Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-21
BALLOT TODAY WILL ALSO
SETTLE RECIPROCITY'S FATE.
That Question Leading Issue of Campaign
Contest Most Bitter for Years==Province
OF Quebec Said to Hold the Balance
of Power and Is Divided.
ALL EYES ON CANADA.

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Montreal, Sept 2o.-This election
eve when a great question mark lies
across the Canadian map, finds the
Dominion more interested itself and
the whole world more interested in 1t
than ever before. Tomorrow will an
swer questions vitality affecting the
country and of nearly as deep concern
to the United States-shall the Laurier
regime continue and shall Canada by
giving the government party of the
last Il years continuance of power,
put into effect the reciprocity agree
ment already ratified by the Republic
across the border.
on this night before" the leaders
of both sides are expressing extreme
confidence. The government papers
this evening assert that the Liberals
will win by 80 majority this increasing
their strength Tor the tenth Paria-
mentis House of Commons by seven
seats. on the other hand the Opposi-
ton papers claim an equal majority
for the party of Leader Borden and
point With Gnequivoeal certainty to
the governments defeat and its real
zation that defeat is impending.
The Montreal Star, which as 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
af the 10 provinces.
Observers who claim the opportunity
Tor impartial survey of the situation
say they expect the government to be
returned with reduced majority. This
forecast ranges from 10 To 35. though
few are willing to concede SO high 4
figure as the latter. Some count upon
the government being returned with
an unavoidable majority. which it is
supposed anything below 10 might
prove to be In such an event, it is
probabl that ne attempt would be
made to secure ratification Of the
reciprocity agreement before another
election was held.
1t is generally conceded that the
Province of Quebec holds the key to
the situation. During the Is years that
Sir Nilfrid Laurier has been in pow
er this province has always rolled up
a majority sufficient to effect the adj
verse voting in other provinces. So
consistently has this been the case
that it has come to be regarded as a
certainty and in recent elections the
Conservatives have made but infre
quent and spasmedtc attempts to gain
any seats here.
In the present election, however, a
coalition has existed in Quebec be-
Ee nd f1tr1
party known as the Nationalsts, as
a result of which every seat is con-
tested In a few instances there are
three cornered contests an independ-
ent Liberal running against straight
party candidate and Nationalist
Conservative.
The Nationalist party in Quebec has ,
paid but little attention TO reciprocity.
1t has conducted its campaign upon
opposition to the government naval
program and the record of the governs
ment in general. 1t has been led by
Henry Bourassa, a former Liberal
member of Parliament who is not at
this time a candidate. The National
list also have had the support of
number of French and English news
papers. Upon the question of whether
this enthusiasm has been coined into
votes against the government prob
ably hangs the fate of Laurier's politi-
cal future.
Extreme Nationalist claim that
their party, together with the straight
Conservatives, viii elect 80 members
from Quebec tomorrow. If they do
this it is generally conceded that the
government will be defeated. The
election of one-half of this number
would have the same result. In the
last Parliament, the Conservatives
seating was y.
The Liberals, however, have not
overlooked Quebec. They have con-
Quoted a strenuous campaign through
out the province and have met the
Nationalist Conservative combination
at every point. They say they are
awaiting the result with confidence,
and that the province will poll the Gus
ltomary majority for its favorite son,
Sir Wilfrid Laurier. The premier him.
| self ordinarily not much given to
! Continued on Page Te,L)