The Ottawa Journal from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Page 21

A WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1063 The to 36 Regenstreif on the -J Cut and Dried Affair1 Beneath Apathy Runs Strong Political Feeling Ottawa Journal By I. PETER REGENSTREIF Special Jeuruwl Cerrespoa denes TORONTO1 Another elec tion: ti Amid Um apathy, thcr ia evary JniktHm (hat the public ia led 'up with going io Um polla fa REOtNMREaP TALES OF i Arnprior HDoax brings Jitters To B)ttnvn and Washington By HARRY J. WALKER Early in April, 1869, regiment of regular troops was called out on war alert ia Rochester, New York. During the same week the dutrict militia were ordered on duty at Perth to guard the banks. Following this action, the governments of th United -Stales and Canada.

sweat it out in anticipation of a rumored Indian raid from -the Upper Ottawa on New York State all became ot sour weird happening at Arnprior. The incident that touched It off, and th resulting chain reaction that perturbed two Capitals seem fantastic in retrospect after 100 yean. But not at that time. There had been th "Trent Affair" In 1861 when Britain and the North were on the brink of and when the. Imperial garrison her entrained at th old Susfex Street station for the St.

Lawrence front. Then, in 1864, soma 40 escaped Confederal officers In Canada used this country to stag a raidlnto Vermont. So, when in April IMS. ot after the Civil War ended, there cam rumor of yet another raid on New York State an Indian uprising In th Ottawa Valley, no less, and fomented in the peaceful village of Arnprior, of all places the edgy authontie in both Washington and Ottawa became' jittery over another exercise la brlnkmanihip, TRACED TO HOAX Eventually it was all traced to arevenge hoax by an embittered Arnprior school teacher with a penchant tor trouble. It is a Strang ttory, almost unbelievable, but no stranger than th unaccountable quirks In human nature.

The genesis of th affair was when Dugs Id C. McNab, thea principal of the Arnprior Grammar school, was dismissed for severely birching th son of Rev. Otis Hacked, over a boylih prank th class. Obsessed, with -a revenge complex. McNab wrote some- body high In the Washington Government that Rev.

Otis Hackett was organising an Indian raid to Invade th ter ritory of th United State. In the euper-cberged atmosphere of at time this was enough to have th eicitabl Seward. Lincoln' Secretary of State, Initiate action by sending a confidential agent to Ottawa and Arnprior. Rev. Otis Harkett recorded th episode ia hi diary thus-.

"April IsU. learn there la a detective or spy here front Washington who busi--ft It is to make Inquiries about me. It seem that Mo- Nab ha been ia communica-' tioa with the Waihingtoa gov- erament and charged with being engaged ia getting up a raid and also with supplying the Indians with arms and ammunition. Te Investigate, this absurd charge, Arnprior is honored with this visit of-tk Yankee emitiary: I aw- -demand he already acknowledges that he had bee bedljL TROOPS CALLED OCT "April 4. The man.

coaviaced that he sat been taken in, left yeiter- Ontario. Two federal election one alter me outer were J1 enough. Nov this provincial campaign following direct I upoo the heala of eerie of cruel io Ottawa bat all the av pecta of the proverbial lastl etraw. To many voter the whol business bat becoras tirUt mora Joke. "A retired Bell Telephone eu- peryleor in Egllotoa reflected r-hhe-prevailing mood: "I eome- tlmes think the provincTat'gov.

em men it superfluous. We have loo many election, too much government. One half the country ia keeping the other half, working via' (overo- ment." With Ihe public relatively un- concernedrtha-aituation appear deceptively ready made for an any return to power for Premier Robert' Conservative. But, strange a-it may ap pear, the outcome it by no mean settled. There it strong evidence that beneath the placid waters of public indifference THE VALLEY A boyish prank, day in disgust.

BuUthe Canadian government, it seems, now has taken the' mighty, matter in hand. A crown lawyer had Just arrived from Perth where the troops were called out, having been telegraphed from Montreal to proceed at one to this place and to take vigorous measures for luppressing th raid!" The Ottawa Daily Union, playing down th Incident, had this editorial on April 14. 185: C. McNab appears to-be unfortunate Not long tine an attack 'was made upon him Now hi personal liberty ha bees' interfered with and he Is a prisoner ia the Perth, gaol. He is charged with stealing firewood furnished for the us of the Grammar School, be being headmaster of the same.

"It Is also said that ha ha been- In correspondence with Ihe American government, respecting a raid from Arnprior. For Information to be given by 'Dugald U.S. State Secretary Seward was to reward him bountifully. It ts needless to say that the raid-ihg story was nonsense 'evidently got up a a speculation But the cituens of Rochester, NY, were not so sura. The Ottawa Daily Union also carried a news story from Rochester with another twist to which placed th origin of the raid la Carletoa Cone- tyi MILITARY ORDERS "RochesterNY.

April IT. A telegram Was received yes--lerdsy by the Mayor from Major General Peek Mating that aa organ rut band' of 15 me) were ia Carletoa County, Canada, prepared te make a raid an Rochester er Of dene burg. The Mayor called a meeting of an" advisory committee of citizens las measures for meeting th ra.ders. General William re- there are current of political feeling which art reeking U)i election anything but cut and-dried affair. Under Heavy-fire However, even if the election result were.

foregone conclu sion -which it definitely not this campaign in Ontario would merit considerable public a well a academic attention; for it I taking place at a lime when theveolire federal struc-ture of Canada under heavy fare. Under the impact of the great deprouioa end the Second World War. the balance of pow er between the federal government and the province shifted heavily In Ottawa' favor. But these two traumatic experience are now ancient history. The provinces, led as i usual In this area by Quebec, are now asserting rights in broad fiscal and social field.

A if spurred on by the Lesage gov- eminent and the separatist gl-l tation' in French Canada, On (4) a birching, and international jitters. ceived' orders from th Adjutant-General of th State to put the S4th regiment on duty." McNab may have been Jail-, ed to keep him In until th official investigation unravelled th whole affair. When McNab was acquitted of stealing wood, he blasted everybody concerned in a letter to the Ottawa Daily Union declaring that the raid was Organized "by a person going i by the nam of S. f.oodsil IMPACT OF LAVERGNB KEY TO Tory Split Makes Russell Real By PETER JACKMAN el The Jtnu this election In Russell Is a Russell voter art) normally notorious for apathy to provincial elections but this characteristic I coupled this tint with a broad measure of hostility. ft is best described as a sort of "plague on all your houses." It is common to supporter of both major parties and if it isn't reversed in the next few days there won't be moch work counting th ballot oa Sept.

25. ONE OT THE BIGGEST Russell ts on of the biggest of the metropolitan Ottawa tidings, covering Fasttnew. Rockcliffe. Alt Overbronk a a i Gloucester, Cumberland, Osgood and Russell tenrn- Jt should be a Liberal seat the bast ot the Federal vote although th Federal rid itg slightly d.fferent -but it baa been held by Ihe Conservatives since IMA. tario politicians seem impelled to attempt to get ia their licks asserting their own province's rights.

The projected provincial-ly run pensioa plan la prob ably the best evidence ot tile effect of event in Quebec upon thia province. The particular and moment ary balance between federal and provincial', governments is not a Question about which an electorate usually concerns self no' any great extent. How ever, general public attitudes on the subieot do limit the free dom of manoeuvre politicians have. An examination of these atti tudes can offer some indications as to how. far local politicians can go in resisting federal pro gram and bow much leverage they can muster at home to pan, ticipate in the federal power struggle with their counterpart in other provinces.

sychic Toll The matter of the possible role of the Ontario; government who offered money to several parties ot Arnprior to go with him to make an attack on Ogdensburg, offering great inducements to accompany him. But he decamped without accomplishing anything On that uncertain note ended a dangerous exercise- la public mischief. NEXT: Dr. Brault tells new the. eaplersrs, Radlssea and des Gresellllers, were ambushed at Cheudlere Falls.

On the surface, the split In the Russell Conservative Association which led to 'the fielding of two Tory -candidates, Bert Lawrence and Gordon Lavergne, should normally assure election of Liberal Fred Barren. But many Liberal supporters are dismayed at the lark of impact by their candidate and campaign and Barrett today ia to a aubstsntial 'majority of Russell voters. However Barrett in his first run In 1959 finished only 2JUO votes behind Lavergne, but Che growth and the shift of voter ia this riding leaves frve-year-old results a pretty poor yardstick. REAL ISSUE The real question in Russell today is the Impact of -Gordon. Lavergne.

He ia running strorg Tn hi home ground of Eaat-vie-w where he has synt- pa thy and a good organization oa hi aide but there is little evidence that he ha any but a few aside, there jare sign that the cone lent electoral activity Is taking ha psychic toll. With no respite front the badgering of politicians, ther the danger the public will lose faith that anything cap be accomplished through the normal political pro cess. The Woodstock housewife's comment waa sot untypical: "My personal opinion," aha said, "ia that I don't think make any difference which party gets In. What we really need ia eomV thing ia this country that will give us change. And I don't know whether it will be through politic or not" The unhappiaese with Can ada's general situation, manifested throughout the last two federal campaigns is still Very much in evidence.

Forcing the public to participate so intensive in politics aeem to have had the same effect a If some one were instructed to be consciously aware of. bis every movement as he descends a flight ot stairs The Ontario Election Leaders Exchange Charges oi Lying By The Canadian Press Party leadens saved their righting words for the hustings Tuesday as they campaigned lor Ontario's general election, one week from today. A pre-recorded television program on th CBC featuring Pre mier John Roberts, Liberal Leader John Wintermeye and Donald C. MacDonald. New Democratic Party leader, was broadcast but turned out to be a calm review of platforms with, an.

absence ot political fireworks. Ground rules for 'lb first such broadcast hi Ontario history ruled out direct debate between die' leaders. Each made prepared statement, then answered questions from four reporters. May Start 401 Route This Winter GANANOQUE (Special) -r Preliminary construction work on tha new Highway 401 route between Gananoqu and Brock-villa may start this Winter. This was announced here today by Travel and Publicity Minister James Auld, MLA for Leeds.

"The project 1 slated fer 1M4 but If moved ahead will be done under the Winter works program," he said. "Consideration is being given to starting the rock excavating and filling this Winter." Highway department officials are purchasing property along the 2S mile route between Highway 2 and the existing two-lane 401. RESULT isolated pocket of support outside this community. He ba been shunned by the Provincial Association has thrown its weight and th prestige of Premier Robert behind lawyer Bert Lawrence. Lavergne a era brush oft the influence of the provincial organization and recall that Jimmy Dempsey waa re-elected in Renfrew South in lS5 despite the opposition) of Premier Leslie Frost and the provincial organization.

However this isn't a true parallel. Although Dempsey ran as ad Independent Conservative he had the smantmows' support of the Renfrew South riding association and there was no other Conservative ia the field, against aim. SPLIT VOTE? The Ctxiaei atrve vote in Runefl is bound to be split between. Lawrence and Lavergne but Lawrence has the advantage of bring able to appeal to The results of such an eapert- are well known: Where formerly the stairs were negotiated with ease, now the person would be fortunate if he did not end up breaking his neck on the way down. An Incon clusive result" Jn -this-election would have a significance going far beyond the immediate con cerns of this province.

This provincial election I of interest for ether reasons. Al though they are less pressing matters than an analyst of the whys and wherefores of Voting trends, such questions as the nature of party affiliations and the mixing of federal and provincial Mtues also demand attention. Voters Change One of the 'most Interesting facets of Canadian political behavior ha been the disposition of voters to support one party in federal politics end another the provincial field. Western ers seem to fee the ones with the most Uatant tendencies in Mr. Roberta end Mr.

Winter-', meyer, both while campaigning in the North accused each other Tuesday of dishonesty on the portable pension issue, but the liveliest political event ot the day was a three-party meeting in Mr. MacDbnald's 'suburban Toronto riding of York South. BLAMES PROMOTION. Mr. MaoDonald said an NDP government would include drug costs its medical care program, but that this would not mean "a use of public monies to underwrite the present, high costs of drugs created in good part by excessive promo tional costs." In Ste.

Marie Tuesday Mr, Roberts accused the Liberal leader of telling lies" about the government' stand on pensions. Hi said he agrees "heartily and entirely" with the principle of the federal government's program, and said the issue "should not be kicked around politically." The government, he said, ia willing to amend its plan in fa Vor of the federal one "any day of th week." In th television broadcast the premier said there could be an easy integration' oetweea the federal and provincial pension plans, with the Ontario program serving a an "upper deck" ot extra coverage for On tario residents if the federal plan were put through. CHARGES DISHONESTY Mr. Wintermeyer, stumping through' North Bay. Ear I too and Haileybury, attacked alright Tory dishonesty" and again challenged the premier to make clear before the election whether he would support the federal pension plan.

He renewed his charges that Mr. Roberta is "a band-picked Puzzler the swing vote and has been -working harder to reach it than Barrett The fourth candidate In the riding it Peter D'Aoust, who -baa been nominated by the NDP but that party lacks both an appeal and 'a atrong organization ia Russell. The contest is between Barrett. Lawrence and Lavergne and in a given situation any one of them could win. t.

If Lavergne corral th bulk, of the French Canadian vote it' about .40 per cent of the total and Barrett and Lawrvnc split she English speaking vote, Lavergne ik nv 2. If Lavergne and Lawrence aplit th Conserva-ttv vote th riding then Barrett- is- in. 1. If Lawrence caa hold th Conservative vote and pKk up the awing Lavergne and Barrett could end up killing off each other and Lawrence would tw ks. It' a real puzzler.

this BuFOniaflo resident are not immune. More often than not this province has supported one party at Ottawa and then turn ed around and placed its op ponent office at Queen a Park Will this pattern ba repeated on Sept. IS? Ontario is the heart of federal Liberalism, having accorded Prima Minister Pear son more eeate'and a larger share of the popular vote than Quebec, While the provincial field is different from the fed eral, chare can be no doubt that Grit successes here during the past two year and the national government's policies are having an impact. la order to analyze these and other factors, the public opinion survey is the trusted Instrutneot of (he voting analyst. As usual, I have visited various areas of the province gathering the re quired material by Interviewing voters in their homes.

Survey 1,000 However, this time my re- insurance company lawyer who he been selected Co lead the Tory party in Ontario." He criticized the premier for' failing to co-operate with Miss LeMersh. By GORD LOMER BANK AND SPARKS: Bing Coughlin, Internationally-known cartoonist and author of the Canadian wsrtims cartoon "Our Herble," visiting town as a WW 2 member of th PLDG's. Bing. will be meeting members of the National Press Club at a briefish reception Friday at the cocktail hour Dentist Paul McKenna 'being tagged tonight at the Beacon Arm. Tha former St Pat's men is" walking up the aisle Sept.

28, according to Boa Laafloor Percy Farmer retiring this week after nearly 48 years in the CNR freight office -Joe Saxe looking for tha customer who walked off with two left foot brown suede Persian lamb trim cocktail boots from his going-out-of -business sal this week. QUOTABLE QUOTES: A Hull attorney on' behalf of a client accused of keeping a common bawdy house requested the return of certain pieces of confiscated clothing. "What kind of vestlmentary article are you referring tor" asked Judge Avila "Baby-doll pyjamas, your re- plied th attorney. "I suggest you tell your client to sleep with heavier pyjamas. The nights are 10111111 colder now and she might cat cat cold," warned th judge Cam fetafv Donald wound hi tongue around a story abodt' Christine Keeter on trie 9 a.m.

new the other morning, snd it came out like this: If the hearing producse enough evidence to warrant further prostitution prosecution. CLOSING DOWN? What struck many reporters as an hilarious not of pessimism in a see of optimism occurred at the close of CNR' cross-Canada closed circuit televisio press conference on fare cuts Throughout the questioning Pierre Deuujrava, general sales manager for passenger service extolled the rat cuts and improved passenger facilities on transcontinental trgins as manna from Heaven for the company's sagging passenger service. He expressed unbending confidence that the move would be an outstanding financial success. Then as the questioning ended snd the picture, fsded out, a tired-sounding voice ujtered the out -of -place srords: "Thai Is CN Mowtrtwl closing Vm. SHOW RIZ: Gloves MeGsaty, now playing in the Bears--" Arena Tab Raoaa.

ia really veteran jazz piamst Al MeLaod, who was known aa "the fastest Anger an radio" when he waa a radio staffer ia) Toronto, He ased to play Art Tatssav type jazz before switched to commercial music honky-tonk and sing along. In the Tabu be pisya with gloves on and a red velvet doth covering the keys, snd in spit of the handicap be can rill make the fingers fly Jiaassia Car- -um, who made such a hit here last year in the lead role of Sound at Mastr after taking over from Mary Martha wh.le the musical waa still on BroaoVrav. retuma to Ottawa Oct, 24 and 23 aa the female lead in "Cam 1 1st. The male trad wilt be played b-f ber husband. Biff MtGnira, wtss's currently performing ra 1Mary, Mary" on Broadway.

They net about three years ago when they co-starred ia the revival of ssisw I mark will be buttressed province-wide survey ot aeam- of 1.00 people, chosen -to represent as closely possible the eligible voters in this election. A staff of US trained interviewer have visited 2t con-titueaciee across the pro vines obtaining answers 10 4-am questionnaire. As wsll, two additional riding and ISO additional respondents over and above the total sample, in the -metropolitan Toronto area hava been included. The data kom this survey have been fad into so IBM 1401 computer and it is oa th basis of the output from the computer that tha major aspect of this election will analyzed. This is an essentially earth-breaking venture.

This is the first tune that such an extensive effort to examine Canadian political dispositions for public, consumption has been made. "In effect, this series on On-tario's provincial election will be aa attempt to study voting trends as well as a stock-taking of wbol fft political attitude which have long-term implications not only for this province but tor Canada as a whole. (Copyvicau Officials Elected By Russell Socreds Angelo Tomasinl of Ottawa was elected president of th Russell Social Credit Association at a meeting In the Orleans Community Centre. Other members elected to the new executive are Romuald Tesster of Eastview, and Alfred Charron of Orleans, vice-presidents; Leo Cote of Orleans, Reginald Pring srd C. F.

Bowie of Otuwa, directors. i.