Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-21
CANADA VOTES IN FAVOR
OF CONSUMPTION LAW
Speaking Population
Almost Solid in Opposition
to French Canadians

OTTAWA Ont, Dec 1S.-Elecetion re-
suits as received up to noon today in
dictate that the government Will have a
clear majority of forty-eight seats. with
three in doubt, two OF which had been
previously credited to the government
and one to the. opposition, and four
seats in which the election is deferred.
The English-speaking sections of Can
ada voted solidly for conscrip-
ton that the dominion may continue to
be represented on the lighting line in
the strength IL has shown there up to
the present time. The French and the
Ger1nan-speaking parts of te country
voted against the - Borden government
and for the return of Sir Wilfrid Laurier
as prime minister.
The predominance of the English
speaking element in the dominion makes
the return of the union government with
Sir Robert Borden at its head a GER
tainty.
Tremendous majorities for successful
candidates on both sides constitute the
striking feature of the election. So great
are the majorities of the Borden candi-
dates and so large are the majorities
given Liberal candidates in the Liberal
constituencies that the soldier vote. when
IL is received, will make little differ
ence in the total number of members
elected to support Sir Robert Borden,
or his opponent, Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
The only effect of the soldier vote
will be to increase the majority Of the
government from about thirty to forty
seats, and will make it easier to carry
on it's administration.
Where the soldier vote is likely to
work changes is in the case of several
Nova Scotia rulings, where majorities
for Liberal members of less than zoo
on the domestic returns are likely to
be overcome and reversed py the vote
OF the men in the trenches.
There are also one or two such seats
in doubt in Ontario.
The decisive character of the Borden
victory relieves the apprehension that
was felt that If either side was return
ed by a narrow margin the strong feel
ing over the CONSUMPTION Issue might
lead to serious disorders in the coun-
try and force another election in the
near future.
Prench-Canadians Oppose idea
How unanimously the French-speak-
ing Canadians voted against conscrip-
ton is shown by the returns from the
province of Quebec, which elects sixty
I'VE members Of those, sixtY-two re-
turned Liberal members, with big ma
jorities. Only in three English-speaking
rulings of Montreal were Unionist can
didates returned for the whole Of the
province of quebec.
The adjoining province of Ontario
elects eighty-two members and is re-
turning seventy or more for the Union
list government.
Canada west of the Great Lakes is
showing an even more striking result.
The four provinces of Manitoba Sas-
katchewan, Alberta and British Column
biS jointly returned ffty-six members
and the indications are that no more
than two OF them will elect supporters
Of Sir Wilfrid Baurier.
The majority OF the government, it
IS estimated. will be from thirty to
forty-five. The government has carried
six and the Laurier opposition has car
ried three of the nine Canadian prov
inces. Those carried by the govern
ment are New Brunswick. Ontario. Man
itobz, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Brit
II sh Columbia Laurier has carried Nova
Scotia, Quebec and Prince edward
Island.
All the cabinet ministers are elected
with the exception of two French min
listers from uebec. Albert Sevigny and
p. E Blondin. Sir Wilfred Laurier
was beaten in the city Of Getaway by
/ 500, but was elected for a Quebec City
seat nv almost . 900 majority.