Progressives must decide By {LESLIE MORRIS reactions to the propos- als of Tim Buck for labor unity at the polls in the coming elections were very interesting. The national and Ontario CCF have dismissed the proposals out of hand as if they were address- ed solely to the CCF party leadership. Nothing could be far- ther from the truth. Labor electoral unity is too precious a commodity to be the property of any one party, to accept or dis- niss as the rood dictates. The LPP pro- osals were di- vected in the ‘irst place to ‘he conscious ‘eftwingers — in its own ranks, in the unions, in the CCF and un- affiliated. If these many Leslie Morris thousands were to take up the fight for labor unity at the polls—aided as they will be by the decision of the LPP to contest only a very few constituencies where its own strength warrants — then neither the CCF nor the- CCF- partisan union leaders will be able to stop the maximum effort being made to unseat the old parties and elect a CCF govern- ment. — 1948 is the year of decision, not only in Canada but in the world. To be decided is, wheth- er the onslaught of reaction lead- ‘ing to war will be checked by popular action—by a peace front; or whether North American re- action will drive ahead in its attempts to reimpose imperial- -ism on the rest of the world. Consequently, no one can call himself a* progressive unless he possesses a. practical line of ad- - vanee. The only visible line of - advance in Canada is via a CCF government—in the specific con- - ditions of 1948. All other lines lead to splits in the potentially victorious progressive vote, and thence to the victory of the old parties, : What is required is a break- up in the traditional two party The only visible line of advance is through a CCF government under present conditions since all other lines lead to splits in the potentially victorious progressive vo te and victory for reaction. ~ system which Liberals and Tories. are united in seeking to main- tain, and by ‘means of which monopoly capital seeks to main- tain its political monopoly. The cunning device of the two-party system—which possesses the fa- cade of democracy—is regarded with doubt, suspicion and opposi- tion by masses of people—on all sorts of counts, ranging from high prices and profiteering to foreign policy. The job of the left wing is to give point to this varied opposi- tion, and to fuse it into one great effort to gain the govern- ment. There is little. time. There are no “conditions” at- tached to Tim Buck’s proposals. The only test of their efficacy is their workability in the face of both official CCF opposition, and the spate of red-baiting which the proposals seem to have stimulated at this moment —that perhaps being a- good in- dication of their effectiveness. There is no doubt that a great deal of discussion has been aroused by LPP electoral pro- posals. That is to the good, so long as it aims to clarify and not confuse; to bring about elec- torat cooperation and not further division; and so long as it does not take its point of departure from its capitalist or official CCF opponents, but from the crisis of our day, and the needs of the people and of Canada at this time. ‘ In this connection, a few things require to be said. Desirable as a federated labor party is, it is not here, and there is no immediate prospect of having it largely because the CCF officialdom oppose it. The proposals of Tim Buck for electoral unity—this year and next—to elect CCF govern- ments and farmer-labor govern- ments, with LPP retiring from most contests to achieve the maximum unity at the polls— should not be counterposed to a labor party in the abstract. The two things are not the same, and to confuse them would be to pull away from the central ALWAYS MEET AT Excellent Acoustics THE PENDER AUDITORIUM Renovated—Modernized—Hall Large and Small for Every Need DANCING—CONVENTIONS—MEETINGS Triple Mike P.A. System — Wired for Broadcasting 389 West Pender Street HIGH QUALITY LOGGERS AND WORK BOOTS HAND-MADE JOHNSON‘’S BOOTS 63 WestCordovaStreet - - - - - - - - Phone MArine 7612 |For a Good... | Suit or Overcoat : ' come to the OLD ESTABLISHED RELIABLE FIRM: | REGENT TAILORS 324 West Hastings Street _ EVERY GARMENT STRICTLY UNION MADE ¢ issues, what to do about the Canadian and world crisis in the impending elections, and what sort of government labor must fight for. Again, while the LPP’s step was necessary to start this line of advance, alone it is not suf- ficient. This is a policy for labor, for the progressive farm groups, for all who want a turn in Can- adian politics. The policy there- fore has to be taken out of any narrow “party” leading strings and put where it belongs — in every union hall, shop, factory, farm group, and into the un- employed associations which will return to the scene before long. This can best be done by showing that, while the fight against high prices, for better wages, for peace, for increased unemployment benefits, housing, ete., is carried on day by day by the various organizations, of itself is not enough. Political action, labor-farmer political action, must be the cap- stone of this manifold activity. Without such action, which de- mands the maximum of unity at the polls—the struggle of the peo- ple will remain scattered and will not constitute the necessary challenge to the political monop- oly of the capitalist parties. As the Abbott Plan works out in industry after industry to, the _detriment of the workers and King’s policy becomes more and more indistinguishable from Bev- in’s, Marshall’s, and Truman’s, the, drive of the employers and their agents against labor will become fiercer. A new national policy is need- ed for Canada—based on the real national needs of the coun- try and its producers. Stormy weather is ahead, particularly for the people of North America, the last stronghold of imperialism. Just as the Wallace campaign has brought new vigor and hope in the United States, so here in Canada, the line of advance put forward by the LPP can transform the Canadian labor and farm movements and give point and leadership to the great undercurrents of progressive feel- ing which cry out for practical direction. ; The CCF officialdom cannot ignore these undercurrents, and while it will try to split and dam them up, it will have to listen to the unity voice of labor and adopt real labor policies, if the fight for electoral unity around & program of people’s needs is ' taken up in earnest now in every branch of the labor movement. Only in this way will the harmful support for Bevin’s and Marshall's policies on the part of the CCF union leaders be count- eracted by a genuine anti-im- perialist, pro-Canadian program of peace and labor welfare. EAST END TAXI UNION DRIVERS HA. 0334 Fully 24-Hour Insured Service 613 East Hastings, Vancouver By CHUCK STEWART understand the background necessitating a change in the electoral policy of the LPP is to understand the policy itself. Tim Buck has emphasized the following two factors that de- termine a new tactical approach: 1) There is an increasing dan- ger of a third world war caused by the U.S. policy of aggression, economic, political and military, resulting in an interference and the thwarting of the democratic rights of peoples in all coun- tries. 2) As a necessary part of the same policy, the drive towards fascism in the U.S., as well as on the part of such govern- ments as our own which are tying themselves up to Wall Street’s war program, is well on the way. The LPP, having no interests other than advancing the best interests of the Canadian peo- ple, must of necessity help illum- inate the road ahead so that our friends, neighbors and work mates will not be left: on the sidelines as idle spectators in this most important battle that has ever taken place in history. The issues are clear—peace or war, genuine democracy versuz monopoly dictatorship, security versus scarcity, yes, and through democracy to socialism, versus decaying capitalism that inev- itably makes such alternatives a constant factor in our lives. Nearly everyone I have talked to agrees fully with the fore- going. Where some confusion and erroneous ideas are taking place, to my mind, is on the tactical approach to realization of the slogan, “Elect a CCF Govern- ment.” ; Some people, sympathizers, have taken the new policy to mean that we -have finally become convinced that it is wrong to criticize CCF policies and that we will give our unconditional support and blessing to everything that the Coldwells, MactInnises and Winches do and say, from their servile endorsation of the Mar- shall Plan to their aping of big business’s red bogey harangues, ~ Many others, disgusted with the wishy-washy policies of the CFF, find themselves confused by the LPP proposal to work for and elect CCF’ers to parliament in all ridings where there are no LPP or labor unity . candi- dates. The sooner we all recog- nize that such confusions ana misunderstandings do exist and that it is necessary to go out of our way through the use of radio, meetings, forums, the press, to clear the air on these questions the sooner will we be in a position to win many thous- and additional supporters for our crusade. We should all realize that only by the most aggressive activity in developing our independent campaign shall we be able to avoid the submergence of the LPP’s identity. It is necessary to make clear that support for election of a CCF government federally and for a CCF-Lapor government in B.C, offers not only the best chance, ‘but the only chance of stopping the headlong drive to fascism and putting a damper on Canada’s contribution to America’s wear preparation. It is up to us to ensure thax election of a CCF government with our full participation im getting out the votes will re- sult in developing a genuine unity at the precinct level with the voters in our own poll. Thue we can, as a result of our own independent policy, help these aoe of thousands of left- ward-moving workers, farmers, to see to it before and after election day that our elected rep- resentatives are made answer able to the highest tribunal in the land, the voters who elected them. 5. If we understand this cardi- nal point then we are well on way to developing a genuine people’s unity movement that by its very magnitude will encour- age many passive CCF’ers to become much bolder jin speaking out for labor unity, an end to American domination of Cana- dian policies, trade with the So- viet Union—all the vital issues of our day. GREETINGS to Pacific Tribune oy. STOM) DR. W. J. CURRY HAST. 0340 766 E, HASTINGS Hastings Steam Baths Expert Masseurs In Attendance OPEN DAY and NIGHT Vancouver, B.C, mainly CCF | HIGHEST PRICES PAID for DIAMONDS, OLD GOLD Other Valuable Jewellery STAR LOAN CO. Ltd. 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