The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-17
RECIPROCITY
 GAINS FAVOR
 WITH CANADA Dominion Government Ex- poets Speedy Ratification
 By Parliament
THE OPPOSITION
 IS MODERATING
Many Members of Conservatives Say They Will Vote for Agreement, Although at Present They
 Have to Fight It

Ottawa, Ont, April 16-A favorable re- port on the reciprocity agreement with the United States is looked for by mem hers of the Dominion government not lcng after parliament reassembles Wednesday. The rapid progress being made at Washington and the prediction that the agreement will be before the Senate nex. Thursday have been noted kere with satisfaction by the govern- ment's supporters. Settlement of the re- oiprocity issue in Canada, they believe, now depends primarily upon action at Washington Any assurance that Con- gress will ratify the agreement may pe coupled, they say, with the assurance that the Canadian parliament will do it's part.
 The Canadian government. packed by majority of more than 40 in the house, '- pledged and anxious to put the agree
 through as soon as the conserva- sse opposition permits a vote. Ratifca-
 then by the Senate would be merely
 natter of form, since the governments
 tpporters in that body outnumber the
 conservatives three to one.
 Until, however, the agreement is rat- fled by both American branches the fight against it in the Canadian house will be continued by MT. Bordens adherents along the lines followed the past six weeks But their stubborn resistance ad- mittedly is being kept up only in the hope that the situation may be saved from the conservative point of view. by a second failure of the Senate at Wash ington to pass the American part of the pact
 Opposition Moderates
 There has been decided moderation during the last few weeks of the fierce opposition at first waged against the agreement. The resentment aroused by i'll advised annexation talk has pract- oslly disappeared and members of the government assert some of the conserya- tive representatives of rural constitu- ences have been under strong pressure because of their alleged alarmist attitude on the subject.
 Tn large centers like Montreal and To- ronto. where the protectionist element is strongest, the fight against the agree nent is being continued by conservative press and speakers. But it is admitted by some conservative members that their fight against the proposition in the prairie provinces and in the non-urban parts of eastern Canada will not prove to have won them votes. Addressing his constituents in Morden. Manitoba, on Thursday for instance, W. E. Sharpe, prominent conservative member of the house, admitted that he knew all he had Ito do to make himself safe in his seat was to vote for reciprocity.
 i Other western conservatives are practi- hally in the same position but have stated they will continue to abide by the de- tision of their party caucus and fight the agreement to the end There may be two or three members of the opposition rep resenting rural constituents who will .deem discretion the better part of valor and if forced to vote, break from their party and go with the liberal ranks for reciprocity. These will be counterbal- anced by the action of three liberals who already have declared against the agree ment. Aside from these defections the is- sue is stll straight party one so far as the House is concerned.
 There is no method by which the gov ernment can foreclosure debate.
 Opposition Will Yield
 The prevailing opinion, however ap- pears to be that if Washington passes favorably upon the matter the opposition will not persist in whatever. intention 1t may have had to talk the measure to death or to delay its ratification by de- bate until the middle of May when Sir Wilfrid Laurier, prime minister, plans to sail for London to attend the colonial conference and the coronation. r,
 The debate will be resumed when parlia- ment reassembles next Wednesday. There will be liberal caucus on Thursday and so certain are the members of the govern ment that the reciprocity proposal now has the indorsement of the great majority if Canadians that the liberal members will be urged to expend little further time in defending their position in the House. The burden of continuing the debate and thus preventing a vote will be left to the opposition members.
 | The prime minister is hopeful that if Ratification has not been actually com ileted by both countries by May 12 there tjll be such certainty of its accomplish hent within few days as to warrant his dSparture on that date for London. 9th etwise probably he will not leave Ottawa b)t will deputize Sir Frederick Borden, minister of militia, and Hon. l.. P. Bro d{au, minister of marine and of naval af- fairs, to represent Canada at the corona ti9A. ...