New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-14
HEATED JOINT DEBATE
Canadians for Reciprocity and
"Antis" Get to Personalities, J
SPEAKERS NEAR FISTlCUFFS
Lemieux, of Laurier Cabinet, and
Bourassa, of Quebec, Indulge
in Ill Tempered Invective.

St Hyacinthe Quebec, Aug. 13-A some
what turbulent crowd OF 5000 persons at
tended here this afternoon political meet
ing. probably unprecedenteds in the prov
ince in the amount of invective heard In
the speeches and OF Ill temper displayed
The feature OF the meeting was the eagerly
expected Joint debate between Henri Bou-
rassa, head OF the Nationalist party In
Quebec, and Rodolphe Lemieux. Minister
of Marine in the Laurer Cabinet.
The crowd was the hugest ever gathered
in this district and seethed with excitement
as the speakers at the very outset devoted
scantv time 10 the usual words Of apprecia-
ton. but came down to pointed personali-
ties at once. Cheering wildly, the throng
surged around the improvised platform. at
one time crushing forward with such force
as to cause a portion Of the stage to ran
away. 4 number of newspaper men on the
platform fell into the audience, but none OF
them was hurt.
Mr. LemcuX attacked Mr.. Bourassa WIN
Intense vigor Mr. Bourassa responded IN
kind, while Armand Lavergne also spoke
in caustic vein, and several times inter-
rupted Mr. Lemieux. The last named finally
informed Mr. Bourassa and his supporters
that he could use his hands as well as his
voice 10 retort to insults.
Mr. Lemieuy secuted the charge that he
had ever feared TO meet Mr.. Bourassa in
Joint debate He had borne the Liberal
standard in the province Of Quebec for
fifteen years and had no reason to fear Mr.
Bourassa, he said. lie declared that Mr.
Bourassa and Mr.. Luvergne, with all their
elaborate claims, were no true friends OF
the French-Canadians Ills own record,
he said. would show that I've had always
supported and defended French Cana
dians and French institutions with zeal
and common sense.
He then proceeded TO discuss reciprocity.
declaring it to be the vital point at ISSUE
but was interrupted by cries of mo, no.
THE navy" He continued. however, TO
bring up arguments I'm favor of reciprocity
and was finally given hearing and a great
deal of applause by one section Of the audi
ence
Mr. Bourassa, as in previous speeches.
passed lightly over reciprocity, declaring
that the navy bill, which would be a sur
render of autonomy, was the great question.
and denouncing the Premier for this meas
ure. He gave hat-footed contradiction to
many of Mr.. LemieuX's statements and
made jest of the work Of the Laurier gov
eminent He ended with strong appeal
to the French Canadians.
Hundreds of the audience wore the red
Liberal badge. but an equally large number
were crowned with hats around which
white bands inscribed "Bourassa," had
been placed. Nowhere was the oldume
Conservative blue TO be seen.
Winnepeg, Aug. 13.-Frank Oliver Minis
ter Of the Interior, has created a sensation
by repudiatng the Edmonton Liberal con-
vention, called for August IS. He made the
following statement on Saturday in Ed
monitor:
I have no intention of recognizing the
so-called Liberal convention to be held In
Edmonton on August IS. The well recog-
niZed method of calling nominating con-
ventions in Alberta Is under the authority
Of the provincial executive.
Conventions already have been called in
this manner for the selection OF candidates
III four out Of the seven Alberta constitu-
encies. and in two Of them nominations
have already been made.
In due course such a convention VIII be
called for the Edmonton electoral district.
When IT is called ! shall be glad TO submit
my name as a candidate for nomination.
In the mean time | do not purpose 10 pay
any attention 10 special arrangements
made 10 secure Endorsement for the can
didature of any certain man, even though
II be called "a convention.
I may say that | do not think the effort
TO defeat reciprocity in the Edmonton dis
trict by holding bogus conventions will
succeed
Addressing an enthusiastic organization
meeting, Mr.. Oliver said that inasmuch as
he was Minister Of the Interior other con-
stituencies of Western Canada looked 10
him for support, but owing to the condi
tons fl the Edmonton constituencies he
would be compelled 10 spend more Of his
time here than he otherwise would.
The anti Oliver forces are endeavoring 10
have the minister's supporters sent 10 the
convention Of August 1G from outlying dis
tricts with the intention Of naming both
Oliver and former Premier Rutherford, and
then Of giving the nomination TO Alberta's
cX-Premier.