CANADIAN PREMIERSHIP

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 7

CANADIAN PREMIERSHIP

• SIR ROBERT BORDEN'S WITHDRAWAL OF RESIGNATION. i Vancouver, December 18.' A messago from Ottawa states thnt Sir Roliort Bordei\ (who lust week decided to withdraw his resignation as Premier of Canada) was advised liis physicians that ft continuance of his duties would inevitably result in a serious permanent impairment of his health, and eventually in complete incapacity for further worlr. Last Sunday ho told his friends that his resignation was positive, and the question of his successor immediately arose. It is understood that Sir Robert Borden wished his mantle to descend on Mr. Arthur Meighen (Minister for tho Interior), but when his rosisnati'on was announced in Monday morning's Press throughout Canada there came a popular demand for other claimants to the leadership. . I Toronto, being the centre of Canada s manufacturing trade, strongly resented Mr. Meighen's candidacy for the leadership. because he is regarded as the representatives of tho western farmers, who want freetnulc with the United States, especially in form millinery, as opposed to the high tariff favoured by tho manufacturers. Toronto, Montreal, and tho other eastern towns accordingly nut un a. tv-mem!-ous fight in favour nf Sir Thorny White, ~-iio made 'a notable r»eonl during tho war as Minister for Financ". hut who resigned to enter business life several months ago. The dispute rrew, until s ir Robert Borden unexpectedly settW tho question toni"ht by announcing; that he would himself return to tl'.s Pr«inicr=Mn, but would rest until cured. an ActingPremier will nsSuine his duties, Ycsterdav's newsnaners freely pvopliesied that the position was becoming fo complicated that the Cnnlition Government might break up, forcing an immediate election. Not until to-day was there the slightest hint that Sir Robert Borden might reconsider his resignation, and tho impression remains that, tonight's action merely means a postponement for a few mouths until the Government's programme has I'ceii further considered.