The General's Election

Tousle-haired Andrew George Latta McNaughton, lifelong professional soldier and onetime commander of the first Canadian Army overseas, had entered politics in earnest. He had learned already that politics is war, too.

Andy McNaughton, named National Defense Minister when Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King needed a national figure to pull him through the great conscription crisis (TIME, Nov. 13), now needed a seat in Parliament. Without it, he could not be a Cabinet member. But last week the prospect that he would win his seat looked neither safe nor sure.

In the strange tactics of political war, King's Liberal Party chose Grey North Riding, on the rocky shore of Lake Huron's Georgian Bay, as the place where newcomer McNaughton could best be elected. Promptly the pesky Tories saw another chance to overturn King's plans by beating his key Cabinet man, nominated a solid local citizen, popular Mayor Garfield Case. Their election issue: McNaughton's avowed opposition to conscription. Last week they were preparing to plaster the whole district with posters saying: "Do We or Don't We [want conscription]? Vote Yes. Vote Case."

The Ottawa Journal, usually a moderate critic, set the Tory line of attack with an editorial that went after Minister McNaughton hammer & tongs. Said the Journal: "General McNaughton's position . . . is highly vulnerable. He entered the Cabinet to do a particular job; he remains . . . to do a diametrically opposed job--declaring the while his disbelief in the thing he is doing [sending conscripts overseas]. Whatever that invites, it doesn't invite confidence. . . ."

McNaughton's troubles multiplied. The socialist CCF piled in, decided to have a try at beating McNaughton too. They will nominate their candidate next week.

Publicly the Liberal Party still trumpeted its confidence. But privately its leaders were concerned; they had a lot to lose. The General's defeat would be a stunning blow to Mr. King's prestige and to King's prospects in the federal election that he must call some time in 1945.

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