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Despite the explana- tion of James Fadling, then International president, a roll call vote was engineered to demand his recall. Simultaneously a barrage of complaints from the membership compelled the International Executive Board to institute an investigation into the handling of District funds. This investigation revealed gross irregularities. District funds had been juggled to the advantage of Communist Party projects. More than $100,000 was not supported by vouchers. Large loans had been made to officers and members of their families. Meanwhile, large “white” blocs became active in all the local unions to plan the defeat of Communist influence in the Union. Alert to the dangers of the sit- uation, the International officers found it necessary to issue special publications and undertake radio broad- casts to inform the membership regarding the Union’‘s democratic purposes. Threatened with defeat at the next District convention the pro-communists carefully planned extreme measures to seize outright control of the Cana- dian IWA section. At a District Council meeting, October 3, 1948, packed with pro-communist supporters, a resolution was passed to sever all connections with the IWA and found the Woodworkers’ International Union of Canada. The resolution sanctioned the transfer of all local unions to the WIUC and the seizure of all funds and assets held in the name of the IWA in British Columbia. Radio broad- casts announcing this decision had been previously pre- pared and WIUC buttons were immediately in evidence, indicating a well-prepared plot. The International officers and the Canadian Congress of Labor were prepared for some overt move by the Communists. Provisional District Officers were immed- iately installed. An application was made to the courts to freeze all IWA funds and assets, pending the outcome of judicial action. Only the staunch loyalty of IWA members saved the District organization from complete disaster. They ral- lied to the call of the organizers supplied by the Interna- tional Union and the Canadian Congress of Labor. The weeks that followed were hectic ones in IWA circles. At large membership meetings every local union re- maintained steadfast and rejected the frantic appeals of the WIUC leaders. Disloyal officers of the District and local unions were promptly ousted. Soon general de- rision greeted the appearance of WIUC (“wooie”) but- tons on the job. The most dramatic feature of this distressing situa- tion was the manner in which the Canadian IWA mem- bers helped rebuild their Union from the ground up. They were deprived of all funds, records, properties and other assets, for the WIUC leaders sought to evade the court order to freeze these resources. All the records and office equipment were never recovered. The Loggers Navy was found hidden in a small faraway inlet. Finally, a complicated series of court actions compelled the WIUC to disgorge the bulk of District and local union funds at great cost to the Union. The major action was for the recovery of almost $400,000 in the District strike fund. The provisional officers pledged themselves to:— 1. Call a convention at the earliest possible moment to enable delegates from all B.C. local unions to elect district officers and determine district policy. 2. Assist all B.C. local unions to transact the business of the Union and overcome attempts to split it. 3. Build up the maximum bargaining strength to improve wages and conditions. 4. Install strict accounting of district finances and restore full democratic control by the rank and file mem- bership. They kept their pledge. The upheaval re-vitalized the IWA in British Colum- bia. The housecleaning that followed the October “rev- olution” established sound administration and gave a marked impetus to the fight for better wages and work. ing conditions in the province. More than 30,000 mem- bers were held in loyalty to the International Union. Soon after, the traitors were named at an International convention and barred from union membership. This was a distressing phase of early IWA develop- ment and growth. It has been told only because it ex- plains the present solidly democratic principles of the | Union. (TO BE CONTINUED)