Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13
BY LAWRENCE F. JONES.

| ~ TTAWA. - With a Dominion
election only little more than
two weeks away and with
~ orators declaiming the policies
of their parties from every
nook and corner, Canadians are be-
| ginning to wonder what the election is
all about. For in the rising chorus OF
speech-making emanating from every
party it is difficult even for an ex-
perienced election follower to pin the
campaign down to one definite issue
or any number of specific issues.
Liberals, In power up to the time oil
the dissolution of Parliament on May
%, and Conservatives, the official op-
position, each proclaim different issues
But there is one issue which the aver
age voter Is inclined to think will have
definite bearing on the election, be-
cause 1t touches his national pride
That issue is the tariff. OF course
| tariff has always been an important
feature Of Canadian campaigns. but
this year 1t promises to become even
more so.
Liberals Stress Tariff Issue.
Liberals assert that the main issue is
empire trade-that Canada must deal
less with the United States and more
with Great Britain and other members
OF the British commonwealth. They
declare the time has come for Canada
to become more self-reliant, to fight
back and to meet American tariff at
tacks with retaliation. They But their
declarations into concrete form toward
the close of the last session of the
House Of Commons when Charles Dun
ming, who was provincial premier,
brought in his famous budget, which
provided for counter measures against
American tariff increases, then only
proposed.
Canada for Canadians" is the battle
cry OF Conservatives, who maintain that
the big issue is whether Canada shall,
through high protective tariff, so
stimulate industry. and safeguard agri-
culture from foreign inroads that she
shall become self-supporting nation,
independent of outsiders, save for those
products which are not native to the
soil.
The strong Independent bloc from the
prairie provinces, which in previous
sessions of Parliament has nearly al
ways voted with the ruling Liberal gov
eminent, seeks only one thing-pros-
perity for the farmers. How to get that
prosperity is the difficulty.
II the farmers representatives SUD.
port the Conservative policy, then they
support high tariff, which they have
always denounced as detrimental tt
their interests. If they support the
Liberal policy, then they support In
| creased tariff and countervailing duties
| akin to Conservative protection, and are
asked to help increase inter and intrs
empire trade, which, so far, is toe
| ephemeral for farmers who need ready
cash to meet mortgage payments and
monthly bills.
Farmers in Dilemma,
Farmers shake their heads obviously
when they hear the Liberals PROPOSE
ton. 1t appeals to their patriotism
but it does not appeal directly to their
pocketbooks. The Liberals point out
that the Hawley-Smoot tariff bill, signed
by President Hoover, has imposed such
restrictive taxes on Canadian farm ex-
ports that Canadian farmers, dairymen,
poultry raisers and vegetable growers
will find their former markets IRENE
daily shut off and their export trade
gone.
The Liberal remedy for this is empire
trade. They argue that the counter
vailing duties provided by the Dunnine
budget, which meet American tariff in
creaseS cent for cent and dollar for
dollar automatically, will prevent the
flooding Of the Canadian market with
P1OAuCC 4AOIII C1lc OIl1C6Q 0CdUeS. linus,
although the Canadian exporter will
have lost a market, he will be free from
the danger Of dumping" by a shrewd
competitor. But the farmers demand
to know what they will do with their
surplus products, II American buyers
are denied them.
To this the Liberals reply that in
creased imperial trade Is the answer
The Dunning budget, they assert, was
devised with no other object than to
widen Canadas market to provide more
facilities for trade with British coun-
tries by erecting a high tariff wal
against foreign invasion and by extend
ing preferential rates to members of the
commonwealth. 1t is vague and indefi.
mite, they admit, but the farmers must
be patriotic and sacrifice pecuniary
! gains which will be only momentary
for the sake Of vastly increased profits
when British markets are fully devel.
oped.
Mackenzie Kings View.
In a speech early in the campaign
w. L. Mackenzie King, prime minister
and leader of the Liberal party, sale
the essential point was that Canals
must enlarge her imports from Great
Britain In order to enlarge her exports
to Great Britain.
| Tariff schedules, Mr.. King continued
were revised with the definite aim Of
diverting a considerable portion Of
trade from the United States to Great
Britain and the empire units, such as
Australia, New Zealand and the West
Indies.
I'VE, on our part" he stated, through
the countervailing duties on a selected
list of commodities, announce our inten-
ton of trading with those who are
equally prepared to trade with u.s."
In respect to the United States, Mr.
King said, the government is resolved
in the interests of the Canadian people
that trade relations between Canada
and the United States must not bt
sided.
us this policy in the interests Of
Canada and the British Empire?" hi
asked at Peterboro, where he made thu
definite announcement of the Liberia
view of the election issue. IF so, lei
us support 1t. If it Is not, let us reject
it. That is the question before you tt
SETTLE"
The Conservative point Of view or
what constitutes the issue or issues
and on the importance Of tariff anc
empire trade Is somewhat different. o!
course, r. r. Bennett, leader of the
Conservative party, had been placed ir