Experiment in Democracy

Two Canadian provinces were ready for an important venture in democracy this week. Saskatchewan and Alberta had added new seats to their Legislatures, to be filled by the armed services. No other province or U.S. state had ever tried this kind of direct soldier representation.

Saskatchewan's plan, modeled after one the province tested in the last war, provided for election, some time before Oct. 30, of a member of the Legislature from each of the three main military areas: 1) Newfoundland and all of Canada except Saskatchewan; 2) Britain and western Europe; 3) the Mediterranean theater. Officials were already overseas to handle ballots. When nominations closed Sept. 28, there were 50 candidates. Eligible for election: anyone who had enlisted in the province and been in service at least six months.

Alberta's plan, fundamentally the same, provided for election of three special members not by area but by branch of service--one to represent the Army, one Navy, one R.C.A.F. Required of voters and candidates: a year's residence in Alberta. Election date: sometime in January.

Both provinces, holding that anyone old enough to fight is old enough to vote, lowered age requirements for the special soldier balloting.

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