The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-08
LAUR|ER EAv0RS
NO OPPOSITION
Nothing to be Gained in Con-
test for Seat in Hoch-
elaga Riding.

' Ottawa. Nov. Sir Wilfrid Lau-
rier.s action in advising the liberals
or Hochelaga. not to place a candidate
IN the field against Hon. Louis CO.
derre has met with general approval
from the newspapers of the east. ire
spective of party leanings. It is gen.
orally conceded that a fight on a naval
policy which has not yet been r.
nounced would be at best an unproit-
able business. while the only object
remaining. namely. the defeat Of a
minister would. 1t is considered be be-
meath the dignity of the leader Of the
opposition. The Montreal Star. con-
sentative. has this to say. on the mat
ter. The advice given by Sir Will
frid Laurier to the liberals of Hoch-
eiaga. not to take the field against a
Is not only shrewd tactics but sound
craftsmanship. Under present condi-
tons. the reelection Of a member Of
the administration cannot be made
the occasion Of a test Of public opinion
on any phase Of this question which
is uppermost in the public mind. Even
the resignation Of Hon. Mr.. Monk is
not before the country. with anything
approaching a clear conception of its
causes and will not be in shape to. be
judged by the electorate until Mr..
Monk n the prime minister have
made their explanations in parliament
Would Settle Nothing.
only automatic and blind faction
could now fight an election with any
definite purpose. The reelection Of
o MI. Coderre on this occasion be-
comes little more than a constitution.
al formality. and all the electors Of
Hochelaga may well consent to play
their part in the affair without any
Tear that their attitude vii be mis-
understood. The last thing which any
true friend of a progressive naval pol
icy will desire. will be to so much az
wear the appearance Of trying to
snatch a verdict or to take an unfair
advantage Of n awkward situation.
This naval question is a momentous
weighty IN patriotic issue to the con-
sideratlon of which our people ought
to come With open minds-minds free
from prejudice or party passion. It
would be unfortunate therefore, to
precipitate a purely party fight on the
eve OF us announcement to parliament
"a fight which could settle nothing
and might unsettle many"
LIE Canada. liberal. says: ''our ven.
erable chief places himself as he has
always done In the point of view Of
principle, without allowing himself to
be turned aside by the attractive out
look for a revulsion of feeling which
las oeeH IN the pOpulace or
one province since Sept. 81, 1911.
would permit him to count on over.
throwing the majority Of 1878 votes
gained by Mr.. Coderre. But on VIA
would he make his campaign? On
the naval policy evidently since 1t ia
the nava policy hat is really the
OF the election. But Mr.. Bor-
den has refused up till now to make
his naval policy known before submit-
ting 1t to parliament"
Would Not Change Destiny.
In the end" continues LIE Canada.
"a liberal victory in Hochelaga
wouldn't in the least change our des-
tiny and would only give us at best
a sort of platonic satisfaction. So we
agree with Sir Wilfrid that it ia more
worthy Of US. more in conformity with
the principles and tradition of the lib.
era party to refrain for the moment
and allow the Borden government Ian
oubtf benefit Of an election obtain.
ed by a refusal to consult the electors
on an important policy"
La Patre announces today that Hem
n Bourassa has decided to oppose Mr..
Coderre in Hochclaga on he general
issue of a plebiscite raised BY Mr..
Monks resignation from the cabinet.
The report appears. however, to lack
confirmation. ~