Toward a Democratic Canadian

...Progress, like sesee, ia indivisible and we can And mutual as*tasc*r in cooperation...

...We believe that progressive forces are stirring among large masses of ear Latin-American neighbors...

...AT the outset there were unsvoidable divisions of opinion...

...We are not imperialists...

...In spite of the almost universal unpopularity of wartime governments, it was re-elected again in the autumn of last year...

...Canada, therefore, desires the closest relationship with t i e United States and with the nations ef the British Commonwealth, for we hsve s e«names cultural heritage...

...So we place security ef knur* for the farmer in t h e forefront of our program and intend to legislate to prevent his die- possession and the rise of a tenant-farmer problem duo to the eeemestrstion ef lands in the possession of msi Ijsjasasoli and financial or other corporations...

...Today the name and the initials "C.C.F...

...The C.C.F...

...This is particularly true of ofl, nickel, chemicals and aluminum, but public opinion has forced governments to establish publicly-owned corporations to operate national air and radio services, although sections of the press snd private interests ( seek constantly to undermine them...

...For much of it is already controlled by powerful private monopolistic corporations...

...We distinguish clearly between two kinds of property: that upon which the life and general welfare of the community depends and which ought to be socially owned, and that which ministers to the welfare of the individual and family and does not interfere with the general economic plan, which ought to be individually owned...

...These brought joy to our opponents, but their rejoicing wss shortlived, for, quite soon, s real core of agreement was reached...

...is a federation of organizations whose purpose is the establishment in Canada of a Cooperative Commonwealth in which the principle, regulating production, distribution and exchange, will be the supplying of human needs and not the making of profit...

...We will support every policy which will enable the people of India and the colored races everywhere to attain their rightful places as free and equal men...

...We believe that any attempt to unite groups that differ so fundamentally can only bring disaster to democratic movements...

...Our government rejected every demand for adequate amelioration on the plea that money wss hot available...

...It •J*** tome that if you fail in this, the United States, J***ksnee North America, may become the lonely, *!P»mi, tariff-barricaded and last remaining citadel «** * * t w o r f t economic system...

...National reconstruction and progress in Canada ran only attain its full significance when it becomes S part of a world order in which all peoples will havf tht opportunity for an abundant and creative life...

...When this war ends, all the oppressed peoples will demand the right to choose their own democratic leaders arid to determine their own destinies...

...Thus Canada, free, independent and Belf-caV erning, ia demonstrating her adherence to a wjell-deflned British Commonwealth trend through the rise to nation-wide influence of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation...

...Our western farmers began to demand publicly-controlled marketing organizations and, eventually, organized great producers' cooperatives which have met with considerable success and are now being paralleled by substantial consumers' cooperative societies...

...and we srt preparing plans to meet such s national rhal-lenge...

...Their contortions before and (luring this war have been amazing...

...In 1932, under the chairmanship of the late J. S. Woodsworth, M.P., they met to consider ways and means of extending throughout the country the cooperation they had found possible and useful in Parliament...

...In such a world, education must be widespread and free...

...Our aim, then, is to replace the present capitalist system, with its injustice and inhumanity, by a social order from which exploitation of one group by another will be eliminated and in which economic planning for abundance will supersede unregulated privste enterprise...

...Should a general election for Parliament occur this year, we anticipate a heavy military vote in our favor...

...Much, too, depends upon the extent to which your great country can find the ways and means of participating in the world-wide trend...

...In my country, under the parliamentary system of democratic government, it seems somewhat easier for a new movement to achieve nation-wide influence than in your country...

...are a distinct asset to us...

...As a small nation made a substantial contribution to t he w*|*at of the aggressors, Canada on behalf of •erself and other smaller powers seeks the re•sgaitian that is properly hers and theirs, looking at what our nation has done in war, Canadians are confident they can do as well in peace, J**y|sW that the world moves forward, too...

...Last September the Canadian Congress of Labor recommended its local unions to affiliate with - us...

...From your example " j * tk* political revolution* in France, Great y^^oo* in many otker land...

...We do net believe in change by violence...

...Thus it is that there are fields where private enterssjh ahenh) he- eevn he readily decided...

...The latest statement of Earl Browder is an example of Communist inconsistency and duplicity...

...Because this is so obvious, the common man in greater numbers joins our ranks...

...Many of them have a firm determination that they will not return again to the chaos and suffering of the pie-war years...

...The unity which emerged from a recognition of differences at the outset, resulted in a real dynamic unity instead of a make-believe purely artificial front...

...T*HK world-wide trend is in the direction of socialism in varying degrees of development...

...This ia known as the Begins Manifesto, which was characterized by an outstanding British Commonwealth statesman as the finest modern n o I i t i c a 1 documents in the English language...

...would have been the government in Ontario...

...Gallup polls have shows our growing strength throughout the country...

...Now million* of ***0*V/armtrt, peatantt and plain people teek to **• political democracy we have, by ackicv- jPff* •conomic democracy w* lack...

...Fence ia not only the absence of war...

...He poses democratic Socialism as the alternative to either Fascism or totalitarian Communism, and maintains that it is the trend throughout the British Commonwealth...

...In all these countries before the war there was a trend towards the social ownership and control of the principal economic functions, together with a widespread demsnd for an extension of social security measures...

...Editorials in the daily, weekly and finsscisl press bitterly attacking as sre potent evidence that the vested interests sre thoroughly alarmed at the prospect...

...It should be the privilege of the educated to devise ways Snd means of making possible the preparation of people everywhere to assume the rights and obligations of full democrstic citizenship...

...in Canada would encourage the organiistion of s similar movement in your country...

...Had provision been made for the taking of the soldiers' vote overseas, particularly in Britain, the iccent elections held in Canada would have been more conclusively for the C.C.F...

...The social order which we desire is not one in which individuality will be crushed by regimentation, bnt one in which the proper collective organization of our economy will make possible n greater opportunity for individual initiative, more leisure and a richer life for oar citizens...

...As a consequent*, tke political program of the C.C.F...

...It is perhaps a final phase, in a world-wide revolution, as profound in its consequences as the great upheavals in Europe which marked the breakdown of feudalism and the rise of modern capitalism...

...Thus we say that hanks, investment trusts, nation-wide monopolistic enterprises like oil, packing plants, transportation, should be nationally owned, while others like telephone, hydro-eleetrkv power might be provincial^ owned...

...All these political parties are alike in that they are people's movements accepting, as the basic of their philosophies snd programs, the fundamental principles of democratic socislism...

...My plea, *|!w»lere, to this great audience, leaders of progres? •*mght in this, the most populous snd wealthy ™jr in the world, is to find the ways and means in *** great country to join with and indeed lead the and progressive forces of the world...

...Our hope, loo, is that the association of Russia wilh the western democracies in war will make Russia more democratic politically snd the western democracies more socialistic economically...

...Local labor and farmers' political associations came into existence here and there and had temporary successes, but the crash of 1929 found the nation in every way unprepared to meet it...

...ANADA is a country rich in resources, many of which have been scarcely touched...

...While our nearest English-speaking neighbor, the United Slates, seems as yet little influenced by a similar trend...

...In a recent by-election at Red Deer, Alberta, the three military polls all gave majorities to our candidates...

...father warsw m* do not intend to socialise merely ftr the iSiVr ef seesaiwtnp bat w order (e secure «/Scaasm east the $ renter satu/aettea «/ social nerds...

...Labor, too, has found that, unorganized, it was at the mercy of powerful corporations and capitalist enterprises...

...This means, of course, that in' the community of nations we will lend our aid to the elimination of exploitation everywhere...

...It is s possibility...

...We are today the official opposition in three of our Provincial Legislatures, including that of our largest province, Ontario...

...have bien in vain...

...would like tu eel oar eoeatry Join the Fan-American Union as eat regional organization of nations making for the larger world unity...

...In our military camps overseas, as in the British Army, discussion of current political and economic matters is widespread...

...If not s probsbility...

...membership hi which wosld be open to all nations willing to access- its obligations and submit to its authority...

...The document expressed in the clearest terms our aim and purpose...

...Oalv big business is clamoring for a return to what they are pleased to miscall Tree enterprise...

...1 s|*HI8 war more than the last has made Canada conscious of her place and obligations as a member of the community of nations...

...Today the Communists, who sought to destroy us because we are democratic and opposed to a totalitarian dictatorship, have formed a new party which they call "Labor-Progressive Party" and have sought to affiliate with us...

...believes hi sasintaining close cooperation with the peoples of tht British Commonwealth...

...Their purpose is to divide the people and serve the economic interests that control them...

...We want to cooperate with progressive peope everywhere in raising the standards of life throughout the world...

...We shall not be satisfied, however, with eraknisation which might be dominated by **r*» or-four grest powers...

...If private Una tin dee* not exploit the nubile or is not likely u become a dangerous rested interest or is being etVdently operated under proper working conditions aai will pl*y i*S part in assisting the national eeoaassif pisns thews is no reason why its ownership ^ eperatsen aneold not continue in private hands...

...But she also desires to assist ia the formulation.of plans for a new world association of nations, the C.C.F...

...But, consistently, we have unanimously and decisively rejected every form of cooperation with them...

...No one who fails to understand this truth can appreciate the significance of the world-shaking events in which we are engulfed...

...Does the Canadian Commonwealth Federation typify the real "Wave of the Future...

...We behest that political democracy mast be —nwpsnrnt by economic democracy if freedom • US* real Thas we want to see technicians, ksbsr mat aa in adequately represented on all onr aasmstriel seaaaing boards with all the acoaeipBsjiaej rights to srganlse eollectiv.ely and to taUblisb indnstrisl self-government through haVsr-managsmeat eommitteee...

...For this is no ordinsry war fought to maintain empires or to extend commercial domination...

...to power with substantial majorities and without interruption at three successive general elections...

...1 believe, however, that the success of the C.C.F...

...In this industrial province, labor was convinced by bitter experience and by the activities of the C.C.F...

...Farmer-Labor" was rejected because it seemed to exclude the small but influential group of middle-class intellectusl* and business men who were destined to give such valuable aid to the new party...

...Many of our men have made up their minds as to what they are fighting for as well as what they are fighting against...

...The name was...

...Meantime, in Parliament, a small but very able greup of western fsrmers had been cooperating with a smaller labor group...

...hence we believe thst our agriculture t l l (bt to h o continued on the basis of the personal ownership of the family farm...

...No world and a* notmit can be secure to long at any part of it it dtsiod the right fo live in dignity and freedom...

...Significant, too, » the fact that had the civilians voted in Ontario last August in the same proportion as the soldiers who were permitted to vote in Canada, the C.C.F...

...Others agsm ought to be municipal enterprises, while many industries and distributive services should be cooperatively owned...

...Last year, many local labor unions decided to affiliate with us...

...We shall be wise if we recognise that now and plan accordingly...

...For, unl*** y*»w»dwcAis«se both, tk* fight for the Four Fre*^ * ears...

...e/-tt you had tk* ayntpathy and warm *upY * *f •omMta across the tea...

...If such a synthesis can be realized, orderly, democratic and rapid social and economic advances can be made universally...

...The name "Labor Party" seemed too exclusive on account of the dominant role played by the working farmers...

...During the winter of 1932-1933 the Provisional Council, assisted by leading members of a university group known as the League for Social Reconstruction, drafted a Party Manifesto based on the P r o v i s i ona 1 Prograia adopted a year earlier...

...among all the armed forces...

...Australia's Labor Government, too, was reelected last August with an overwhelming majority, and but for the unavoidable coalition in Great Britain, the Labor Party would have greatly improved its position and perhaps have carried the country...

...In the main, we speak the same language and derive our social and political Institutions from the same sources, although there are some striking differences between us...

...adopted because it accurately portrayed the aims of the movement1...

...There ha been colossal waste in the exploitation of our forests, our natural gas and some other resources...

...It declared thst the C.C.F...

...While we all support the huge expenditures for wsr snd destruction, we aver thst a properly planned economic structure would enable as to provide opportunities for peacetime production and the distribution of goods and services...

...Word reaching me from overseas reports great pains in strength for the C.C.F...

...It is fitting, therefore, that progressive people should forge the political instruments necessary to give effect to new ideas, new policies and new programs, to meet the needs of a new social and economic age...

...The C.C.F...

...woe formulated t>ot by doctrinaire theoi y but out of the need* of the Canadian people...

...Before the war thousands •f these young men rode the rods while thousands of Canadians were em relief...

...has become the major political issue in our country...

...That was demonstrated, too, in Great Britain during the early years of the present century in the rise of the Labor Party, and several times since in the success of similar parties in Australia and New Zealand, and more recently in Canada in the Canadian Commonwealth Federation movement...

...We desire, then, to assist ss sailsnag a world-wide association ef nations so that we may achieve international juatice and a permanent system of collective security...

...parliamentary group that direct political action **« essential...

...Is* example, ssslike Britain, land is not a monopoly ia oar country, nor hsve we developed large scale torporstion farming such ss you hsve in some psrts ef the Union...

...We knew that planning prediction for a national purpose, war, has enabled as te treble ear national income at' a time when hundreds of thousands of ear ablest young men and wesson are in the arsnrd forces and out of sctssl srsasmlt porductWn...

...The result was a native democratic people's program and a political movement contrnlled and financed by the people...

...IN Canada both the old parties, Conservative and * Liberal, are merely instruments of the capitalist interests, which finance their campaigns and control their policies...

...In just over ten years the C.C.F...

...The Canadian Commonwealth Federation does not intend to allow any corporation, native or foreign, to rob our nation...

...that tee General Ejection due within fifteen months at the most, will put ns in power in Csnsds...

...Unfortunately, inadequate funds prevented our taking full advantage of this favorable situation and our opponents sre amply financed by the corporations, some of which are subsidiaries of parent companies in the U.S.A...

...We believe firmly that thia can be evolved through appropriate political action through the election of a government inspired by these ides Is snd supported by a majority of the people...

...Parties, like individuals, sre known by the company they keep...

...Thus it was that in August, 1932, representatives of a number of labor and farmer political groups met to consider united action, and the Canadian Commonwealth Federation was born...

...We were denounced by a powerful capitalist press as Communists in disguise, while the Communist Paity loudly denounced us in terms of Which they are paymasters...

...17TE you led the progressive force* of mankind...

...The experiences of World War I, giving a demonstration of what might be done through even, rough planning for a national purpose, caused a substantial growth in the number of Canadians who looked towards various Socialist solutions as means to the achievement of social progress...

...The Canadian Commonwealth Federation has not only exposed this fact, but in some provinces and urban centers has forced them to unite against us...

...Between us there is more than one fundamental difference...

...leader outlines it§ philosophy, organizational form, program, and prospects of becoming the post-war government of our northern neighbor...

...That hal been demonstrated many limes in countries where Communist parties have succeeded in lioring from within...

...To endure, it must be based on universal security and be rooted in economic, political and cultural equality...

...In the latter respect New Zealand has made the most striking advances, its Labor Government having been elected and re-elect...

...The C.C.F., however, does not believe, that everything should be owned and operated by the state...

...Only national planning, however, can safeguard and develop our great heritage...

...Only a free and economically secure world can be a peaceful world...