472 



MANITOBA. 



portion of a desirable class of European immi- 

 grants, as well as those from the older provinces 

 of Canada and the United States, but restrict 

 the wholesale importation of undesirable immi- 

 grants from southern Europe. 



"That the affairs of the province should be 

 administered on ordinary business principles, 

 without regard to political considerations, espe- 

 cially in so far as our educational system is con- 

 eerni'd, which should be absolutely freed from 

 party politics by the establishment of an inde- 

 pendent Hoard of Education. 



"That the province have complete control ot 

 the school lands and the proceeds of the sales 

 of all lands that have been sold or will be sold in 

 the future, to be used only for the purposes of sup- 

 plementing the ordinary school grant as given 

 from year to year. 



"That the proper administration of justice, in- 

 cluding the appointment of justices of the peace 

 and other officers of justice, be from representa- 

 tive men independent of politics. 



"That the province, provided its revenue be 

 found sufficient for the purposes, establish and 

 maintain an agricultural college; also a technical 

 school, at which mechanics and others may re- 

 ceive a practical training. 



" The adoption of the principle of Government 

 ownership of railways, in so far as the circum- 

 stances of the province will admit, and the adop- 

 tion of the principle that no bonus should be 

 granted to any railway company which does not 

 give the Government of the province the control 

 of rates over lines used, together with the option 

 of purchase. 



" That demand be made for the transfer of all 

 Crown lands within the boundaries of Manitoba 

 to the province. 



" That aid be granted to municipalities by way 

 of guarantee of interest upon debentures when 

 required. 



" Equal rights to all. 



" That an act be passed providing for compen- 

 sation for injuries received by workmen in their 

 usual employment. 



" That the boundaries of the province be ex- 

 tended northward to Hudson Bay. 



" To assume control and administration of the 

 fisheries within her boundaries. 



" That a line of railway be constructed to 

 Hudson Bay. 



" That a measure be adopted to give effect to 

 the will of the people regarding prohibition of 

 the liquor traffic, which measure shall go as far 

 in the direction of prohibition as the powers of 

 the province will allow." 



During the next few months Mr. Macdonald 

 spoke in every constituency of the province. On 

 Nov. 10 the Legislature was formally dissolved, 

 and Mr. Greenway issued the following appeal 

 to the electors: 



" I have the utmost confidence that my appeal 

 to the country will, as on three previous occa- 

 sions, result in the return of my Government by 

 a sweeping majority. With reference to the great 

 prosperity of the province during late years, I 

 think I can fairly claim that this in some measure 

 has been due to the legislation and administra- 

 tion of my Government. The development of the 

 province by construction of railways for competi- 

 tive and colonization purposes has been the con- 

 istent policy on our part throughout my ad- 

 ministration. In the last twelve years we have 

 secured the construction of about 1,100 miles of 

 Rilroad with satisfactory results. Our atten- 

 lon has been continuously devoted to the prob- 

 lem of placing our settlers in the position of hav- 



ing a readily convenient market for their prod- 

 ucts, and of securing the lowest possible freight 

 rates to the seaboard. I think I can with pro- 

 priety state that our efforts in both directions 

 have been in a great measure successful. 



" In regard to the latter question, that of freight 

 rates, I am strongly convinced that still lower 

 rates than now prevail can be ultimately se- 

 cured. Our intention is to continue our efforts, 

 determined to place our farmers in the best pos- 

 sible position in this respect. I have long main- 

 tained that grain can be profitably transported 

 to Lake Superior at a maximum rate of 10 cents 

 per hundred pounds. If such a rate can not be 

 obtained over existing lines, I am in favor of 

 turning our attention elsewhere for relief. 



" I need scarcely tell you that we have been 

 greatly disappointed at the action of the Senate 

 of < Canada in defeating the bill which had passed 

 the House of Commons authorizing the payment 

 to the provincial treasury of a portion of the 

 school-lands fund after the Dominion Government 

 had agreed to make the advance requested. I am 

 of the opinion that the province is entitled to this 

 fund, and to have transferred to it the whole of 

 the school-lands reservation, to be administered 

 by it for educational purposes. Any opposition 

 to this policy I regard as most unjust to the set- 

 tlers of the present day. 



" Since the last provincial general election a 

 judgment has been rendered by the Judicial Com- 

 mittee of the imperial Privy Council upon the 

 subject of the jurisdiction of the Dominion Par- 

 liament and provincial Legislature respectively 

 with reference to the prohibition and restriction 

 of the liquor traffic. That judgment was con- 

 sidered ambiguous in some respects, and we pro- 

 ceeded to procure opinion of eminent counsel 

 thereon. When the question came up for con- 

 sideration during the last session of the Legis- 

 lature I stated it was the intention of the Gov- 

 ernment at the next session to introduce legisla- 

 tion prohibiting the sale of liquor to the extent 

 of the powers of the province in that regard, and 

 such statement still stands as our declared policy. 



" When I last appealed to you the main sub- 

 ject then presented for your consideration was 

 the attack menaced by the Government of that 

 day upon our national school system. That at- 

 tack was supported by those within the province 

 who oppose us to-day, but, despite their efforts, 

 we succeeded in preserving the system, which will 

 continue so long as I maintain the confidence of 

 the electors. When returned to power it is my 

 intention to continue on the same lines of pro- 

 gressive policy as in the past. I shall always hold 

 the interests of the farmers as of paramount im- 

 portance. I shall always advocate their inter- 

 ests and the interests of "the province as my first 

 public duty. I think it needs very little impar- 

 tial consideration to come to the conclusion that 

 the opposition to my Government is not based 

 upon any regard for the public, but solely to 

 gratify the ambition of men who for the most 

 part have taken positions on important ques- 

 tions diametrically opposed to the best and high- 

 est interests of Manitoba." 



After a keenly fought contest the poll was 

 taken, in all but two constituencies, on Dec. 7, 

 with the result of a majority of six for the Con- 

 servatives. Sir Charles Tupper, Mr. Foster, Mr. 

 Clarke Wallace, and other federal leaders had 

 helped Mr. Macdonald, while the Government had 

 been assisted by Mr. C. Sifton, Mr. D. C. Fraser, 

 and other Liberals from Ottawa. This result 

 involved the early accession of Mr. Macdonald 

 to the provincial premiership. 



