Conservative Victory

In the Province of Nova Scotia,* for 43 years a Liberal stronghold, a general election was held.

It was conceded, in view of the Cape Breton mining strike (TiME, Apr. 20, June 22), which was accompanied by violence and severe economic depression, that the Liberals would lose a few seats, that Labor would hold its own, that the Conservatives would make insignificant gains.

Results provided an unexpected and roaring avalanche of victory for the Conservatives, who carried 39 out of 43 of the seats in the Legislature. Liberals secured three seats and a Labor candidate, endorsed by the Conservatives, won the single place remaining. Thus, was a Liberal majority of 40 turned into a Conservative majority of the same number. At Ottawa, jubilant Conservatives prophesied the rout of the Liberal Dominion Government in the expected imminent elections.

The cause for this (probably) unprecedented change of fortune was due, in large part, as prospective Premier Edgar N. Rhodes said, to "the people who have risen in their might to wipe out a government which through long tenure of office has regarded itself as all-powerful and in consequence has lost touch with the people."

But, more concretely, the victory was due to the inability of the Liberal Government, headed by Premier E. H. Armstrong, to deal effectively with the Cape Breton strike and its resultant economic depression.

*Nova Scotia is about two-thirds the size of the State of Maine and the density of its population (523,837) is about equal. On Cape Breton Island, part of the Province, is situated Canada's biggest steel works.