Evening star., 1948-07-25

retire soon after more than 20 year;
A half dozen men are considere
generally favored are Louis Stephen
st. Laurent, suave, 66-year -old
French Canadian who is presently
Kings Secretary Of State for Ex-
ternal Affairs, and James Garfield,
bellicose, western-born Secretary for
Agriculture.
Many Differences
They are different as night and
day. In their personal differences
they represent many of the dif-
ferences between Canada's east and
west: Differences they will fight
over politically at the drop OF a
hat.
Mr.. st. Laurent, himself BIZ
lingual, comes from the big French
speaking Province Of Quebec. Ur-
bane, of medium height, he was a
successful corporation lawyer be-
fore Mr.. King brought him into
the cabinet in 1941. His interests
thus were more the interests OF
Canada's relatively industrializeo
east than of the farming west. Some
of his opponents think this back
ground is scarcely compatible with
liberal party principles. Mr.. st
Laurent belongs to the Catholic
church.
Mr.. Gardiner is man Of bantam
aggressiveness, just under 5 fee
5 inches tall. His ancestors were
Scots and he's proud of that. He
was born on farm and he still
runs one, although he's been In
politics since 1914. He resigned
the premiership Of Saskatchewan
to come to Ottawa as Mr.. Kings
Secretary for Agriculture in 1885
His principal support comes from
the western farm bloc. In Canada's
eastern maritimes the farmers
charge he has played favorites
with the west. He belongs to the
United Church of Canada, Protest
ant Church of the Prairies.
Prejudicial Issues
Critics of st. Laurent say he's too
much a statesman and not enough
of a politician for the Prime Min
ister's Job. Critics Of Gardiner say
he's too much OF a politician and
not a smooth enough statesman to
swing it.
The more violent partisans Of
each cry the other will favor indus
try over agriculture and vice versa,
the east over the west and vice
versa, the French over English
speaking and vice versa, the Cath
olics over the Protestants and
vice versa.
Wiser heads, trying to stop the
ballooning Of such prejudicial is
sues, fear these can only intensity
existing jealousies.
Habitable Canada is 5000 miles
long and from 100 to 400 miles wide.
Thus, it already has such diverse
sectional interests and so many
problems of intercommunication
that the government must avoid
those things likely to intensity re-
gional and racial differences.
Prime Minister King, master OF
compromise, is regarded by many
as the greatest single unifying in
fluence of this country. Many fear
that when he retires sectional diff
ferences will fare to degree
threatening national unity. There
often is talk of secession in the
west, in the maritimes and in Que
bee when toes get trampled.
Some Dark Horses
Mr.. st. Laurent has the tacit
backing of King and many cabinet
members. Mr.. Gardiner, besides
the backing Of western farmers, has
the support Of many OF those op-
posed to st. Laurent on racial OF
religious grounds.
While these two men are front
runners in the race now, there are
several others who might step into
the picture in case of a deadlock
or destroying dispute.
They include Finance Minister
Douglas Abbott, so; Defense Min
lister Brooke Claxton, 81; Health
Minister Paul Martin, As; Transport
Minister Lionel Chevrier, As, and
Trade Minister Clarence Decatur
Howe, 81, who was born in Waltham
Mass.
Two provincial politicians also
may get backing at the convention
These are brilliant and youthful
Stuart Carson, Premier OF. Manitoba
and Angus L. Macdonald, Premier
of Nova Scotia. Mr.. Carson has in
dicated friendship for Mr.. st. Lau-
rent. Some think this is because he
feels his turn will come next any
way and that he might be brought
into leadership sooner II something
unexpected happens.
Liberals in Power
Most of those in Ottawa who will
express unofficial opinions on the
convention are sure Mr.. st. Laurent
will be named party leader and sue