The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-26
ONTARIO PREPARES :.
FOR FALL ELECTION
Sir William Hearst viii Make
First Appeal to the
Electorate.

Special Correspondence to the Canadiun..
Section Of THE sun.
TORONTO, Aug. 25.-Despite the dis
fractions of hot weather and harvest the
politicians of Ontario are buckling ons
armor for a general election which IL
expected to take place late in Septembeiss
or early In October. 1t is more than fives
years since a Legislature was chosen for-
Ontario. and 1t is not unkind to say that
an suspicious moment has been awaited,
by the Government on which it might
appeal to the electorate. 1t is true, thsg
war has been a good reason for avoidS
ing the disturbance of an election. but
the Cabinet has not seen fit to hold
promptly all the by-elections which were
due TO fill vacant seats.
This will be Sir William Hearst's first
appeal to the electorate. as Sir James
Whitney. who brought the Conservatives
to power in 1905, was still Premier IN
1914. His death shortly afterward
brought the Hearst Government to office
with few Cabinet changes All parties
are now holding meetings and opinion 81
ton nobody knows. 1t is possible that
the co Ilition movement at Ottawa In
1917, which still remains in the presence
in the Federal Cabinet of several Liberal
Unionists. will lead to the adhesion OF q
portion of the former Liberal celebrates
to the Conservative Government in On
tario. AS far as 1t goes. therefore, this
will make for a realignment of parties In
the province.
AS was previously pointed out in this
correspondence, prohibition Liberals in
Ontario are under some embarrassment.
as many Of them are not enthusiastic
for Hartley Dewart, the new Liberal
| leader, who has never been a prohibitions
! list and who now meets the prohibit
issue by saying that it is out OF the lead
ers' hands, as it will be settled by the
| people themselves on a referendum this
fall.
| Now comes a new element in the polit-
| ical situation in the form of the United
Farmers OF Ontario. These might almost
be called the embattled farmers" for
they represent an uprising of agricultur
lists. presumably from both parties, who
now contend that they will be indepen-
dent of their former allegiance. Con-
veptions are being held almost daily at
which the United Farmer candidates
are being chosen for the coming contest.
| Leaders in the movement declare that
! It is a real uprising of the people against
| the old political bosses, though, OF
cour Sc, there is a distinct tinge of class
interest behind the agitation.
1t is not so clear just what the farms
| ers, as class may gain from large
representation in the Provincial House
The tariff is the issue on which farmers
are usually chiefly concerned, and that
is n Federal matter Even daylight
| saving does aDDear an iSSua In
the provincial arena Some allowance
must therefore be made for the claim
| that IL is n popular uprising, and as such
| may be compared to the manifesto tons
| OF unrest in labor circles during recent
months.
Observers OF the movement are tempe
| ed to recall, with a touch Of cyncisn).
! the fate of tn Patrons OF Industry. aII-
| other body of farmer politicians promi.
ncnt in Ontario in the middle nineties
| of last century. This body spread like
a prairie fire through the province. and
was in hopes OF doing wonders in the
legislature. Almost a score of p. Of
4 J. men were elected to the House In
! 1894, and for a time they caused a lit
| tie embarrassment to the then Premiar.
/ Oliver MowAt That gentleman's polN-
! ical astuteness however. was too muah
for the Patron members, or else human
| nature, or farmer nature, asserted IT
| self for in the course of three or four
years tho Patron members had either
dropped out of the House or thrown In
their lot with the Liberal members, and
/ the party soon ceased to be 4 factor.
L. Il. o. leaders, however. declare that
! they are proof against any political
! Establishments OF this kind. and affirm
that they intend to enter the Legislature
to stay.