The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-28
PREMIER HOLDS
THE UPPER HAND
Occupies Commanding Posi-
ton in His Fight for
Reciprocity
| GOVERNOR-GENERAL
STRONGLY OPPOSES
Sir Wilfird, However. Has
Backing of the People
and is Confident of
Winning
BY WILLIAM HoSTER.

l bT hIlIIlAM Hustler.
OTTAWA, ONT. July GA gov<
eminent crisis is impending here in
which the immediate fate of reci-
procity is at stake.
The well-known antipathy of Earl
| Grey, governor-general, to Premier
laurier, which has been an open
secret for several years past, has
reached a head In the dispute over
reciprocity, and there are growing
indications tonight of an appeal by
Laurier to the home government OF
| England. over the head of the gov
ernor- general, to settle the points in
dispute.
! Briefly Earl Grey is opposing Lau-
| rier's proposition to an Immediate
dissolution of Parliament. Allied
with the old Tory element, which is
| in opposition to the reform tenden-
cies in England, as we'll as opposed
to reciprocity here, he seeks to post
pone the inevitable delay on the
ground that the circumstances Just
now, do not demand an Immediate
appeal to the country, but that III
contrary. II will be necessary for the
government to pass the necessag
supply bills before the dissolution 4
| proclaimed.
| Tho issue arose between Laurier
ioifG Kali Sftty 1881 ulEtiL ana To-day.
at the first opportunity, the premier
hurried his defiance In the face OF
the governor-genNai, by announcing
In open Commons. that reciprocity
was the issue before the bod, and
not until that was passed would any
| other proposition be taken up.
| Reciprocity Is Question.
| Inc premter's aitimatum was pIafr-
spoken and direct His attention was
{ ~ q ~
| OF men being thrown our of employ
ment by the steppage Of public works
ION account OF the supplies for the
whole year not being voted. ana ha
was asked II supplies would be voted
before the general election Sir will
| frid, his eyes snapping. and his man
ner more than usually severe and
determined. replied;
Reciprocity is now engaging tho
attention OF the House. 1t has been
before MS for six months Az far al
j my information is concerned, we
might vote to-day. ASSESSOR as wa
have voted on this We will take I'D
! supplies"
| That the cSitica1 moment is at
hand Is agreed and the corridors OF
the Commons are alive with all sorts
/ of rumors tonight. In some quar-
| ters it Is predicted that dissolution
fident that 1t viii be proclaimed to-
morrow.
The appeal of the premier over tho
! head of the governor general to the
home government. which Is In sym-
| pathy with the Liberal movement In
favor of reciprocity, is looked for at
any time. In the matter of supplies.
I 1t is declared that Laurier viii take
the bull by the horns and after forc-
nm re
demand OF the governor general tho.
credits that VIII bind the govern
ment over to the meeting of the new
Parliament which will be convened
Immediately after the elections
Confers With Earl Grey.
News that differences had arisen
between the premier and the gnver-
nor general became noised about the
House of Commons early this morn
Ing after last nights midnight ses-
sion OF the body. 1t was noted that
| Llaurler did not appear on the floor
at any time during the session.
Though an important division oc-a
Cured about IL o'clock, the premier
paired himself In order that he might
pursue uninterrupted the series Of
conferences that were being conducts
ed directly with Earl Grey.
The secretary OF Earl Grey was the
medium OF communication, and the
conferences lasted until well after !
O'Clock this morning.
Subsequently It was learned that
the premier had suggested an imme-
date dissolution OF Parliament. and
that the governor general had de.
INJURED, on the ground that some-
tning more than reciprocity should
be advanced as the reason Of the dis
solution; and that an effort should
be made to put through the supply
bills before the Parliament was dis
solved.
With the deadlock thus existing.
IAaurter hurled hts defiance of reci-
procity before anything else as soon
as the House convened in morning
session.
Later there was another conferences
llnetWeen, Laurier4 and Earl> Grey ana
still another without defienite report.
90 far as can be learned. Late IN
the afternoon Earl Grey sent his carr
riage for the minister OF public
works, Mr.. Pugsley, and a long con.
ference" was held between them at
the government house, but with whaS
result cannot be ascertained.
Laur1er Confident.
Serene and confident. Laurier Wa
back on the floor, OF the Commonns
tonight. From whatever anale the
situation 10 viewed. he holds the whfn
hand. Conffdent that the great ms.
jority of the people are behind him
on the issue Of reciprocity. his pri.
mary desire Is to discharge his pledra
to President Taft and secure the ai-
vantages Of the pact 10 Canada =
soon as possible. In this purpose ho
Is fortified by the support or the
homo government Of the mother couu~
try.
Earl Grey 70 representative OF tho
lords influence In Great Britain. which
AsQuith government stands. II ~ tlhan
element which IL sending qter 10 tho
Dominion 3koo.000 to help aIong tho
campaign Against reciprocity when tho
general election cUmSG. sssg
4 Hon George e. Fostsr. fag1aGP u
&C., p - 111n3
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