New-York tribune., 1917-12-18
Borden and Union Govern.
ment Returned for Three
More Years
French Votes
Go to Laurier
Soldiers Ballots Expected
to Swell Vote for the
Premier

OTTAWA, Dec. 1.-THE Union gov
ernment has been returned. and con-
scription confirmed by the Canadian
domestic vote.
Early returns received from all over
Canada indicate that the government of
Sir Robert Borden has been elected to
administer Canadian affairs for an
other five years, and that Sir Wilfrid
Laurier is as definitely defeated as in
the reciprocity election Of 1911.
Returns indicate that the French
portion Of Canada has gone heavily
for Sir Wilfrid Laurier and English
constituencies have returned men who
will support the Union government
measures and maintain Premier Bor-
den in office.
The vote has been very heavy every
where, and the majorities are very
large. The soldier vote, which will not
be ascertained for some days, will in
crease the already heavy majorities Of
government members and will likely
increase the number Of government
supporters elected.
The official returns announced short
ly before midnight showed that with
sixteen districts to be heard from and
four deferred. the Unionists had won
12S seats and the Opposition 81.
The Province of Quebec, outside OF
the City of Montreal, went absolutely
solid for Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the stand
ing Of the parties being: Opposition,
g., Government, So
The three supporters Of the Borden
administration elected are {. j. Do
herty. Minister of Justice, representing
the st. Anne's Division of Montreal;
c. c Ballantyte, Minister of Marine,
St. Lawrence Division OF Montreal. and
Sir Herbert Ames, st. Antoine Division
of Montreal. These three constituent
cies contain a large English speaking
vote. Wherever the French ote pre-
dominated the majorities piled up for
the Laurier candidates were over
whelming.
Sir Wilfrid himself was returned for
Quebec seat Two ministers, Colo
mel =. r. Blondin, Postmaster General,
row on military service abroad. who
ran in ChamplGin and Laurier-Outre-
mont, and J. j. A. Seyigny, who holds
the portfolio of Minister of Inland
Revenue, were defeated in each of the
constituencies in which they ran. Mr..
Sevigny was beaten in Dorchester by
his old rival, Lucien Cannon. Among
the defeated in Quebec was Armand
Lavergnc. the Nationalist, who ran in
Montmagny, straight Laurier candi-
date beating him by good majority.
Referendum in Laurier Plan
Sir Robert Borden, head of the pres
ent administration and leader of the
Union forces, is committed TO enforcing
the selective draft law now on the stat
ute books. The Liberal leader, Sir
Wilfrid Laurier, has promised refer
endum on the conscription question and
has declared his party will support the
draft if il wins in plebiscite.
There are 235 seats to be filled. Be
fore to-day's balloting eighteen Laurier
and eleven Borden supporters had been
returned without opposition, so that
Borden started to-day with handicap
of seven. Four contests had been de-
ferred, leaving decisions TO be given IN
202 constituencies. .,,
II is estimated that there are a mill
ion and quarter male domestic votes,
three hundred thousand overseas sol
der votes and probably half million
women who arc permitted to vote
through relationship with men in ser
vice.
The government based its hopes on
the soldier and women elements as
being specially interested in the intro
duction Of conscription. II had
strengthened itself By taking the vote
from citizens born in enemy countries
and naturalized since 1900 and by CIV
ing vote to every man IN the Canadian
ar1,v oven though unnaturalized.