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lltlmillllil)llMl BILL IS tjtsitli:-- HEARST MAKES STRONG PLEA Premier'Says He Lost Many _ Close Personal and Poli- tical Friends With the th, Premier Hearst, when speaking to the bill, declared with considerable feeling that he had lost many per- sonal and political friends over the Ontario Temperance Act. He said. however, that he did not regret what he had done in that connec- tion, had no apologies to make. and would, if he had to live over again the past three years. pursue the same course. The Liberal Leader, Mr. Proud- foot, had some strong criticism of the Government for its method of drafting the bill. When the Gov- ernment passed the Ontario Temper-. ance Act the Opposition co-operat- ed with it. but when the Prime Min- ister and his colleagues drafted the referendum bill they did not consult the Liberals at all. The Prime Min- ister said he wanted the bill passed unanimously; if objections were not to be raised. it was only proper the Government should have taken those on the opposite side of the House into consideration. - . ., After a lengthy debate the Gov- ernment's bill to submit to the eletr. tors a referendum on the temper- ance issue passed its third reading at midnight. The Prime Minister madea carefully prepared statement on the second reading of the bill in which he elucidated the four quetr- tions which are being referred to the people. He Justified the action of the Legislature in adopting the On- tario Temperance Act, quoted the distillers to 'say that it was a good measure. and declared that on the contrary of being confusing, the ballot was a most simple one. While the Government had been strongly censured for the stand it had taken. had he the three last years to live over again he would have followed the same course. Few of the members took part in the debate on the econd reading, but when it ',.'lag'lidr'tffl, committee stage the debate was participated in by '3, larger number. various minor 1,e,eti'f"'1", and criticisms being vo ced. Mr. H. Hartley Dewart, K.C., urged that the date for the taitintt of the referendum be fixed so as to remove any possibility of on election being held at the same time to conflict with it. Sir Wil- liam' Hearst said he could not fix the date, as it was impossible to say when the soldiers would be home. Agreement on Bill's Principle. At the outset the Prime Minister!, said there was no room for differ- ence of opinion or discussion as to the principle of the hill. Whatever divergence there might be would be in reference to the details. The principle of a referendum on a sub- tect had been admitted by different Governments and different parties.) Even if the taking of a referendum' were open to debate as a matter of general policy, the Ontario Temper- ance'Act provides for a reference , the electors. That act was ap- roved by the hegislature without division. although he admitted there were some members of the House not in trecord with its features, But he knew at no one opposed to the referendum as provided in the bill. He believed the bill to submit a re- ferendum would receive the -unanim- ous support of the House. no mat- ter what their political allegiance. Sir William repeated his previous statement that the act was a war measure. That was the justification for it. "I was confident then that the Government. under the rircum- stances that exiaed. were correctly T. A., but Stands by Pol- icr----criticism From the Opposition THURSDAY, ll, 1919. "'rrh'UFiiNrtriiq the sentiment of the} grant majority of the people of the Province. I ant more ctCml1tlent to- day, after the experience of three, years. than ever that We intettoveteu correctly public .opinion in acting" "as we did in 1916." declared the Prime Minister. "I was contident in 1916 the O. T. A. would conserve our tinancial strength, increase our ertr.. chncy and productive power. aid thrift and economy. and generally add to our tight ng power in the great. struggle for liberty in which we were engaged. Now. I no longer believe. but I know. after' nearly three years of tpial, that it has done all. and more.' in the direction named than f hoped for." , r"!"'"'" Lila" I IIUPCIJ |\I|. , The Prime Minister said he had; an overwhelming flood of testimony" on his files from all classes. endnrs- _ in; the measure as one which hadl been a source of strength misthe' State. I Costs Hint Many Friends. "This act has lost my G'overnuriertt support; it turned many warm per- sonal and political friends of, my own into enemies. It has brought me more abuse and criticism ten times over than all other political questions combined since I entered public life." declared the Prime Min- liter. "It has created the only cloud that has ever in any way darkened the political sky of my Government, but 1 have no apologies to make, no- thing to take hack, nothing to re- gret. The results have justified our tction, and if we had to live the last. three years over again we would L..." "m'"--" 7 follow the same course we have'pur sued. _ 1' --- .s-s...st...,' - "In the hour of our country's peril. heedless of what the conse- quences might he to us as a Gov- grnment. or as a party. we pursued the course that appeared to us to be right," he said. /'and now that the war is over and the victory won we are contented to leave our record to the judgment of the noble and heroic men and women of the coun- try, and we will gladly abide by their verdict." Much Abuse Received. Sir William then proceeded _ in? make clear the position hp took the) time the bill became law. Most un- i, fair and uniustifiable attacks had"; been made upon him and the Gov-) ernment as a result of it. People'- who had declared there could he: no vote until after the war. immed-l _ .., "-4. q'vrnn n'AQHPd he-t may after the ggn to abuse passing it with people, comme1 and my colleag [alt nun ouua....w,,-- been made upon him and the Gov-) ornm'ent as a result of it. People'- who had declared there could he; no vote until after the war. immedg intely after the act was passed bow. ggn to abuse the Government for! raising it without a vote of the; people, commenced to "call myself; and my colleagues autocrats. and to: refer to the Prussiauism of Queen's'; Park." "Then an unfair attempt is: now being made to prejudice the I'P- ' turned soldier against the not and against the Gfavernme"l He is _,---_w9. fin-ht. now being made to prejudice tot' ,r turned soldier against the not and against the Gfaverrantetlt. He is told that while he. was awiy fight- ing the Government took an unfair advantage of him to pass an art that took away his rights and his liberties "The object of introducing the act was to enable the Province to hack up its atrhtintr men. The act releas- ed men engaged directly and incli- rectly in the liquor trade for work irLmunititPt' factories and other war works. It increased the efficiency of men engaged in war works of all kinds. It strengthened our tiunucial power so that we were able lo buy Victory bonds and thus make pos- sible the carrying on of the war by Canada. The great majority of our men and women. whether they lik- ed their beer and whiskey and wine, .. A. um" did not, were will- cu ....me_- or whether they 1 ---- . s, in; to deny thenlscnn uries; willing to give u believed to be their pe and liberties, in Duh might. better serve the frdm Ontario. No, we away the sotdier's righ Hence. We .dld sometl him get his rights and ectly in the mum. _-'"' n._munitions factories and other war vorks. It increased the 't,leJie))/',.,rl, if men engaged in war works of all i Kinds. It strengthened our 't'i'idricrali ,ower so that we were able lo hurl Victory bonds and thus make pos-' Bible the carrying on of the war by Tatiana. The great majority of our' men and women. whether they lili- ed their beer and whiskey and wine. or whether they did not, were will- ing to deny themselves these lux- uries; willing to give up what they believed to be their personal rights and liberties, in order that they might better serve the gallant men from Ontario. No, we did not take away the soldier's rights in his ab- sence. We .did something to help him get his rights and furnish him the help and assistance he was en- _ _ ._, u- nhgnnce on his noble tiaed ti) in his absence on was away fight- b took an unfair to pass an act 4 rights and his