The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-08-28
THE CANADIAN
ELECTION IS At
BOILING POINT
Despite the Harvest Time, the
Political Meetings Are Very
Largely Attended
CONSERVATIVES CLAIM GAINS
IN ALL EASTERN PROVINCES

IN I'LL Eh0IG Ghm rhuvlmUE0
Liberals, on the Other Hand, Claim
They viii Hold Present Seats and
Gain French Sections of Quebec
and Maritime Provinces.
Ottawa. Ont. Aug. 2s.-Reports
coming in from all parts Of Canada
show the intensity Of the election
struggle which is now under full
headway, and these reports also re-
feet the position and progress Of the
various elements on the main issue,
reciprocity between Canada and the
United States.
Although the campaign comes while
harvesting is at its height, conven-
tions and political meetings are draw
ing audiences unparalleled for size.
It is conceded that greater percent
age Of votes will be polled than ever
before in Canada.
Reciprocity has continued the DOM
inant issue since Premier Laurier
and Opposition Leader Borden made
their initial addresses. Since then
Mr.. Borden has remained in Ontario,
speaking daily, while Premier Lau-
rter, after one Ontario meeting, has
swung over to the French Canadian
province Of Quebec. where he has
been addressing from one to two
meetings each day, including Sunday.
Meantime the premiers Of various
provinces and other leaders have
line. - -. n n, :
Premier Whitney Of Ontario, Premier
Mcbride of British Columbia and
Premier Hazen of New Brunswick
have taken the stump in opposition
to the ratification Of reciprocity and
In opposition to the return of the
Laurfer candidates. s..?,a f},$
Clifford Sifton, formerly member
OF the Laurier ministry, Is holding
meetings IN Ontario ct which he de-
nounces sthe y reciprocity agreement
land the government tor having mnde
The grounds taken for. and against
reciprocity are shown in the reports
coming from all sections. The fight
against reciprocity is made ON both
economic and sentimental grounds BY
the opposition speakers. They de-
clare that agriculture in the United
states is 80 much better developed
than 1t is in Canada that the Canadian
farmer will be swamped by the ar
rival OF food products from the Unit
ed States.
Conservative papers have been
printing offers from alleged American
fruit, dairy and provision firms to sell
cheese, fruit, vegetables and other
provisions to Canadian dealers at less
than the prevailing Canadian prices
as soon as the reciprocity agreement
is confined. The Liberals have de-
nounced these stories as not gem
uine. but arranged for the purpose
Of stampeding the Canadian farmer
against reciprocity.
The sentimental ground raised is
based on the report of President Taft
In which he said that Canada had
come to "the parting of the ways. +"
as justification for having passed the
reciprocity agreement through con-
gress.
The opposition still insists that
President Taft has the annexation Of
Canada In view. Leader Borden gave
instance of this in his speech at Tor
onto, saying: II don't doubt the 10y
atty. Of the Canadian people, but il
Canada deliberately interlocks Ter in
terests with those Of the United
States she will be led step by step
into conditions which all her loyalty
could not change. The time to with
draw is now, before the threshold is
reached"
The fight for reciprocity is based
by Premier Laurier and his follow
ers on the economic advantages which
will accrue to Canada as a whole and
to the various branches of the people,
and they denounce the annexation cry
as q hollow device Of the campaign.
| The French canadian province Of
Quebec is regarded as the pivotal
tprovince in the election. Here Henri
Bourassa, the opposition Nationalist
leader, is vigorously denouncing Pre-
mier Laurier as too imperialistic:
Bourassa declares that Laurier be-
trayed Canadian independence to
Great Britain by framing q law for
the creation Of navy which eventu-
ally will lead to the conscription of
the young men Of Canada. This same
cry stampeded the electors of Drum
mond-Athabasca. where Laurier was
brought up. in q bye-election two
years ago. Premier Laurier, at q
meeting in st. Eustache recently. de-
parted from his usual dignity and
calm by declaring that Mr.. Bourassa
was "wilful liar"
The prime minister has shown
splendid form in the campaign and
In spite Of his seventy years he
speaks with more vigor and imagina-
ton than ever before.
Tho claims Of the two sides up to
this date are shout % follows: