Evening star., 1921-12-27
Who's Who ess5:sesss essss As~'
XXXIII-Sir Robert Laird Borden.
- ANADA could have sent no

ANADA could nave sent no
delegate to the conference on
4 limitation of armament and
far eastern questions who is
better known and held in higher es-
teen by Americans than her repre-
sentative on the British empire dele
CATION. Sir Robert Borden. 1t is not
exactly right to say that he is part
American. although his forbears did
migrate from Massachusetts into Nova
Scotia, because he is as loyal a Cana
dian as lives; but he has been in the
closest touch with America for many
years past. having host of friends
throughout the United States and Wis
iting among them on innumerable oc-
casions. At the very outset of his
career he was a teacher in school
in New Jersey. There it was that he
learned American ideals and aspira-
tions, and in later years this under
standing went long way in smooth
ing out diplomatic intercourse be-
tween the two neighbor nations. Sir
Robert is SiXty-seven years old and
has been resting for over year now.
after strenuous life Of politics and
government service. He had planned
leading quiet life after he left par
lament in July. 1920, and his taking
SO active part in the armament con-
ference was quite a sacrifice to him,
but Canada could have picked no man
who had to such an extent the conf
dence of the statesmen of the mother
country and America and the other
nations as well.
Sir Robert has been the strong out
standing figure in Canadian politics
for the past decade. He is the states
man who will go down in the history
a L. rf
Two great things he did that no other
statesman in his position in any
other country can lay claim to. In
the first place, he was premier of
Canada at the time the war was de-
clared and remained in that high po-
sition until after peace was won. No
other dominion premiers did this and
no prime minister of any Of the
allied powers was in Offices through
out that time. He was also respon-
sible for popular conscription for the
army in Canada. In no other coun-
try was the question of conscription
put to the vote of the people and
passed upon. Sir Robert. as the lead
err of the conservatives, advocated
conscription, fought for it with all
his energy. made of it the prime
issue in the elections. and by
his indomitable determination and
tireless efforts won for himself and
his party an overwhelming majority.
He is given the entire credit of this
brilliant action. as well as for the
formation of the coalition government
during the war that worked SO admi-
rably.
Sir Robert was born in the town of
Grand Pre-, in Nova Scotia. within 4
stones throw of Evangeline's well, in
that district. from which the Ar
cadians. immortali2ed by Longfcllow,
made their emigration. 1t was vii
lage of country folk. but of a highly
intellectual sort. His family, together
with others. were great students and
lovers of the Greek and Latin cias-
sizes, so that although he had only
primary school education at the
Acacia Villa Academy, in Nova Scotia.
he was brought up in an atmosphere
that encouraged delving deeply into
serious and learned subjects. and he
was of an extremely studious dispo-
sition by nature.
Following his short experience as