Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-09
QUEBEC TO DECIDE
Fate of Reciprocity Rests
With Friends of Laurier.
so POLITICIANS DECLARE
Voters of the Province Hold Pre-
mier in High Esteem.
HOT CAMPAIGN WAGED THERE
Result Believed to Depend Upon the
Attitude of the Clergy-Pres-
ent Conditions.
HOT CAMPAIGN wAGED THERE
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS

Special Correspondence OF The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
QUEBEC, September Z. 1911.
1t seems to be the opinion of many
politicians that the approaching election
in Canada. and the fate OF the reciprocity
agreement with the United States will
be decided by the voters OF Quebec Many
think also that the result depends upon
the attitude of the priests of the Roman
Catholic Church, which is the almost uni
versal religion Of the province as French
is the universal language
Quebec has been the stronghold OF Sir
Wilfrid Laurier, the prime minister and
leader of the liberal party. He is a
F'renchman; he was born in a little vii
lage on the st. Lawrence: he comes from
ancient stock, and the pride Of race Is
very strong among the habitants, as the
French farmers are called. They idolize
him; they consider him the most pow.
erfui Of all authorities on earth and rate
his ability only trifie below omnipo.
tence.
At the same time the habitants are
devoted to the church and are very much
under the influence of the clergy 1t sc
happens that Laurier is not in gooG
standing with the church. because of his
position to the interference of the church
in political and civil affairs. and for other
reasons, both personal and political. He
has never been excommunicated, but fol
years has been under the BAN He is not
attentive to his religious duties: he never
goes to confession or to mass and sell
dom is seen inside of church, except al
a wedding or to attend a funeral. The
priests have not mixed very much ir
politics lately, but If they should do SO
is feared by the liberals that their in
fluence would offset Laurier's persona
popularity.
Not Interested in Reciprocity.
The habitants have not taken much in.
terest in the reciprocity arrangement al
though it is really more important tt
them than to the great wheat farmers Of
the west. because the prices of eggs, hay
fruit, honey and vegetables are not de-
termined in Liverpool. like the price o.
local demand, and all these things have
been very low for years because the
farmers produce more than Canadian con
SumerS need.
The principal object of the reciprocity
arrangement was to find market fol
districts Of New England, where there II
an almost unlimited demand for every
thing that the habitant produces Here.
after, if the treaty is ratified by Canada
oats, buckwheat. peas. BEANS hay, pota
toes, cabbages, onions and all other fresh
vegetables. apples and all other frest
fruits, and berries. butter, cheese. eggs
honey and all other farm products. cod
fish, behring's. mackerel salmon and al
other fish. fence posts, railroad ties. tele-
graph poles, slaves. f1rewood and al
other kinds Of small timber can be sent
over into the market OF New England
without payment of duty. But the
habitants seem to be Indifferent and are
taking more interest in the personal at.
tacks that are being made upon Laurier
and other issues that have been raised BY
his opponents to confuse the situation
than the extension of their markets.
Unless sufficient demand is created
by the proposed treaty to raise the price,
of the products 1 have named, the aver.
age habitant will never know anything
about it. but at the same time he Is g
keen politician. he loves debate. no one
enjoys a political meeting more than he
and the longer the speech the better he
likes it. 1t is the same way with 8
Dutchman and sermon. The pastor OF
a church in Holland is expected to preach
an hour and half at least. and IL he Is
not capable Of doing that, they have two
SERMONS at the same service from two
preachers.