For the Back Concessions

On the blatant electioneering swing around Ontario that made him its first Liberal Premier in 30 years, grinning, bumptious, New-Dealing Mitchell ("Mitch") Hepburn bawled at farmers in the back concessions: "You have had to put up with Conservative tea-sippers and cookie-pushers! Men who couldn't run the Province of Ontario except from flashy motor cars paid for with your money! By Jupiter, when I'm Premier I'll ride to the opening of the Legislature of Ontario on a bicycle!" (TIME, July 2). Last week the people's "Mitch" in spats, cutaway and top hat rode to the Legislature's opening in a flashy new Hudson sedan, while gorgeous Marina Blue-gowned, orchid-corsaged Mrs. Hepburn followed in a flashy blue Buick.

Ontario papers have been roasting "Mitch" for his recent affront to King George in refusing to attend the viceregal banquet of Lieutenant Governor Dr. Herbert Bruce (TIME, Feb. 11). At the Legislature's opening last week "Mitch" definitely welshed. He had threatened to deny George V's representative the royal salute. It crashed and thundered as Royal Canadian Dragoons saluted in Dr. Bruce by a legal fiction "the person of the King." Admirers of "Mitch" had expected him to bar the Lieutenant Governor from Ontario's Throne. Instead dignified old Dr. Bruce, with radiant young Mrs. Bruce on his arm (see cut), entered the Legislature not only unmolested but followed at a respectful distance by spat-wearing "Mitch" with his New-Dealing smile. Then began the traditional mummery which the New Deal Premier had explicitly sworn to end.

With Dr. Bruce firmly seated on the Throne, Provincial Secretary Harry Nixon addressed Ontario's Legislators with the proper viceregal arrogance: "I am commanded by His Honor the Lieutenant Governor to state that he does not see fit to declare the cause of his summoning the present Legislature of the province until a Speaker shall have been chosen according to law, but today at a subsequent hour His Honor will declare the cause of his calling this Legislature."

After these squelching words, the Person-Of-The-King majestically stalked out and the Legislature, as prearranged, chose South Waterloo's affable Norman O. Hipel to be "Mr. Speaker." Conducted to the steps of the Throne, Mr. Hipel gave thanks, then stepped out to don the Speaker's black robe and tricorn hat, after which he returned to stand at one side of the Throne. With everyone at attention, back came the Person-Of-The-King, in gold-laced jacket and with jeweled sword, to read the Speech from the Throne--written of course by "Mitch" & Cabinet.

Only important declaration of the Speech: In language veiled but unmistakable provincial Premier Hepburn tried to curry favor with Catholics by promising money from Ontario's educational funds to aid their parochial schools. Since 41% of all Canadians are Catholics, this was considered a smart opening move by Ontario's Liberal "Mitch"' in his game to oust and succeed Dominion Liberal Leader William Lyon Mackenzie King.

Dr. Bruce, having read the Speech, finally departed and Speaker Hipel for the first time took the Throne, henceforth during this session the Speaker's Chair. By an old Ontario custom, not observed in England, the Premier then traditionally symbolized the Legislature's sovereign rights by ignoring the Speech from the Throne for 24 hours. To fill in the time, Legislators debated the same cut & dried bill which is never passed, a measure "respecting the administration of the oath of office to persons appointed as justices of the peace."

Speaker Hipel was made the goat of New-Dealer Hepburn's need to do away with some frippery or extravagance last week. "I guess you'd better cut out your Speaker's Reception," the Premier told crestfallen Mr. Hipel, then bawled at reporters: "We'll have no teacup juggling ! There may be criticism in the City of Toronto but the man out in the back concession is applauding what I'm doing!"

Sniffed Toronto's loyalist Mail and Empire: ''There is more than a suspicion that Toronto society doesn't care a particle whether there is a Speaker's tea or a Lieutenant Governor's dinner or any other social function up around the Parliament Buildings. The folks who come from 'the back concessions' and those who hope that some day they may come are much more likely to be disappointed than anybody in Toronto. They want to be noticed. Their friends back home expect them to be noticed. Sometimes the friends back home 'on the back concessions' expect an invitation for themselves. They may not be able at the time to accept it but they live in hope that some day they may."

In England contentment reigned that Canada's boorish "Mitch" had made such a mess of his boordom. Last year, as one New Dealer to another, President Roosevelt sent to Premier Hepburn the old Ontario mace carried off by raiding U. S. troops (or "brigands" as Ontarians called them) in 1813. Last week this mace came near to being the only thing "Mitch" could claim has been obtained by the Province of Ontario under his Premiership.

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