The sun., 1919-07-28
Politicians Seeking to Adapt
Themselves to New
Conditions.
LIBERALS NEED LEADER
Sir Robert Borden Is Outstand-
ing Figure and Has No
Rivals.
By a s,sc cors.ponden. o, Tue sux.

Is brewing. Tho return Of the Prime
Minister to duty and the Liberal con-
vention next week are Incidents. The
Borden Union Government was returned
in 1917 Cor the definite purpose of car
rying on the war. enforcing consumption
and maintaining the Dominique place
in the Peace Conference and insuring
the readjustment that Canada had won
in the field OF war.
All Of which is being faithfully and
carefully performed. The life OF this
Parliament continues into early 1898
But general election cannot well be
delayed beyond the summer or early
autumn OF 1920. That will give the
Cabinet time to discharge its duty to the
people. adapt its policy to peace condi-
the tariff. new franchise act a Cana
dian naval policy and try out legisla-
ton for civil reestabllshment of SOL
diers and sailors.
The political parties are seeking to
| reorganize and adapt themselves to the
new situation; both find It difficult to
break away from old traditions grace
fully. Liberals were divided on war
policy and are handicapped by lack OF
| an able leader. The men suggested 20
far have neither the high talent nor
patrician elegance of Sir wilfrid Laur-
| Ter. But the opportunity Is here for the
party and the man.
Sir Robert Borden is the outstanding
| man in politics and has no visible
rivals He displayed initiative and fore
sight and strategy in 1911 and again in
1917. and In both instances outvitted his
opponentA
He Ia supported in Parliament by
forty-five Observation-Disclosures. whose future
policy 10 as much bound up with him as
his own political security Is dependent
upon their support
Frown on Coalition Plan.
The plan to make the coalition perma-
| nent has not been met with enthusiasm
| in the old Conservative strongholds. The
12th of July speech by Sir Sam Hughes
in Toronto and his interviews with the
Braves produced quick results
Despite the efforts of II. c. Hocken.
M. p, the Central Conservative Associa-
| ton carried q resolution at stormy
meeting declaring that Il will not sup
port Unionist candidates. insisting on
adherence to the traditional policy Of
| Macdonald and Cartier for the party.
The Hon Robert Rogers, Minister Of
Elections" has issued a call to the faith
| full in all the provinces to organize. II
| was the partisanship and favcritism of
| Hughes and Rogers through three years
] Of war that brought the Borden Govern
ment to the brink of disaster in 1917.
| The situation was saved by throwing
them overheard and prosecuting a Wig
| cross war policy under coalition OF the
| best elements of both parties. II Is In
conceivable that Sir Robert Borden viii
take either of the two discredited men
back or permit them to dictate policy.
The situation demands a progressive
| democratic party that will appeal to the
people as secure in its integrity, indie
pendent OF control by any OF the large
interests. exercising economy in finance
and justice In taxation, and at the game
time having a sympathetic eye and ear
| for the economic and social problems
now associated with public duty.
Points out Duties.
The Borden-Rowell alliance aims to
meet that opportunity and demand. In
reply to criticisms of the Toronto GIobe
which has gone back to the LIBERAL
fold, Hon. N. w. RoweT points out that
| the Union Government has the duty
| to perform of
l. In carrying out its pledge to Par
Lament to submit the peace treaties
for consideration before ratification.
2. In supporting Canada's approval
OF and participation in the League OF
Nations to preserve the worlds peace.
3, In maintaining In the councils
Of the empire and at the conferences
| table OF the nations the unity of the
British commonwealth and the equality
of the nations which indorse Il. and
that our constitutional development be
along lines Of consultation and CO.
| operation between the different SELF
governing nations of the empire.
rather than the Capitalization of power
In the hands of one.
He asks II the Globe stands with the
opponents Of Union Government, "some
OF whom would sever the tie that bind.
US to the motherland and others would
relegate US to our pre-war quasi
colonial status"
Prohibition, elimination of public
patronage, development of a great Gov
eminent owned and operated system OF
railways, adjustment of the industrial
relations between capital and labor and
alive operation of the Board OF Com
merce are given as reasons by Mr..
Rowell why the Government should con-
tinus in once and not dissolve Parlia-
ment until progress has been made.
l
candidates for Liberal leader. indicates
that the West Is beginning to see that
| the tariff is not the one question IN
politics, even II II is in Sasl1a tchewan.
He says:
I'VE get a largo proportion Of our
revenue from tariff taxation and must
continue to get revenue from tariff tax
alton. But what we protest against Is
that while we know how much we pay
| the Government in duties we do not
know how much we pay in the way of
increased prices for goods manufactured
I'm Canada.
Farmers Feel Tariff.
Eve know that the tariff charges
press unduly hard upon the farmer, upon
the laborer, upon the poor. The poor
man who buys clothing and food for a
large family Is paying much more to the
Government in tariff charges than the
wealthy man who Is unmarried and buys
food and clothing for himself alone
This is not fair taxation. The revenue
of the country should be raised largely
from the wealth of the country. not ex-
acted from the poor man and labor"
He believes with his constituency tina,
the tariff Is the chief domestic issue, bu,
how he will square himself with the
! Eastern Liberals remains to be seen.
The Montreal Gasette and the Toronto
MaH and Empire, both for high tariff
urge that tho tariff 10 the big issue and
that protection must be thoroughgoing
But the need for tariff revision is recog,
nized. along. with a broader view and
| acceptance OF a larger sense Of duty, by
the financial and business world.
Sir. ]. S. Willlson writes: I'm Can