The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-22
OPINIONS ARE DELAYED
Washington is Depleted Of Politicians
at Present and Comment on Can
ada's Vote is
Missing.

political parties and factions through
out the United States is how their
fortunes in the approaching national
campaign will be affected by the
defeat of the Laurier government and
Canadian reciprocity. 1t is evident
that the replies will be as varied In
character as were the political views
of the factions which fought over the
question during the special session of
congress.
Official Washington closely follow
ed the returns from Canada, but re-
NAMED silent as the figures poured in
showing the Laurier party had been
defeated and reciprocity rejected.
Acting Secretary Huntington Will
son of the State Department declined
to make any statement, and there was
no other high official there in posi-
| tion to discuss the situation. The un-
official view was that as Canada had
rejected the agreement, there was
nothing for the administration to do
but make the best of the matter.
That the rejection of the Canadian
agreement will have strong bearing
upon the campaign of President Taft
| for denomination and reelection is
| not doubted Some of the old guard re-
publicans who supported the agree
/ ment against their better judgment
i are saying that its defeat will
strengthen the Taft administration by
removing the only issue on which they
/ were in disagreement with the presi
dent.
/ Most of the insurgent republicans
opposed the agreement, and they be
lieve their position has been made
much stronger by the result OF the
election in Canada.
There was no one here to speak ev
en- Informally for the democrats. A
majority of that party In both the sen
ate and the house voted for the en-
actment of the agreement and with
out votes the Taft programme for the
special session would have failed.
! Some of the friends of the Canadian
agreement do not hesitate to charge
: the Canadian defeat of the Lauriel
government to the annexation bogie.'
One of the excuses for this issue was
suggested by a speech by ChamI
Clark of Missouri, now speaker of the
house, which he delivered in favor O
the agreement during the last session
: of the Sixty-frst congress, when the
agreement was passed by the house
and held up by the senate.
MIR. Clark was making a plea for ;
wider market and in giving his rea
J sons for supporting the Canadian
J agreement, said:
81 am for it, because l hope to se'
, the day when the American flag will
, float over every square foot of tn,
British North American possessions
clear to the north pole.
: "They are people of our blood The,
: speak our language. Their institution!
are much like ours. They are trained
in the difficult art of self-government
My judgment is that if the treaty o
: 1854 had never been abrogated tn,
; chances of consolidation of thes
J two countries would have been mucl
: greater than they are now
: The Canadian press, or at least n,
, small part OF it, accepted Mr.. Clark
statement as confession that tn
real motive of the United States wa
to promote annexation. In vain MI
/ Clark explained that the remark wa
"semi-jocular, although representing
his personal desire. He said he spok
for no one but himself and that h
merely expressed hope to which h
had given utterances many times il
the past. The chance remark was on
of the chief arguments used in tn
Canadian campaign by the opponent
of the agreement.
Added importance to Mr.. Clark's re
mark was given when he was late
!, elected speaker and as such becom
: the leader of his party. Many person
because of these circumstances a
tribute the political downfall. of tn
premier of the Canadian government
to the speaker of the America
house of representatives.
4