Now that the United States
has progressed to a degree that such
industrial and economic extravagances
are no longer possible, a change has
come over the temper of American
politics. Canada has had the advan-
tage of seeing our struggles and its
leading statesmen are endeavoring to
avoid some of the rough roads we have
travelled.
Roads Must ,uH East and West.
One of the cardinal principles of
Canadian industrial creeds is that the
railways Of the country must run east
and west from coast to coast in order
that all business may be kept strictly
Canadian in character; railroads run
ming north and south being discour-
aged on the ground that they would
degenerate into mere feeders for the
great American systems. The govern
Pacific and later has engaged in fur
nishing competition and additional ia
cilities by actually constructing trans
continental and northern railways
which it will pay for and own, but
which it will not attempt to operate.
The Biggest Thing In Canada.
The Canadian Facific is the biggest
thing in Canada It is a Tory in poll
tics and 1t was born amid a scandal.
L.
factor and asset. 1t has the right, ac-
cording to law, to regulate its own
rates until such time as it may make
profit of 10 percent on its capital
That time has not yet come, according
to the expert bookeepers, but the rail-
way voluntarily submitted to govern
ment control of freight rates several
years ago The Liberal government
which has been in power so long Is. not
as subservient to the G. P. as were
the Tory governments that preceded
it, but ii would be wide of the mark
to say that sir Wilfrid Laurier and his
associates have been otherwise than
kind to this great financial and indus
trial power Nevertheless, in spite Of
the preponderating influence Of the
c. P, the CANAAN government has
taken "a stand at least as far advanced
as that of the United States with re-
spect to railway control.
Has Good Financial System.
With respect TO financial legislation.
nearly every student will agree that
Canada has a far better system than
that Of the United States. The power
To control the banks is federal in the
dominion and the complication of thu
dual system of federal and state
banks as it exists in the union is i'm
possible. There are SO incorporated
banks in Canada, having a total Of