May 17, 1951

c.

LUMBER WORKER

There comes a time in the life
of almost every man when the
cold breath of realism blows
down his neck, and his fondest
beliefs take a beating.

No better moment than now to
examine one of our prize illu-
sions—that public opinion is a

reat and powerful thing.

It is very sad to admit, even to
ourselves, that it really doesn’t
pack much punch. pe ee

In dealing with public opinion
it seems that a high but in-
supportable valuation has been
placed on a commodity which is
as hard to grasp as a mess of
boiled, uncut spaghetti, In fact
it would appear that the almost
holy term “public opinion” is en-
crusted with as much guff as
exists in soap advertising.

False Belief

A great deal of misplaced con-
fidence has been invested in the
power of public opinion, and an
enormous amount of effort has|
gone into the job of directing it
into “favorable” channels. There
deep rooted belief that poli-
jans will quail and tremble be-

‘ove public opinion,

It is obviously not good enough
to expect miracles from some-
thing which, at least in our
hands, has shown no capacity for
righting wrongs.

A Myth

Successful politicians are very
astute people. They have long
ago learned that memories need
not be too long. ‘The skilled |
Politico has his machine, and he |
can distribute bits of largesse |
from time to time,

A road job here, a bridge there,
and a promise yonder. It is true
now as always that u bundle of
succulent grass will turn a
horse's head in any desired direc

By Bob Ludwig, 1-217
IS PUBLIC OPINION A MYTH?

getting a true balance. In fact
he will allow a dozen letters
favorable to his position to out-
weigh a few thousand contrary
cries.

Every time the status quo of
the liquor laws is questioned by
an ‘imposing numberof citizens
he can count on a swift flow of
counter-opinions from opposed
elements who will support his
stand und allow him to utter
those famous words, “The people
do not want change.”

Much misguided faith is found-
ed in the petition, One is im-
pressed by the potential power
of so many names. So many
wishes go with those names. But
the politico is unimpressed. He
muses wistfully over the time
when he lost ta own faith in
Santa Claus. It is sad.

* Yet the petition remuins rather
popular, and with some reason
other than that of getting direct
results.. It is not hard to or-
ganize. It gives the petitioner an
opportunity to prove his interest
in the cause, Too, it has all the
appearance of direct action. This
temporarily allays the sting of
helpless inactivity. It releases a
lot of pent-up feeling, too.

No Influence

But government leaders find
the petition even easier to ignore
than the baleful looks of opposi-
tion members. Statistical data on
the percentage of successful pcti- |
tions is not presently available. |
The batting avcrage from this |
effort is very low. |

Also highly regarded as ex-|

| ing.

While the resolution does pre-
sent a handy method of arriving
at a particular stand, and serves
a purpose in helping to direct
organization executives, it falls
flat on its face when it is sent in
to influence governments.

Yet politicians find the myth of

public opinion very useful. Some |

four years ago the late Wm. L.
Mackenzie King in setting up yet
another Royal Commission to
probe profiteering and price
boosting, remarked, “those guilty
of malpractices will yield to the
power of public opinion.” It
seems that price fixers and
profiteers are even more immune
to public opinion than are poli-
ticians.

Be Realistic

Therg are circumstances under
which public opinion does score a
victory. There are rare occasions
when the public manages to re-
tain its ire well into the election
period. The best oiled political
machine can, and does crumble
when an, electorate gets mad
enough to stay mad.

Such a circumstance is not
usually spontaneously produced.
Careful and sustained work is
needed on the part of public
spirited organizations and “good
government leagues”. Above all, |
what is needed to overcome
habitual lethargy is imagination.
Otherwise it is not easy to resist |
the blandishments and bunches of
carrots held by skilled politicos.
Outraged feelings are very fleet-

pressions of public opinion are
resolutions which are passed for |
the attention of various govern- |
ments. Resolutions take up a lot
of time at all lurge conventions.

Meantime, it behooves us to be
very realistic about the power of
public opinion, and especially
about our traditional techniques

and methods of presenting it, |

tion.

Between elections, the career
politico is happily engaged in
ignoring all opinion but that ar-
rived at in party caucus. From}
time to time he is’ exposed to |
various manifestations of public
opinion in their more familiar |
forms. |

Public Voice

Best known of these forms is
the letter. In dealing with this
type of public “voice” he has the |
not too difficult task of balancing. |
the opinion with counter-opinion.
Not that he is very worried about |

| but that power has been largely

No Economic Democracy

The Editor:

The recent rebuffs the labor
unions in the mass have received
from the political centres, should
point the fact, that while there
may be political democracy, eco-
nomic democracy is a cat of an-
other color. It should be clear
that labor has no control over
the economic system us such
whatsoever, True, labor may
attempt to interrupt its working,

deleted. True, labor may’ raise

and the

Vision screening conduct
ment of the B.C, Lumber

examined, 25% required th
drist, ,

Many of the workers
pletely unaw:
presented a hazard on

with poor vision is not

is slo

and action is sluggish.

eyesight normal

up to the stross and strain of hii
‘@ normal capacity for reasonabl

Most defects of vision
found out how your eyes m:
way er working and living.

‘|| 734 Granville st.
a (Ground Floor of

SAFETY

during 1950, disclosed that out of 4,250 employees

of dofects

His perception of conditions in the working ar:
be fast and accurate. It follows then that comprehension of situations

iods. The worker cannot keep his mind on his job
occupation. It is difficult to maintain
1988, courtesy, and co-operation.

be corrected.
ro up to the visual requirements of your

Foresight now may ensure good vision for your tomorrow.

In the Interest of JOB SAFETY and GOOD VISION
‘arrangement with the Edit
from the Issue

iiman Oplical

J. J. Abramson |. F. Hollenberg

Fourth Man!

ted by the Safety Depart-
Manufacturers Association

¢ attention of an optome-

amined were com-
vision, which

th

an officic

cannot

pplied for long
cannot stand

It would

smart if you

cof the B.C. LUMBER WORKER
sd Sth April, 1951.)

Vancouver, B.C.
Vancouver Block)

MArine 0928

|

its prices, for all labor costs are |
included ‘in prices, no matter
when they occurred, and these
prices include previous profits,
and final profit to the extent that |
may be obtainable. The economic |
system being what it is, is mainly |
concerned with devices that will |
assure profits, and increase them. |

Quite obviously, the most ex-
cellent device for obtaining, and

maintaining profits, is to see that | -

those who are political represen-
tatives are agreeable and suit- |
able for the purpose. There is |
nothing to show that this has not |
always been the case in Canada.

Under certain conditions, the
profit makers have no objection |
to raising the wages of labor, for |
as labor is a large consumer, they
simply hand the raises back
again, and the situation is left as
before.

The governments collect more
taxes, and the profit makers raise
the prices to meet the taxes and |
obtain more profit to meet the in- |
come tax. An examination of the

situation show the companies and

corporations are paying larger

dividends to the shareholders, and

paying larger income taxes than.

ever before.

Production under the economic
system is not a matter of supply
to meet demand, it is a matter of |
profits, and no profits being
forthcoming, supply will never
cateh up on demand.

The premises on which the
economic system functions, is
that any business is established
to make money or profits, and if
it delivers goods this is incidental
to the purpose, for it may be
suitable to deliver less goods and
obtain more profits. Many profit
able businesses exist which pro-
duce nothing of a tangible nature. |
Others exist and produce nothing
but rubbish, which could very
well be done without.

Possibly the biggest objections
to the economic system is its
planless behaviour, and its un-
limited capacity for sheer waste.

Yours truly,

Wm. S. White,

A word to the wi: The com-
mon practise of leaving overshoes
on the entry stairs in wintertime

Se

MEMBERS OF LOCAL 1-118, IWA, employees of Butders Sash
and Door Co., involved in the lock-out charge being-pressed by the
Labor Relations Board. (Standing, left), W. Gerrard, L. Bolitho, J.
Gillings, A. Coutts, N. Land, J. Murray and G. Deen. (Front, left),
D. eal and D. Chapman. Not included is W. Bell, who took the
picture.

ALWAYS
THE BEST ON HAND

Watson’s

Leather Gloves

THERE FOR MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS
“ JOHN WATSON LTD. x2

ALL PROFITS BELONG TO
THE POLICY HOLDERS

Jake Friesen
Branch Office - District Agent

475 HOWE STREET
VANCOUVER, B.C.

Est. 1869
3A

Pewelry - Clothing

12 Years Service to I.W.A. Members

© A COMPLETE JEWELRY LINE
Including the World's Finest Watches, Diamonds, Silver-
ware, etc.

© THE LEADING LINE OF CUSTOM-TAILORED CLOTHING
Warren K. Cook,
Aristocrat of Hand-Tailored Suits.

GOLDBLOOM and SON

701 Dominion Bank Building Vancouver, B,C,

is a common hazard. Leave the
stairs clear.

Harvey’s Handmade Boots

FOR 51 YEARS THE QUALITY. BOOTS

Hand-made Throughout

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Prices on Request
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Prompt Attention

"to
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HARVEY BOOT FACTORY LTD.

28 W. Cordova St. Vancouver, B.C,