Prescott-Russell en Numérique

Russell Leader, 29 Jul 1937, page 4

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THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1937 Ottawa Spotlight The : By Wilfrid Eggleston Ottawa, July 27th.--The glacial sway in 'which governments move causes great irritation to business readers and boosters for dictatorship You can't blame the leaders alto- gether. In a democratic country such as ICanada likes to think itself, it is useless to make drastic re- form very far ahead of public opi- nion. Actually, public opinion is usually ahead of governments, and has to push leaders in order to get action. It is Mr. Mackenzie's view that such is the proper order of events in a democratic state. Once the people want anything badly and solidly enough, no matter what it is they can get it. It's discouragingly slow, but it is the only available al- ternative to dictatorship. Take the business of bringing the Canadian constitution up to date. It is an imperial statute, passed in 1867, when Canada was an agricul tural colony with a population of about 3% million, before the radio. 'the airship, the automobile, the truck and hundreds of other similar mventions, before tre opening of the prairies, the - exploitation of the north, the arising of mining as a great industry in Canada. (Every- body who gives the matter any seri- ous thought agrees that no matter how magnificent that statute was in 1867, it.is inadequate to deal witli the present day 'Canada. Ten years ago you couldn't have secured a majority of opinion favor- ing amendment, perhaps. But by 1935 a parliamentary committee representing all parties could sit and 'take for granted the meed of changes. The provinces were can- vassed,, and while they did mot see the propriety of appearing before a federal committee to give testimony their replies assumed that changes were necessary. Not Much Nearer Now it is 1987. We do not seem to be much mearer an amendment. One attempt, in the session of 1936, was killed in the Senate. A few months ago several of the provinces were so seized of the need for a re- writing of the constitution that they pleaded for a royal commis- sion. i Four months or so ago, a royal 'commission was agreed upon by the Dominion Government. At the end of April. several weeks later, mat- ters had progressed so far as the completion of a reference. Then be- gan the laborious business of choosing the personnel. Some ministers were stoutly opposed to selection of overseas experts. They wanted an all-Canadian board. Emi- nent authorities were approached and were found unavailable. The prime minister had the matter nigh up on the agenda 'when he returned to Canada, put ten days passed without an announcement. Nor does the appointment of a royal commission inean that the Britisr North America Act will be revised this year, or perhaps next. After all, this iz a federal royal commission. The provinces may treat it the way they did the federal parliamentary committee. Or they may treat it as a tribunal at which to plead for better terms. It may de- generate into a "Gimme, 'Gimme" circus. It is an academic and tech- nical body, and when all is said and done, the major obstacles to revi- sion of the constitution are political if the constitution is ever amended "it will be at a gathering of states- - men--that is, politicians in their higher moments. When the royal commission has sat, all across the country, has gathered evidence, has received representations and peti- tions, and then, at length. has ren- dered its report, the beginning will enly have been accomplished. A Representative Gathering After that, it will be necessary to have a constitutional convention, or 'a gathering of Dominion and pro- vincial 'authorities under some other equally high-sounding name. A Na- tional Congress, if you will. There will have to be much give and take, and the abandonment of sectional and petty politics before such a hody can make any progress at all. 'Meantime, provincial parties will rise and fall as elections are held. 3% is quite possible that an issue will rise on which the federal go- vernment will not lwish to pass with- out consulting the people. A gener- al election may be fought out on the -matter. i Anyone, therefore, 'who thinks of the amendment of the constitution 'as something for 1937 or 1938 is evi- dently not reckoning with political realities. Meanwhile there are stresses and inequities, known to exist for years, growing, in many cases, more tolerable every = year. "The provinces, by the present ar- 'rangement, have social and other ob- ligations quite out of keeping with NO HIGHER {J A QUIET, WELL CONDUCTED, CONVENIENT, MODERN 100 ROOM HOTEL---85 WITH BATH WRITE FOR FOLDER TAKE A DE LUXE TAXI FROM DEPOT OR WHARF----250 LEX 3 b> 5 3 , 3 3 * 20.0%06% 624% 6%04% 620.6% 4% 620.6% +%06%.6%.4%¢%06704%¢%0 670.4% 6%06%.4%+%06%+% 6%04%4%+%04 5.4% Woreealeieeiesfesiedadoieieiloefeedsedsadsaioadaloaieaeiloifooipedsadnaloaioofeileeloedpedeleels Did you ever stand without a break for four steady hours, in a crowd in which you were packed like a sardine, unable to move, even for the simple operation of extracting a handkerchief from your pocket. If vou had gone to the trooping of the Colours at Horse Guards Parade to- day you would have had that ex- perience. The two of us got up at six o'clock out here in Beckenham, got a 7.30 train to Victoria, which turned out to be a 7.20 train to Holborn, and we had to take a bus up Knignts- bridge. We walked into the square called Horse Guards Parade about a quarter after eight and looked about for a good view point. Although nothing was due to happen until eleven or thereabouts the place 'was already full, and we were just in time for a place in the front rank.. Almost immediately, people packed; around us by the hundreds. and we found ourselves wedged tight hours before anything was due to happen. To try to sit down was merely ask- ing to be stepped on, so we stood watching the barracks clock slow- ticking the long hours away, About nine o'clock the Bobbies spaced off along the route to keep the mob in order and remained there until the end of the ceremony. To- day was a wonderful illustration of the policeman handling a London mob. There is absolutely nothing to it. The cop is everybody's friend and cracks jokes with the crowd, while the crowd chaff back. A cock- ney lady beside me passed out se- veral pieces of chocolate to the Bob- by who was in front of us, to help him along his long duty. Very soon after the police came on: duty a number of little tots, any- where from two years old to twelve were handed forward and put in charge of the Bobbies where they could get a deeent view. The little things had implicit faith in the po- lice who were as kind to them as they could possibly be. Ever so often the crowd would surge forward a little too eagerly, and the Bobbies would turn around and very gently persuade the crowd back on to the curb. In fact, some people could see better when they were on the curb, but would gradu- ally get pushed off by pressure from behind. 'Whereupon they would call upon 263 D and ask him to urge the crowd back a bit so they could get up on the curb again. At ten o'clock St. John's Arbu- lance brigade marched into the square and took up position along the route with the policemen. There was a tremendous lot of work for them to do too. Today was one of those boiling hot days (at least it was in that crowd) =-ith, a thiniv véiled sum -Viting "down on exposed heads. Many of the people had been there since six and seven o'clock and any numbr of them had had no breakfast. In addition there was the terrific fatigue of standing SO long without moving, other than by jostling of the crowd, which swayed continually this way and 904% 4%0.0%04%.6%5.6%.4% 6%0.6%.4%5.¢%0.6%.4% 6% 675.4% 4% 6%075 406704767047 426675574704 %04754%+%04% 6% 4% 6%.4204% 625.4% + 0400s S00 "040s 0 42040040 CaaS aa ia Xa Ka Xa a Ka Xara) Sresradeeiratedoaiealsafosiaociaalsadradsadraondaaoalraeadradeciraoedsalocisolocdralsnioaloiolrirnin Peter Wyman at Trooping of the Colors *»' oe Joe} CRE SAAS La P0.0%06%.4%56%.6%.4%56%04%5.4%06%54% 4% 6%. 4% +0" joogeesragredredradeaoslosieededsaleatearairoie x3 3 little Princesses. y The van of the Life Guards enter- ed, then the main body followed im- mediately by the King, riding alone ( and very well too, he sat his horse like a mountie.) We could trace his progress down the [Mall by the cheers which swelled up as he pas- sed- He entered the square, march- ed up and down past the troops in- specting them, and incidently giving us a good view of him, although his big busby obscured his features. Fol- lowing him - were representatives from a great many different coun- tries. We could spot Japanese, Ita- lians, 'Hungarians, Indians (as usual no uniform could compare with theirs in splendour.) Germany had a man there--her ambassador t England, in his state uniform, which consisted of a tin field helmet, field grey tunic and light boots--in short the uniform ja soldier would normal- ly wear in the field. (Hitler's idea, no-doubt of being a [Sparton.) It looked a little bit uncouth to say the least. The man himself when seen up close, had quite pleasing features and he was wearing a little ironical smile which he turned on the crowd who stood stonily silent him. It is peculiar European relations. people themselves, the English are very keen on the Germans, admire them, and like them thoroughly; the French peop.€l they regard in general as a lot of "mid-Europeans," flightly and un- certain; terrible liars and cheats, who have mo sense of responsibility in government, and for the most part, just excess humanity. Yet in diplomatic relations every- thing is topsy-turvy. The Germans are disliked and feared. Hitler's pc- licy is detested, and we are closely allied with the French. The Italians are in their' right proportion, -- disliked and despised as individuals, disliked and feared as a nation, However. We were to witness some of the real marching that does anyone's heart good. The Coid- stream brigade formed up in front of the King and marched past, with their colours and accompanied by their band, while the King took the salute. Then the whole company formed into platoons for the march past. Every man moved with absolute precision, and it was rather good he tway they turned a corner. Ob- viously it takes longer for the out- side man to get around than the state of Regarding the as individuals, staring «v7 the dush grass, others. So at a given point the 3 vot man marks time raising h knees as high as he can, on the nex pace the second man i is knees and you get knees _ - ir ) e © like a big snake lifting itself up. | There were about two revolutions done, with ja slow march, then two or three at quick march, it was very effective their changing from slow to fast time--it was done almost before you realized it. After the Trooping of the Colours proper, the King and this cohorts left the square followed by ringing cheers, and the square was emptied of guards by another entcance. Then did we try to get out. It took us about twenty minutes to work our 'way out of the Square. then we burrowed up the Mall, hop- ing to be able to circle Buckingham Palace and get out to Hyde Pack where it would be comparatively clear. But there was a police cor- don keeping the square in front of the palace free. We got into a bottle neck and mo amount of urg- ing and persuasion would get us through. Finally we turned back, only to run into another police bar- rier, which had formed behind us. Well we were due to meet our hosts in Kensington Gardens in half an hour, and it was imperative for us to get out. After chivying the po- lice unsuccessfully for a while, we moved down the line a bit, jumped through a gap, and ran down the Mall, like a couple of scared rabbits, for about a hundred yards then div- ed into a side exit, which led us into Hyde Park. No one pulled us in though we expected it at any minute Ere, wre d'ye think ye're off to?" We managed to get across Hyde; Park corner, after a long wait, but it is a tricky business getting through that awful crush of traffic. Two [hundred yards isolated us com- pletely from that roar of twenty thousand motor cars. There is the wonder of London, A couple of minutes walk from the busiest inter- section of the whole of the great metropolis, takes you right into the country. People are swimming and boating on the Serpintine, which lies in the middle of Hyde Park. They are eating picnic lunches on and fountains are splashing their glittering moisture on luxuriant flower beds and aie- gant shrubberies. We had lunch in Kensington Gar- dens, 'which adjoins Hyde Park, then went back into the icrush and heat of the throbbing city. I separated myself from the others to do some business in the other end of the town. 'Buses are the cheapest mode o ftransport here, and I used them exclusively today. To get from Ken- sington 'High Street to Trafaigar Square. a short tupenny fare, took me 'well over half an hour. I could have 'walked it in less. The volume of the traffic was stupendous (to use [Hollywood's favourite.) The traffic was held up for miles along Piccadilly, behind a traffic light or a coup. The light would change; about a quarter of the line managed to get across, then the ban fell again. My bus would ease forward ®.ty feet at a time, then stop fo. two minutes, until it got in the for- ward section, when it would make a dash across the intersection. And J to paind i jor are at 1t. ashe normal order of things. At home in a traffic like that people would be foaming. Out here the drivers ease forward their thirty foot allotment then stop and gaze about them pas- sing the time of day with a neigh- bouring car until the light changed again. Today was practically my first experience in a London bus, and I knew absolutely nothing about di- rections or bus numbers. I wanted to go from Trafalgar Square to a little place out in the East End near Aldgate. I had not the fain- test idea how to proceed. I asked a Bobby. Said he: "Aldgate?" Yes, go up to that corner and take num- ber 15 bus along to New Oxford and it will land you right there. Now, Trafalgar Square (or "Sq." as it is affectionately written on the signboards) is clear across the city from Aldgate. Yet the Bobby knew it as 'well as his own backyard. I was lucky today. I got all the way from Victoria to Aldgate without paying anything. You probably know that visitors always climb to the top of the bus (which by the way are now closed in) and the con- ductor comes up and shouts "Fare please" and you hand him tuppence. This trip the conductor shunned me. He passed once and 1 held out a penny. He passed again and I held out two pennies, the better to tempt him with. He passed a third time and I shouted "Hey!" but to no ef- fect. So I rode for nothing. Having been on the go from six o'clock (a.m.) there wasn't anyone more tired than me when [I got on the train for Beckenham. There wag half a mile walk (up hilly from the station to my house, and I just hung down my head, and hung out my tongue, and counted the stones all the way up from the bottom. It is a terrific tiredness that comes over you in the city. Not the kind that makes you want to sit down and say "Whew!" but the kind that causes you to desire a nice cool graveyard 'where suffering is no more. It takes a lot of living in the city before you get used to the effect that the smokv air has on you. Some of the inhabitants ne- ver get used to it but just live and die under a cloud of everlasting tiredness. TOO LATE THE FLOWERS THAT CAME E.S..P. Last week I attended the funeral Of a woman old and grey. Her death was release from sorrow, For rough had been her way. Eighty years she had lived in that cottage, Her husband had died years before Her children had grown up land left her, And seemed to think writing i a bore. But now there is great show of mourning As crowds press close to her bier. Her children all came and are weeping, Too late, they all gathered near. Her casket cost hundreds of dollars Flowers and wreaths by the score Were heaped all 'around on her casket, And still the people brought more. If people had only been kinder, Before her sad spirit fled, And offered her friendship and favors, Instead they gave to the dead. Remember each kind deed or action, i May help some poor, lonely heart. Give freely while they are still living, Don't wait until they depart. WADED THROUGH BLOOD TO BECOME A KING The robber chief, Bacha Saquo, reveals how he overthrew Afghanis- tan's King and established himself and his barbarous brigands in the Royal Palace. The opening instal- ment of these extraordinary confes- sions will be found in The American Weekly, the great weekly magazine with the August 1 issue of The De- troit ISunday Times. When storing magazines scatter some moth balls generously amnoug them, and it will be a sure protec- tion against mice and moths. Pour a few drops of blueing into the water that is used to wash the windows. It will give an extra sparkle to the glass. Why Endure Ill Health? Cut loose from old fashioned traditions of illness and enjoy sparkling personality and an abun- dance of pep, energy and radiant health, Thousands have become well and strong at P.C.H. simply by learn. ing and using natural health laws. No drugs, medicines nor opera- tions. Trained specialists teach the magic secrets as developed by Bernarr Macfadden after fifty years of research and experimentation. Play while getting well and see daily improvement. Entertainments, dancing, sports, moderate exer- cise, singing classes, walking par- ties, games, congenial companions, delightful atmosphere of friend- liness and good fellowship. Ideal for vacation. All hotel comforts and service. Book of Views and moderate rate schedule on request. Confidential --no obligation. The PHYSICAL CULTURE HOTEL, Ine. DANSVILLE, NEW YORK Mention this paper and get valuable Health Booklet--FREE. ® LJ] @ that. And it was hot in there. Looking back over the crowds I could see heat waves shimmering in the sun. Starting shortly after ten there was a steady stream of casuaities--- people fainting from hunger and exhaustion by the score. The am- bulance corps was kept on the hop all the time. Sometimes people could walk out under their own steam looking deathly pale, but more often they had to be carried out bodily by the ambulance men. The numbers were surprising. I would estimate a hundred passing during the morning, and we were only one small part of the square. Tewards the last the ambulance men were running back and forth in a steady stream, no sooner depositing one, than they would run back to help another unfortunate out. One of the guards could not stand it, poor devil. Right in the middle of the parade ground he collapsed, and had to be dragged off. He passed right in front of us, and looked pret- ty sorry for himself. It must be a terrific strain to stand out there, absolutely motionless without even a quiver of the eyes, for hours in a steaming sun. We almost saw a se- con casualty in the ranks. One fel- low in the rear rank suddenly lean- ed over and loosened a companion's collar. 'We could see the afflicted one swaying a little and oeccasion- ally moving his head to ease the strain, while his comrade kept kick- ing him in the leg to keep him awake. Some wonderful marching was seen in that square today. At about 10.15 the Guards marched in, some lining the route at four pace inter- vals, in front of the policemen and the rest, detachments from all the English Guards drew up in line in the square. The Coldstream Guards had the honours today as it was their colours that were being pre- sentees. Besides these were detach- ments from Horse Guards, Grena- riers, Scots, Welsh and others T may have forgotten. They formed double line right across the square, until about a quarter to eleven, the Queen's coach appeared, whereupon the whole centre section of the line swung back like a gate, to let the carriage through, then closed again. We got a splendid view of Queen 'Bess (as Londoners now affectionately call her), Queen Mary, regal and solen- did as always and of course the two their revenue sources. Canada is be- coming a very backward country in some respects, because 'of constitu- tional obstacles. Yet what prospect is there of speedy change? construction, Safety glass equalled comfort. 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