The Daily Worker Newspaper, June 21, 1924, Page 7

HE Canadian movement has been and still is dominated by various influences and streams of thought. Some of these influences helped to check the movement for in- dependent political action among the organized workers of Canada; other influences stimulated the interest of the workers in public affairs and led to a greater zeal in extending politi- cal organization of labor. Among the first, we find the A. F. of L. with which the majority of the Canadian organizations are affiliated, and under the influences of which their policies have been largely de- termined. . More recently there is evident the great influence of the British Labor movement from which so many work- ers of Canada have come and with which they keep more or less in touch. Then we have the influence of the Workers Party of Canada and the T. U. E. L., which work for the establish- ment of a United Labor Party of Ca- nada; and lastly we have the world- wide dynamic of the Russian Revolu- tion; the vast experiment in Prole- tarian rule which has captured the imagination of the workers the world over. Until very recently, organized labor in Canada took comparatively little interest in politics. -The policy of the A. F. of L. did not encourage independ- ent political action. Under the in- fluence of the American headquarters the actions and decisions of the United States Court were probably more discussed in Canadian unions than were those of the Canadian pro- vinces. Gradually, however, the workers of Canada began to lose faith in this policy. Resentment against the pre- pondering influence of the American officials began to spread. It manifest- ed itself in a movement. toward a more efficient form of organization than that of craft-unionism as well as in a movement for independent poli- tical action. The workers of Canada began to realize that they have too long given fair trials to the various political parties. Under the stimulus of immigrant English and Scotch workers, the local trades and labor councils began to appoint labor re- presentation committees. These en- dorsed and nominated candidates for municipal and sometimes parliament- ary office. The activities of the local trades and labor council had a tremendous influence upon the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada, the dominant labor organization. In spite of the fact that the connections of the congress wtih the A. F. of L. have been close, it began to show an increasingly marked tendency to break away from the traditions of the A. F. of L. As early as 1900, the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada went on re- cord as in favor of independent politi- cal action on the part of labor. At other annual meetings a group of radical delegates demanded that the Congress should become the head of a Labor Party. The 1906 Congress went on record as in favor of a policy of provincial autonomy in the forma- tion of provincial autonomy in the formation of workingclass political or- ganization. _ This action of the convention was merely a move to satisfy the local organizations in their demand for in- dependent political action. True the Trades Congress had promulgated an- nually a political program ‘which in- cluded a demand for a legal working day of six hours, for a minimum liv- ing wage based om local conditions, for public ownership of all public utilities, etc.; but it confined its activ- ities in furtherance of this program to the attempt to influence legislation by conference with and recommenda- tions to the leaders of legislative bodies. The year 1917 witnessed a de- parture from that policy. Resolutions were adopted in favor of the forma- tion of a Dominion-wide Labor-Party; a party based upon a program and organized along the lines similar to those of the British Labor Party. The Independent Labor Party of Ontarto. Ontario was the first province to take the initiative in inaugurating the Canadian Labor in Politics - new policy. In July, 1917, the labor leaders of that province called a con- vention which resulted in the forma- tion of the Independent Labor Party of Ontario. The aim of the party was to unite all workers of wHatever shade of political opinions and labor affiliations... It adopted by-laws pro- viding that no member of the party might retain membership in any other political organization and that no can- didate of any of the old capitalistic parties should be endorsed by the party. The platform, among many oth- er things, included declarations in fa- vor of public ownership of all sources of wealth, the nationalization of banking and credit systems, the legis- lative action thru the initiative and re- call, etc. It further anounced: “That we stand for the industrial freedom for those who toil and the political liberations of those who fer so long have been denied justice.” The Trades and Labor Congress ap- proves the formation of a labor party. The annual convention of the Trades and Labor Congress was held in Sept. 1917. It formally approved the work of the Independent Labor Party of Ontario and adopted resolutions urg- ing that the Ontario party be expand- of the working classes. Thus in British Columbia a platform was adopted which stated: “The Fed- erated Labor party is organized for the purpose of securing industrial leg- islation and the collective ownership and democratic control of the means of wealth production.” And in Manitoba, a platform was adopted which included as its first plank the statement: “The Labor party stands for the transition of capi- tal-property into working class prop- erty to be socially owned and used.” The Canadian Labor Party. The labor political organizations in the various provinces and in many cases in the different cities have sprung up independently and each drafted its own program. Two efforts toward unification have been made: in 1921, at the meeting of Ls, Trade and Labor Congress in _ \,.nnipeg, there was organized a Canadian Labor party. The general object of the party, as stated by its promoters, is to unify the political powers of the worker and generally to promote their political, economic and social welfare. The platform adopted was very mild in tone. The preamble stated: “We have in view a complete change in our THE BOURGEOIS By Oscar Kanehl. Who stretches on downs. Who, in boxes sprawls. Who in palaces dwells. Who takes care of health. Who sparkles of diamond-curse. Who sits on the money-purse. Who is stuffing the belly. Who always is merry. Who ever is smoothed; who perfumed; who fully dressed; Who with “honor,” “moral,” and “fine taste,” Who with monocle; who with blue eyes, Who with epaulets; who is ever nice. Who bows thrones and altars along X The subject, who obeys and holds his tongue; Who hunted us into war and hate, Who belied us; early and late. Who with bayonets and machine guns, Workers, your revolution overruns. Burgher he is called; bourgeois or burgher, Working people; that is your murderer. He sucks your blood; he eats your bread; He imprisons you; he shoots you dead. With him, no freedom for you sent, Get up, prolet! For the judgment! Trans. Paul Acel. RENO NS naa aaE Risa a RTT ed to cover the Dominion, and that “the workers of Canada should follow British precedent and organize a La- bor Party upon such a basis that trade unionists, socialists, fabians co-opera- tors and farmers can united to pro- mote legislation in the best interests of wealth producers of the Nation.” The recommendation of the conven- tion was approved by all labor organ- izations thruout the length and breath of the Dominion. An intensive cam- paign for the formation of labor politi- cal organizations began in all provinc- es, And a result, there has been established in eight of the nine pro- vinces of Canada some form of labor political party. In Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario are found organizations under the name of Independent Labor Party. In Quebec we find the Labor Party; in Manitoba are found two labor political organizations—the In- dependent Labor Party and the Do- minion Labor Party. Im Saskatche- wan is found the Labor Representa- tion League and the Federated Farm- er Labor Party. In Alberta, you have the Dominion Labor Party; and in British Columbia—the Federated La- bor Party is the recognized labor political organization, The provincial organizations adopted different programs; programs which vary in scope and temper. But in all of them we can read one de- termination: the desire to secure con- trol of the legislative machinery with a view of furtherance of a program of social reconstruction in the interest present economic and social system. In this we recognize our solidarity with the workers the world over.” Another attempt at unification of the political organization is being made by the Workers Party of Can- ada and by the T. U. E. L. They con- demn the secessionist movement in the industrial field and they use all their influence within the unions and the provincial political roganizations to bring about the unification of the isolated groups into one strong Cana- dian Labor party. Progress, Made. The movement towards political ac- tion on the part of Canadian labor, during its brief period of life, has met with some success. At present all the provincial parties have one or more candidates in their respective legis- latures: The I. L. P. of Ontario in 1919 elected 11 nominees; in the same year, two labor candidates were elected to the Quebec legislature. ‘In the Mani- toba elections, held in June, 1920, 11 labor candidates were elected to the legislatue, but in the provincial elec- tions held in that province in July, 1922, only six labor men were elected. The I. L. P. of Nova Scotia elected five candidates to the legislature in July, 1920. In New Brunswick, two labor men were elected in the general prov- incial election held in October, 1920; and three labor representatives were elected to the British Columbia legis- lature in December, 1920. In 1921, in the Saskatchewan general election, one labor representative was success- ful; and in Alberta, 4. In the general election for the By LOUIS ZOOBOCK Dominion Parliament, held in Decem- ber, 1921, two labor men and _ five farmer-labor candidates were elected. In the general election for the Quebec legislature, held on Feb. 5, 1923, there were five labor candidates, only one of whom was elected. In the munici- pal elections in 1923, of 111 candidates nominated by labor 63 were success- ful, etc. This briefly outlines the progress made by the various political organi- zations by Canada. The most impor- tant task at present is to consolidate all these groups; to affiliate them with the Canadian Labor party. In this task the Workers Party of Canada is playing the most important role: it uses its influence wherever possible to help bring about a united Canadian Labor party. In the various provincial organiza- tions the question of affiliation with he Canadian Labor party is now being discussed. Many organizations have already affiliated. An interesting de- velopment had taken place in the I, L. P. of Nova Scotia. At its third annual convention held in Sydney, on July 25-26, 1922, the following resolu- tion was adopted: “We, the I. L. P. of Canada, Nova Scotia branch, de- clare the identity of our aims and y.atform with the principals and policy . of the class conscious workers of the world. We recognize that industry today is a monopoly of the capitalist who will not let it function for what- aver need, except for profit. Hence the workers can secure the means of life only with their permission and only on their terms. The capitalists are masters, the workers slaves. To protect their property privileges the capitalists secure control of the machinery of government and the di- rections of public policy. Efforts of the workers to free themselves on the industrial field are thus inevitably faced by the opposition of the full power of the state. Hence it is neces- sary for the working class to secure political supremacy. Therefore, we call on all workers, whether by hand or brain, to come out from the old political parties, which divide the workers in order to destroy them, and to unite with their. fellow workers under the banner of the I. L. P. of Canada, Nova Scotia branch, to the end that: 1. The capitalist system be abol- ished. 2. That industry be conducted for use instead of for profit. The constitution of the party was amended so as to permit the affilia- tion of branches of the Workers Party and other~revolutionary bodies. A motion was also passed for the affilia- tion of the I. L. P. of Nova Scotia with the Canadian Labor party. Thus, we see that labor in Canada has definitely entered the field of political action. In nearly all the provinces, as shown, the workers are becoming active in municipal affairs. The workers have elected representa- tives to the provincial legislatures; they have sent two labor candidates to the Dominion parliament; in a num- ber of constituencies the farmer can- didates owe their election to the sup- port of organized labor. In a word, a real Labor party is now emerging in Canada. POSTAL WORKERS STOP CANADIAN SERVICE 1N STRIKE FOR MORE PAY (Special to the DAILY WORKER.) TORONTO, Ont. June 20.— Postal service thruout Canada was tied up today, leaders of the postal workers’ organization asserted, fol- lowing issuance of the strike call at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Strike leaders said the tie-up was complete in Toronto, Ottawa, Mon- treal and Quebec City and that ad- vices from the west indicated the workers in principal cities there had quit practically as a unit. Yesterday's conference between leaders of the workers and the gov- ernment was completely unsatis- factory, ‘the committee of the cab- inet refusing to consider a demand for increased wages. SN