MERELY HUMOROUS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1054, 17 February 1911, Page 5

MERELY HUMOROUS.

MR. CLARKE IN,EXPLANATION. SUSPICION IN CANADA. (Rcc. February 17, 1.15 a.m.)' New York, February 16. Mr. Champ Clarke now explains that his reference to the annexation of Canada was merely a humorous expression of his individual opinion. Mr. Taft firomptly. denied that any political significance' is'' attached to the reciprocity agreement. Mr. Clarke's'friends assert that lie did not mean anything except'jocularity. Tho Canadian Conservatives declare that the. real meaning 'of tho United States has made, cleaf. THE. GOVERNMENT VIEW.; . (Rec. February 17, 1.10 a.m.) Ottawa, February 16. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, tho. Prime Minister, replying in tho House of Commons to a questioner, refused to treat Mr. Clarke's speech .seriously. The Government speakers, in the debate, emphasised tho slight effect 'of the proposed tariff changes on British preference. ..STATEMENT BY J. J. HILL. NOT PROVIDING FUNDS. (Rec. February 17,: 1.15: a.m.) ' ' .New' York, February 16.' •Mr. James J. Hill, the Uuitod States railroad magnate, denies that he aided the Western Canadian farmers in their campaign for reciprocity. Ho favoured reciprocity,. but had not given money to support the agitation in Canada. ' THE AMERICAN IN. CANADA. .The remiirkablo growth or. tho ..'American invasion of Canada and its possible effects on tho future of the Dominion have been much discussed lately. In 1900-1, 17,937 Americans crossed the border into Canada.: In 1908-9 the figures rose to 59,832. In the twelve months endid March last they reie to 103,798, In the last tea

years the totaV from the United States into. Canada-h'aYbeon 197,-, 248, while that frb'm the British Isles'has been 562.054, or a balance : of 64,806 in favour ot the British immigrants* But the significant fact is this. Last year the United States immigration was nearly double that of the previous year and i 1,007 in cscoss of the "British immigration. And there is every probability that this relative excess of American settlers orer British ,\HII continue owing to the conditions imposed by the Dominion Government and to the special requirements of Canada.

Nor is the American invasion one _ of ptoplo only. It is an invasion of capital also. Rettle.rs.from the United. States brought to 'Canlida: 'last year * cash 'and effects valued at .fail,ooo,ooo. The Coriilrissioner of Emigration tells mo that the average capital of the American immigrant is .£220, whereas the average capital of the British immigrant s only .£.3. Nor is this all.' American capital controls vast areas of timber land in Western Canada. Nearly two-thirds of the valuable timber of British Columbia is said to be owned by United States companies. AmeHean- land companies have entered into competition with the Dominion Government and with the Canadian and Pacifio Railway. and art settling, vast rfgions north of the United States border. American'-.capital •is - invested in Canadian mines and industries and is.advanced on mortgage over many farms in the north-west and the middle-west.