Reconstruction in Canada
Low, Bela
Reconstruction in Canada A Program for Social Control Economic Resources of Northern Neighbor Surveyed, With the View of Planning a Socialized Economy. By Bela Low -Social Planning for...
...The early Utopian Socialists specialized in drawing detailed plans of their Meal state...
...He still believes that another war would not be so bad after all...
...disarm at once and give Hitler-tile free hand he openly demands against Soviet Russia, Hitler would be less likely to make war on Soviet Russia ? Is Thomas really serious when he suggests that if the British Labor Party would accept the policy of non-resistance and make it the policy of the British...
...The necessity of a Labor Code, wage regulations, employment provisions, social insurance, public health and medical services «g| rally gone into...
...Mankind pays dear for last opportunities—and then gets ready to repeat its mistakes...
...Thomas' wisdom collective action will not mean less military preparation on the part of each nation.- May we ask whether refraining froir coUective action will mean less military preparation...
...Distance lends enchantment to the view...
...The Two Objectives of Socialist Policy AD of which is very clear and simple...
...Today, however, as far as our economic status is concerned, we are'over-ripe for Socialism...
...With his usual propensity for confusion and inability to reason »S»e*Uy, our peat statesman confuses two different things: armavS^JTttS^Mtan .*ction- Axm»menta will continue until the na™t thTL^ * *re*ter "P*6 °f purity...
...The book goes into quite an elaborate discussion of the price system, of monetary policy and investment control in the Planned State...
...Those who deride the efforts for collective security are the allies of the armament makers and enemies of peace .The pseudo-revolutionary phrases and holier-than-thou attitude of Norman Thomas do not conceal the reactionary substance of this master of confusion...
...It is preliminary to fortification of the remilitarized zone and establishment of air bases as part of preparation for an attack on the peaceful states east and west...
...Did the feverish rearmament of Germany begin before or after she left the League of Nations ? Will France, Great Britain or Russia, left to themselves, engage in less or more military preparation in the light of what is happening in Germany...
...Are we to assume that if the International Socialist and Labor Movement adopts the same attitude of derision with respect to the League of Nations maintained by Trotsky, Thomas and Borah we would be more likely to avert war ? Or should we rather seek to utilize every available instrument of collective action to preserve peace and warn Hitler, clearly and definitely, that any aggression on the part of his regime will Be considered an act of war against the entire world...
...dies' Garment Workers' Union, the Amalgamated Lithographers, tht United Textile Workers, the International Jewelry Workers, and th* United Wall Paper-Crafts...
...The value of annual production declined to less than half of that of the normal year 1926...
...Thomas does not say so directly—he never says anything directly, if he can help it— but the implication is there...
...Fight On For Framed Victims In Sacramento DROAD sections of the a union movement are lining up behind the National Sacraments Appeal Committee in its effort to win a minimum term for the eight Sacramento "criminal syndicalism" prisoners...
...The attitude towards Canadian labor also resembles that of our capitalists...
...In the opinion of International Socialism, however, such sanctions would be justified only by an act of open aggression...
...Contrary to the impression that planning involves a policy of self-suffciency, it is pointed out that the more we plan our own economy, the more we shall see how wasteful it is to try to make expensively at home what we can buy cheaply elsewhere...
...Thomas is opposed to the program and policy of the International Socialist and Labor Movement...
...Thomas concludes: "It looks as if Europe would not go to war over Hitler's treaty breaking (Mr...
...His expertness in this domain, as in others, does not inspire confidence...
...But that» another story...
...The latter, five, including the Prime Minister, are- to be charged, not with detailed administration, but only with broad questions of national policy...
...The Germans who contributed to it mostly, now have more urgent matters to think about...
...Bnt any schooled Socialist and any student of the world situation knows that this is quite impossible, that nothing has contributed more to the confusion of he world than the isolationist policies imposed upon the United States by the Lodges, the Borahs and the Johnsons...
...A comprehensive Housing program is developed...
...He prefers to add to "lost opportunities" and to repeat mistakes...
...The American to whom we want to appeal has a practical mind...
...Mr...
...For purposes of general demagogy Thomas is following in their footsteps...
...There is no inconsistency in their position such as Norman Thomas, paragon of consistency, professes to perceive...
...Louis Wnpjj man, State Chairman of the 8eetafc ist Party...
...Modern Socialism rightly considered it of greater importance to understand the trends and tendencies of capitalism and to organize the working class, and refrained from constructing blueprints of the future...
...But these are minor blemishes...
...This policy was again affirmed on March 19 at the international oonferenee of representatives of the leading Socialist parties and the LF.T.U...
...Furthermore, the important industrial undertakings* are to a large degree owned by foreign, mostly United States corporations...
...At the outset, it emphasizes that the writers desire to see these changes accomplished by democratic and peaceful means...
...We are not aware that either the* League of Nations or the Buenos Aires Conference ever "made war" on fascism or that "fascism at home" ever emerged from any act - of the League of Nations...
...now could we, it was argued, say what we would do under different and unforeseen conditions, and how could we commit future-generations to any patterns we may design?, Yet every Socialist undoubtedly thought about the form of the new social order he was struggling for, and some gave expression to this in writing: for instance Bebel in his book "Woman Under Socialism" and Kautsky in his pamphlet "The Day After the Social Revolution...
...Those who seek to promote collective organization are the only true friends of disarmament...
...The failure of representsth» government in free democrat countries to adapt itself to its mb&> era economic tasks has been the impelling force which has led te its replacement by systems baasi on force...
...In Mr...
...adian economy from the Socialist point of view...
...A. J. Kennedy, piwiMsat of the Lithographers...
...More Examples of Thomas Reasoning Here are some other examples of his reasoning, taken from the same effusion quoted above...
...Which is as profound a statement as "two and two make four...
...The two extremes meet in Norman Thomas, who at this date, in the face of the world's tragic experience, has the temerity to write that "those radicals who have gone in for American participation in - League oJ Nations sanctions and yet denounce militarism and big appropriations at home are Utopians and inconsistent Utopians at that...
...Both, however, confined themselves largely to a discussion of general policies, and Kautsky almost apologetically remarks that it will be "a good mental exercise'' to investigate the problems which will arise from our conquest of power...
...He finds it a convenient policy, for it is sure to evoke the applause of the impotent "revolutionists" in his group, while pleasing the bourgeois isolationists of the Borah school...
...In view of this, Socialists might do well to study and state what measures they would take when in government, if for no other reason for its agitational value...
...The plan is visualized as flexible, with Federal or local, state or cooperative ccntrol, and with private enterprises for some time existing side by side with public ones...
...But the plan should not be an artificial system .created in a vacuum by a very small group of bureaucrats and imposed by them from above on ah un-cooperative public...
...Six international unions are supporting the drive initiated by <¦* Sacramento Appeal . "Committee They are the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, the International Ls...
...Among individual signers of the petition are Sidney Hillman, Joseph Schlossberg and August BelIanca, officers of the Clothing Workers, and David Dubinsky, Luigi An ton in i and Julius Hoes* man, offices of the Ladies' Garment Workers' Union...
...The precise rate of socialization must be decided by and adjusted to prevailing conditions...
...10 mining companies produce three-quarters of the gold, 5 produce over 90% of the copper, and 2 over 90% of the lead and zinc...
...Toronto...
...A Sou nd Movement The reviewer also questions tat soundness of the foreign policy as] the attitude toward the League ef Nations, which can be epitomises in such sentences as "we should therefore make it clear to London and to Geneva that we intend ta fertilize no more crops of poppas blooming in Flanders field...
...Why the criticism, then...
...Thomas Backs Policy of Trotskyites The Trotskyists prefer this policy...
...Thomas prefers the easier line of cheap, negative criticism...
...A Canadian Survey The book f under review serves such a purpose for Canadians...
...It would then be the duty of governments and peoples to organize peace without Hitlerite Germany, and to take all the measures of collective security necessary for maintenance of peace...
...oline and other necessities, under public control...
...Necessary polities...
...It is, above all, symptomatic of the soundness of the Socialist movement of Canada, which could produce men to undertake such a task so well Would it be too much to wish that we could emulate the exaank set by our comrades across the northern boundary...
...This is what he calls being "militant...
...But two fallacies are inherent in this blind faith, that scientific and technical progress can be equated with social and cultural progress, and that since technical advance provides improved material conditions of life, therefore the standard of material well being can be measured in terms of technical advance...
...Thomas wants the democratic nations to repeat the mistake of Sir Edward Grey on a collective scale...
...Poor Thomas, the Trotskyists who have been ordered by their master to join the Socialist Party, where they are being made more than welcome by Thomas and his friends, are now dictating his '"policy...
...But how, may we ask, does Thomas propose to avert war...
...Even after the Constituent Assembly at Weimar, because of its non-Socialist majority, had relegated plans of socialization again to the future, a veritable flood of literature appeared to discuss methods of socialization...
...Sanctions and collective effort for the maintenance of peace, he says, "are more likely to lead to war than peace.1' Mr...
...changes are first set forth...
...adds that he probably had to do so...
...If the League of Nations can prevent a new hollocaust it must be denounced as being only an instrument of imperialist policy, "a league of nations unwilling to trust each other" and which knows "nothing but military force and yet more force," a league of "shifting alliances," to use Thomas' characterizations...
...Compensation to the -amount of the full value would be given the former owners in proportion to their security holdings in the form of government-guaranteed bonds...
...Collective security based upon collective organization of peace, will make possible successful struggle against those who seek armaments for the sake of armaments...
...One gathers that the League is to blame for the recent fascist disturbances and assassinations in that country...
...He writes: "The Buenos Aires Conference idea makes progress in this hemisphere, but its author, President Roosevelt, has recognized, as probably he had to, the first avowedly fascist government—by no means the first dictatorship—in South America that of CoL Franco in Paraguay...
...As regards the allocation of raw materials and reduction of armaments, we agree that they should have been pursued long before Hitler came into power, although we do not share Thomas' conclusion that they would have been the "best sanctions" against Hitler, i. e. the implication that they would necessarily have prevented Hitlerism...
...Another example of Thomas' reasoning is his reference to Japan...
...It is a compilation from various contributors, and although not an official document of the CjCF., the Socialist organization of Canada, it is in line with its policy...
...A demonstration of thin fact is given once more by Thomas in his column last week in the An ti-Socialist "CalL" Writing in his peculiar aa-cathedra style, Thomas disapproves of the policy of the Labor and Socialist International and the International Federation of Trade Unions with regard to the collective organization of peace, the use of sanctions against an aggressor and readiness to employ collective action against war makers...
...Thomas does read the newspapers)—unless some 'incident' occurs...
...But it does not have the approval of our architect of an "all-inclusive party" and foremost mind in the international Socialist movement.-* Mr...
...This attitude changed with the advent of the German revolution, when Social Democrats came temporarily into power...
...Foreign trade is also discussed...
...These fallacies are exploded in several chapters...
...This also implies more than in the past, a study of American economy from the Socialist point of view...
...What strikes this reviewer as t peculiar inconsistency are occasional very sympathetic reference* to Bolshevik Russia, such as: "jfce U.S.S.R...
...Why the insinuation against the Buenos Aires Conference, an effort at collective organization in this hemisphere...
...This in itself will not eradicate the extreme inequalities of wealth, and must therefore be followed up by steeply graduated direct taxation...
...Lacking both understanding and a sense of responsibility, Thomas seeks to make his readers believe that the United States can escape becoming embroiled in war by a policy of isolation from Europe and the League of Nations...
...Howover, Tfaosnas is used to such acrobatics...
...This policy has the approval of the overwhelming majority of the world's organized workers and lovers of peace...
...The Canadian Parmer In farming, Canada's most important industry, the crisis played havoc with the farmer...
...Under such a condition Hitler Germany could make war *t wffl...
...socialism does not mean the complete transformation of the industrial order overnight...
...Concentration of capital in a few hands is illustrated in many examples...
...Thomas does not explain why...
...Any suggestion that present farms would be expropriated is denied...
...But what we like is Thomas' concluding sentence— "mankind pays dear for lost opportunities—and then gets ready to repeat its mistakes...
...even conclusive proof that capitalism is the source of our social evils may not convince him of the necessity of Socialism, unless we can show him how "it will work...
...On this point Roosevelt and Bennett are as clear as Mussolini...
...As it is to be undertaken step by step, the problem which industries will be taken over first can be answered by reference to four questions: is it a key industry, is it operating under conditions of monopoly, is it seriously inefficient, and does it control important natural resources...
...Furthermore, our "classical" Socialist literature dealt, and rightly so, with the analysis of the forces in existing society which make it ripe for Socialism...
...Samuel Beardsley, Secretary of the Jewelry Workers, and James Starr, flat* rntsrp of the Textile J The Workers Abroad a, International Socialist and Labor Conference in London Demands Collective Action Against War Danger—Some {['Comments on the Trotsky-Borah Policy Advocated by Thomas By John Powers Pf the domain of foreign affairs and the question of international Cooperation for the maintenance of world peace, the as cessionists led by Norman Thomas, contributor to the Tammany Hall "Day," remain a curious combination of "left-wing" Communism and primitive, parochial American isolationism...
...Is there anything undemocratic in this ? The anther* say that those who claim so cosfuse the general principle of democracy with the particular tatchinery developed in the 19th century...
...He takes his stand with his feet close to Trotsky and his arms a»m*4 nfeaafer Borah...
...Besides, a National Planning Commission, with its auxiliaries, is provided, which will be responsible to Parliament through the Prime Minister and the Cabinet...
...How does he propose to make the League a better instrument for peace, assuming that his extravagant criticisms are valid, which they are not...
...Proposed Planning So what should be done...
...There is no absolutely logical connection between the two ideas, for Hitlerism had its causes mainly outside the domain of Germany's foreign relations...
...The American Problem That this type of literature subsided is only too natural...
...Thomas' views as to the effectiveness of League sanctions against Germany need not disturb us...
...Let Hitler Germany break loose, let the nations of Europe become embroiled once more in mass murder and out of the blood and mire of the catastrophe will come the long delayed world revolution in which he, the great Trotsky, will be the field marshal of the revolutionary armies...
...The State-Capitalist planning has the aim of preservation of profit and as far as possible private ownership of industry...
...This agreement should be general and open to all, in conformity with the principles of the League of Nations, and consequently must not include any discrimination against Soviet Russia, such as Hitler's proposals impb-" Pointing out that the risks of war in defense of collective security are far less than those of an alternative policy (the policy of phrasemaking and do-nothingness advocated by Norman Thomas in his superior wisdom and statesmanship), the manifesto declared: "U Germany refuses to negotiate a convention for collective security by means of mutual aid and disarmament, it will indicate her persistent intention of disturbing European order and peace...
...Forms of Socialization The technique of the transfer would be through a Court of Appraisal...
...The Planning Commission acts merely as the thinking and coordinating center...
...Adolph Held, Pres...
...P"*"- At »—"* ™»«t, largely w*»ee oi the very definite danger emanating from Hitler Germany, the nations are seeking both armament increases and collective organization...
...The similarity with our own conditions is very striking, with a corresponding social philosophy of faith in progress and in unlimited possibilities...
...No Socialist advocate of collective security and collective action for the maintenance of peace is unaware of the weaknesses and inadequacies characterizing the efforts of the League and of governments in the direction of collective security...
...Thomas apparently does not know that those Socialists who seek collective security through collective action demand also "allocation of raw materials and a reduction in armaments.'' Without collective action this objective can never be attained, But Mr...
...It is pointed out that the complete socialization of all industries at once is, of course, impossible...
...528 pp...
...Only in proportion as collective organisation becomes a powerful reality will it be possible to achieve practical results in dis: armament...
...By Bela Low -Social Planning for Canada.** by The Base arch Committee of the League for Serial Baconstructioo...
...apparently our Canadian comrade*, bleseed with an absence of coat munism in their country, had littn chance to learn at first hand -oast Bolshevism is and to famihsrin themselves with what is going on .-in Russia, the* absolute antit&eaU of all they stand for...
...But how about a program and policy ? "Appeals" are nothing without sound, concrete action...
...The second part of the book discusses in great-detail the measure which Socialists would take...
...Their exiled prophet is still chasing- the phantom of world revolution...
...A widening disparity arose between the prices received by the farmer for bis product, and the price which he has to pay for the things he is compelled to buy...
...To give his discourse a touch of profundity, Mr...
...farms that have been foreclosed or such whose mortgages are in arrears being run by loan companies, An interesting ehapter deals with public ownership in Canada, on which we often look with envy, and concludes that what it has given is for the benefit of private business...
...Thomas prefers to make common cause with Trotsky and Borah against the opinion and policy of the International Socialist and Labor movement...
...A development of chain farms is taking place...
...Now the question was at hand as to what practical steps should be taken to transform capitalist into Socialist society...
...seems to succeed in bntlding a new society in which the whole produce of labor belongs to the workers" and "Russia has ltd the way in economic planning...
...They present no din...
...Views of Russia At the end the book raises i much debated question: the pro...
...HTHE form of organization of a Socialist society has occupied Socialists for a long...
...By deriding the League of Nations, the only international instrument for collective action available, however inadequate,' by helping to undermine the urge and movement for collective security, he helps lend encouragement to the enemies of international cooperation and gives aid and comfort to Hitler, who would like nothing more than to see the nations of Europe divided and indifferent to hiS war plans...
...On the American continent, we seem so far from our goal, with the immediate paramount problem of first building a strong Socialist movement, that a study of what measures we should take when we come to political power appears more than premature...
...what did not keep step with the economic development is the acceptance of Socialism by the masses, which we erroneously assumed would proceed at the same pace...
...At this point Thomas descends to the type of demagogy in which relies entirely upon the ignorance of his readers...
...It isn't likely that short of war the League of Nations can and will agree on effective economic sanctions against Germany or that if it did it could effectively impose them...
...Are we to assume that if England, France, Czechoslovakia and other countries decide to...
...In this connection, it makes a thorough criticism of the social credit plan of Major C. H. Douglas, of whom the Canadian Aberhard and our own Father Coughlin are crude disciples...
...the former two think it can be done without destroying democracy, the latter does not: fascism is just capitalism gone nudist...
...A decline of owned farms, and an increase of partly owned farm acreage of over 110% and tenant farm acreage of 50% is recorded in 10 years...
...The first part of the book is a critical survey of Canadian economy...
...Innumerable practical questions as to what we would do will logically arise in his mind, to which he will want more than a statement of general principles which leaves all practical details to the future...
...Iks importance of gaining the political support of professionals aad technicians, besides that of werhsta and farmers, is emphasized...
...Having denounced the League of Nations in the best Trotsky-Borah style and declared that in pretending to go to war against fascism it only brings "fascism at home," Thomas cites Paraguay as an example...
...The agencies of public control may be State Holding Trusts, Producers' Cooperatives and other nonprofit making corporations...
...posals for economic reconstruction will strengthen the powers of tot Executive at the expense of the Legislature, and will cause the jr...
...The more recent DeMann plan tries to serve a similar purpose, although it is primarily intended for propaganda...
...Mr...
...tension.of the practice of government by experts...
...in London, convoked in connection with the international crisis provoked by Hitler's violation of the Locarno treaty in the military reoeenpation of the Rhineland and his Reichstag speech demanding a free hand for Germany in her desire to dismember Soviet Russia...
...An investigation of 180,700 wage earning households in Montreal shows that almost half have an income of less than $850 per year...
...i "The purpose of this later-1 violation is clear," said the manifesto adopted at the conference...
...Security in impossible withboeau^^f U^Tr^Vi...
...Timber cutting rights and mining licenses will be issued only in ac-, ' cordance wkh the plan...
...It does not shirk from tackling the details of stay problem it considers . It is the result of a diligent study, yet at the same time interestingly written and interspersed with a good sad of humor...
...From this point of view, banking and investment, transportation, power and fuel are fully discussed...
...The decision taken at the London conference by representatives of 36,000,000 organized workers denounced Germany's reoccupation of the Rhineland as a "wanton act" and a "grave menace to peace...
...It has often been said, and not without justification, that had Sir Edward Grey, hvthe fatal^ days preceding the outbreak of the World War, taken a definite position and warned Germany that she could not expect England to remain neutral, the war might well have been averted...
...The wastefnhtsj, of marketing methods is pointed out and a Commission of »aj3B Trade provided for milk, coaLgssS...
...Thomas Nelson * Sons Ltd...
...He finds no need of explanations for any pontifical nonsense- be prefers to utter...
...There are ethers, ami familiar with the subject, who believe that in the light of Hitler Germany's extremely difficult internal economic situation, sanctions would mean a death blow to the Hitler regime...
...While thus against the present trend toward autarchy, the writers are realistic and adjust their foreign trade policy to the fact that economic nationalism exists in most countries...
...The book is, what it sets out to fee, a comprehensive treatise of Gas...
...for purposes of party demagogy he makes common cause with Trotsky...
...The international SocialistLabor conference in London, consisting of responsible men dealing with realities, did not confine itself to pious phrases and general criticisms, but laid down a definite policy of action having two ends in view: the maintenance of peace, if at all possible, snd the mobilization of the nations and peoples against any military aggression by Hitler fascism...
...Rose Sehns** derman, Women's Trade Union League...
...Only a Socialist appeal presents real hope," says Thomas...
...Thomas prefers to confine himself to "appeals...
...The State Board of Prisnt Terms will meet soon to fix 6» finite terms for Norman Mi* and his seven fellow prisoner*, who are under indrterminatr sentences of 1 to 14 years...
...Writing in the paper that passes as the official qrgan of his secessionist group, the Chief Secessionist secedes from the policy of International Socialism...
...That is why the International Socialist and Labor Movement is demanding stronger and more adequate action...
...time...
...The importance of preparedness in details of policy was realized and books on the subject were written by Karl Kautsky, Otto Bauer, Fritz Naphtali, Karl Renner, Otto Leichter and others...
...the development of a remarkable administrative machinery made passible the formulation and amstingly successful execution of the first Five Year Plan...
...M Amalgamated Bank...
...If representative government is to preserve the essentia!* it must probably be prepared to relinquish the unessentiak...
...Suck a policy of neutrality at any price and of aloofness from the pre*lems of Europe, will change win growing responsibilities, and daappear when a real crisis arises...
...And yet a consideration of this problem may be advisable...
...for instance, an influential paper objects to a legal minimum wage of $7 per week for boys, as socialistic and a threat to Quebec's fine reputation for economic sanity...
...A Socialization Commission was appointed to study the problem...
...All most rally to the support of any state attacked by an aggressor, and an agreement must be made to this end...
...the plan itself must grow from local units of economic organizations and spring from the needs of farms and factories, mining and lumber camps, banks, railroads, factories, the workers in them, housewives, etc...
...The principles of the Locarno Pact should be strengthened and extended and be applied through the League of Nations as widely as possible...
...The best sanctions would have been an allocation of raw materials and a reduction of armaments before Hitler came to power...
...Government, that the militarist-fascist bandits of Germany would be less likely to attack France...
...Why, indeed, may we ask, will a policy of do-nothingness as against a policy of collective organization be more likely to lead to war...
...The Cabinet is to be divided into department and senior Ministers...
...He chides Roosevelt for recognizing the Franco government but...
Vol. 19 • March 1936 • No. 13
