New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08
,rier UNFOLDING Liberal Ideal
In Opposing Canadian Conscription
/. Called Provincial in Efforts to Defeat Draft Bill
Which Would Replensh Armies--Govern-
ment Would Lose Referendum

OLt notnlng was SAID OF the TACT that
/ those parties had adopted CONSUMPTION
and donned the mantle of vigorous
mllitariSm
In Parliament on June II Sir Robert
/ Borden presented his bill calling out
ten distinct classes for the purpose o.
selecting 100000 men for active SER
vice. with the first three classes TO in
clude unmarried men of twenty TO
thirty-four years and then married men
from twenty years up. In his appeal
the Premier declared that:
Premier Borden's Appeal
"There are only two alternatives to
( let our forces dwindle from four divi-
sions 20 three, from three TO two, and
perhaps from two to one, or TO bring
aid by other means than an appeal for
voluntary service. That is the problem
which confronts Canada to-day. &.
! am in a position TO assure the House
and the country that the need of rein
forcements is urgent, insistent and i'm
perative. The effort Of Russia is para
lyzed for the present-no one knows
for how long. The effort of the United
States is only At its beginning. 10 is
Germany's hope TO win the war before
the power of the United States can be-
come effective. More than that, it is
her confident belief"
Sir Wilfrid Lsurier opposed the bill
and has proposed a referendum. As to
that, vote of the people would defeat
such a measure. as it was defeated in
Australia. where there was no solid
Quebec absolutely to insure such a re-
suit. Therefore the conscriptionist
supporters of a referendum are IN
peculiar position. The French-Cans-
dams in the House will vote almost
wholly for il and against CONSUMPTION;
one of them has left the Cabinet; but
the remaining Quebec member, Colonel
P E. Blondin, has taken his public life in
his hand and is fighting for the govern
ment's policy, as he was prepared 70 do
for the country in the battalion he has
been trying 20 enlist. Elsewhere many
Liberals are preparing TO support the
bill and are speaking against the ref
erendum.
An able Liberal organ in Toronto
"The Star on June 90 put the situa-
ton thus: "Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the
French Liberals, the French Conserva-
tives and the French Nationslists are
against conscription. II Is not ques-
ton of party politics with them. They
have no right 10 expect that they can
succeed in making IL party question
with US in Ontario"
Liberal Urges Conscription
y. W. Rowell, the Ontario Liberal
leader in provincial politics, has ad-
dressed a mass meeting at Toronto in
favor of CONSUMPTION; G. P. Graham,
the Ontario Liberal leader at Ottawa,
has spoken in the House against the
Laurier policy; The Toronto Globe"
the chief organ of English Liberalism,
has declared June 49, that "the emer-
gency is TOO real, too overmasterlng, 70
admit OF the leisurely procedure Of
referendum. Members on both sides
OF the House who believe that selective
CONSUMPTION is the just and equitable
thing owe IL TO their convictions and
70 the great cause for which Canadians
are fighting 20 vote for the second
reading OF the measure before the
House
After the bill has passed the Com
mons. what will happen? There will,
for the first time in many years, be a
Conservative majority Of three IN the
Senate when vacancies are filed. A.
present there are in that chamber eigh-
teen French Canadians from Quebec
and three from other provinces, out Of
sevcnty-fve members. but It is prob
able that Liberal supporters of the
measure will far outbalance any loss
the government might have from Que
bee and Observation-Disclosures all the
French members being Liberals now.
Once the bill is law there may be
small riots in Quebec. There will be
some passive resistance" but the
sense and loyalty Of the authorities and
the Church and such powerful papers
as ia Presse' will soon dominate the
situation and eliminate any passing
trouble for hotheaded Nationalists or
minimizing youths.