New-York tribune., 1918-05-05
p,each Caused by
Recent Draft
Plots Shous Dif-
fsring Outlook
ofCreeds on Brit
;sh Consumption
Policy
D. Charles Henry Meltzer
,c..,,rioht 1918 by The Tribune
Association

r. Isas easy to underestimate a
to overestimate the politica
significance of the upheavals il
Quebec. To some the recent riot:
,.smed an expression of disloyaltS
!. Ottawa. To others they seemed
..,re much more, than that--an in
s.s.ion of a wish for independence
:, .he Dominion and Great Britain
,,a then, again, some treated then
~ lightly, as a mere passing proof
4 surface discomfort.
tn those who know their Canada
,ovever. not as occasional visitors
b Niagara, or seekers of pleasure
:, the beautiful Saginaw, the out
breaks in Quebec had their impor-
,.nce Not as menace to the en-
oi,e Of which Canada is one of the
ros. cherished parts, but as sign
4 the deep difference between the
EASTERN and western outlooks on
the war, and as a warning to the
cwers that be in Ottawa.
Two months ago spent some time
in Canada, watching the workings
# the new conscription law. l had
the privilege of meeting many men
q influence, among them the Pre-
mier, Sir Robert Borden; his dis
tpguished adversary, Sir Wilfrid
Isurier; Sir Lomer Gouin, the Que
bc Prime Minister, and M. Bou-
nssa, the leader and mouthpiece of
the Canadian Nationalists. I also
saw and talked with men of stand
jng on the press of the Dominion,
Who help to shape its fate, not only
hy printed articles, but also by pri-
vste counsel
Lastly-and I am tempted very
nearly to say chiefy-I had the
good fortune to have various oppor-
tunities Of discussing the affairs of
Canada with Catholic dignitaries.
From one and all, including M.
Bourassa and Sir Robert Borden,
who are extremes in politics, I got
the impression that, despite some
discomfort, of quite serious kind.
the Dominion had submitted to con-
scription. Unwillingly, of course, in
the eastern province. More will.
ingly, and with ungrudging loyalty
in the west.
The drafting Of the troops hac
caused no trouble, either west OF
east Whatever the Quebec folt
tnught, they had not resisted. Ir
Ottawa the authorities were at ease
and all seemed going we'll in & gooo
World
| When I visited Quebec that old
issinating city was quite peaceful
/ went about its~ normal busines:
nnly. I did not hear one hint a
shat came later.
Then, of a sudden, Quebec ross
N anger, defied the authorities, and
! las the first time since the enforce
nsnt of the conscription law, broke
INTO riots. The police were power
sss. and even the troops sent in ho-
taste to restore order had a bac
ane of it. There was fighting il
ae streets and on the housetops
come b!ood-not much-was shec
More the end. And, worse than all
feeling, till then latent, wa;
AIMED fiercely.
Method of Applying
Law the Cause
0ut the disorder did not NEAR
maj some supposed. The resistance
- not aimed at the conscriptior
wv but at the methods which &C.
Napanied its enforcement. Up to 6
Mint A. -,
a'as the authorities who rule from
"'aWa had shown great taos anc
ss'lmon sense in their proceedings
.ney had not hurried overmuch ir
ua'ung men. They had listened
= ra much patience to malingerers
- appeals Of those who pleaded
- exemption had been weighed
~ care, and many "slackers" hac
e0uot evaded service. The riot.
IS was caused by one bad lapse
s0n this prevailing temperance
4s overzealous agent of the gov
lnent had felt it his duty to con
& an alleged exempt or two. The
apts protested, swore and ther
o. Their neighbors took thei,
ss ana defended them. In a mo,
81 III the fat was in the fire. The
81 s0erng hatred of conscriptior
: : found vent.
~ xs1ee clashed with force. The
we're repressed. That seemed
ss uere will be far from
o'e aftermath. Largely psy
4 'cal, maybe, but no less real