The sun., 1919-10-22
LEGISLATURE BADLY
DIVIDED IN ONTARIO
United Farmers Hold Largest
Number of Seats as a Re-
suit of Election.
HEARST MAY REMAIN
Lack of Majority May Cause
Observation-Disclosures to
Keep Him as Premier.

., \ STAFF Correspondent Of THE srS.
OTTAWA, oct. 21.-The defeat of the
y.,-s, conservative Government in On
,,o and the election of four substan-
ia, rroups to the Legislative Assembly
lang with several individual indepen-
,.,,s creates a new situation in Cana
~, noIitics. As indicated in a despatch
;, TIVE SUN last month. the Legislature
.,u resemble the French Chamber
..,.,- than a staid Canadian provincial
according to revised returns there are
nir,y.nine United Farmers. twenty-siN
liberals, twenty-six Conservatives
I,ven Labor men, one soldiers repre-
,,r,atiye" and one independent. with
wen seats to be decided where the vote
Is close. .,.,,
Under ordinary political practice with
The canadian parliamentary system when
Ministry fails to be sustained py 'ne
nsople, with majority or supporters III
~ Legislature, 1t must resign. Du.
,nce no one group has a majority II
!, assumed that the Lieutenan!-IoVer
ranresenting the crown, will request
s sIa william Hearst and his moribund
S.bin.t 10 continue as the executive OF
-. province. But since Premier Hearst
- Ave Of his Cabinet were defeated
is evident they no longer represent
Ina people, and should resign.
Can stiu Negotiate.
air william may proceed with nego,
uatlons for an alliance with the United
Farmers. but in any event ne anu ms
Minister'S must hold seats In the Legls-
l,tlye Assembly. The executive cannol
main apart from the legislative body
IN this country II Hartley Dewart can
opts,rip Sir William at making terms
v.i,s the farmers it will be in order for
,.A Iieutenant-Govern to permit the
Hearst Ministry to retire.
Once the legislative assembly is sum-
named together there must come new
,lrnments But the situation is so en-
,lrslv new in Canadian politics that the
conservative of the crown Will con-
Eder before announcing any decisions
We must first find out where the strength
lies IN the popular assembly.
7, this connection a difficulty arises
ant Of the fact that the United Farmers
lave no recognized leader. 1t is the
r,p that each of the farmers mem.
hers have given signed letter CT
resignation to the local hackers, which
,cts on the recall principle whenever
their representative fails to act. as 1t
,s desired he should on public issues,
That letter may be sent to the speaker
q the assembly without the consent OF
that member.
Sir Adam Beck Defeated.
But the group has no political head
IN Ontario. Two or three individual
candidates are credited with the state
nent during the campaign that Sir
Adam Beck, the hydro-power protector.
was their leader. But the situation is
further complicated by the defeat of
Sir Adam Beck by labor man in
London.
II the farmers are in earnest in
wanting him for leader, 1t is possible
that Sir William Hearst would be will
ing to unite with him in a coalition min
stry. But Sir Adam Is not popular
with either conservatives or Liberals.
and fear of his autocratic methods may
he the bar to a coalition with him.
The farmers may prefer a less bril-
liant leader. In the event of the farm
ers being unwilling to enter a coalition,
another election will be necessary. In
that event Hartley De Wart would be
returned to power.
The defeat Of Sir Adam Beck is inter
preted as a check to his ambitious plans
FOR extension of hydro-electric power
lines and radial railways and the vot'
against him therefore is welcomed as {
needed brake on the financial response
bllity Of Ontario.
Members Of the Federal Parliamen
are naturally surprised at the progress
made by the United Farmers in conserv
alive Ontario. A farmers group in tn
next Federal Parliament of eighty mem
hers would be a logical sequence, base'
on the Ontario vote. The provinces am
Ontario are strong areas for organized
farmers, but Quebec and the MARTINI
provinces will remain true to the olde
political allegiance, It is believed.
New Coalition Is Likely.
In that event, a coalition Ministry o
the Liberals and the Farmers would b
formed, and be an expression OF tn
irony Of fate In politics. and a turn o
the wheel against the coalition. whic
forced CONSUMPTION on Quebec and tn
farmers during the war.
Incomplete returns from the referen
dunn on prohibition show that in a tota
vote reported OF 3s2.243, a majority o
1852 declared against repeal OF tn
Canadian temperance act: 40,297 agains
The sale Of beer in Government shops
N,24s majority against hotel bars, an
I,s0s against sale of spirits in Govern
ment shops It Is certain the rural dis
triets TO be heard from will increase tn
majorties.
There were no women elected to tn
LeRlsla inre OF the 40 farmers elect ed