The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 12

VOL. CLV. No. 47 THE GAZETTE. MONTREAL.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 192G. Premier Briand Trading Jackknives From Our Readers Today In Canadian History FOUNUEB JUNE 3. 1778. February 2i. 180(1 Public wchooil bill iittro-duoed In Upper Canada Legislature.

Ml-lxatb of Jtt. Rev. Charlea lnglls, Arwt Anglican Bishop of Nva ScMla. Kev. George Hills consecrated an first Anglican Blsho-p of Columbia.

1870 Oregon boundary treaty tiigiwd at Washington. iH7i w.v .1. JiiTnivt eon- which he says was actually conveyed. He gave these figures in an -'address to the Canadian Club of Vancouver, reviewing the legislation of 1883 and 1884, and he said that he had been unable to satisfy himself as to how this unreasonable condition arose," His conclusion is that some person in authority knew the effect of what was being done, and that he suppressed the knowledge. The union agree ment was drawn by Sir Joseph Trutch, whom the Vancouver Province describes as an agent for the Dominion Government, and who per-" suaded the provincial authorities to enlarge the grant in the Peace River country.

Mr. Oliver, however, seems to refer to some much wider transaction of the nature of which those who opposed the bill were ignorant. It is a very pretty and ingenious proposition, tut it comes very late in the day and the campaign seems likely to founder against the province's own statutes. Mr. Oliver appeals to appreciate the difficulty which those statutes present.

By P. C. ARMSTRONG. The use of the cliche to close an argument is growing. There arc a few hundred phrases in the English langUuKe which teem detained to be-conm the basis of a whole philosophy, merely because they appear to cover the subjects In which we are most InlereHted in a neat and concise form.

We lenrn them early in life, an 1 we repeat them with the devotion of Buddhist peasants In Tibet, chanting their formula. They take hold of our minds; and; when later In life we attempt to examine them with the scepticism which only comes after the Influence of school and collece wears thin, discover that they are no longer phrases, but automatic responses of our cerebral procesne to the stimulation of new ideas. The intelligence with which we use thom Main Offlce: 100 St. Anlolne Street. Tele phone 8tWl.

Private branch exchange coo netting all department day and night. Central Chambers. John Bsett, enter ot Bureau. Telephone, Queen Kniludt John MaeCormac. Crrwpondent.

la Queen Victoria Street. E.C.. 4. Telephone Holborn tWrtO. The Clougher Corporat on Lira lted, Advertising Boya' lunia4 Chambers, 20 Craven btreel.

Telephone. Oerrard 527. l'sraniot 031 Bay Street, 2. W. T.

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MeoU ftn'thaiau. Eastern Representative Advertising jept Telephone. Hnymarket 5231. Chicago: 410 North Michigan Ave. Kuthman, Western Representative Advertising lPt.

Telephone, Central 280. 6an Franclncoi 307 Montiroraery Street. S'nm l4.lw, Pacific Coast BepreMatle 'Advertising Dept. Telephone, Dougla -'-4- SUBSCBIPTIOJ RATES. LhjBfiry: tH.OO per year; $8.00 six months: per month.

Hy JHail i no per year. A n-1" Circulation. JuwraUtri na ViHr AnOHTLOlle of THE ADMIRALTY'S ADMISSION. There is still a great deal of loose talk with regard to the death of Lord Kitchener and the loss of the Hampshire. 1 Mythical stories will not die.

One of them, as applied to the Hampshire disaster, was revived by the English cables as recently as last week, but the question whether there was on the occasion a remissness on the part of the British Admiralty now finds answer in an official letter to Sir George Arthur, author of a Life of Sir George writes to the London Times that early in 1920 the First Lord of the Admiralty invited him to read the secret report of the sinking of the Hampshire on the understanding that he would not divulge a word of it to anybody. Sir George Arthur declined to read the document under these conditions. He purposed to give in his biography the correct version of the Kitchener tragedy, and he said he could not do so if material were in his hands which he was not allowed to use. He accordingly wrote 'to the First Lord of the Admiralty that he would submit in his book that neglect, or at any rate carelessness, "must be charged to the Admiralty or to the -Command-" er of the Grand in the arrangements made for Lord Kitchener's voyage." The reply of the First Lord was: "I do not think you could say otherwise." The admission is M. Stephane Lauzanne tells some interesting stories of M.

Briand, the French Prime Minister, in the National Review. Here are two of them: The curious thing is how physically M. Aristlde Briand resembles Mr. Lloyd George; the same prominent nose, the same long hair combed back, the same active eyes, the samt gripping and persuasive eloquence. As a 'matter of fact, they are relatives, at least Insofar as the Welsh and the' Uretons are related, and when they are 'together they chat with each other like cousins.

There are moments when their Jokes become sharp. "How is it," Mr. Lloyd George asked once during the Peace Conference, "that the Bretons fought so well during the war?" "Because." replied M. Briand, with the utmost seriousness, "they continually Imagined that they were fighting against the Welsh!" One day. In the Chamber, the late Maurice Barres cried out to him, half In anger and half in admiration: "You are a monster of flexibility!" The world needs such rnonsters.

One cannot always govern a clenched fist and a threat on the lips. The world cannot be built of Iron bars alone. There must be oil to A Great Engineer. To the Editor of The Gazette: Sir May I be permitted to add my little tribute to the memory of one of Canada's greatest engineers who has Just passed away. I allude to the late Mr.

Phelps Johnson, whose name is associated with the construction of so many runway bridges in Canada. Since 1882 I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Johnson Intimately, and he built a great number of the bridges for the railways with which was associated, always without friction or controversy, and always on contract time. In fact, engineers and contractors always relied implicitly upon him for the date of completion, and anyone who has hao to do with railway construction knows how important it is for every branch of the work to be able to depend upon the dates of completion of the bridges. The construction of the great cantilever bridge across the fit.

Lawrence at Quebec involved many anxieties for the engineers who designed and built it. The longest span previously built was that of the Forth Bridge near Edinburgh, which is 1,710 feet. The span of the Quebec Bridge is 1,800 feet, and as its members had to be much larger, so Ontario. 1905 Kev. I).

J. Reollard eon-ecrated a Roman Catholic Bishop of Sault Sle. Marie. 1SKI7 Defh of Hon. J.

B. Snowba.ll. Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswiek. 1013 Rev. J.

C. Roper consecrated as tbLrd Anglican. Bishop of Columbia later second Blahop of Ottawa. Rev. A.

J. Douli con-wcrated an ftrs Anglican Bishop of. Kootenay. 1H17 Genera! election In Brunswick Murray (Oomwrva-41w) Government defeated. WH X.

V. Todd appointed Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. MONTREAL, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24. ease the turning of the cogs of the Immense machine. A careful and expert hand must pour it on the right spot, and an experienced and calm eye must watch over the ensemble of the factory.

M. Aristlde Briand has nil of that. And he has also humor. On his re turn from Locarno, he had, needlfct-s which, unfortunately, she stilt lnits on being. LOSS OF THE HAMPSHIRE.

The London Times, under the above heading, prints the following letr, addressed to the editor: Sir, There Is so much loose talk and so many questions are addressed to me with regard to the death of Lord Kitchener that I would ask you to let me say that early in 1920 the First Lord of the Admiralty (the late Lord Long) rnvited me to read the secret, or unpublished report on the sinking of the Hampshire, on the understanding that I would not divulge a word of it to anybody. I declined to read the document under these conditions, as my object was to give in my "Life of Lord Kitchener" the correct version of the tragedy and this I could not do if material were in my hands which I was not allowed to use. I told the vfrmt lrd that I should submit in SOVIET UNIONS AND CAPITAL. The article reproduced in our last Saturday from the pen of Ambassador Christian Rakowsky should prove of interest and value to all those who would fain becomo posted upon' the present trend of Soviet policy in Russia. The gereral drift of the argument is sufficiently clear although some of its terms are strangely ambiguous and really overlap, and, whilst the facts may be accepted as set we imagine many of our readers will demur to the inferences drawn.

Yet the whole presentment should be studied carefully and dispassionately in the light of actual conditions. This done, this screed will not only throw much light upon Sovietism itself, but also afford a key to all Socialistic and Communistic dpvices more or less kindred the Russian scheme of things. The most striking feature of this exegesis is the confessed truth that during its evolutionary stages the Soviet dogma has been at Moscow discarded in favor of a modified system of capitalism. The Communists have been obliged to sfiift from their original ground and give their tent a nw pitch this alike, for reasons of State alike within and outside Russian territory. Domestic and foreign economic policies have undergone a slow change which, however gingerly it may be wrded, signifies a slant towards the capitalist gystem.in vogue amongst bourgeoisie nations.

This is no discredit to Russia. It is a common sense acknowledgment that Sovietism in any form cannot carry on under the Marxian concept about the seizure of machinery, goods and gold, and the abolition of that capitalist credit which under la uHout as high as that of a cuttle linn, which spreads its sepia clouds in the water as readily If irritated by a dose of acid as If attacked by an enemy. Thus, If anyone desires to discuss the- theory of tariffs not the use of them in practice, but their warrant as, logical means to developing the wealth, of, communities he will. In the course of his first day's discussion, come to grips with some otherwise wholly sane and intelligent person who will wind up the argument by- Haying that no community can become rich by trading juckknive.s. That, of course, is exactly how the community does become rich.

The world proceeds to acquire more and more tangible and wealth by producing a little more each year than it conHumes, and by tividing these commodities the best traders being left jn the end with the moat Jackknives, motor cars, silk stockings and the other toys which the world wants. According to standard free trade economics, that would be impossible, for that weird idea holds that'ti community can only Recome rich by finding another community with which to trade leading us, by a perfectly logical process, tp wonder why we manage to keep going at alt with line of freight transportation to Mars, As a matter of com-What the mon knowledge, any United States community, from Have Done family up, if furnished with a reusonable share of natural wealth and possessed of ordinary Intelligence and physique, can produce more annually than it consumes und use the working time so saved to store up goods against times of scarcity or to create toys and luxuries. If the community's share of nutur.il wealth is above the average, it can actually help Itself by persistently refusing to with less wealthy communities except with th greatest care to avoid being forced to share its wealth on even terms with the less wealthy. The United States, for example, being to say, a happy smile on his lips; It was Eomewhat like the smile of the Messiah who, having preached peace to the nations, sees it established between them. But it too, the modest smile of a "When," he said, "I came Into power in 1921, my first thought wus to establish security and confidence.

In order to do so, I went to Canned. Unfortunately, at Cannes, I let myself be tenfpted to play golf. This was unpardonable. Indeed! I was told so and was overthrown. Nevertheless, I stuck to my idea, for I am tenactous.

As soon as the -opportunity was THE CARD IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. Does Aid. Brodeur, chairman of the city administration committee, contemplate the adoption in Montreal of something like the card identification system in force in Paris and other European cities, under the direct supervision of the police force? The question seems pertinent after the attitude he took before the Legislation Committee of the City Council. At his instigation this committee adopted, preliminary to its submissioh to the Legislature for approval, a proposal that the city shall be empowered to pass a by-law which will compel evsry male citizen to carry around with him a card with his photograph attached and inscribed with details of his personal status in life, and a physical description of himself. The purpose of this elaborate certificate is ostensibly to prevent impersonation at elections; but if, as Aid.

Brodeur's remarks seem to imply, the real intention is that the city shall compel every man to carry at all times a card that will prove his identity and contain such data "as will be an aid to the police force," it is hardly likely to find any favor in the Legislature. Merely as an instrument for use at election time it hag little to commend it, for it will hinder more than it will facilitate voting. As it is, there my book that neglect, or at any rate as to carry the heavier rolling stock used on this continent, the tonnuge of steel used was very much greater, which, together with the unusual depth of water at-Quebec, made the building of the control spaa a serious problem. Mr. Johnson, adopted a plan nevtfr before, I think, attempted.

Instead of building out from tiio ends of both cantilevers, he built the central span on a float, floated it to the gap and hoisted it into position. A small piece of steel broke during the hoisting and the central span went to the bottom of the river. I hastened to his office to condole with him, and found him calmly smoking a cigar. Apparently not disturbed, except for the loss of life, he assured rne that the Bpan- would be built again in the same manner and placed in position within twelve months. This was punctually done, and Canada possesses the engineering marvel of the world in the way of railway bridges.

We have lost a great man. J. G. SCOTT. 80 St.

Louis street, Quebec, Feb. 22, 1926. Counting Congregations. To the Editor of The Gazette: Sir In your issue of today's ite there appeals the statement of Dr. Pidgeon that 3,728 congregations, formerly Presbyterian, have entered the United Church.

I am haunted by the fear that our public may not grasp the fine irony of this reckoning. It must be noted that Dr. Pidgeon reckons these adherents of his church to be congregations, on tho ground that the Act of Parliament declares any "worshipping unit" to be a congregation; and it the Act says so, then so it must be. Evidently the Doctor knows his Shakespeare well, and he must have studied the "Taming of the Petruchio: I say it is the mcoti that shines so bright. Katharine: I know it is the sun lh.it shines so bright.

Petruchio: Nay, by my mother's son, and that's myself, it shall be. rrfoon, or star, or what I lint, i jn, carelessness, must De cnaig-- Admiralty, or to the Commander of the Grand Fleet, in the arrangements made for Lord Kitchener's voyage. The reply of the First Lord was, I do not think you could say otherwise." I am your obedient servant, GEORGE ARTHUR, The Carlton Club, Pall-mall, Feb. 9. given me again to manage the foreign affairs of France, I began again.

I tried to re-establish confidence and security. But, rendered cautious by experience, I replaced golf by a trip In a boat on Lake Maggiore. And, this time, I succeeded." MY ROUO DARK-EYED SAILOR. (To the air of "Castle My brave boy is far from me. Oh, my sorrow, on a strange, dis-stant shore My proud, dark-eyed sailor.

When shall I see him once more. With heart near to the breaking, In the harvest field lonesome 1 bind. It Is alone I'm hay-making. When each girl has her boy close and kind. BY-ELECTIONS The'Altoniey-General of Ontario, Mr.

Nickle, has -introduced a bill in the Provincial Legisla-turet'elieving elected members from the neces-sity'of securing re-election after promotion tq ivjmtsterial rank. "While I am introducing this bjll," paid Mr. Nickle, "I am not so firmly Wedded to it that I could not be prevailed upon "'to'drop it. It seemed to me, however, that it was a great waste of money to have another election to validate the selection of men for theVC'abinct." The Ontario measure is identical -in purpose and principle with the bili that passing through the British Parliament under of the Baldwin Government. Mr.

speaking in uPPort of this cm' BhWefzod, ths desirability of lessening the ex-jscfise the individual. "At a time like this," he'fiidjV'when we are trying more and more to "draw our members from men of every degree bl and poverty in order to help the "country, it is hard that one of these should "-have to. spend as much as a year's salary on expenses." He also said that the ex-ijtiBnecessity of re-election had caused many oihctwiie eligible men to be passed over in the maitrhg' of Cabinet appointments, not because of any question of expense, but because of the risk of defeat. If the measure under discussion weie to become law, poor men wouid not be 'subjected to the expense of re-election, end a prime minister, in selecting his colleagues, ned rot hesitate about choosing members whose seats might be lost' in by-elections. Another argument put forward by some supporters of that newly-chosen ministers, on going''' Sack to their constituents for required to commit themselves upon matters of public policy, thereby forfeiting their liberty of judgment and action.

Opponents of the measure, in Britain, Ltve taken the ground that the proposed legislation imposes a restriction upon the powers of the otectpiiate and of the House of Commons. They saiidV'-upon this question, where their fore-athersi stood in the days following the Restoration, when the people, jealous of monarchical authority, were struggling to assert and safe-guards the supremacy of Parliament. The present system originated at that time and under The French Press are too many taxpayers who are reluctant to vote, and the identification cards will add to their number. What possible benefit these cards can have is beyond the comprehension of all except the alderruunic mind. The Legislature will do well to reject the whole proposal.

"In Laurier's Step" La Patrie: "When he assumed sir Wilfrid Laurler made, an unusually blessed with natural wealth, has grown rich by cautious insistence on the policy of Internal 1 appeal' to the devotion of the Prime PAh. heavy the steps I take, Ministers who at that time itr.wim ever the destinies oi mosi oi provinces. Messrs. Mowat. Fielding und Blair responded to the appeal, and with the co-operation of tne of great worth called to represent Quebec, they made up a Liberal Ministry whose prestige and renown are recorded in our political annals.

The Hon. Mackenzie King has decided to walk in Kir Wilfrid Laurier'a is to be hoped that Mr. pins the economics and commerce of every nation in the world. And, after all, this is but saying that Russian Communists have followed the normal course of every other Socialist Utopia, the wrecks of which lie across the plains of history, and have found out by experience that their a priori theories will not stand the searching test of actual conditions. M.

Rakowsky makes the best of his argument. At the same time it will occur to many that his reasoning is somewhat wobbly and his reckoning, when closely examined, rather a weak budget. Speaking of Russian finance, he tells us that about twelve billion roubles are invested in State industries, half of this sum, or nearly so, represented by the railroads. Half-a-billion goes to the account of the various co-operative associafions. That wlijch remains in the hands of private citizens, including the peasants, totals about seven and a half billions, exclusive of the land and its buildings.

The Ambassador naively, remarks that Russia today is a country of "mixed organization" in which, alongside of collective production and State enterprises, private production still exists. Ui say3 production," and not capital," it it Is the moon. Uu.ining will in the federal arena i reap the success which has crowned his efforts in the provincial field. As to Chapel on the Sunday i wain. Since he's not to meet me.

With his fond looks and low, tender talk; While my rose-tree richly flowering. Whose blossom he plucked for my breast, Its petals sadly Is showering, At the long, bitter blast from the Went. But deep down within my heart. There's a dear hope we'll be meeting next spring. My proud, dark-eyed sailor! And our marriage bells sweetly shall ring; Till beside you walking, nigh-headed.

Under Castle O'Neill's shining towers, Upon your arm. when w(re wedded, We'll pass through a pelting of flowers. Alfred Perceval Graves in the London Spectator. trade in preference to external. That paid when the Unttpd States had only a few million people, and it pays today, except that as fast as the natural wealth per capita of the country falls, there grows a keener desire to exploit the unused resources of o'her richer peoples this coming homo to uj in Canada in terms of waterpowtjr, forest products, nickel and usbeetoa.

England, on the contrary, has earned her place in the world by realizing in IMS Unit her per capita natural wealth was below that of the younger nations, and adopting a policy ot external trade in preference to internal. The essential 'folly of that, is that sooner or later Increasing lnnd values, to take but one case, in the newer countries must approximate those of F.ngland, with the result that England, as we know must sooner or later face the need of a return to domestic agriculture after spending a century In destroying the basis of that agriculture by training her population to live in cities. Canada is today one Canada's of the richest countries Par Capita in the world per capita. BRITISH COLUMBIA LANDS. The Government of British Columbia recently outlined a plan whereby certain provincial lands were to be added to the assets of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway the provincial whUe elephant fur the purpose of improving the appearance of the animal and thereby, perhaps, attracting private capital.

It was proposed fclso that the Dominion Government and the Government of Alberta should assist in various ways towards the financial rehabilitation of the Pacific Great -n and towards the extension of the road into the Peace River country. The Government of Alberta, which is keenly interested in the Peace River and its transportation facilities, lent a sympathetic ear. Since then a-very curious claim has been put forward by Mr. Oliver, the British Columbia Premier, a claim which involves the ownership of very large tracts of land alienated by the province Katherine: I know it Is the moon. Petruchio: Nay, there you lie, it is the blessed sun.

Katharine: Then, God be blessed, it is the blessed sun. The learned Doctor is a 'eta I Petruchio. V. IIARVEY-JLLLIE: Westmount, Feb. 22, 1926.

The Future of the Foreslj. The new Minister will undertake We direction ct the Ministry of Railways, replacing man of talent who won the esteem oi Parliament and whose departure is regretted ny every party. Mr. Dunging's task, then, will be a difficult one. The "Vert, in very truth, has no' reason to complain of the march of evonu.

It will exercise in the Cabinet preponderating influence. It is to hoped the country will not have reason to complain of the fact." To the Editor of The Gazette: Sir Some point in relation to the article on the future of the forests that appeared' in a recent Issue of the Gazette. In my oninion. here are Twenty-Five Years Ago Mr. Dunrring's Daring.

i "The passage of Mr. Wealth and should in all reason concentrate on a policy i Dunning, Prime Minister of Sas- (The Gazette, Feb. 23 (Sat.) 1901.) of internal commerce trading Jack- katchewan. from provincial into ieu-knlvcs. If you like and of shipping I eral politics, where he will stand as abroad only what is needed to pay i candidate in the city of Keglnn tn a few of the immediate remedies: 1 Strict enforcement of the hunting laws, with most far-reaching power to game keepers and fire rarigers acting in both capacities.

2 Forcing every trapper to be out of the woods on the last day of lawful permit, for they have some d.tvs of grace to come out and get their pelts stamped, but they keen on hunting until the last day. Very ofte it is getting dry in the bush her foreign obligations, and that in order to Decome ji King Cablnjt, is a London Replying to a question In the House of Commons, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach. Chancellor of the Exchequer, said as regards the cost of the South Africap war, thu? far 81,500,000 of bonds had been issued and the weekly Issue, was from 1,000,000 to 1,250,000 the highest possible state of manufacturer Jackknives in place of iron ore. There is no reason in the world for her thinking of any other policy except that the imitation economlnts have drilled this cliche about the folly of rich by internal commerce Into the hetids of her people. second step made in the reorganization of the King Ministry which was amputated of eight or nine of Its ministers on the 29th of October last.

The people of the West who know Mr. Dunning speak of him in terms of eulogy; but he is at present iy mai ume ana hundreds of mile of forests have been burnt by them T-1. i .1 ,.,,11 in tht little known in the Last, anTl ne nas can ranciscu i steamer Rio de Janeiro ran Into a I The firing of new clearing by set- How absurd the Idea is that ex- tiers is too comnlicateH fnr hidden rock while entering the tenial trade is in a road a very important -post in wealth was never better illustrated the Ministry which has for a long sion here. time been held by men of the East. than by Mr, Cahan's recent compart Golden Gate in a dense fog.

She sank in a few minutes after striking. Fifty persons were saved out of two hundred on board. A. BELANGEK. 1926.

Ottawa, Feb, 22, Vancouver The campaign preceding the first general election of the Australian Commonwealth is now in progress. The Issue is tho tariff. Edmund Barton, tho provisional premier, is a protectionist; the leader of the Opposition, G. A. Reid, advocates free trade.

It remains to be seen, in the nrst place, just 'what consequences the entry of Mr. Dunning into federal politics will lftve from the practical point of view, and In th.a secqnd place whether he will rise to the height of the reputation he has made in the provincial field as an ablo politician and good admlniutrator. Ottawa has already seen the nrrlval In the House of Commons of poiUical men who were preceded by a good reputation acquired In their own region, but whose conduct laier on did not justify all the noise that was made on their arrival at the Capital. This of course doe not mean to say that this will be the sou of the tremendous external commerce of Mexico with the Industrial serfdom of tier peons most of vfhom ure tog jxior to earn enough to buy jackktilfe, in a country of tremendous nuturul wealth. It shows up evfn more amusingly in a recetvt news item on the front pages of the press, which argued that England, after all, must be doing pretty well, because her foreign commerce was even now twenty-five per cent, greater than that of the United States.

No sane man really imagines that this means as our btwt orators on the blessings of iiitcrnathjnal exchange will tell us that the population of England Is actually: a total of twenty-rtvo per will be observed. Very well. At his own showing, public utilities cover most, if not the v. hole, of the first item. The co-operatives hold under Wieir control less than one-twentieth of the fiscal values listed as State investments and possibly most of this (arm collateral.

That which remains is really the greatest sum of all, said -to be in the hands of private citizens, including the peasants. Just so. But this is capital. What other name can be. given it? It is the cumulative and working economic force or treasure which sustains credit and brings returns in trade and profit, work and wages, to those who stake their savings in the business.

ButMt is neither State Communism nor State Socialism. One of the greatest illusions of the ultra-radicals is the assumption that capital is the exploiting nucleus of a comer coterie or plutocratic group. Evidently it is upt so in Russia, judging from theae figures; and in modern times -at ajty rate, it has never been the situation jn any country where industry gets an even or fair chance of making headway. The demagogue thinks in coin, not. values, and proceeds to confiscation, which sets fire to the hayrick.

How much bullion has been divvied amongst the Mujiks since the revolution began Are they or the Soviet State Council selling the Romanoff gems to help the exchequer? And, once more, it is abundantly manifest even from what M. Rakowsky has to teTl us about economic and industrial improvements that these have taken place during the period in which a leaven of capitalism has, been introduced to the economic lump, The Ambassador admits that private enterprise is likely, to expand in the -future, and well for Russu if it does increase. But the statement that these statistics -have a Socialist leaning only admits of an interpretation that puts Russia on a par with other nations where Socialism is of a mild type nobody cares tr criticize. In the strictly Communist sense of that term, one' can only infer that the crackle and blaze of Sovietism as first imaged is spent, and the Russians by and large are gradually approaching anew a more conservative and workable order of things. William E.

Paley, inventor cf the kalatechnoscope moving picture machine, is in Montreal taking number of local Scenes for exhibition. They will be the first moving pictures of local scenes ever shown in Montreal. Lincoln and. Lauriar. To the Editor of The Gazette: Sir, Your report of General Sir Arthur Currie's address on Abraham Lincoln before the Calvary Men's Brotherhood brought out the inter-, eating comparison between Lincoln on the one hand and Macdonald nd Laurier on the other.

Insofar as study of Laurier is concerned, I have come to the conclusion that Laurier was more a Canadian than he was a Liberal. The psychological and environmental influences that led him to this attitude must have been many. I doubt if he had ever really revealed his hidden inner thoughts to his political friends; but his career as a'whole undoubtedly shows evidence that "party" was, at times, as uncomfortable to him as for one who unwillingly permitted his hands to be handcuffed, or his body put in a strait-jacket. Besides, Laurier was not only a great reader and admirer of Macaulay not our Macaulay. but England's but he was undoubtedly a worshipper of Lincoln.

Freedom and liberty and justice were equally as dear to the soul of Laurier as cent, richer than the twice as large case in regard to Mr. Dunning, but I simply that it is yet too soon to'say he I cures wh ch mere show certainty that he will be a good the lisurcs, wnicn merely show that. t0 the Hon Mr 0ruham. y'what we do know Is that Mr. Dun- to living for her ning wows himself to be a very many years ago.

According to the Vancouver Province, which seems to have first ventilated this proposition, the lands in the railway belt," together with other lands, which were turned over to the Dominion under the agreement which brought British Columbia into the Confederation, were not used for railway purposes, as specified in the agreement, and should there-fore be returned to the province. The agreement provided that a railway connecting the British Columbia seaboard with the railway "system of Canada should be constructed, ar.d that the province should, to this end, transfer to the Dominion a belt of land up to twonty miies on either side' of the railway, similar to lands appropriated by the Dominion for the fame purpose in Manitoba and the Northwest Lands already disposed of by the province within the proposed belt area were to be "made good to the Dominion from contiguous public lands," which meant that the province had to find some 800,000 acres elsewhere and turn them over to the Dominion; it found them in the Peace River block, and it raised the erea to 3,500,000 acres after, representation had been made that much of the territory in the i ail way belt proper was of little use for agricultural purposes. As the story proceeds, the intention was that the raiiway was to be built largely through land grants, that the forty-mile belt was to extend through from the coast to Ontario, and that Ontario actually set aside surh an area, but did not transfer it, while the British Columbia lands, including those in the Peace River "Deficiency Block," -were duly turned over. The contention is that these lands were never used for the purpose of railway construction and that, having been conveyed to the Dominion in trust," the province is entitled t6s their return. Premier Oliver 'has seized with avidity upon this claim, and, judging from reports from British Columbia, intends to press it.

He is most concerned, no doubt, with the possibility of getting back, the three and a half-million acres of the Peace River Block. Some publicity, by the way, has been given to the rumored activity of an unnamed syndicate which is represented as endeavoring to secure this block from the Dom4nion Government with a view to the construction of a railway line down to the terminus of the Pacific Great Eastern. Mr. Oliver, having taken the lead given him by the Vancouver newspaper, now asks for the return of the lands, but he does not appear to base his demand upon, legal grounds; he talks of the righting of a wrong by the restoration of valuable property which the province transferred and for which it got no return. He is interested, moreover, in finding out how five million the amount fixed in the conditions of union, became 14,264,000 acres, the amount daring man in thus venturing to leave a prime minister's post to thosV conditions, its immediate purpose being to check' the misuse of the Toyal prerogative respecting the appointment of subjects to.

offices Times have changed and conditions have also changed and, though the prin-ii-iph; of the old law is still sound, there today far' less force in it as a bulwark of popular right. Apart from the opportunity which it affords for the exercise of partisan hostility, it 'a of. little effect, and, even as a matter of party it is no't always invoked. The reflection of new ministers js, more often than 'not; formality, contrary instances being dependent, in roost cases, upon exceptional circumstances. The question of expense is twofold in this country as in Britain; the cost to the taxpayer and the cost to the candidate are items of considerable importance in every contest, 'the term "poverty" is hardly applicable to any of the men who are elected to Parliament in Canada, but few such men are in a position to faee, by-elections without counting the personal cost, and the cost of elections has risen to a very high level in the Dominion.

By such legislation as is being enacted in Britain and as is being, considered in Ontario, that expense, so far us ministerial by-elections are concerned, will be eliminated. There remains the question of possible abuse. No one will argue that the established safeguards, which have meant so much to the stability, of-, parliamentary government should be weakened, especially nowadays when politicians are ready to ride roughshod over constitutional principles. Yet the possibilities of abuse to be limited in this instance, since the 'number of -salaried portfolios is restricted and only those ministers who are placed in charge of administrative departments are affected by the proposed change. The right of the public approve an appointment or to withhold' approval may be of more importance in theory tbaii'in.

practice. It is matter of fact that the party which succeeds in electing ita candidate in any given constituency is not only will-; ing but keenly desirous of having that member elevated to Cabinet rank, and the member may be-teid to be endorsed as aNpossible or prospective Cabinet minister just as much in the first election as in the second, if there be a second. The only right that is removed by the British legislation is the right of opposing parties to lock horns a second time, and as the odds are invariably with the party in office, thn right, ill very many instances, is not exercised. Is it worth preserving? The British Parliament, apparently, thinks not, and the fate of the On. tario measure will afford an indication tf public opinion in this country.

i more earn a people than do the United States, are solemnly quoted as showing something or other of evidence that England is rich. The Jackknife maxim should be amended. It should read that communities become rich by trading enter a ministry whose life is not, as things are going, certain of boing a very long one." Captain Bertie H. D. Armstrong, H.E., son of Mr.

C. Armstrong, of Montreal, who has for a number of years been In charge of the fortifications at Sierra Leon, has been ordered to South Africa and placed in charge of the work of construction of four new forts designed for the better protection of Cape Town. Mr. Robert Reford. who has just been elected a life governor of the Protestant Hospital for the Insane, has donated $1,000 towards carrying The Closure.

L'Evenement: "When the Government of Sir Robert Borden applied the closure for the first time in Parliament the country was at war. and the rigorous measure was justified by state reasons It was necessary to win the war, and to do this all Jackknives as much as possible with themselves; If with others, with great care to see that the necessities of the other man. do not make the trading unprofitable. The only real argument for free trade is not an economic one but am ethical one. As told one of our leading free traders once on (-on the work of this institution.

the real free trade useless delay to action must be pre- public platform, An order-ln-founcll has been pass ed appointing Major Reade, of the Shropshire Regiment, commandant of the Royal Military College at Kingston. The building of the big bridge philosophy is a desire to 1111 the worlir; vented. History win say it tre Jus-with brotherly love ausl cheap but-' tlftcatfon was sufficient. In the pros-ter. Even or ethical gtoundj thu nt Instance- the Government is tn a dBotrlne can be demolished without bad position, but the country is not any stretch of the rules of logic.

On In' any danger. The Opposition may economic grounds It is an absurdity. Perhaps abuse Its rights of criticism, The national interests of a young rlclr but it is not hindering either par-country cannot be served by the fol-1 llamentary work or public admlnis-lowing of a doctrine Intended to 1 tratlon, since the end of the debate assist the crowded population of a would bring about, an adjournment Country which a century ugo saw of the House for the period demand-chance, by the skilful external trad- by the acting Prime Minister. Ing of jackknives, to exploit the cheap That is what the loyal Opposition lands of new countries, and diit not i pretends, and it seems to us that its spanning the River des Prairies tt Bout de Tile, may be accepted as a certainty as the plans prepared by the Chateauguay and Northern Rat. they were to the heart of Lincoln.

Laurier hated war, perhaps, even more than did Lincoln; and the latter could never have loved peace more endearingly than the former. I am not endeavoring to make a hero of one to the disparagement of the other, I love Laurfer and Lincoln too much for hat. The lessons of these two personalities hold the secrets for Canada's future. It Is well that the principal of McGlll University should speak to Canadian audiences on Lincoln. I regret that the opportunity and privilege was not given to me to have listened to him, but I do hope that Sir Arthur will forgive me if I differ with him on this particular point about Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

A. J. LIVINSON. 2040 Bleury St. Almost Stumped Pa.

"Pa, what's scintilla?" "A scintilla? Why er a scintilla is'something there isn't anything of." Unlabeled. C. S. J. remarks "A man never really knows whether he married a peach or a lemon until be happens to open a family jar," wav Company, who will have the enterprise in hand, have been accepted by the Governor-General-in-Councll.

pretentions are foresee that Booner or later that opportunity would end as those countries commenced to make their own jackknives. Hereafter May 24th will Le ob It is to be gathered from reports that Senator Edwards and one or two others with him at a "face the facts" conference are opposed to prohibition. They described prohibition as "immoral and stupid," "despicable 'mockery and as "making a crime of what most "people do not even regard as a sin," and as being "a stench in the nostrils of right-living and right-thinking people." If, as had been' said, language is like amber in its efficacy, to circulate the electric spirit of truth, the language of Senator Edwards et al. does not leave much mor to be The Interests of th West. Le Canada: "The news of the entrv of Mr.

Dunning into the Cab- And lest you tninK i am talking too served in the Protestant Schools -of the province of Quebec, instead of May 23rd, as Empire Day. mrrch in terms of jackknives, permit inet clearly indicates that Premier me to remind you that It on King enjoys in the West the esteem Hlu nflrticiilsr noint of etitlerv tlmr Lil nnnftiloncfl of the nuhlic mcH Government. Western Canada understands -that tt is to its Interest to IBir Alexander Gait asserted the right and the people. The victory he won of Canada to frame a tariff policy in Prince Albert was excellent Intended to develop Canada and not mony, of the fact, and now the Hon. rail-' to the Liberal party and it does merely to keep her a nation of pro- Mr.

Dunning gives signal conrtrma- I no hesitate to do so on every avall-ducers of cheap raw materials tl0n by accepting a portfolio in his (able occasion.".