The sun., 1919-08-05
NO RADICAL CHANGE
IN BORDEN CABINET
The Expected Replacement Of
Young Men for Old Fails
to Materialize.

Special Correspondence to the Canadia,
Section Of 1>HB Sum.
OTTAWA, Aug. Sir Robert Bot
den's Cabinet reconstruction, announce,
during the week. has not bean overl,
well received. The country had been Lex
to expect that the Prime Minister con
templated thorough house cleaning
that number OF Ministers who loni
ago outllved their usefulness would b,
succeeded by younger and ADLER men
and that representation would be secured
for the Province of Quebec. Instead, Sll
Robert Borden merely replaced two Min
isters-Mr. Crerar and Sir Thoma.
White--whose designations he could mo-
avert, and II is very questionable whether
the new Ministers possess as much nd
illustrative capacity or strength in tn,
country as the men they succeed.
Sir Henry Drayton. who becam,
Finance Minister, Is n Toronto barrister
who previous TO becoming chairman Of
the Dominion Board of Railway Com
missioners analogous to the United
States Interstate Commerce Commits
stony. had had very little experience ir
public affairs. Unlike Sir Thomas White
who before joining the Ministry wal
~eA'cSeCa WIN Oho VI lho iAlktot ludu-
cial Institutions In the Dominion. Ne has
had no financial training other than that
secured as chairman of the Railway
Commission. Therefore. coming at a
time when the monetary situation was
never more difficult or vital. his ap-
pointment Is regarded as something OF
an experiment.
DR.. r. 8. Tolnie. who succeeds Mr..
Crerar as Minister of Agriculture, comes
from British Columbia. He is a middle
aged gentlemen, who got elected to the
House Of Commons as a Unionist in 1917,
and although farmer himself and more
or less popular with his class, II Is not
pretended that he Is as strong a figure as
Mr.. Crerar. who as head OF Abe Grain
Growers Grain Company, and welding
influence as a Western
leader brought the Government strength
and prestige In the Prairie Provinces.
stormy Figure Retires.
The only other change is the resigna-
tion of Hon. F. b. Carvell from the port
folio of Public Works and his appoint
ment to the craftsmanship of the Railway
Commission vacated by Sir Henry Dray-
ton.
Carvells retirement marks the passing
from active politics of one who. in pre-
war days, was one of the stormiest fig-
ures IN Canadian public life OF stern,
countenance, and with a vitri-
Ole tongue. he earned the sobriquet Of
Fighting Frank" and fought Conserva-
tive leaders with bitterness and vim
dictiveness unrfvalled in Parliament
The downfall of Sir Sam Hughes from
the Ministry of War was largely due to
Carvelfs attacks, while repeated and
onslaughtes upon profitee-ing
made him almost an idol with the masses
OF the people.
In 1917, when he had to choose be-
tween party and patriotism, he left his
OLD political comrades and Joined the
Unionists. many Of whom had been not
only political but bitter personal enemies
As member Of the Government, how
ever, he was not entirely a success. Es:
sentfally destructive critic, he chafed
under the restrictions of cabinet routine.
and 1t cannot be said that his resig-
nation Is a loss to the Ministry's admin
istrative strength.
No one has yet been appointed to sue
coed him. although it is not improbab BILE
that his successor will be found in Sir
Douglas Haxen. formerly Premier and
now CHIEF Justice of the Province If
New Brunswick.
The Liberal Convention.
The National Liberal Convention,
which. In addition to the task of giving
Canadian Liberalism a new politico-
economic creed has to provide a suo-
cessor for Sir wilfrid Laurier. Is now
In full swing. The greatest political
congress that the Dominion has seen
since the historic Liberal gathering of
1893, nationwide in interest, is being
eVinced IN its dtliberatio Every prov
ince is strongly represented by dele
gates and, Judging from DEVELOPMENTS
OF the first days session, the platform
To be launched will constitute the most
radical platform yet enunciated by a
Canadian political party.
The question of leadership Is uncer-
tain. some few days ago q great boom
seemed to be In fun swing for Hon. w.
FIELDING, but Its momentum appears
to be rapidly waning. One of the most
salient figures in the public life of the
Domtnion-a gentleman of high ca
pacity and tntezrity-Mr. Fieldingss ad-
vanced age and leanings toward con-
servatism are injuring his chances for
leadership with the younger and moro
radical elements, who want a younger
and more progressive chief; while as a
Unionist who at the last general cleo
ton deserted Sir Wilfrid Laurier he is
not In favor with the serried ranks of
delegates from the Province OF Quebec
There are, however, few other no.
table possibilities In sight. Premier
William Martin OF Saskatchewan. al
though less able and experienced than
Fielding, is young In years. and has the
progressive outlook Of the West. but
he declines to become a candidate for
the leadership. Mr.. King, the present
House leader. IL regarded as too much
OF Tory. Mr.. George p. Graham and
Mr.. p. M Macdonald. doughty fighters
behind Sir Wilfrid In pre-war days are
generals without an army, and Mr..
Kings acknowledged capacity is out
weighed by the fact that for a time he
was connected with the Rockefeller
and Standard Oil.
The new leader. whoever he may be,
will fall heir to no easy task. Torn into
shreds by the war. Canadian Liberals
md themselves In an even worse posi-
ton than the Asquith Liberals In
Britain. In the West their party has
deserted, horse. foot and artillery. to
the quAsi-political organizations main