Evening star., 1921-12-07
RECIPROCITY WINS
AT CANADA'S POLLS
Advocates of Low Tariff
With U. S. Gain ParIia-
ment Seats.
By the Associated Press.


returns from yesterdays general
election were still incomplete this
morning. 1t was apparent that for
the first time. in ten years Canada
had elected a parliament with ma
jority favoring reciprocity with the
United States.
In the new house of commons W.
will have clear majority over all
parties, He will thus become prime
pfntster Of thss Dominion. The pro-
gressiyes. also -fayoring reciprocity
and a low tariff. win rank second.
and the high tariff party. headed by
Premier Meighen, third. Mr.. Meighen
himself was defeated in Portage la
Prairie, Manitoba. his home district.
Spectacular Defeat.
The fall of the Meighen govern
ment. with its high-tariff platform.
was as spectacular as the defeat of
Sir Wilfrid Lauriers liberal admin
istration in 1911 on it's policy OF
reciprocity with the United States.
In yesterdays election high tariff.
as championed by Premier Meighen,
lost to the reciprocity program of
Mr. King.
Three provinces - Quebec, Nova
Scotia and Prince Edward Island re-
turned solid liberal ccntingents. On
tario, regarded as the fortress of
conservatism and protection, showed
a liberal gain of more than twenty
seats. Seven members of the Meighen
government. in addition to the pre-
mier himself. were defeated, five In
Quebec and two in Nova Scotia.
The new progressive party, led by
n. Crerar of Manitoba, swept the
western provinces. but captured COM
paratively few divisions in the east.
This group, originally made up of
farmers stands for tariff revision
downward even more drastic than the
liberals propose. Its members are in
sympathy with the reciprocity move
ment.
Decisive PrOnOuncement.
The result Of the election is gen.
orally regarded in the Canadian capi-
tai as a decisive pronouncement by
the people on the tariff question. The
heads Of the three main parties made
this the chief issue OF the campaign
and toured the Dominion expounding
their several. gospels.
Premier Maighan made his fight on
protection, warning the electors
against economic absorption of
Canada by the United States" The
liberal and progressive groups, while
differing in details, argued in favor
of reciprocity with the United States.
In his election manifesto. Mr. King
advocated substantial reductions in
the customs/tariff, with a view to
diminishing the high cost of living
which presses SO severely on the mas
ses of the people; and reducing the
cost OF the instruments of production
in the industries based on the natural
resources of the, dominion, the Wig
orous development of which is es-
sential to the progress and prosperity
of the country ~
= THE. liberal platform also asked that
goods from British countries be given
preferential tariff treatment. and de-
mapded that the following articles be
placed on the free list: Wheat, wheat
-four and all products of wheat; the
principal articles of food, farm i'm
plements and machinery, farm trac-
tors, mining, flour and sawmill ma
chinery and repair parts thereof,
rough and dressed lumber, gasoline.
Illuminating, lubricating and fuel
oils, nets, net. twines and fishermen's
equipment, cements and ferterlizers.
Women's Part in Election
+ AT yesterdays election, for the first
time in the political history of, Can
ada, women voted on terms Of equal
ity with men. Miss Macphail, pro-
gressive, was elected to parliament in
the southeast Grey district OF On
tario. She will be the first woman
member of the house of commons.
William Lyon Mackenzie. King. who
will be the next premier of the Do
minion,N is grandson of William
Lyon Mackenzie. leader in the
struggle for responsible government
in Canada. He is forty-seven years
old. He holds post graduate degrees
from the University of Chicago ana
Harvard. From 1914 to 1917 he S.as
engaged in. the investigation of in
dustrial relations under the auspices
Of the Rockefeller Foundation, and
while on this work acquired an inti-
mate knowledge Of conditions In the
United States. He was minister Of
labor for Canada for eight yeafu in
the a ,YY-ier government.