Quebec, Sept. 21
The Laurier government reciprocity suffered defeat in the Canadian elections held today.

By a veritable landslide, the Liberal majority of 43 was swept away and the Conservative party secured a safe working majority of possibly 40. Seven cabinet ministers who had served with Premier Laurier were among the defeated candidates.

R. L Borden, leader of the Conservative party, shortly will become the prime minister of Canada. He will be supported in parliament by a working majority of members far more than ample for his purposes. The government defeat means that the fielding knox reciprocity agreement, ratified by the American congress in extra congress, will not be introduced when the twelfth parliament assembles next month, and that a revised basis of trade with the United States, looking to closer commercial relations, will not be possible in the immediate future.

The Conservatives are committed to a policy of trade expansion within the empire and a closed door against the United States.

Although re-elected in two constituencies in Quebec, the defeat of the Liberal party also means the retirement from public life of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, who for nearly two decades has directed the destiny of the dominion. Several times during the bitter campaign which preceded today's election, said that the defeat of his party at the polls meant the end of his political career, that he never would consent to lead a minority in opposition to a Conservative government.

A Liberal membership of 53 from Quebec was out down to 36, which taken alone seriously threatened the supremacy of the party.

But it was in Ontario that the Conservatives won their greatest victory. Spurred on by appeals to patriotism

While Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Prime Minister, was safe in two counties, thirteen members of the Laurier cabinet sought re-election and seven of them were defeated. Minister of Finance Fielding and Minister Paterson, who made the reciprocity bargain with the United States, failed to win their elections. Sir Frederick Borden, Minister of Labor; Sidney Fisher, Minister of Agriculture; Geo. P. Graham, Minister of Railways and Wm. Templemen, Minister of Inland Revenue also went down to defeat.

The province of Quebec rejected one minister, British Columbia one, Nova Scotia two, and Ontario three. A B. Aylesworth, Minister of Justice, did not seek re-election as he decided to retire from public life and Sir Richard Cartwright, Minister of Trade and Commerce, who is a member of the Canadian Senate, was not required to go before the electors.

The election results indicate that the Canadian electors were moved by sentiment more than by material consideration. Throughout the campaign, the Liberal speakers appealing for the support of the government and reciprocity did so chiefly on economic grounds, maintaining that it would promote the prosperity of Canada and would never lead to annexation with the United States.

The Conservatives on the other hand, while arguing against the economic advantages of reciprocity dealt with more emphasis on sentimental considerations insisting that the eventual result of reciprocity would lead Canada from Great Britain and to the United States and to calling upon the electors to prevent this.

The people responded to that appeal. Ontario, the largest province of all, in the most whole hearted way, and the other provinces, with the exception of Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan, hardly less so. Even the prairie west did not go unanimously for the government. It has been an axiom in Canadian politics that no party could succeed without a majority in the province of Quebec, but the results of today's voting have desired this theory, for the government though defeated, retained a majority in Quebec.

Returns so far received are as follows:

	Liberal	Con.	Ind.
Ontario	14	69	--
Quebec	37	21	2
Nova Scotia	10	8	--
New Brunswick	8	5	--
P. E. Island	2	2	--
British Columbia	--	7	--
Manitoba	2	8	--
Alberta	5	2	--
Saskatchewan	9	1	--
Totals	87	123	2