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Article: The conscription crisis, part III a Canadian tragedy ...(World War I)
- Article from:
- Esprit de Corps
- Article date:
- July 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 S.R. Taylor Publishing. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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On May 25, 1917, Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden met with the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Wifrid Laurier --still one of the most popular politicians in the country--and offered him the Prime Minister's job in a coalition government if he would support conscription. But Laurier would not be tempted. He was concerned that conscription would not only destroy the unity of the country, but would also raise very few men.
"How many men will conscription bring in?" he asked. "Just a few slackers, exactly the same as in England. The number of men who can be spared from agriculture and industry is infinitesimally small. Conscription will take in a few students and ...