The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-24
CANADA FACING A
POLITICAL CRISIS
The CONSUMPTION Issue Creates a Serious
Situation in the Domin-

Ottawa, Canada, Aug. 24--Canada Il
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 fall
The life of the present Conservative gov
eminent expires on Oct. 7. This will be
the first opportunity to pass upon the
war policies of the Borden government
| The government has been split wide
open ON the issue of CONSUMPTION. Brit
ish Canada, generally speaking, sup
ports CONSUMPTION. French Canada is al
most solidly opposed. The btterest and
most exciting political campaign in do
minion history is in prospect. Upon the
result depends the continuance in power
of the present Conservative government
and the enforcement of the compulsory
military service act.
Leading the Liberal opposition is Sir
Wilfred Laurier, expremier and the idol
of the French Canadians of the Province
of Quebec. A brilliant speaker and a
mastery politician, Laurier is bending
every effort to bring to his standard all
the elements in Canada disaffected with
the Borden regime.
Already, however, he has had to face
the refusal of % non French Canadian
Liberals in the House from Ontario and
the western provinces to follow him in
his transcription battle. What
strength those conscriptionist Liberal
80 sIalta tal x.-tf IN
the polls has become one of the big ques-
ton marks of the campaign. In its an
swer may lie the final decision. On the
part of the Conservatives they have had
to face minor but very significant deser-
lions from French Canadian Conserva.
tives.
Canada has 100000 enlisted men. Her
overseas force is made up of five divi-
sions 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. Canada
must raise 100000 more men and do it
Iuick.
Voluntary recruiting is thing of the
,ast Canada has no great wealth of
nan power Eight million people is her
OPP Already the 100000 men who so
RELY gave themselves to service have
eriously frightened the labor market in
,laces Farmers are in straits for help.
In many cities clerks and municipal
Employees are given half holidays from
heir regular employment in order that
hey may go into the fields. This short
ge is emphasized by the anticonscrip-
ionists. Conservatives declare there are
undreds of "slackers" in the cities who
ould be spared and assert that these
re the men they want to get to under
be law. |,
Intricate as is this problem alone, it is
ltermixed with the racial question, an
lien enemy tangle, tremendously diff ,
cult financial situation, involving the
of 1000 miles of railroad
nd millions of dollars in advances to :
Tiers, and line of hoary but still viru- !,
mt political animosities, which offer the :
anadian voter of political salad unlike
uything previous in his entire political !
tperience. 9