66 who had left their leader and toward the Party he was chiefly opposing; this journal described it (Nov. 5) as “a clear, logical, unimpassioned statement of the political situation as Sir Wilfrid sees it"; all, however, joined with the Conservative journals in declaring that the question of more men for the Front was the vital issue and was not fully met. The Brantford Expositor, a veteran Liberal paper, described it as follows: "An able, but disingenuous and subtle appeal intended to reach the disaffected voters of whatever class. It will please the Province of Quebec and it is an alluring bid for the Western vote, but for those who have loved Laurier yet think the winning of the War to be the one great issue, it is a heart-breaking disappointment." It did not win back any of the Unionist press though it did solidify the fighting Liberal elements already behind the Chieftain. As the campaign proceeded Sir Wilfrid Laurier made a limited number of speeches and wrote some letters. Of the latter, one addressed to a correspondent at Windsor, Ontario, in respect to the views of an approved candidate was decidedly enigmatic*: "At a meeting of Liberal candidates in Eastern Ontario three weeks ago I declared that there were three alternatives to take-for many of them had declared for Conscription. I did not desire to make this a party question, for that would have been very compromising. Each of these alternatives is acceptable: (1) To present himself against Union and against Conscription; (2) against Union, but for Conscription; (3) as an independent Liberal." The Liberal leader's first election meeting was at Quebec on Nov. 9; it was crowded, wildly enthusiastic, vigorously anti-Conscriptionist. His speech was along the lines of his Manifesto with this main point: "We began with the voluntary system; it is our duty to continue with it." declared that the Government had manufactured a new electorate with which to win the Elections: "I believe that our first and pressing duty is to share in the fight. I believe that it is our immediate duty to help our armies who have covered themselves with glory. We must support them with men." Sir Lomer Gouin followed in what the Toronto Globe report described as "a passionate speech"; eulogized Sir Wilfrid Laurier as "the great exemplar of the real democratic idea in the new world"; described the Union Government as merely a combination of individuals who did not represent the national spirit of Canada. As to the effort to isolate Quebec: "No man or union of men is strong enough to violate the will of the overwhelming mass of the people. We cannot be frightened by the threat of isolation. Nobody is our guardian. In Canada we are the deans. This is our home, our native land, and here our people will remain as the companions and equals of their fellow-Canadians." The Provincial Premier earnestly endorsed Sir Wilfrid's appeal to the people to serve and serve voluntarily. At Ottawa on Nov. 27 Sir Wilfrid addressed a great mass-meeting accompanied by Hon. C. Murphy and H. H. Dewart, M.L.A. He referred to the Recruiting appeal of the Canadian Club, Hamilton, and stated “that it was his policy not to endorse anything unless he knew the parties who made the application"; declared that * Published editorially in Victoria Colonist, Dec. 13, 1917. the invitation to support a National Service Board appeal for recruiting was refused because the Board had been bedevilled by partisanship; noted that Conscription had been defeated in Australia though there was no Quebec or "racialism" there; proclaimed his devotion to "free speech" and his regret that the Premier had not been heard at Kitchener-even in a bad cause; stated that he would not repeal the Conscription Act until the people had passed upon it by Referendum. He denounced the C.N.R. legislation, described the War-times Franchise Act as iniquitous, criticized the Food Controller for giving good advice, only, while prices of food continued to soar, referred to the number of recruiting speeches he had made.* A meeting at Arnprior was addressed on Dec. 3 and here, as at Ottawa, he denied any alliance with the Nationalists: "Mr. Bourassa and I are at variance upon many questions as he has set forth in his paper, Le Devoir. He says, for instance, that we have done enough in the War. I am in the war to the end." As to the rest: "If we are to win this war, if we are to get men to go to the fighting-line, the proper way is by appealing to the soul, not to coercion of the conscience.' A week later Sir Wilfrid started for the West and made a tour which was triumphant in its great meetings, careful attention of large crowds, respectful interest and evidences of personal prestige. At Winnipeg on Dec. 10 he spoke to 8,000 people, described the Union Government as simply the old Borden Government-a political crazyquilt; admitted that Quebec had not done its duty in enlisting, but laid the blame on the alleged Nationalist-Conservative alliance of 1910-11; denounced Sir Clifford Sifton as laying a snare for the Unionist Liberals and declared that, if the Government won, "the rent between the races in Canada will be worse than it was, and the work of making this a united country will have received a very bad shock"; claimed that 150,000 Canadians were in England as reserves and that there was no hurry for re-inforcements and no danger. As to German and Austrian settlers, he said: "It is said that they have a prejudice against Great Britain and for their native country. That is not so." H. H. Dewart, M.L.A., of Toronto, and Hon. A. G. McKay, M.L.A., of Edmonton, also spoke. At Regina on the 11th great throngs sought to hear the Liberal leader. He reiterated his statement that his object had always been to win the War; declared that returned soldiers should be cared for by the Government as a debt and not as a charity; stated that war revenue should be secured by direct taxation on properties; deplored the Borden Government method of raising the revenue by increasing the tariff. "While a small rivulet of the money received under the present fiscal policy goes to the Government, the bulk goes to the privileged classes," he declared. "As to Quebec, I have to admit that Quebec has not given according to its numbers, compared with Ontario and the other Provinces." He once more placed the responsibility on the Borden-Bourassa relations of 1911. *The Liberal Monthly of Nov. 27 gave a list of 16 recruiting speeches delivered by him in 1914-15-16. Mr. Dewart and Hon. W. G. Mitchell, Treasurer of Quebec, Hon. G. Langley and Hon. W. R. Motherwell of the Saskatchewan Government, also spoke. Mr. Langley described Sir Wilfrid as "the greatest of all living Canadians"; Mr. Motherwell believed that his former colleague, Mr. Calder, had been "duped by appearances at Ottawa" and claimed that under the Franchise Act "the Government chose the voters instead of the voters choosing the Government." In Calgary on the 12th Sir Wilfrid addressed four large meetings aided by Messrs. MacKay and Dewart, accompanied by Patrick Burns of Alberta cattle fame, and supported in several speeches by Rev. Wm. Irvine, local Liberal candidate, who reiterated the claim that food and production were more needed in the War than men. At Vancouver on Dec. 14 the Liberal leader addressed five meetings. The speeches followed preceding lines, excepting that he explained his inability to aid recruiting in Quebec: "I have not done it because I am not in a position to do it. I was not in the Government, or I would have done it. If I had been in office I would not have been stupid enough to take the methods taken by this Government." Nationalism, supported by a Government alliance, had created the situation in that Province and the Government was suffering the consequences. As to the rest: "If we win I will take my share. I will take the responsibility incumbent on victory. I will try to form a strong Government with all the elements of the country represented, but if I fail then I shall continue the work as a simple private in the grand army of freedom." Other speakers at these meetings were Hon. W. G. Mitchell, H. H. Dewart and Hon. J. W. de B. Farris, of the Provincial Government. This concluded the Laurier meetings of the campaign and Sir Wilfrid returned Eastward to hear the results. The Unionist Eastern Provinces and Quebec. - Meantime the Conservatives and their Liberal Campaign allies had been working out the difficult task of nominations in Ontario particularly, where the large majority of seats were held by the Conservative party, and in the West where Liberals were a dominating influence soothing old animosities, controlling instinctive rivalries, meeting personal ambitions, and evading party prejudices. Many Liberal supporters of Conscription in Ontario were endorsed by Sir W. Laurier and this also created an obvious complication. The press, however, was almost unanimously Unionist and, as the campaign developed, Liberals constantly announced a change of allegiance, spoke or presided at Unionist meetings and illustrated the changing current of public opinion. In Ontario G. D. Conant and F. L. Fowke of Oshawa, F. H. Chrysler, K.C., Ottawa, Hon. E. H. Bronson and A. W. Fleck, Ottawa, Stewart Lyon and J. D. Allan, Toronto, R. J. McLaughlin, K.C., Oshawa, W. E. Raney, K.C., Toronto, E. B. Brown, K.c., a nephew of the late George Brown, Principal D. Bruce Macdonald, J. A. Paterson, K.C., and Robert Jaffray, Toronto; W. E. Smallfield, Renfrew, and Robert Meek, Kingston, were interesting instances. A further illustration was the formal appeal issued on Dec. 15 by 64 Liberals, urging the Electors "as you value the honour of your country, the security and independence of the Empire, and the cause of freedom, to use your influence, as we are doing, and cast your ballots, as we will do, in behalf of the Union Government." This was signed by such men as A. E. Dyment, President of the Toronto Reform Association, and: James Ryrie. D. E. Thomson, K. c. C. J. Holman, K.C. E. R. Wood. Bert H. McCreath. John B. Holden. There were difficulties as I am But I believe to candidates in North Essex, in Hamilton, where Col. J. I. McLaren (Lib.) and T. J. Stewart (Cons.) and C. R. McCullough (Cons.) were candidates, and in West Kent. But there was a strong official desire to avoid such difficulties and to give Liberal-Unionists every possible chance. H. M. Mowat, K.C., was given a Toronto nomination; F. F. Pardee was supported in West Lambton. The latter declared at Sarnia on Oct. 24 that: "I am for a war-union Government. I have been since the War was declared. a Liberal by faith and conviction, Liberal to the core. the momentary fate of political parties little in comparison with the supreme obligations of the struggle which Canada shares. I support the platform of the Government." Hon. F. B. Carvell delivered a vigorous speech in his favour on this occasion. Durham County Conservatives met on Nov. 12 and ratified the nomination of Hon. N. W. Rowell-Col. R. A. Mulholland retiring. In North Oxford Sir R. Borden asked support for E. W. Nesbitt, a Liberal-Unionist, over Col. D. M. Sutherland (Cons.). Eventually most of the asperities of a new combination were removed with Welland where W. M. German and Evan Fraser were candidates, Kent with A. B. McCoig and J. W. Plewes in the field, North Wellington with two Conservatives and a Laurierite as the candidates, as the exceptions. In none of these three was there a ratified Government candidate. The Toronto Globe had put it on Nov. 9 as follows: "There should be no factious opposition from Conservatives to the group of Liberals who voted for the Military Service Act in the House of Commons. and who favour Union Government. They have had a In harder road to travel than their Conservative fellow-members. Parliament they were under the painful necessity of breaking the ties with their leader and with the majority of their colleagues. In their constituencies they must face the hostility of many of their former supporters." This, in the end, was generously and fully recognized. The 400 Liberal-Conscriptionists from all parts of Ontario who met at Hamilton on Nov. 2nd had no doubt of their position. G. G. S. Lindsey, K.C., presided; H. M. Mowat, K.C., past-President of the Ontario Reform Association, was an active ffigure; addresses were delivered by General Mewburn, Hon F. B. Carvell, Hon N. W. Rowell, Lloyd Harris. Other prominent Liberals present besides the most of those signing the call* were: D. R. Ross, Embro; T. R. Mayberry, Ingersoll; J. O. McCarthy and F. G. Inwood, Toronto; D. Williams and E. C. Drury, Simcoe; J. H. Crow, Welland, Sam. Carter, M.L.A., Guelph; Kirwan Martin, Hamilton. Resolutions were passed (1) in favour of enforcement of the Military Service Act, conscription of the wealth and productive forces of Canada, and organization of all its natural resources to help the forces in the field; (2) pledging support to Union Government candidates who were the nominees of a joint or fusion Convention; (3) endorsing the Liberal leaders who had joined the new Government. General Mewburn, in his speech, declared that "we are in this war, or should be, not with one, two or three hundred thousand, but to the very limit of our resources," and added, "I did not want to get into public life, and I will not get into politics." Mr. Rowell stated that if the Government met disaster in the Elections "it will not be because of the strength of the Opposition, but because of the prejudice of friends who will not get together." Mr. Carvell announced that "if this Government is returned to power I promise you that so far as I am concerned the rich man will pay much more than he has done in the past." As to the Tariff: "When the War is over I will have something to say about it and I shall say it emphatically." There could be no question as to the influence of Mr. Rowell in the Ontario campaign. A son of the Province, a man of eloquence and force along moral and patriotic lines, an earnest supporter of recruiting since the beginning of the War, he had won his way in public opinion before joining the Union Government. Then, he appealed with special influence. His share in the Premier's tour has been referred to; besides that he delivered a series of educative addresses which did much to swing Liberal feeling toward the Government. He spoke at Bowmanville on Nov. 20; with Sir George Foster and Gen. Mewburn he was at Hamilton on the 22nd and declared that "if we had been no part of the British Empire at all, but an independent democratic power on the north half of this continent, we would have been compelled to enter this struggle just as the United States has done." After a number of Borden meetings he was at Port Dover on Dec. 3 and at Midland on the 4th. A New Liskeard meeting on the 7th marked the close of a tour in Northern Ontario with Sir Wm. Hearst, in which they had, together, addressed four meetings. At Toronto on the 8th he touched a very practical point: "Suppose Canada says to the United States, 'We're going to leave it to you to carry the burden.' 'All right, then,' says the United States, 'if we've got to carry the burden and there is a shortage of available materials, we'll keep them at home so that we can carry the burden.' If the United States took that attitude it would paralyze industrial operations in Canada. Men who talk of shifting burdens to the United States know not whereof they speak." On the 10th Mr. Rowell was at Brampton and dealt with the argument as to reserves in England. He pointed out that the fighting strength * See page 582 of this volume. |