Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-12
CANADA PREPARES
FOR HOT ELECTION
Liberals and Conservatives,
/ Latter Now in Power,
Fight for Control.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
OTTAWA, July 12.--Liberals and
Conservatives In Canada are training
their big guns for the general eiec-
lions, which probably will be held in
September, to determine who shall
control the Canadian government.
The issue, in the main, will be over
the question OF constitutionality and
the sovereignty Of Canada. as raised
ton In the department OF customs
under the recent Liberal ministry, as
raised by the Conservatives.
The elections come as q result OF
the recent dissolution Of Parliament
after the fall of the Liberal govern.
ment Of w. Il. Mackenzie King and
the three-day rule of the Conservative
ministry Of Arthur Meighen. The LIB
erals resigned under the threat Of q
vote OF censure and the Conservatives
suffered q defeat that was carried
by but one vote.
Governor General Criticized.
The fact that Gov. Gen. Byng failed
70 grant dissolution on the request Of
the Liberal government and then soon
after granted 1t to the Conservative
government has created storm of
Liberal criticisms.
Rarely has q session OF the Cana.
dian Parliament been more productive
Of broken presidents and dramatic
debate. The elections last October re-.
suited In the return Of minorities by
both Conservatives and Liberals, a
situation that inevitably led to an
unstable balance OF power. the Pro.
gressives holding the deciding votes.
Despite his minority power, Pre-
mier King was able to hang on with
progressive and Independent support.
His worst difficulties, however, began
in June, when special committee
reported on irregular conditions In
the customs department. Indications
that his government was due Tor q
vote Of censure led the premier to
resign.
Constitutionality Is Doubted.
Mr.. King later raised the question
Of constitutionaiity Of the short
lived Meighen government by init
mating that Gov. Gen. Byng had
refused toS dissolve parliament on re-
quest of the Liberal cabinet in order
to give the Conservatives an Oppor-
tunity to form their own government.
This was tactical advantage for the
Conservatives, since It made the lat
ter the interim government during
The Conservatives, however. have
found what they consider adequate
precedent for the formation OF the
Meighen ministry and cite opinions
OF the deputy minister Of justice in
their support.
BY questioning the procedure fol-
lowed by Gov. Gen. Byng, the
Liberals have brought to the front
the issue Of Canada's sovereignty and
the control exercised by an appointee
Of the British Government in q local
political matter.
Question Is Important.
Although this constitutional issue
J Is more or less unconnected with the
| political fight which resulted In the
busting of the King government, 1t
Is admitted to be an important one
especially In Western Canada.
The Conservatives as counter
blow to the Liberals are concentrat-
Ing on the recent customs scandal
which revealed extensive smuggling
over the United States border. The
customs committees report censured
Jacques Bureau, former Liberal min
lister of customs. but made no men,
ton of his successor, G. TT. Boivin 1t
was q Conservative amendment to
censure the latter that precipitated
the crisis in the King government.