Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-07
Al Sudden Dissolution OF Par
Lament by Premier.
Opposition Must Gain Is 10
XIII Reciprocity Bill.
Laurlef's Fate Also at Stake.-hn.
nsxailon Is Little Talked.

Ottawa. Ont, Aug. REIMBURSEMENT
of political plans and preparations for
the Dominion campaign involv-
ing primarily reciprocity with the
United States as already ratified
across the line, have characterized the
past week since the Laurier govern
ment dazed most of its own follow
ers as we'll as the Opposition by sud-
den dissolution of Parliament, entail
ing a general election. The sharpness
of the surprise is indicated by the
fact that few members We're ready TO
leave for their constituencies to take
up the fight for reelection. The last
groups are now leaving Ottawa. Mean
while tons of printed matter have
been put into the mails, the ranking
privilege having been extended for one
week
Little election machinery is in run
ming order. This is because the con-
test has been precipitated a year be-
fore it's normal time. which would
have been after four sessions of the
18th Parliament instead of after three,
a general election being required every
fee Years. Neither party has enough
convention NAMED candidates In the
field to teEia extensive cam paiening &C
oace Nominating conventions are
scheduled and the naming of candi-
dates viii be completed in a month.
Both party leaders will he we'll started
on their speech making tours by that
time.
II is the evident purpose of the OPP
ponents of reciprocity to ignore that
as the vital issue as far as they dare
and to divert attention from 1t as
much as possible. But the government
and its supporters will insist that in
the election six weeks from now every
ballot for "A candidate will be, moral
". and indeed. politically speaking,
in decision of the question whether
there shall be reciprocity with the
United States
Incidentally the people will decide
whether Sir Wilfrid Laurier viii con-
tinuc to he prime minister or whether
he shall be replaced by K. /. Borden,
the Opposition leader.
Prominent members Of the government
expressed increased confidence that after
the first week of pulse feeling, far and
near the new Parliament to be opened
in October by the new governor general.
the Duke of Connaught, will be so consul
tuted by the reelection results as 10 be
able to make its initial act the ratifca-
ton of the reciprocity agreement The
opposition forces. on the contrary, asserc
that the crest of tidal wave of anti
reciprocity sentiment has been sighted
and that after it has rolled across the
man a resultant conservative and French
Nationalist majority in the new Parlia-
ment will kill the pact by leaving ii in
81 yUnc
ington. but not at Ottawa
To kill the reciprocity the opposition
will have to come back with % more
members than they have now That
would give them a majority of Ave in
the House. But as one of these wouli
have to be elected Speaker. the working
majority would be but four. This small
margin however, would suffice. Parlia-
ment has membership of 221. Today lSS
are government supporters and 50 are OPP
ponents of the government, the admins
tration's majority being IS.
The governments principal strength
lies east of Ontario its supporters from
that portion of Canada numbering IT,
while the opposition has but 81. In the
part of the Dominion comprised Of onta-
rio and the provinces to the west, the
parties are more evenly divided, there
being 81 opposition and 81 government
members.
Despite impish cartoons and facetious
speeches to the contrary, the annexation
bogy is hardly alive. The opposition VIII
probably renew it's efforts TO convince the
people that reciprocity really means
parting of the ways" with that phrase
variously interpreted. But If Canadians
believed that reciprocity would lead 10
severance of the British tie or TO absorb
ton by the United States the agreement,
ii is conceded, would get hardly favor
ing vote.