Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-09-21
Leaders
ALL Confident
CANADIAN ELECTION TEST ON
RECIPROCITY COMES TODAY.
COUNTRY A QUESTION MARK
Coalitions May Undo Former Certain
iucs-Impurtial Minds Look for
Government Return,

Montreal, Sept. 2O.-This election
eve, when a great question mark lies
across the Canadian map, from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, nnds the Do-
minion more Interested, In itself and
the whole world more interested,
than ever before. The question vi
tally affecting the country and nearly
of AS deep concern to the United
States are, shall the Laurier regime
continue, and shall Canada, by gov
erning the government party of the
last fifteen years continuance in
power, put into effect te reciprocity
agreement already ratified by the
Republic across the border
The government papers this eve
ming assert that the liberals will win
by fifty majority, thus increasing
their strength for the twelfth Par
Lament House by seven seats. on
the other hand, the opposition papers
claim equal majority for the party Of
Leader Borden, and point with un-
equiyocal certainty to the govern
ment's defeat and its realization that
defeat is impending.
The Montreal Star, which has con-
Quoted an especially aggressive anti
reciprocity campaign, prints in large
type tonight the statement:
Government defeated"
Newspapers on both sides support
their claims by detailed statements
telegraphed by the party organizers
in the capitals of each Of the ten
provinces
Observers who claim the opportun-
ity Tor impartial survey of the situ-
alton, say they expect the govern
ment to be returned with reduced
majority. This forecast ranges from
ten to thirty-five, though few are
willing TO concede so high Il figure
as the latter. There are some who
count upon the government being re-
turned with an unworkable majority,
which it is supposed anything below
ten might prove to be. In such an
event. it is probable that no attempt
will be made to secure ratification to
the reciprocity agreement until an
other election is held.
Quebec holds the key to the situation.
During the fifteen years that Sir
Laurier has been in power, this prov
ince has rolled a majority sufficient
TO overcome opposition in other
provinces. So consistently has this
been the case that it has come to be
regarded as a certainty, and in re-
cent elections the conservatives have
made but infrequont and spasmodic
attempts to gain seats here.
In the present election, however, a
coalition has existed in Quebec be-
tween the conservatives and the third
party, known as the Natlonalists, as
result of which there is a contest
for every seat. In a few instances
there are three-cornered contests, an
Independent liberal running against
straight party candidate. and
alist-conservative.
The Nationalist party in Quebec has
paid but little attention to reciproc-
ity. 1t has conducted its campaign
upon opposition to the governments
naval program. 1t has been led by
Henri Bourasa, former liberal
member of Parliament, who is not at
this time a candidate. The Nation
alsts also have had the support of
number of French and English news
papers Upon the question whether
this enthusiasm has ueen coined into
votes against the government party
hangs the fate of I4aurier's political
future.
Extreme Nationalists are claiming
that their party, together with the
straight conservatives, will elect fifty
members from Quebec at tomorrow's
election II they 40 this II is gem
orally conceded that the government
will be defeated The election of one
half this numbr will have the same
result In the last Parliament the
conservative seating was 1875.
The liberals have not overlooked
Quebec They have conducted a
strenuous canvas throughout the prov
ince. They say they are awaiting tho
result with confidence and that the
old province will roll up the Gus
tomary majority for its favorte son,
Sir Wilfrid I.aurier.
The premier, ordinarily not much
given to boasting. has declared him
self thoroughly confident of winning,
while r. l.. Borden, the conservative
leader in a formal proclamation is-
sued on the eve of the election, says
the prospects never looked brighter.