The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

3* ti ll ~ l _ ' =t . . g . " \ 7 l r. 9 , ". Te . -,' . l 'r. ' g I I l . ""-'-------------. ! I g _ i Opposition Leader, Mr. Proudfoot, Makes Pro. . o o I . pose], Which " Accepted by Premier, and ', Regarded. as Fresh Mandate From Peonle! . . l ---Mr. Dewart Regrets Opposition Not] i C . . C _ l , T r "t f . vri,.igvtr,yi.,. LLBRLARY 8. 1918. I ' I - we "r-'-""'-'"---.--. _.,..___.. l l Ontario's Legislature decided yes-, iterday that there shall be no general . election in the Province until after '., the war and until the Canadian sol- t (hers have returned to their homes.!, l ,The offer of an extension of the life! "of the Legislature was made by ML! l William Proudfoot, Opposition a . Leader, in id. notable speech. hisi . f . _* 'immden eifort in the House since as-i isumlng the leadership. and accept.I 'iance was announced in eloquenti i language by Sir william lieu rst after; . dinner last evening. Mr. Proudfoot.' . in broaching the subject. said that a l war-time election would place every-l thing in a turmoil, and he earnestly) opposed party strife when the efforts' lot the people should be directed to- iwards assisting in the. defeat of the "httuire's foes. Amid loud applause 'fi'om both sides ot the House, Pre.. 'miea' Hearst some. hours later an- :nouuced that he had decided to ac- Cty. the otter of the Opposition . Leader "in order that the minds of _ [the people should not be diverted !from the one great object before us, !and to pre\ent the introduction of l any dividing and disturbing elements . V among our men and women, many of' whose hearts are breaking for loved ones that will never return.", i The Premier added that several va-i cant seats, caused by death, would, have to be filled, but there must bel no party by-elections. He alsog made it clear that the offer of the: Liberal Leader was made on the dis-i tinct understanding; that the act iii/ tending the life of the Legislature! would be construed the same as a; fresh mandate _from,the electors. l Mr. Hartley Dewart, who followed. 'the Premier. said he was glad Sity', lWilllam had accepted the offer of; "he Opposition Leader, but he re-I lgretted the Prime Minister had not i gone farther and agreed to call to; the Councils of the fPrOVinC? We". . Upposifiou Leader and other Libera 3 members of the House. i (live Soldiers Votes. 1 "If an election is to be held in the near future it would not be com!- plete without the votes of We 'P/i diers." said Mr. Proudtoot. n fact," he added, "it would be mos? unfair not to make provision tot taking the votes of the 'gallant an"; new tighting the Empire s toe. T er were many spoiled ballots m the r:- cent voting at the front in the Fe": eral election. and a, repetition of t 6; should be avoided in the event ld a Provincial election being he ii some way should be found. Tfl/lil'.'. way of averting the necessity of are ing votes would be to extend the or 'of' the Legislature for one year ot imore. ' During the f.esht2ut'l,'ftet,ts" lthis war it is not desirable t a ark- iminds of the people who are wt the , ing for the good of the soldiers a I in Red Cross and I front and at home taken i other patriotic work should be hieh iaway from the tine work mural" gthey are engaged. We KNEW liat require to secure a new V016 1 Git' . ibeFause the present munic Pa . I lwould not be satisfactory. v l in, Election Till After War. . : "What I had in mind at tidal}? lan extension of the life of t Uf,lt islature for one year, but on . I have come to .ing the matter over tensiOn the conclusion that the " . reasonable time should be until a. the war. If I am after the close of hould . ting that there s right in $18888 "so"! stat- ,be an extension for the r