New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-29
Borden Attacked
AS War Leader
By Canadians
Critics Assert Premier Has
Muddled Dominion's
Affairs

Toronto, July 2s.--Will Sir Robert
Borden last through the war as Prime
Minister Of Canada?
The question is raised, apart alto
gether from the hazards of the general
election, now expected in September or
October, by vigorous personal criti-
cisms Of his war leadership which have
broken out this week in quarters which
are not opposed to but in accord with
his conscription bill.
The charge made by his critics is
that he has displayed lack of leader
ship and capacity for muddling that
make it impossible for him to lead the
country through the remaining period
of stress. His defenders see in him a
second Lincoln. see in his deliberation
only strength and patience. II the crit
les win and the defenders lose it will
be because in war time nothing counts
but results.
Perhaps Sir Robert will yet find a
way through, but on the surface
/ Canadian affairs never appeared in
such a muddle as they are to-day. The
| orthodox Borden supporters comment
on this situation is that it is all Lauri-
/ er's fault. To this the Laurier man
replies that Laurier has not been in
Office.
Many observers believe that the
/ Premier's first and perhaps cardinal
mistake was in not organizing a ma
! tional government in 1914, instead of
carrying on the war as a partisan at
/ fair. In Canada the Prime Minister
! does not become the leader and repre-
/ sentative of the nation in the war. az
/ the President of the United States
| does. AS the organizations almost sole
rallying point, he remains to a greater
extent than in Washington the leader
of his party.
Situation Aggravated
From the outset Of the war this con-
dition was aggravated by some of the
Premier's associates, who treated Lib
erals without much consideration. The
opposition was not invited to CO.
operate; instead it was threatened
with extinction il it didn't be good.
oppose US in anything and we'll 60
to the country and you will be wiped
OUT was ING hlbiNhNt VI NuO 6ONSAH-
ment. Suggestions of union Cabinet
were ignored. Even as recently as the
other day, when CONSUMPTION was in
troduced it was introduced as a party
measure.
But when in few days the Premier
discovered that there would be more
than honor and glory involved in con-
scription, when he discovered, in fact,
that he had nearly, if not quite, Spilled
the beans" he offered the coalition.
For more than two months he has
been offering positions in his Cabinet
TO Liberals and Conservatives and capt.
talists and non-partisans from one end
of the country 10 the other, and so far
no public announcement has been made
that any one has accepted. There never
was a like situation before.
The Premier has intimated that ma
tional government 5 now essential.
But if he cannot form one, what is the
answer?
II Sir Robert retires, who will sue
coed? In the Cabinet Sir Thomas
White, Minister of Finance, is regarded
as the ablest man, but he is not strong
politically, having small personal fol-
lowing even in his own party.
SHduEIHCbsts ouSBSS'Su'
II has been suggested that Lord
Shaughnessey, president of the Cana
dian Pacific Railway, should head ma
tional government. Shaughnessey has
never been in politics. He has prob
ably found IL easier TO WELD power
without Office. Besides his views on
CONSUMPTION have not been clearly de-
fined in public.
Renter upon the stage this week
Sir Clifford Sifton, with a call to the
nation that sounds the clearest note
of Canadian leadership that has been
heard from any public man since the
beginning Of the war. I'VE are not
fighting for sentiment, for England,
for Imperialism: we are fighting for
the rights Of ourselves and Of our
children TO live as free community,
he said.
II will be observed that this declsra-
ton of faith is identical with that Of
the United States. No other Canadian
public man has had either the courage
or the vision to make il. II immediate
ly struck a responsive chord. Had it
been made sooner, some Of our difficult
ties might have been avoided.
So distinctive among the utterances
of Canadian statesmen was Sifton's
message that the question was imme-
diately asked if he is candidate for
a Win-the- Premiership.
Sifton Regarded as Able
By many Sifton is regarded as the
ablest man in Canada. Formerly first
lieutenant in Laurier's Cabinet, no has
been out Of public life for twelve years
and, unfortunately, he left it while still
under attack. Yet, says one OF the
chief Of his old critics, II we have TO
choose between the Kaiser and Sifton
we choose Sifton.
Another possibility Of the future is
that n. W. Rowell, leader Of Ontario
Provincial Liberals, will accede TO ma
tIonal leadership. He is sound con-
scriptionist and has done more to lead
public opinion along sound war lines
than any other public man in Canada.
Bnt his following in the Federal field,
where fiourishes the green-eyed mon
ster Jealousy, is still Of diminutive
Possibly Sir Robert Borden will DO
able shortly 70 announce a Cabinet re-
Formulation, either before or after the
ne1ding election campaign. But the
a -. nn,tfnued leadership ap-