The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1914. CANADIAN POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 January 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1914. CANADIAN POLITICS.

The Canadian press lias been discussing bribery at elections and the indications are, from the charges freely I made and equally freely replied to, that the whole matter is not taken as seriously as it ought "to be, such nonchalance indicating a not very high standard of political morality. An election in the riding of Macdonald (Saskatchewan) having been declared void even before a protest from the Liberal party was heard in Court, it seems that there was some understanding by which both parties consented not to prefer charges. The "Toronto Xews," a well-known Conservative organ, in its editorial comment of November 20th, remarks that it is manifest that neither party wanted an investigation. From the actual clattof the Chateaugay election, against which protest is made, tie press ha; not attempted to deny that crooked methods were employed there on behalf of the Government. Apparently one stock answer to the charge* stems

[to be "that ;i bribe from one side is \no uglier than a bribe from the o-her." The allegedly Independent press is very unconcerned, professing to .see no difference between the Laurier r.nd Borden Administrations, or very Ij 1— criminating in its implications, when it admonishes the Government to set • a new example, and keep conupters out of the Cabinet at least. As to the Canadian elector's point of view that is made fairly plain by the' story of the farmer who when asked whether he did not think that any and every Government should be turned out of-offico las soon as it was kti >wn to l,;.ve 11 ade J any use of the unci'in thlr.g. replied

[that as this would make-more elections necessai'y things wflwil'l l»o noise than ever, and that to mcrea.>o L'ne minder of elect inns would be merely putting further temptation m frail iutman nature's already thorny pathway.