Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
RECIPROCITY AND
LAURIER BEATEN
Liberal Government Meets De-
feat in Canada Election.
SEVEN MINISTERS LOSE OUT
Returns Show Majority of Fifty for
Opposition In Next Parliament
Result Disappointing to Presi-
dent Taft

an overwhelming defeat in the Cana
dian elections. BY veritable polit-
ical landslide the Liberal majority of
IS was swept away and the Conserya-
tive party secured one of the heaviest
majorities, upwards of so. that any
Canadian party has ever had.
In the landslide against reciprocity
seven ministers of the Laurier govern
ment went to defeat, including Minis
ters Fielding and Paterson. who nego-
tiated the agreement at Washington
Fielding was beaten in his home dis
trict in Nova Scotia, while Paterson
was beaten in Ontario.
The Conservatives have gained not
less than % seats in Ontario and as
many in Quebec.
The result comes as an unexpected
disaster in the face of the confident
hopes Of the government that it would
be sustained on the paramount issue
It had made Of reciprocity between
Canada and the United States.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier is elected in
Quebec East. as the seat had not been
contested
The Liberals lost ground in prac-
Ideally every province of the Dominion.
Where they won, their majorities were
small. Where the Conservatives won
their majorities were tremendous. On
Eario, the leading province of Canada,
declared almost unanimously against
The administration and reciprocity.
Robert l.. Borden, leader of the Con-
Eervative party, will shortly become
the prime minister of Canada He
will be supported in parliament by a
working majority of members far
more than ample for his purposes.
The government defeat means that
the FIelding-Knox reciprocity agree
ment, ratified by the American con-
gress in extra session, will not be
introduced when the Twelfth parlia-
nent assemblies next month, and that
revised basis of trade with the
United States, looking to closer COM
mercial relations, will not be possible
In the immediate future. The Con-
Seryatiyes are committed to a policy
Of trade expansion within the empire
States.
Although reelected in two con-
stituencies in Quebec, the defeat of
the Liberal party also means the re-
tirement from public life of Sir VIII
frid Laurier, who for nearly two de-
cades has directed the destinies of the
Dominion. Several times during the
hiffaT- ,oio
election the venerable premier said
that defeat Of his party at the polls
meant the end of his career; that he
never would consent to lead minority
In opposition to a Conservative gov
eminent.
A Liberal membership of So from
Quebec was cut down to So, which,
taken alone, seriously threatened the
supremacy of the party. But it was
In Ontario that the Conservatives won
their greatest victories Spurred on
by appeals to patriotism and the cry
that reciprocity was the entering
wedge for annexation, the Conserva-
tives swept nearly everything before
them.
That province, which in the last
parliament was represented by IS
Liberals and 81 Conservatives, will
send a delegation to the next COM
posed of 13 Liberals and rs Conserva-
tiyes. A notable feature of the de-
feat was the opposition's capture of
two hitherto Liberal seats in Sas-
katchewan
Kalamazoo, Mich President
Taft heard the news of the de-
feat of reciprocity in the Canadian
election while at a banquet here. The
intelligence cast gloom over the pres
tdential party and caused the presi-
dent intense disappointment
II am greatly disappointed over the
result of the reciprocity election so far
as the returns have indicated" said
the president.