The Sentinel=record., 1911-09-22
Viewed at Washington

Nasnlnstol, sept. Zl,-Ine ques- ton which tonight is agitating lead CTS of political parties and factions. is how ther fortunes in the approach ing national campaign will rbe af- tected by today's defeat of uhe Lau- Tier government and Canadian reel procity. It is evident the replies will be as varied in character as were the political views of the fac tions which fought over the question during the special session of con gress.
 official Washington closely fol- lowed the returns from Canada to- might, but remained silent regarding the outcome. Acting Secretary Hun tington Wilson of the state depart ment declined to make any state ment and there was no other high official here in position to discuss the. situation. The unofficial view was that as Canada had rejected the Iagreement. there was nothing for the administration to do but make the best of the matter"
 That the rejection of the Cara dian agreement will have strong bearing upon the campaign of Pres ident Tar is not doubted. Some of the old guard republicans Who sup ported the agreement against their better judgment' are saying it's de feat wilT strengthen the Taft ad- ministration by removing the only issue on which they were in disagree ment with the president. The most of tine insurgent republicans we're Ioppposed to the agreement and they believe their position has been made much stronger.
 There was no one here tonight to speak even informally for the demo- erats. A majority of that party in both the senate and house voted for the enactment of the agreement. and without their votes the Taft program for the special election would have failed.
 Some of the friends of the Cana- dian agreement do not hesitate to charge the Canadian defeat of the I.aurier government to the "annexa ton boge.r One of the excuses for this issue was suggested by a speech of Champ Clark of Missouri, now lspeaker of the house, which he de- flivered in favor of the agreement during the last session of the 6lss ieongress, when the agreement was passed by the house and he d up by the senate. MT. Clark was making a plea for wider market and in giving his reasons for supporting the Canadian agreement said
 T am for it because hope to see the day when the American flag will float over every square foot of the British North American possessions clear to the north pole. They are people of our blood. They speak our Language. Their institutions are much like ours. They are trained in the difficult art of self-govern- ment. My judgment is that if the treaty of 1854 has never been abro- gated the chances of a conso idation iof these two countries would have been much greater than they are Inow."
 The Canadian press, or at least no small part of it, accepted MT. Claras statement as a confession that the real motive of the United States was to promote annexation. In vain MT.
 Clark explained that the remark was
 semi joeular' although representing
 his personal desire. The chance re mark was one of the chief arguments Iof reciprocity agreement.
 | Many persons because of These
 circumstances were tonight attribut- ling the political downfall of the premier of the Canadian goyernmens Ito the speaker of the American
 house of representatives.