The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-08-24
CANADIAN
POLITICAL
CONDITIONS
CRv United Press.l

OTTAWA. CAN. Aug. 22-Canada is
facing its first crisis since the opening
Of the European war. A general election
is TO be called by Premier Borden
within the next few weeks for early in
the fail The life Of the present con-
s~ervative government expires ON Octob-
er Z. This viii be the first opportunity
the people of Canada have had to pass
upon the war policies of the Borden gov
since the Dominion plunged
into the great conflict.
The government he's been split wide
open on the issue OF CONSUMPTION. Brit
ish Canada, generally speaking. sup
ports consumption. French Canada is
almost solidly opposed. The bitterest
and most exciting political campaign in
Dominion history is in prospect. Upon
the result depends the continuance in
power of the present Conservative gov
rnmen and the enforcement OF the
compulsory military service act.
Leading the Liberal opposition is sir
Wilfrid Laurier. ex-premier and the
idol of the French-Canadians OF the
province OF Quebec. A brilliant speak
er and a mastery politician Laurier is
bending every effort 10 bring to his
standard all the elements in Canada
~disafected with the Borden regime.
Already however he has had TO face
the refusal of twenty-five French-Can-
adian Liberals In the House from On
tario and the western provinces TO fol-
low him in his anti-cOnseriptfon battle.
What strength these con%scriptionist
Liberal party "belters" can take with
them TO the polls has become one of the
big question marks of the campaign. In
its answer may lie the final decision. on
the part of the Conservatives they have
to face minor but very significant de-
sertions from French-Canadian Conserv-
atives.
Canals has 4o5, 900 enlisted men. Her
overseas force is made up Of FIVE divis-
ions. Four of these are in France and
one is held in England as a reserve di-
vision. Since the desperate. bloody day
at Vimy Ridge, heavy drafts have been
made on this reserve. Canada must pro-
vide more men or soon Dominion troops
will be left without reserves. This
would mean the elimination of Canada
as a lighting factor at the front. Can
ada must raise 100000 more men and do
Il quick.
voluntary recruiting IS a thing Of the
past. Canada has no great wealth Of
m~an-power. Eight million people is her
top Already the 400. 900 men who so
freely gave themselves to service have
seriously frightened the labor market
in places. Farmers are in straits for
help. In many cities clerks and muni-
cipal employees are given half holidays
from their regular employment in order
that they may go into the fields. This
shortage is emphasized by the anti-con-
s~criptionists. Conservatives declare
there are hundreds of "~slackers" in the
cities who could be spared and assert
that these are the men they want to
get TO under the law.
Intricate as is this problem alone. it
is intermixed with the racial question.
an alien enemy tangle. a tremendously
difficult financial situation. involving the
naturalization of 1000 miles Of railroad
ana millions of dollars in advances to
others, and a line Of hoary but still vir-
ulent political animosities. which stir
red together offer the Canadian voter a
political SALAD unlike anything previous
III his entire political experience.
The next few weeks vii see stirring
times across the border.