The sun., 1917-07-01
Mass of French Canadians Are Opposed Fighting Grear
Brtains Battles and Growing Bitterness Has Already
Caused One Clash Between the Two Races

II would become Sir wilfrid Laurler
to stump Quebec for recruits.
Mr. Sevigny. who Is considered
about the ablest OF the younger
French speaking members. told tho
writer he was fully in accord with the
former Premier's defence OF the
French Canadians on the ground that,
proper efforts to arouse them had not
been made at the beginning OF the
war. The man who should have gone
through Quebec enlisting. said Mr.
Sevigny, was Sir Wilfrid Laurier him
self, with his still great prestige among
the people OF his race in Cam
ada.
Asked why Sir Wilfrid had not done
| It, Mr.. Sevigny shrugged and said,
Too much politics. That Is the
whole trouble. Too much politics"
1t is a fact that both great parties
are exploiting the empires need of Ca
madam reinforcements as political
Issue, If you believe the accusations
each party makes against the other.
The Liberals charge that the Com
servative Government deliberately
neglected to encourage Quebec recruit
ing in order to weaken the Liberal
party by discrediting the stronghold OF
its French speaking wing.
The Conservatives charge that Sir
Wilfrid Laurier is really a Nationalist,
and sectionalist at heart, or at least
that his opposition to conscription is
sympathetic with the Nationalist att
titude. Sir Wilfrid himself, an adroit
and finished debater, whose oratory
on occasion still exhibits much of the
fire of his younger days, sits COM
posedly in his place on the front OPP
position bench and listens while Eng
lish speaking Liberal after English
speaking Liberal renounces him as.
leader and declares for compulsory
service.
About the most effective of these
addresses was one made on Tuesday
last by DR.. Michael Clark, member for
Red Deer, Alberta. DR.. Clark's SON
has just been gravely wounded at the
front, and the father has no toleration
for any one who objects to ail Cana
dians being made to share alike In the
| hardships and perils OF the war. Sir
Wilfrid never replies or interrupts.
| though recently when Sir Sam
Hughes persisted In interrupting him,
he amused himself at the expense OF
that outcast dog of war to the delight
| of the gallery.
I'll predicted that the present sit
uotion will mark the close OF Sir Will
frtd's long political record. No success
, , sor is in sight. and there is talk of a
split in the Liberal party following
the cleavage of the races.
May Vote ON ConscrIption.
Agreat deal of the debate is technical.
! and really superficial. Much is made
! by the Liberals and Nationalists of
unconstituticnality, the contention be-
ing that the military service bill vio-
/ lates the intent of the Canadian
militia act, on which 1t is based. Much
! is made of the moral obliquity OF an
extended and moribund Parliament in
forcing the law upon the nation. But
the root or the matter is that French
Canada does not want to do its bit in
| the war, and that the balance Of Cam
ada means to compel II.
There is some chance of the Govern
ment appealing to the people to sus-
I tain It's position on conscription, pro-
| Nlded the referendum proposition Is
defeated and the Governments mar
gin in Parliament is slight. That
! would mean general election which
| would amount to a form of referen-
dunn, as the people would vote direct
ly on the merits OF the conscription
issue
Forecasters say that the popular
vote would be close. but that compui-
sorry service would win and the Gov
ernment would be sustained. Could
the 100000 men under arms overseas
be polled there would be no question
whatever; officers who are members
OF Parliament have returned and re-
port them unanimously and vche-
mently in favor of conscription
Opponents OF Laurier on the refer.
endum question assert that no vote
could be taken at the front. Laurier
differs, and explains that balloting ap-
paratus for the Canadians has been in
England for some time.
Meanwhile, there are the better mart
Of a million Germans and Austrians In
the Dominion, invited to settle and
farm there in other and happier days,
and living there very amIcably now,
who nevertheless would vote solidly
against conscriptlng such first class
bear cats as the Canadian troops have
shown themselves, to fight against the
All Highest Fatherland
Their votes the forecasters reckon
a total loss TO the Government In an
|, election, Even then, and figuring
Quebec, the 100000 French in Ontario
! and the 10000 in Manitoba and other
: Western provinces solidly opposed.
the Governmet is still credited with
: strength. enough to win.
Il Home Defenders Lacking.
The troops themselves want reen-
forcements. They want them quick.
| They want them conscripted, OF
} coaxed, or any other way, but they
want them. Slackers and parochial
, habitants, benighted through lack OF
: education in world politics, are not
popular species along those sections
) Of the western front that are held by
the Maple Leaf. Canadian casualties
| in a recent week. killed and incapaci.
tated, totalled 10000. At that rate the
Canadian contingent will soon dwindle,
unless the training camps are stead
( lily filled with raw material.
r The writer was told-it Is not a
. secret. he understands, hut the Gov
' ernment is not talkative on the subject
e that there are only few thousand