Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-09-21
THE RECIPROCITY
ISSUE IN CANADA.
Battle of Ballots On.-.Political Parties
Admit that the Result is
PrOblematical.

Ottawa, Ont, Sept. 2l.-The battle
OF the ballots is on throughout Canada
today, and even the liberals admit that
the result is more or less problematical,
although they feel very hopeful. Party
lines have been broken up by the reci-
procity issue, population has SO
changed since the last election, and the
nationalist influence in Quebec has so
transformed the Quebec situation that
every one is in the dark.
Administration supporters today
admit that the loss OF the thirteen
seats in Quebec is likely, and should
the tories gain seven other seats,
reciprocity could not possibly be.forced
through. In the last Commons tho
Laurier majority. exclusive of the
speaker, was 43.
The conservatives say they will do
better 10 the maritime provinces and
the West, but the liberals make SIM
liar claims. Probably there will not
be much change, unless it be in
Manitoba, where the liberals should
gain two or three seats. The real
fighting ground is in Quebec and in
Ontario, and in both the administra-
ton will likely lose ground.
1t is expected that the election will
be very corrupt, as both sides are we'll
supplied with money. Bitter feeling
exists in many quarters, and numerous
small riots are likely. Word comes
from st. Hyacinths that Henri Bourass
the nationalist leader, was rnobbed and
had to be rescued by special train.
The polls opened at 9 o'clock this
morning, and will remain open until
5 O'Clock this evening. According to
advices coming in from every2 point,
the early voting was OF the heaviest
character, showing the interest the
rank and file feel in the outcone.
Friends of Sir Wilfrid Laurier declared
before noon that the reports received at i
headquarters indicated that the liberal
are running we'll and that
the liberal majority will exceed the
early hopes.
Montreal, Sept. 2l.-Nerer in the
history of Canada has there been N ore
determined work on the part of the po.
litical leaders to get out the vote as was
in evidence today. Long before the
polls were, opened there were lines OF
electors waiting in front OF the polling
places prepared to vote. There are no
voting machines in use, the procedure
being under the 80 called Australian
ballot system, and the work Of record
ing was slow.
The big leaders voted early. Premier
Laurier voted in Quebec at 10 o'clock,
and the opposition leader, r. L. Bor-
den st about, the same hour deposited
his ballot at Halifax.
Motor boats are being used in both
city and county to get the voters to the
polls. There have been no disorders
OF consequence reported up to /
O'Clock, and at that hour goodly per-
centage of the total vote had already
been cast. Today's vote was in 214 of
the 221 constituencies in Canada.
Halifax, N. S., Sept. 21.-The voting
was very heavy today through Nova
Scotia, and the liberal leaders we're
claiming at noon that they would gain
four seats owing to the popularity OF
the reciprocity issue.
st. John, N. B., Sept. 21.-Wi.h con-
tests in every county in the province
the interest in today's election was in
tense and very heavy early vote was
cast. The conservatives were claiming
that they would make substantial
gains while the liberal leaders insisted
that they would retain their eleven
seats.