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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 August 2014
For six years Canada has suffered from a peculiar interaction of economic and political fatalities; and the indeterminate outcome of the general election of October 29, 1925, did little, if anything, toward straightening out the confused situation. First of all may be noted the way in which this situation developed; then some attempt may be made at an analysis of the setback which Premier King's government sustained at the polls.
1 Stevenson, J. A., “Strains on Canadian Confederation,” New Republic, Jan. 7, 1925Google Scholar.
2 The Liberals had also suffered setbacks in Ontario and Prince Edward Island.
3 To gain Liberal votes in British Columbia, the government, on Sept. 3, authorized the Dominion railway commission to reduce rates on flour and grain going to Pacific ports for export. It was claimed by the opposition that this was ultra vires.
4 Manchester Guardian Weekly, October 7, 1925.
5 Mr. King lost his constituency of North York, Ontario, by a small majority. The other defeated ministers included Mr. H. P. Graham, minister of railways; Mr. James Murdock, minister of labor; Mr. Gordon, minister of immigration; Mr. T. A. Low, minister of trade and commerce; Mr. Foster, secretary of state; and Messrs. Massey and Marler, ministers without portfolio.
6 Incidentally, the country parties of New Zealand and Australia underwent analogous reverses in the recent general elections in Australasia.
7 This act diminished the quota of Nova Scotia by 2 seats and increased that of the four western provinces as follows: Manitoba, 2; Saskatchewan, 5; Alberta, 4; and British Columbia, 1.
8 The statistics on the popular vote quoted here are unofficial, being based upon preliminary reports issued by the Chief Electoral Officer. The following table shows the standing of the parties, by provinces, in the new House of Commons, account being taken of the Liberal victory in the by-election of Dec. 7 in the Bagot constituency of Quebec:
This table is based upon the returns of the Canadian Press, Ltd., an impartial news-gathering agency.
9 Cf., for instance, the Montreal Gazette for Nov. 5, 1925.
10 Montreal Gazette, Nov. 5, 1925. This promise was in line with the precedent of 1896, when the governor-general refused to sign appointments proposed by Sir Chaxles Tupper's government after its defeat at the polls. It will be noted that Mr. King significantly avoided any mention of cabinet vacancies in his statement to the press.
11 Ibid., Nov. 6, 1925.
12 Ibid., Dec. 15, 1925. Cf. also the Toronto Mail and Empire, Nov. 2, 1925.
13 Mr. King tried to explain why he had not sought a seat for himself by pointing out that it might delay the opening of Parliament; but the delay eventually proved to be necessary anyway. The chances are that he would have had difficulty in November in carrying any Ontario constituency that might have been offered him by Liberal members.
14 Quoted in the Montreal Gazette, Nov. 25, 1925.
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