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Refuses to Produce His Ballots Until Some of "Regular" Ballots Are ANGRY CROSS--FIRE, BUT NO SOLUTION Battle of the Bal]ols Back Againto House; _ Sinclair Is Defiant Aftee Long Dispute in Legislature, House Ad-- journs _ Discussion _ for '"More Mature Judg-- ment'" to Prevail--De-- bate Is Due Again on Monday Faced with Liberal Leader Sinclair's point--blank and galling refusal to ex-- hibit to them all or any of his 19 "wan-- dering ballots" until such time as the South Ottawa electoral district ballot boxes from the last Provincial election have been thrown open for scrutiny, the Committee on Privileges and Elections of the Legislature, which was called to sulre tne "how and why" of the forms in Mr. Sinclair's possession, made a new precedent, yesterday morning, by 'hrowing the whole controversial inves-- tigation back on the House, and ap-- pealing for its direction as to what shall be donme in future. Mr. Sinclair was subpoenaed to pro-- .owed the press to photograph for pur-- duce before the committee yesterday polsels) ?{ repr%dulctign one of th: zgentli' j f ;, cal ballots which he was so studiously r;xi:rnmg a,l: papelran and documents' irg shrélding from the gaze of the com-- possession relating to the inquiry. mittee "Playing politics," was a cry He, however, argued that the "19" had flung about with considerable aban-- not been specified in the subpoena, and Gon. refused to budge before the majority's _ Government benchers asked the Op-- insistence that they be laid on the table Position: "Why not produce the nineteen? as the first step in the probs which What are you afraid of?" And Opposi-- aims at a solution of the whole mysteri-- tion speakers flung at the Government ous business. side of the House the interrogation: . "Why so anxious to see them? What Appeal to House. are 'you' scared of?"f Altogether there The appeal to the House for further WaS, in the words of Peter W. Pear--| direction in the case was launched in 502 (Liberal, North York), "much ado | the following resolution, moved by Hon, 2bout nothing. | Charles McCrea, who is appearing fOf Mr. Sparks as Witness. ; The appeal to the House for further direction in the case was launched in the following resolution, moved by Hon. Charles McCrea, who is appearing for the Government in the matter, second-- ed by Hon. James Lyons, Conservative member for the Sault, and carried by a vote of 16 to 9: "That by reason of the refusal of Mr. Sinclair to produce to the Committee on Privileges and Elections the ballots in question, although subpoenaed to do so, so that directions in reference there-- to and for a scrutiny of the ballots may be given to the Special Committee, this fact be reported to the House for fur-- ther directions in the premises, and that trne meeting do now adjourn until the House gives such further directions." Verbal Warfare Renewed. Immediately after'the opening of the House, at 3 o'clock, and the filing by Hon. Finlay Macdiarmid, Committee T abled, and Committee, Baffled, Asks Legisla-- ture for Guidance '!Chairman, of the report containing the ' above resolution, the verbal warfare between Government supporters and Opposition members which has charac-- terized all committee meetings since the inquiry was first launched was re-- sumed, For two hours--in chiefly a rehash of the case--the opposing fac-- tions wrangled over the question of whether or not the committee report should be adopted, until, nearing 5 o'clock, Premier Ferguson expressed | the view that the argument might be' laid over until Monday, when "cooler : heads and more mature judgment might prevail." Adjournment of the discussion fol-- lowed. Defeated Candidate Testifies. . Russell Sparks, defeated Liberal candidate in the South Ottawa elec-- tion, testified before the committee in the morning, but he could not tell how or where the ballots were found, or who found them,. They had been turned over to him, in the first place, by Mr. found them,. They had been turned over to him, in the first place, by Mr. Smith of the Ottawa law firm of Smith & Johnston. 'The morning brought Mr. Sinclair into "close quarters" with both Mr. McCrea and Chairman Macdiarmid. Mr. Sinclair charged Mr. McCrea with making a "farce" of the whole pro-- ceedings, and alleged that Mr. Mac-- diarmid was discriminating in favor of Mr. McCrea when he allowed Mr. Mc-- Crea time to write his "throw--back" resolution while a "written motion" from the Liberal Leader calling for immediate scrutiny of the ballot boxes already lay on the table, The com-- "Perhaps in the meantime," he added pointedly, "arrangements can be arrived ut to end this disagreeable dispute." mittee, ruling. Debate The House argument was featured by charges from Premier Ferguson that the Liberal Leader had not lived up to his promises of co--operation when, after the Government had assured him f a thorough clean--up of the alleged rregularities, he, Mr. Sinclair, had al-- .owed the press to photograph for pur-- poses of reproduction one of the identi-- cal ballots which he was so studiously shrélding from the gaze of the com-- mittee. "Playing politics," was a cry R. Russell Sparks was called as wit= ness shortly after the committee opened its procecdings. He told what he knew of the 19 ballots He had received them at the end of September or early in October, and had mailed them to Mr. Sinclair. He received them from the legal firm of Smith & Johnston, in Ottawa. He declared he did not know who found them or anything of their history. es e t . "Have you any objection to the bal-- lots being produced?" asked Mr. Mc-- Crea. "None whatever," replied Mr. Sparks. "Will you produce them now, Mr. Sinclair?" asked Mr. McCrea, The Liberal Leader simply shook his head. Mr. McCrea turned to the exami-- nation of Mr. Sparks, and the Ottawa min stated that he had spoken to F. W. Runge, head of the Modern Press, ~f the ballots The slips bore the name of that concern, but Me. Runge knew nothing of them, though the foreman of the plant might. TVvA in House. however, sustained the Chair's Fet 485 1 h ipeople of the Province and the House as it proposes to go this afternoon, is cer-- f tainly advertising itself in advance. Of | all the unfair positions possible for any-- |\ body to put oneself in Mr. McCrea has surely put this committee in this morn-- "Now," said Mr. Sinclair, "the com-- mittee has placed itself in a beautiful position before the people of Ontario. I suppose anything can go here. A 'Cabinet Minister can make a speech !and a verbal motion and have it taken, | though it was distinctly laid down that all motions must be in writing. _ Any committee that can so stultify itself and proceed as this has and go before the | clair, "as a lawyer," knew very well f that the subpoena was directed to have | the ballots handed over. Mr. Sinclair replied emphatically that he had not changed his mind about producing them. Mr. McCrea--This committee was ap-- pointed to investigate this matter. It has to instruct the subcommittee that is going to scrutinize the ballots. We would like to see these 19 ballots pro-- duced now, so that instructions can be given to the subcommittee. In view of Mr. Sinclair's statement, I suggest that the facts so far be reported to the House for such further instructions that it may care to give, so that this inquiry may proceed. Mr. Sinclair--Let me refer you to the subpoena. You're not in a position to go before the House except to make yourselves ridiculous. You were to pro-- duce the ballot--boxes at this meeting. They are not here. I am here, and you propose to persecute me, and yet do do not carry out your own end of the bargain. In order that this farce may be carried to the limit--so you can get all the adverse publicity you can, and I have no objection to that--you pro-- pose to report me to the Legislature this afternoon. Go ahead and report. That is all I have to say. My con-- science is clear. When He Will Produce Them. Mr. Sinclair handed to Chairman Macdiarmid a written motion that the committee go on with the scrutiny. His, | said he, was the only motion that was before the committee. It had been agreed, he recalled, that all motions be | in writing, and Mr. McCrea's was only | verbai. CGovernment members 'jeered. Mr. McCrea called for a ruling as to whether or not his motion was in order. Chair-- man Macdiarmid thea ruled: "Mr. Sin-- clair is standing on & technicality, Mr. McCrea's motion is in order. There was no time to write it." Appeal Is Lost. s Mr. McCrea again asked for the ballots "now." And again Mr. Sinclair refused, reiterating that he would pro-- duce them when the boxes were pro-- duced. Then Mr. McCrea reviewed the Liberal Leader's stand to show how "unfair" he was, and wound up by saying: "So I move that the House be directed to give such further instruc-- tions in the premises as it sees fit, and that the committee adjourn." Hon. James Lyon seconded the motion. / ~AVC, douUln menlrew) Mr. Sparks said he received the ballots from Alexander Smith, who might be the Smith who was a Liberal Organizer. Then Mr. Sinclair was called again to testify. He had two ballots with him, he said; the other 17 were in his vault at Oshawa General Subpoena. Replying to T. M. Costell vative, South Renfrew) Mr. he received the ballots from Smith, who might be the 1 was a Liberal Organizer. Then Mr. Sinelair us a Mr. McCrea asked Mr. Sinclair if he had not received a subpoena to pro-- duce the ballots "No," retorted the Liberal Leader, explaining that he had received only a ' general subpoena," one in which there was no specific mention of ballots. When Mr. McCrea continued Mr. Sparks stated that he did not see why the 19 ballots should be produced before the boxes were opened. He thought there should be "a general showdown all round." Mr. Sinclair appealed against this judgment. And the committee upheld the Chairman's decision by a vote of 13 Mr. Sinclair objected that the witness was subjected to such questions. Mr. McCrea pressed the query, and Mr. Sparks replied: "I have no opinion on that point." When Mr. McCrea continued Mr. (tea m wl Eus cl% 1% 3 C t Mr. McCrea--Do you wish to see the ballots produced before the committee? | Mr. Sparks--I think it is advisable the :' committee should see them at the proper time. 1 $ Mr. McCrea--Have you any objection in mmmothraee -- limecl Loo se 2 Mr. McCrea--Have you any ob to seeing them produced now? '"No Opinion on That Point." . McCrea declared that Mir. Sin-- . Costello (Conser--