Snappish King

Tempers were as brittle as matchsticks in Canada's House of Commons last week:

> On the first day of debate, smooth and usually imperturbable Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King was exasperated and beside himself at Opposition tactics. In an ominous tone he snapped: "If we (the Government) cannot get cooperation we shall have to consider our responsibility. . . ." Ears pricked up all over Canada. This sounded like a threat to dissolve the House, which would mean a general election.

> The Opposition drew blood again when Parliamentary Gadfly Richard Burpee Hanson, a longtime enemy of Mr. King, protested the Prime Minister's proposal to dispense with Wednesday's sittings. Sarcastically he asked: "Why not dispense with Parliament altogether . . . ?" Waspishly Mackenzie King stung back: "We could dispense with my honorable friend."

> The second sitting of the House ended in a scene which had the galleries popeyed with amazement. The Prime Minister, red-faced and angry, stood beside his desk, shook an angry finger at Opposition Leader Gordon Graydon, and shouted: "My honorable friend cannot tell me to sit down. . . ." As Mr. King took a firm step towards the broad, green-carpeted aisle which separates the Government from Opposition, Graydon repeated his demand: "I ask you to sit down." Members pounded their desks, shouted in excitement until the calm voice of Mr. Speaker restored order.

Such shenanigans occurred while Canadians, viewing the legislative crisis in the U.S. (see p. 77), flattered themselves that their system is superior to the U.S. form of government. On Parliament Hill, shrewd observers noted that as tempers grow shorter & shorter an election comes nearer & nearer.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.