wick, and Mr. Rogers of the Manitoba Government, were in Ottawa conferring with Mr. Borden. On the day this announcement of what the Opposition called a surrender to their fighting was made, Mr. Borden entertained the Parliamentary Conservative party and some Provincial leaders at Dinner. It was a remarkably enthusiastic and confident gathering and the Leader's speech was strong and hopeful. He declared that Canada was confronted with the greatest issue since 1867, stated that the next Parliament would see several Provincial leaders helping the Conservative Party in the House, and announced his own coming tour of Western Canada. Messrs. McBride and Bowser of British Columbia, Rogers of Manitoba, Hazen of New Brunswick, and George E. Foster, spoke in the same spirit. It soon became an open secret that if the Conservatives continued their obstruction to the Reciprocity measure, when the House met, an Election would follow.

Promptly on the re-assembly of Parliament, on July 18th, Mr. Fielding moved consideration of the Reciprocity Agreement and was met by a Conservative amendment looking to recognition of the Fenian raid veterans. Other topics were discussed on succeeding days and Reciprocity itself was dealt with by Conservative members such as Uriah Wilson, E. Guss Porter, William Thoburn, A. C. Macdonell, K.C., W. S. Middlebro, A. C. Boyce, W. R. Smyth, S. Sharpe, Thomas Beattie, J. W. Maddin, Edward Kidd and J. J. Donnelly. On July 24th the Prime Minister stated that a Redistribution Bill was impossible until next year and that it was Reciprocity or nothing at this Session. "If the Opposition chooses to go on with tactics of obstruction, as they have been doing, then we shall have to consider what is to be done. And if, in the last resort, the only way is to appeal to the people and ask them to pass judgment between us and the Opposition, we are quite prepared and ready for it." The Opposition Leader, in reply, charged the Government with being afraid of Redistribution and increased representation. The Minister of Finance (Mr. Fielding) responded in part with a rather interesting reference to one branch of the subject: "But if, perchance, the manufacturers in their great power should unite in opposing and possibly condemning, or even defeating, this measure, then there will rise up in the Western country a storm-cloud bigger than a man's hand, and the end will be a change in the fiscal policy of the country which the manufacturers will find much greater than anything they conceived of." Mr. W. F. Maclean declared that this whole issue was not Reciprocity; it was Revolution. G. H. Cowan, A. S. Goodeve and J. W. Edwards (Conservatives) followed; Hon. W. Pugsley and W. S. Loggie (Liberals) also spoke. On July 29th the dissolution of Parliament was announced and this historic, long-continued and vigorous discussion terminated.

den's Tour

of Western Canada

Meantime the Leader of the Opposition had Mr. B. L. Bor- arrived at Winnipeg on June 17th to commence a speaking tour of the Western country-supposed to be the centre and congenial home of Reciprocity sentiment-while the Prime Minister was just reaching British shores as Canada's representative at the Coronation. On his arrival at Winnipeg Mr. Borden was greeted by thousands of people at the station and in the street, by four bands and a procession of automobiles, by brilliant illuminations, cheers and all the evidences of great political popularity; a crowded Reception was held afterwards at the residence of Hon. Robert Rogers. The Conservative Leader was accompanied on this tour, or assisted in speeches at other points along the route, by George H. Perley, M.P., Chief Conservative Whip at Ottawa, Arthur Meighen, M.P., Andrew Broder, M.P. for Dundas, J. G. H. Bergeron, ex-м.P., an eloquent French-Canadian member of the party, W. S. Middlebro, M.P., T. W. Crothers, K.C., M.P. for West Elgin, W. D. Staples, M.P., Dr. W. J. Roche, M.P., and Colonel Hugh Clark, M.L.A., one of the ablest lieutenants of Sir James Whitney. On the 19th a great meeting was held in the Walker Theatre with Mr. Rogers in the chair and the chief Conservative politicians of Manitoba on the platform. The Chairman made a strong introductory speech, concluding as follows: "Before Sir Wilfrid Laurier and President Taft can dictate to the Canadian people and say we must no longer continue to follow the beaten path that has led us for half a century to England and closer British connection but that we must now follow the road that leads to Washington and Continentalism the Canadian people must, shall and will be consulted." Mr. Borden first dealt with matters of local and special Western interest and pledged himself as follows, if returned to power:

The day is not far distant when Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta will receive from the Conservative Government at Ottawa the just recognition of their undoubted right to their public lands and natural resources. Manitoba is entitled to the extension of her

boundaries upon just and reasonable terms.

The Conservative Party has been committed to the construction of the Hudson's Bay Railway since 1896. The road will be built by the next Conservative Administration without one day's unnecessary delay. It will be operated by an independent Commission on behalf and in the interests of the people with full control of rates. We stand for the operation of the road by the Government through an independent Commission.

I have arrived at the conclusion that the desired result (in maintaining proper grades of wheat) can only be attained by State control and operation of the Terminal Elevators. We propose to carry out that policy, without delay, if returned to power.

We stand, also, for such aid and encouragement by the State as will place the chilled meat industry of this country upon a sound and healthy basis.

The Conservative Party, if returned to power, will establish a permanent Tariff Commission of able, independent and representative

men for the purpose of investigating and reporting upon all matters connected with the tariff. The tariff should be based upon business principles which will appeal to common sense and fairness.

Practically this was with the addition of Reciprocity and an increased British Preference-the Western Grain Growers platform. Turning to Reciprocity, as the chief subject of present interest, Mr. Borden was concise, clear and comprehensive in its treatment. He described the Liberal policy during the past 15 years as (1) that Reciprocity was no longer desirable and no further steps should be made to obtain it; (2) that the surest and most effective way of maintaining United States friendship was to be absolutely independent of it; (3) that the true policy of Canada was to stimulate and guide its trade into British channels. For the Reciprocity Agreement there was no warning, no mandate, no cause. Why reverse the policy which had created prosperity and stimulated progress? "We say 'let well enough alone.' Not because Canada is standing still, but because material progress and development in Canada have been more rapid than in any other country in the world; because that progress has been well founded and stable and it has proceeded along a sure and certain path; because our present prosperity will continue and increase if we proceed upon that sure and well-known path; because the proposed diversion from that safe path of nation-building leads into a wilderness and labyrinth full of dangers and pitfalls."

Upon the wider market theory the speaker argued as follows: 'Reciprocal trade preference within the Empire would give us the advantage of trade with countries which require our products and which can offer us commodities which this country does not produce. But the proposals of the Government are for reciprocal trade with a country which produces a surplus of nearly every commodity that we produce; a country that competes with us in the markets of the world in animal, agricultural, and food products. The United States has a vast area of tillable land still to be brought under cultivation. They can raise enough food products to support a population of 400,000,000 at the lowest estimate. It is a country in which, according to the statistical information furnished by the United States Board of Tariff Experts, prices of all agricultural and food products are lower than in Canada." As to the negotiation of the Agreement he was explicit: "In one country the Government goes into the negotiations fully prepared and furnishes to Congress complete, classified, statistical information as to the cost and prices of products in both countries and, generally, as to all conditions which require consideration. In the other country the Government, having rushed into the treaty with little information and less consideration, asks Parliament to follow its example. In one country every interest affected is given full opportunity to appear and be heard. In the other

country any interest affected is curtly informed that it is too late." The following quotations will summarize the elaborate arguments of an hour and a half against the Agreement:

Canadian autonomy and control over its tariff are lost by placing the latter, in matters affecting the Agreement, in the hands of the United States Congress and indirectly enabling the latter body to use its terms as a leverage to further control and widen Reciprocity.

There will be no Canadian products after this Treaty goes into force. All will be American. Canadian grain standards and reputation will be lost.

We oppose this Treaty because it encourages the export of agricultural and animal products in the lowest and least finished form, with the result that the finishing process will be performed in the United States and not by Canadian labour. Our cream will be converted into butter and cheese, our wheat into flour, not by Canadian labour but by United States labour.

We are opposed to this Treaty because it will increase the opportunities and powers of the United States Trusts in Canada.

We are opposed to this Agreement for the reason that we are paying a price which the United States are not prepared to pay. That price is the admission to our markets of the products of Austro-Hungary, Bolivia, Columbia, Denmark, Japan, Argentine Republic, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Venezuela, as well as all the British possessions. Many of these countries are large exporters of agricultural and animal products.

We are opposed because it destroys the hope of reciprocal trade preferences within the Empire and because its tendency is to disintegrate the Dominion, separate the Provinces, and check intercourse and commerce between the Provinces and between the East and the West.

We firmly oppose this Agreement because we believe that if carried to its logical conclusion it will lead to Commercial Union and Commercial Union will inevitably end in political absorption.

He concluded by a vigorous denunciation of the Premier's attitude on the Naval question, as indicated in an assumed Message to the King: "Speaking for you and as your representative he has dared to tell King and Empire that Canadians desire to enjoy the prestige and advantage of British connection and the protection of the British flag until trouble comes and then-to reserve the right to remain neutral. In peace we are to be part of the Empire; in war we shall find both honour and safety in a happy neutrality which will permit our forces to maintain a glorious inactivity while our flag is fired upon by armed foes." There was some interruption at the meeting but Mr. Borden overcame it and before the close of his speech entirely held the audience. This important utterance was the keynote of all his addresses throughout this Western tour-one which covered the centres of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Everywhere he was met by deputations of Grain-Growers, everywhere the same requests were submitted. He spoke at Carberry on the afternoon of the 20th and in the evening at Brandon met 300 delegates from the Farmers' organization. Lengthy Memorials were read, couched, so far as Tariff matters were concerned, in language for which the word vigorous would be a rather mild term. They asked for (1)

reduction and eventual abolition of Protective tariffs, (2) Reciprocity and an increase in the British preference, (3) state control and operation of Terminal Elevators, (4) construction of the Hudson's Bay Railway and its operation by the Government, (5) Redistribution as precedent to any General Election.

To the bulk of these requests Mr. Borden replied in the terms used in his Winnipeg address; those of local Western significance he accepted and promised to carry out if given power. Upon fiscal issues he took clear-cut exception to the views presented and placed himself on record in words which rang through the country: "I am absolutely opposed to Reciprocity and if the West were prepared to make me Prime Minister to-morrow, if I would support that policy, I would not do it." The Opposition Leader was at Estevan, Weyburn and Moose Jaw on June 21st, and Qu'Appelle, Indian Head and Regina on the 22nd. The Weyburn meeting was marked by a hint of disloyalty which was apparently not palatable to the most of the 500 persons present. Mr. James Smith of Yellow Grass, a prominent farmer of the district, presented the Grain Growers' Address. It dealt with the question of Reciprocity and stated that the chief object of opponents was to check the farmers' movement before it became too strong. The manufacturers and capitalists had long been coquetting with the parties at Ottawa, it was said, and Mr. Smith warned them to beware lest they met the fate of Samson. "Should Parliament

refuse us justice we shall try other methods. By perfecting our co-operative associations we can unite in purchasing our goods abroad, pay the duty or taxes and thus refuse to pay tribute to the manufacturers."

He cited the trouble Britain had with her American Colonies in the 18th Century owing to the subject of taxation. It might be said that the farmers would fail. "If so we shall try something else. Much as we love Canada we may be driven to demand separation between the East and the West. The love of freedom is a powerful propelling force." At the Saskatchewan capital Mr. Borden promised in clear language the grant of Provincial control over Provincial lands and natural resources. Here the City was gaily decorated partly in honour of the Coronation and partly for the Conservative Leader. A. G. McKinnon was Chairman and Mr. F. W. G. Haultain was upon the platform. Meetings followed (afternoon and evening) at Maple Creek and Medicine Hat on June 23, at Macleod and Lethbridge on the 24th, at High River and Calgary on the 26th. At the latter place 5,000 people were present and large crowds greeted the visitor in the streets. C. M. Tweedie, President of the Conservative Association, presided. At Medicine Hat, Alta., D. J. Wylie, M.L.A., occupied the chair and retracted his position in the Legislature. "I want to say that the Resolution was sprung upon us somewhat hurriedly. Sessions of the House were being held day and night. We did not have