New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-24
THE FIGHT N CANADA
Acerbity Begins to Prevail Over
Good Nature Hitherto Shown.
BORDEN NEEDS 80 GAINS
Even a Brief Term of Power for
Conservative Means Down
fall of Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

d1rom Special Correspondent OF The Tribune)
Ottawa. Aug. 21.-The election OF the
twelfth Parliament Of Canada four weeks
hence viii be a momentous event In Ca
madam history. On that day the reciprocity
agreement between the United States and
Canada VIII be accepted or rejected, and
verdict will be rendered by the Canadian
people as 10 the relative merits Of the pro-
gressive policy OF the Laurier government
and the let-well-enough-alone policy Of the
Opposition under the leadership CT Mr.. Bor-
den. Incidentally, a number Of minor qucs-
lions viii be settled by the election
The opposition TO the reciprocity agree
ment has been laboriously and painfully
and evidently not without much msgiving-
worked up 10 fever heat When the Minis
ter Of Finance submitted the agreement 10
the House Of Commons in January last re-
markablc enthusiasm was shown. as, in
response 10 questions hurled at him from
the Opposition benches in the course Of the
announcement. he announced item after
item of Canadas produce as being by the
terms OF the agreement entitled TO free
entry 10 the United States markets. The
Opposition seemed stunned by the inclu-
siveness of the agreement, and Il has fire.
Quently been said by observers on that oc-
casion that had the agreement been sub
mittcd TO a vote Of the House then and
there it would have been carried by an
overwhelming majority.
The story Of the subsequent opposition TO
reciprocity I'm the House of Commons, cul-
minating at last in a dun and uninterestinS
,hc Urh
short abruptly by Sir Wilfrid Laurier on
July 20. when Parliament was irorogued
and dissolved. is more or less familiar. At
the outset many members Of Parliament on
the Opposition side and several Conserva-
tive newspapers spoke well Of the agree
ment and gave it their support. only after
weeks, and in some cases months. or coSl-
tation and tho application of the party
whip by the leader of the Opposition dld
the Conservative members and newspapers
fan into line and present more or less
solid front to the government on the reel
procity issue.
A Negative Campaign.
Following the adjournment of Parliament
on Nav Is for seven weeks 10 allow the
Prime Minister TO attend the coronation
and the imperial conference, Mr.. Borden
made a tour Of the prairie provinces OF
Manitoba. Alberta and Saskatchewan
preaching his doctrine of opposition to reel
procity. I accompanied the Borden party
for n few DAYS on this tour, and was an
interested observer Of the negative cam
paign, for such, indeed. il was, as is also
the campaign now being carried on by the
Conservative party and its allies.
To- a
IRE Of Sir Wilfrid Lauriers provcrbial good
luck that his opponents in all their cam
na,qns have occupied a negative position,
coming before the electors with much CRIT
icisn. even at times almost destructive
criticism, but never with d straigth-out al
nrmative. constructive policy Sir Wiltilo
forty wears of public life have Irmly con-
WINGED him of the truth Of Lord Bacon
observation that mere negalon mas never
disturbed the peace Of the world. 80 1t is
found that his political career is fun or
sfirnation. and the present campaign is
-be one supreme Illustration Of this fact
lI for once again ne is before the feople with
y rolicv reduced 10 the concrete form OF a
loue-sought agreement that can nc mace
elective boy simple act Of Parliament
while the Opposition leader and al his sup
rortrrs arc Occupying lhfr accustomed
critical position
Mr. Borden In his campaign in the prairie
provinces. devoted himself largely TO at
tacKs on reciprocity. At virtually every
stopping place lie was met by delegations
from the grain growers associations as
sorting their warm support Of reciprocity
and asking from him expressions as 10 his
position in regard to it, To these all along
the line he responded with firm denuncia-
lions Of the reciprocity pact. lie was lis
tened 10 politely, but it was the opinion OF
most observers that his position. While ao-
mittedly candid end straightforward, was
disappointing 70 tho people Of those prov