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| _ "Of course, I have no voice in direct-- ing the affairs of the Central, nor «do I ever attempt to interfere except when I feel that something is being consid-- lered or done that may affect the Gov-- ernment or the welfare of the party throughout the Province. There can be nothing wrong about taking subscrip-- tions for the ordinary organization work, but surely appeals should not be made to people or organizations who have relations with the Government or are dependent in any way upon the Gov-- ernment for the continuation or regu-- lation of their businesses. Just think what a fine story could be made if this letter gets into the hands of those who desire to injure the Government. 1 tt-hluk that you should lay it down a |,_"My Dear Starr: I am perfeclly as-- toundsd at a letter that has come to \ my notice, apparently authorized by the [Central Association. It is addressed to tic Manager of the London Winery | Limited, and asks for a substantial con-- | tribution to assist in carrying on the work of the Toronto organization. _ _ Anowing, cue rremuer continued, that \ the letter might be made public to the detriment of the Government, he wrote : Mr. Starr and had his letter delivered to him. He then read hbis own letter, which had been written on Feb. 1, and marked personal,. It was as follows: "Astounded," Says Letter. Speaker W. D. Black rose agzinst Mr. Binclair,. '"The honcrable member," he declared, "is entively out of order. The Prime Minister has explained the situ-- ation. You are duty--bound to accept his statement." "My I have the privilege to speak, at any rate?" said Mr. Sinclair hotlly, "I do not want you to insinuate that you have not the right to speak in this House," said the Speaker. "You have made such insinuations in the past, and I do not intend to let it go on." . "May I continue my general re-- marks?" Mr. Sinclair inquired. ' "Yes," said the Speakor, Mr. Sinclair--The admission that the Prime Minister has made is that he has control over the sources of cam=-- paign funds collected for the Conserva-- tive organization in Ontario. was a purely local organization. Sec-- ondly, the Government dissociates it-- self from any movement to collect money from any such source or to ask any one for money for political purposes at any time. I want to tell my honor-- able friend that in two elections, and since I have been head of this Govern-- inent, not one single dollar cam» to the assistance of the party from sources of Mr. Sinclair--The Prime Minister has said that contributions from this source were discontinued. My statement is broad in its terms. If there is a refusal from this source, the only inference an intelligent man can draw is that there, is not a refusal from other general sources, and that the Premier is the man who allows them. this kind. and no monecy was solicited. Whatever money has come has come voluntarily from those interested in the success of this Government. This Gov-- ernment will not be impugned in this matter." Mr. Ferguson--My honorable friend must say nothing of the kind. I say here that I set my face against it and am not in control. Not Refused Elsewhere? "Perhaps," he stated, "that is one of those unwise incidents that are acted on on the spur of the moment without suf-- ficient thought as to the consequences or the conclusions that might be drawn, Now I desire to repeat: Firstly, this "I think you should take immediate steps to recall these letters and return any subscriptions that you have re-- ceived. There should not be the slight-- est trouble in collecting a sufficient amount to carry on the local activities of the organization from sources that are not in a position to leave the trans-- action open to misrepresentation or sus-- picion." Keiurn of Money. Having read his letter, Mr. Ferguson continued: "I understand that moneys have been or are being returned to all from whom they were solicited. I have always taken the position and insisted that the party should not put itself under obligation to any of these interests. a most implicit and inflcxible rule that no funds should be selicited or accepted from either distillery, brewery or winery interests. As I have already said, the Government has no control over the Central, or voice in its affairs, but were this letter to become public you will readily understand that it would b> my duty to repudiate the whole transaction. 2 &5 d 4y fF ied i qy y eny e 92. | _ Mr. Sinclair--It's a mystery why an } organization in Toronto should 'go outside this wealthy city to solicit funds. I feel that it is a matter that | has been properly brought before this Hcuse, and we have received some il-- llumlnating information. You see the | names on the letterhead and you see | the influence reaching cutside the city. : It's just like two barrels, a big one and "a little one. They were soliciting funds in London. Do you think that many necple are going to believe that there 'was any necessity for soliciting outside Tcoronto for the party in Toronto which : sends members to both Parliaments | without effort? Here we have the Pre-- mier interfering when it takes public ; form. Mr. Ferguson--What authority has my honorable friend to speak for the Liberal Party? I think I have more au-- thority to speak for the Conservative Party. _ | _ Mr. Ferguson--If my honorable | friend was in my position would he | have interfered? (Laughter from Con-- i.servative members.) !__Mr. Sinclair--Now ycu're starting off | on the old stuff. If I was in your posi-- | tion the large contributors would not ' be 'in our political party. : And the 'Liberals would not da any such foolish 'thing as that here, sending out all ' over the Province of Ontario. Mr. Sinclair--You have the right to refuse contributions from sources that you don't approve of. Mr. Sinclair--Now there's the admis-- slon that you have the right to speak for the Conservative Party, and you have the right to say where contribu-- tions come from. Mr. Ferguson--No, sir. I have the right to protect the good name of this Government. Mr. Sinclair--What authority had you to write a letter to any organization about subscriptions? Mr. Ferguson--You can't put those words into my mouth. You are fram-- ing all this matter for The Star. I am determined that the public shall understand that the Government's integrity and honesty is not questioned in this matter,. . And 1 want to tell the honorable member that IJ'll fight this out. on any platform in the Province with him. The public must under-- stand that this Government is not be-- smirched. "Received and Returned." f Mr. Ferguson--I have the right to protect the good name of this party. Mr. Sinclair--That is exactly what I had in mind when I started to speak, that you'd admit ydur authority-- Mr. Ferguson--Because I knew my honorable friend would be attempting to besmirch the party and the Govern-- ment as he is today. (Uproarious laugh-- ter from the Government benches.) Mr. Sinclair--On whose behaif did you write the letter? Mr. Ferguson--I knew that my hon-- orable friend, bereft of every other at-- tack, would look for this opportunity, and would give a misconception to the people of the Province. So I did what any sensible man would do. So the Liberal Leader went on to say that this was one of the gravest situ-- ations ever brought before the attention of the Legislature, '"Now," said he, "we understand why Mr. Starr said that the Government does not take contributions from liquor sources: because the Pre-- mier had already written Mr. Starr a letter telling him he did not." Mr. Ferguson---- I to shouldn't accept them for tion,. Why He Wrotc. Mr. Sinclair-- letter? Mr. Sinclair--Does the Premier k1 if any funds were received or not? Mr. Ferguson--I dc not know. I only know as a matter of rumor that money was received and returned. Mr. Ferguson--That's the best evi-- gence that the men who did this didn't appreciate the gravity of it, It was a wide--open letter. y T 3 1 Mr. Sinclair--Maybe it ijust developed as a habit. 7 And that ended the affair--so far as the Legislature was concerned. y did you write the told Starr he or his organiza-- Premier know