_I -_ 1-,__
.
-
l
?
‘r_
_    THE wllll   _
‘ Delivered to His Former Constituents in -
”spared, and during the past three wc_ek_s I have approached _succes-
'ro run accciiiPLiii~iusur_ _or rum* i>v_ai>osn.
Hou. nun!-| __ou'ri-lrus. . non. A.°i..e|r1'oN, A,
'. OOllQ“Ul'\_'°,§”_‘l'll\ 'l '_: _nlnlm 
cm|AnA's mmf Kin
Shall Canadian Army he Supported
i or Desertedl I
Sir Robert Borden s Stirrlng Patriotic Speech
~ Halifax--Cariiy on or Quit - _
In the fade of the autocratic military aggression which now
seeks to dominate the world no Nation can endure unless itspeo-
ple are prepared-to fight in its defence. Under the Military
Service Act the highest duty of citizenship is demanded of the
people- I 3111 entirely confident that they will not shrink from
that duty- It is said that this law ought not to be put into
operation without a f'refereiidum.” Such is the policy put for-
ward in opposition to that of the Government. I consider it my
Imperative duty to put the Act into force IMMEDIATELY.`
;l__`.listdcourso is being pursued and it will be unhesitatlngly con- _
ue . ' ' -
_ e ar -u 1- i. _ -i-
WHAT IS THE SITUATION? The need for reinforce-
ments is INSISTENT, COMPELLING, IMPERATIVE. Do
WE" fully appreciate the meaning and effect of what is taking
place in Russia -and in Italy? There never was greater necessity
to summon our stemest resolve and to gird on our fullest
strength. _In the British Islands and especially in-Fra ce they
are_much in advance of .us in the or anizatioii and ut' zation of
the Nation’s human energy. THE 'IEERRIB LE N EE for rein
forcements can _be met. But even with THE BES
that can be made we shall barely be in tirne._ YET, it is seriously
proposed that -with Canadian divisions DEPLETED at the front
--and remember that a division when thuԤ deple__tcd ceases to be
an effective fighting unit "until reinforced-it is proposed that,-
with divisions depleted at the front, we are to" WAIT until Par-
liament is summoned, until a Bill for a "referendum" .is passed
and until the _referendum shall have been held and the-verdict-of
people pronounced! ' 1 .
_ , ir in nr 4- _ -ii is ' '
How many men could be brought into military service by,
means of'a"i"eferc'ndun1 withirx`"ONE_"YEAR frdih today?  Parii'
liament stands adjourned to the 28th of February because the
election returns will not be available until the 27th of February.‘:
Probably the session could not begin before the middle of March.
The passage of the iieccssary legislation for a referendum might _
take and doubtless would take at least two months. To hold the ‘
referendum election and obtain the verdict of the people would
require two or three additional months. ` _ _
IN 'l`I°l_E_»_MEAN'1`I1\-I}?. the Military Service Act would be
Suspended. -_THE SPIRIT or OUR --MEN woULp -BE
BROKEN as "their ranks become mor! .and more depleted. _
'I HEY ASK for reinforcements and YOU GIVE them a "refer-
enduml” All military activity would, be at an end and perhaps
the war itself would have come to a conclusion with results
DISASTROUS to our country- This is a war in which the last
hundred thousand men may mean VICTORY, the lack of them
DEFEAT. Make no mistal-_ie about it! The proposal for a re-
ferendum lias but ONE nicanin . It means that the Canadian
forces at the front shall be LEl~g'.l` _TO THEIR FATE, without
support and without reinforcements. Whether that be the PUR-
POSE is immaterial; that beyond question will be the RESULT.
It would be hailed with rcat joy _and not I little mirth by the
German Higher Command. Can we doubt that if any effort on
their _part _can bring about such a consnmniation,._it will not be
,-
spare.
e -'v in ii- *_ _*
OUT OF THE MOMENTOUS EVENTS OF THE
YEAR NOW DRAWING TO A CLOSE HAS ARISEN
THE UNION QQVERNMENT, WHICH APPEA§S T0
THE ELECTORATE TO UPHOLD ITS HAN S IN
THIS TERRIBLE STRUGGLE. _
Upon all the incidents which lead to the formation of _tliat
povernment I need not dwell. Its members have corne_ together
rom both political parties in a very earnest -spirit and with an in-
tense desire to perform their duty to the country in the h_'our of its
most urgentrieed; The enforcement of military service ought
not to be carriedon b' a party government, if that course can
possibly be avoided. NVhcn the war reached so critical a period
it became more important that a government should be_forme_d
thoroughly re resentative of every element in the population pre-
pared to _SUPTORT Canada's utmost _efforts I have never devi-.
ated from that purpose since I formed it in May last. -
-ie nv #_ * * * \
In this -or in any other country an alliance ofparties 'in a
Union or National government is hardly possible until it becomes
practically inevitable. Even in this g\'¢2~t_¢m¢\’B_¢UCY fhff t&Sl<
has been a most difficult one, involving wearisome and protracted
negotiation, resulting at times in serious discouragement, and _rc-
quiring an almost INFINITEPATIENCE- It was -my desire,
and IT STILL IS *AY FIRM INTENTION. THAT .BOTH
POLITICAL PAR IES SHALL HAVE EQUAL REPR_E-
sENTAT10N IN 'rl-1-E GOVERNMENT. outsideof the office
Of Prime Minister. My effort for that purpose has not been
sively three Canadians of French origin and of iberai affiliation,
with the request that one of them s ould ente_r_the,(-_T-overnment.
I d _ _ .  hthem be`cause,my effort was'u_nsuccessf_ul;'but
o not re rose _ _ _ _
I do most dincerely regret their d¢Cl_ll0\'l-_ F01' "15 »°.*?“¢°°|“9“_C°_*l
THEY are responsible. not I; ___' __~ _ *_
so isARNas'rLv mn t nmsinie iiie`_f2.f...auo.. of in .ta-.
ministration with the broadest oesible basis of rpproeentation,
nn a.sirr°.r1LLiii.n na.txr..aersi
 -I - ' in ii-I i. i. -
, . -» . i o _
?.’:f.‘:..‘:i‘t,§;.;“2::.1'i ‘.*z.i.°::t ,..__._j;._
"d"'mm“'“°w°"hy dm-iiti-istrttlieu lit. _ IN'.'I‘HEVAWFU¢I-
by Imyoeridesloran r
DAY  CHOUIJD 'IYHE POLIT CAL FUTURE OF ANY
’ ' ' CAL F , TU C'.°F_AN._Y
i»'l‘ii‘i'ii:'i¥i§'ri?§oriiie'iiEli'iiS”ili5nr'n'9:'ici§_iins.me
fre  r4n°s~'.frrt rev...  » i .
é___T
' .SIR WILFRID
1...-.ir-upto-~      '
party which made mi: its leader more than sixteen years ago. IJ
lta.v_c`-bet‘.n_ told that a Conservativc‘.vic'tory_was certain, and that
I was surrendcrin theffortunes of an historic party to my desire.
for the accomplishment of an impossibl'c purpose. ` i I did not
pause toiconsider the prospects of a _‘_‘party" victory. ITS AB-
SOLUTE CERTAINTY W01rT_T\ N01* u'\_V"’ "'»'-""""""-'_-7
THE--"HIGHE-R~=PURPOSE WHICH I HAD AT HEART, to
'give representation in the Gov_'er_nment _to all ele;i;ientS`_pf our
population that strove to maintain the Na-tional 'cn_dc_'avor in this
 ._ ,#5 it -iv »r_~ ii-~ =i=~ 7
'Those of my colleagues who have recently joined the Gov-
ernment have played a worthy part. ' I know that they have
yielded only to a sense of supreme duty. Doubtless they feel
keenly the breaking of old ties and the dissolution of- long stand-
ing and valued associations. All this means m,uch to any man
with a long public service behind him; but THEY HAVE THE
coNscroUsNEss OF A GREAT DUTY NoBLYi FoL~
FILLED AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT A HIGHER AND
MORE .NOTABLE SERVICE TO THE _COUNTRY LIES
BEFORE THEM. That they could not withhold themselves
when Canada called them is their highest and complete justifica-
tion- And remember that there are able men iii' the Liberal-
Conservative party with long public_service behind them, and
with very legitimate aspiration for promotion, who without hesi-
tation, have stood aside in order that Union might be consum-
mated.
e in ii- -if . »< -»- _
\
I appeal to you all of whatever party, _and especially to those
of the party with which I have been _associat<;d, to PONDER
WELL upon these eventsyand to put tside every old antagonism
and controversy; to unite in earnest, vigorous effort; to stand
FOR TI-IE COUNTRY and not for partizanship. PARTY
ANTRGONISM, when riot' based on principle, is a sorryspec-
tacle at any time. IN TH_ESE AWFUL DAYS JT IS LITTLE
LESS THAN A CRIME. \Ve have a great task before us. The
eyes of the world are upon Canada in this crisis. Let us rcniein-
ber the words of the Apostle: i `
is 1- io- is ir -it
._ "Wherefor seeing we also are compassed about with so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us LAY ASIDE EVERY
‘WEIGHT and the-sin which doth so easily beset us, 'and let
us run with patience the race that is set before us."
' What weight are we to lay aside in this race? The weight
of party antagonism. What is the sin that doth so easily beset
us? The discord and suspicion so likely to arise from such 'an-
tagonism. And how shall we understand the patience upon
which th`e"Apostle dwells? The primary meaning _of the word
is-the quality of suffering or enduring. And so we may read
from the Apostles’ _words the lesson that until there shall come
to us Victory crowned with abiding peace, we shall suffer-=but
we MUST endure.
` ik IF #1 it *I il '
Q The policies of the Government have been set forth in two
messages already" addressed to the Canadian people. 'I`o night it
is not in my heart to dwell upon them, for T E MESSAGE
WHICH I MUST GIVE YOU IS THE OVER-MASTERING
NECESSITY OF SUSTAINING THE MEN WHO HQLD
CANADA'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE on the western front.
They have gone forth voluntarily in the _flower of,their youth, to
undertake this dut which-daily calls them to bivoua-:with death.
THE SOUL OF NRANCE ANg _BELGIUM IS HALLOWED
BY THE ORAVES' OF OUR D AD. If the task to which these
"e at d their l"es in the last sacrifice remains unacconi’
co_nscr_c ._ iv _ .. __ __ 
plished, shall we not stand silent, ashamedand humiliated _before
tho_se'_who retu_rr_1?_ _'_ “ _ _ - __.
.. ‘Not from the living alone. but from the fallen also. comesto
Canada, their beloved and.b_e_n_ign mother, the call for aid. i Tl1eir_
appeal,whethe'r from the `quick .or the dead, tells you more elo~
q_u`ently_than any words of mime, _that _there is presently but 'ONE
issue, ONE SUPREME. ISSUE, before the Canadian google.
Shall the Canadian' Army`_Corps- at the front be SUPPO T D
OR DESERTEDP Such is the issue- I speak with all the earn-
estness of the most intense conviction--I speak as one upon whom
very heavy and trying respoiisibilities have been imposed during
t ree -that would gladly have been
from thc trenches. THE
". - ' pon-EAC
It rests u H of
be so as to
on man a
Canada' _has
relentless'
to bring tb -
"7AN`D THE C.N.'R.  
Sir Wilfrid Laurier has attacked the go;-r>posa1_res{:;;~>;:ting the Canadian
Northern Railway, and I shalldeal vert*-X; tilefly with ' objection. In the
filnti lace, he is primarily responsib1e~foi€._t;Iie policy, and for the conditions ~
'whicii made action inevitable _if that roilwp,y and the Grand Trunk Pacific
sreio be mann-aimed as important systems -of transportation. and not
allowed. to-lapse into the disorgs.rtiza,tiofn_’,yv`li1oh would be created by their
_ He announced with a flourish of i.l?¥Ul¥1Ilets in 1904 the Grand Trunk
Pacific policy and later he placed the Canadian Northern upon the same
basis as ei national undertaking. The Government formed in 1911 in-
.herited the conditionsfcreated by that policy. We had to deal with-the
‘Situation as best we could. When we proposed the loan to the Canadian
Northern in 1914, Sir Wilfrid Laurier; -moved a resolution declaring
that the Government ought to' acquire all the stock of the Canadian
Northern ` Railway by arbiti_-'ation,~ an'd*that a maximum value of
thirty million dollars should be fixed. -In 1914, the Government, as then
constituted, acquired forty millions of _C.N._Rj. stock without any payment
whatever, and we now propose to acquire the balance by arbitration.
That is precisely the method Sir Wilfrid ‘Laurier himself suggested. It
. does not lie in his mouth to say that the _course which he solemnly proposed
only three years ago by resolution in-parliament isan unwise course.
There is, however, one marked distinction which the people should tho-
roughly realize between his proposal and cure. - He fixed the maximum
paice to -be paid for the stock at TH-IBTY MILLION DOLLARS.
e fixed the maximum price er '1‘-_EN -MILLIONS DOLLARS or
ju‘t one-third of the amount whichghe thought reasonable. In at-
- 'tasking or condemning the_`G-ovcrnment, he still more strongly attacks and
- condemns himself. ' _
HON-_.Op O. MEWBURN, __ HON- T. A. ORERAR, HON. N- W. HOWELL,
‘ Minister of Militia. Mlnllter of Agriculture. President Of U\e"Fr|vy
- » Council. _
  _ "1
.
Will the Women
Desert Their
Men Folk?
As the soldiers at the front have-
chosen to act for all Canada in a
post of supreme honor and tenuous.
slbllity, so their women relatives at
home-have' been chosen to act for all
the women of Canada ln an act ot su
preme honor and responsibility.
They are the first Canadian women
to be asked to exercise the franchise
in a Federal electlbn. As their sons.
brothers and husbands at the front
bear the burden ot proving the valor
and stesdfastuess ot Canadian men.
so they must bear the burden of
proving the capacita and intelligent
pstrlo sm of Csnad n women.
The worthiness of our women to
enjoy the franchise will be largely
judged .by the manner in which this
chosen group of women use lt.. It
they employ it to further the best
Interests of the nation. to loyally
support their msn-folk under fire
and to help on the winning ofthe
war, then the general belle will be
that women as a whole can be safely
trusted with the ballot, even at the
most tremendous crisis that cln af-
fect a natlon’s destiny. But lt these
pioneers should fall--it they should
not show n proper appreciation ot
the awful issues at stake-
lr they should be deluded by some
weird wizardry into desertlng their
men in the trenches, then the cause
of women surrraga would be put back
ii black half-een ry.
But lt is impossible to believe that
this can happen. These women. to
whbin ls entrusted at this critical
time the sacred chalice 0'! the
woman’s cause. are close and he-
lovod relatives of the men who have
stepped forward gladlymnd without
compulsion to servo the kindred
causes of liberty, democracy and
'free government, under conditions
whore pain is s commonplace and
death but an accident. The beloved
of such men cannot falter ln the
face of duty. '1'hey` cannot shame
the heroes whose names they bear--
wliose honor they hold ln '-_\‘\Ii¢-
Surely the cause of woman could not
be laid upon better shoulders nor
left to braver hearts.
This is especially true when the
test that la to be applied to their
proper exercise of the franchise. will
be the simple and appealing ons-
_“Will they vote to send heb and
suocoyur to their 'own menfolk at the
fi' " '
ont,
Surely the woman will be hard
to (Ind :who will desert her husband.
father or brother, who is risking his
life to ensure her safety. While he la
in the very act of facing a deadly
enemy whose bi-utalitles to women-
cr'y to Heaven, his women are called
upon to vote` upon whether or not
reinforcements are to be sent to sup-
portaiid relieve hlmu There cannot
be' a moment's doubt as to how they
‘win vote. smiiaers waht be 111-
dtrterent to his sufferings. his dan-
ers or his tate. liutllmrdsly not
his very ovm. 'It his loved ones ln
his own home--a home he has prob-
sbly made and is now defend nl-
eaniioi as trusted to -io all they wi
to sand assistance and sirbcour htm
from deadly danger. who else will do
lit
It there is a
V -'I' _I _is-Luton _
town ulitluts Ant
l ron union  
Strong Men- Repudiate Laurier’s f
` Stand '
'Most of His Ablest Supporters Forced by
Patriotic Conviction to .loin Union
Government to Win the War _
" The nine Liberals who have joined Sir Robert Borden ill llte Union
Govemment are all from the most representative and progressive wing of
the Liberal party in Canada. 'lhey are, in fact, the strong men of die
party, both in Eastem and Wesum Canada. and their spontaneous coming
forward to help give the nation united leaclership, when announced gafsir
Robert Borden in O er of this year, came as an inspiration to die a-
dian public. _ ,
Of those w are not actual members of the Union Government.
it may be said t every provincial Premier in Canada is an eiilhuaiastlx:
supporter of the new_aclniinistra|.ion. Indeed, Premier G. H. Murray of
Nova Scotia, where politics is taken very seriously. would be s. munbd
of the Government but for the desire of his Nova Scotia colleagues to
have him at home. '
The strong Liberals in the Union Government include: '
Hon. T. A. Crerar, Minister of Agriculture. When called upon by
Sir Robert Bord. he was Praiclent of the Grain Growers' Grain
Company and a recognized power in the development of Western Canada
Mr. Crérar has no mere provincial vision but stands for Canadian progress,
East and West. _ _
Hon. F. B. Carvell, Minister of Public Works. made his great
reputation as a fearless and exacting Parliamentary critic.
Hon. C. C. Ballantyne, Minister of Marine and Fisheries. is an
acquisition from the noted business leaders of the Metropolis of Canada.
Montreal. Mr. Ballantyne rendered national services as a member of the
Montreal Harbor Commission for n number of years. He possesses
unique technical knowledge of inestimable value in his' department and
will be a progressive minister. ' _
Hon. N. W. Rowell, K.C-. has been for several years leader of the
Liberal party in Ontario. during which time he has been in demand as a
speaker in all parts of Canada and the United States. A msn of broad
vision ands "progressive" in every sense of the word, Mr. Rowell will
be a power in the national life. _ f ‘
» Hon. Hugli_Gutl'irie, Solicitor-General, represents in Parliament the
constituency which his father. also a Liberal. Donald Guthrie, formerly
represented. Mr. Guthrie is a man of splendid training and has -been for
years one of the most respected and admired figures at Ottawa. He it is
who began the Canadian movement for technical education and industrial
training of the young in city and country. _
Hon. A. L. Sifton, Minister of Customs. resigned as Liberal
Premier of Alberts to come to Ottawa. ‘Since l9l0, he had occupied
that honorable office with strength amongst the people increasing year by
year. He is a genuine Weslemer. having grown up with the developments
from the early days. when he was active in the administration of the Norlli-
west Territories. _
General S.  Mewburn. Minister of Militia, has had a long military
career. having joined the army at an early age as ii private soldier. He
has seeii_active service. and. since war began. has served with distinction
in the mlliha organization, helping to train Canadian soldiers.
Hon.  A. Calder. Minister of lmmigrstion and Colonization, was
formerly Minister of Railways in the Government of Sasltatchewau. He
began adult life as a school teacher. but soon became ii prominent figure
in. Wateni politics and is today a recognized power.
_ Hon.  K. Maclean, Minister without Portfolio, is the iioleel
financial critic of the Liberal party who. at the last election. was an
opponent _of Premier Borden at Halifax. running ahead of the Premici's
Conservative colleague in the Halifax contest. Mr. Maclean has the
confidence of people of Nova Scotia, having won success in both
provincial and federal politics in the East. ._
The Liberal lenders who have joined the Union C-overnment have
made a great sacryfice. They must brave the anger of their partisan
followers until they have proved the sincerity of their attitude so com-
pletely that even partisans can understand. Even so. they must give up
lifelong friendships and allegiances, parting with a leader whose ability to
win the hearts of his followers is undeniable.
lt is plain, therefore. that only the strongest conviction that Sin
Robert Boi'clen's policy is right and .the Laurier policy wrong moved them
lo act as they have done.
_ _ The same compelling facts that inspired their patriotic action make
similar appeal to _every patriotic citizen. .
lr ._----v-i
THE NA'll0NAl.lSTS AND THE UNION
i_,~_.__.._...___
/ . ,
Statement of Prime Minister Repudiating
Connection or Collusion With
_Bourasaa Party _ _
(Hom Hansard. August 16.) - --
' Right l-lon. Sir Robert Borden: Mr. Speaker, My
' attention has been drawn to the statement that the Nation-
- alist party of the province of Quebec is about to put candi-
' dates in the field'_on its own behalf against Liberal and
Conservative candiqtes. and l urn told the suggestion is
being made that there is some collusion between the Nation-
alist party of the province of Quebec and my Government .
or the friends of my Government in regard to this campaign
of the Nationalist party. The suggestion is also made that
because the friends ofthe present Government and the
Nationalist party both opposed Sir Wilfrid Laurier in the I
. election of |911 that there is now some connection or collu-
sion and that mysupportcrs and friends are in fact encouii-
aging the Nationalist party' of Quebec in the course which
they are adopting. »
I _desire to make a most emphatic, unreserved, and com-
prehensive denial of this statement. There is not and never
will be any connection or collusion whalever between my
friends and supporters and those of the Nationalist party of
Quebec. _
I regardthe attitude of the Nationalist party of 'Quebec
in this _war as unpntriotie, and I consider that it is the first
duty of myself and my friends to assist in defeating that
party and to prevent lt. so far as we AN able. from being in
s position to exercise any pollticnl peels! in Canada.
|'f

:ry
mann
ol
rotch,
s are
the
"_ to
Jolly
zo by
who
le he
cotch
book
shed,
one
agard
of
rough
ot
t tra
:ind
that
dlate
itlng,
»\lbllC
bus
ction
res-
RTH.
E3'
i had
E the
i Ca-
-000.-
.$19.-
1150.-
lenty
d tn
had
i for
i Out
MR..
con-
Mrs.
the
'. J.
dged
tonal
I tho
Year
teent.
‘Din-
tore.
se iii
Col.
L.A.,
. RI
*-3
otc.
.'l"l'
O
Q
A
irted
. ST.
3lDd.
KT 7
3lpd.
ROR
Mlf.
EN'8
hand
itiics.
` AS-
tally.
_t St.
4Mtl`.
' BY
Eus-
21/[tt
____
ROE
not
cash
L. N.
LMBI.
EET
gold
O 1'8-
iM2l.
AC-
L and
`10tl1
Y for
ml.
Moi.
COU-
ti, iii
. and
llillt..
U61.
NIN-
I re-
Ei
Zoo
nd
,i_
er.
Zi.
AP-
( iv
$""fZ-TF*
.; 
iii-i
. _€;\‘_‘,_;,_
_-we-
i 1. . ~ _
 'ir
.r _. jf;
, ‘v
».l‘
. _ -f.
if Ng,
i'
-»_v-.
_,__ 5 3
“'“t'f~1“¢€*_‘».“.~,~» s* .;‘:'- 
5.- ;  `
 
.,,1
init
ef
'=__ ., ij ‘
 
--I-1 =':._¢_
i f it _
 . f'~:

_‘fill
3., lv
~-:'-. ,~ .
Ji . ;»'-I
l 1
_-ws
 fit,
-- .ffl
iii-ty;
  1
l,
_. . - fs;
' ny
i
ll .
li.
iT._:
' 1 `-nil
ii  
Q .31-'_ -_ i ,
l
I., .
 %_.l
2 1. _ \-
I