The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-09-14
The Canadian Reciprocity
Campaign Is About Over
Much Depends on Vote In
Ontario and Quebec.
Laurier'S Threat.

than has been noticeable in past elec-
tons.
R. L. Borden and W. S. Fielding,
the minister Of finance, who is the
minister individually most responsible
for the reciprocity agreement, are both
Nova Scotia men, and both will have
to fight hard for their own seats.
In the provinces west Of Lake Su-
perior little change is looked for. The
Conservatives are strong in Manitoba,
aided by strong provincial govern
ment, and will be able to avert extern
sive losses even in the constituencies
where the grain growers, the most ar
dent advocates Of reciprocity, are in
duential.
Saskatchewan and Alberta are al
ready almost sohdly Liberal, so that
there is little for the government to
gain and little for the Conservatives
to lose in those provinces.
The only fight Of much interest is In
Edmonton, where Frank Oliver, minis
ter of the interior, is combating a
split among his own party. British
Columbia is already overwhelmingly
Conservative and is expected to re-
main so.
Some Holding Aloof.
One of the big features promised by
advance agents Of the campaign is
lacking. Premier Mcbride Of British
Columbia, Robert Rogers, minister of
public works in Manitoba, and other
leading provincial Conservatives were
billed to join in the fight as federal
candidates. None Of them is running,
and Liberal campaign students find in
this circumstance as indication that a
Conservative victory is not looked for
among Conservatives Of the inner
party councils.
Two other things must be noted,
each of them Of outstanding impor-
lance in the campaign.
First.-Clifford Sifton has taken the
stump and is aggressively opposing
his old ministerial colleagues. Sifton
was long regarded as the ablest man
Of the Laurier cabinet. He was min
lister Of the interior. Sifton broke with
the government half a dozen years
ago, gave up his portfolio and re-
NAMED in parliament as private Lib
eral member. He is chairman Of a
permanent commission on conserva-
ton, established by the government.
Mr.. Sifton is opposing reciprocity on
the same ground taken by the Con-
servatives. His influence is likely to
account for some government losses.
Second.-The Ontario government,
headed by Sir James Whitney (Con-
servative), has thrown it's whole
weight into the campaign against reci-
procity. Sir James Whitney holds
strong views as an imperialist and
dislikes the prospect of closer relations
with the United States. His minister
of lands, forests and mines, Frank
Cochrane, is organizing for the fed
eral Conservatives in Ontario. MI.
Cochrane is the minister most closely
in touch with the timber and pulp
wood interests Of Ontario, which, it
is said, may be adversely affected by
the Mann clause of the American bill.
In any Canadian campaign the odds;
are with the administration for the
time being. It is so in this case, but
not enough to weigh heavily where So
important an issue as reciprocity is at
stake. The campaign now being
waged is regarded on both sides as the
most important since confederation.
It is perhaps the most bitter and saw
age ever fought in the Dominion.
Each side asserts that American
money is helping the other. Sir Will
frid Laurier has announced that if he
is defeated he will retire to private
life.