Daily Kennebec journal., 1921-12-08
New Canadian
Parliament FavOrs
Reciprocity with u. S.

Ottawa, Dec. 1-Although returns
from yesterdays general elections
were still incomplete today, it was
avparent that for the first time In 10
wears Canada had elected Pariia-
ment with a majority favoring recip-
rocity with the United States.
In the new House Of Commons, ".
L. Mackenzie King liberal leader. will
have a clear majority of all parties.
He will thus become prime minister
Of the dominion. The Progressive. al
so favoring reciprocity and low tar
iff, will 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.
The provinces. Quebec, Nova Scotia
and Prince Edward Island. returned
solid Liberal contingents. Ontario.
regarded as the fortress Of conserva-
tism and protection. showed a Liberal
gain of more than 20 seats. Seven
members of the Meighen govern
ment, in addition to'the premier HIM
self, were defeated. five IN quebec
and two in Nova Scotia.
The new Progressive party, led by
r. A. Crerar Of Manitoba, swept the
western provinces. but captured COM
paratively fAw 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This group, originally made up of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.
| The result Of the election is gener-
ally regarded in the Canadian capital
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 Meighen made his fight on
protection, warning the electors
against Economic absorption Of Can
ada by the United States" The Lib
eral 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
masses of the people. and reducing
| the cost of the instruments of pro-
| duction in the industries based on
the natural resources of the douin-
ion, the vigorous development of
which is essential to the progress
and prosperity of the country"
The liberal platform also asked
that goods from British countries be
given prefential tariff treatment. and
demanded that the following articles
be placed on the free list: Wheat,
wheat -four and all products OF
wheat: the principal articles of food:
/ farm implements and machinery;
! farm tractors; mining, -four and say
mill machinery and repair parts
; thereof: rough and dressed lumber;
gasoline, illuminating, lubricating
and fuel oils; nets, net twines and
fiahcrmen's equipment: cements and
-, fertilizers. For the first time in the
/ political history of Canada, women
voted on terms of equality with men.
Mrs. McPhail, Progressive, was elect
! cd to parliament in the southeast
Grey district of Ontario. She will be
! the first women member of the
! House of Commons.
/ William Lyon Mackenzie King.
who will be the next premier of the
/ coalinion. is a grandson of William
Ivon Mackenzie, leader in the
| struggle for responsible government
in Canada. He is A years old. He
| holds post graduate degrees from the
| University of Chicago and Harvard.
! From 1914 to 1917 he was engaged in
! the investigation of industrial rela-
! tions under the auspices Of the
! Rockefeller foundation, and while on
/ this work acquired an intimate
! knowledge of conditions in the Uni
ted States. He was minister of labor
eight years in the I-aurier govern
! ment.