NDP convention report

@ Continued from page 5

Yale and Towne Corporation based in the U.S. Al Campbell, president of UAW Local 27 and a supporter of the Waffle group in the NDP moved that the agenda be amended to adjourn at noon Thursday so that the convention could then proceed to Parliament Hill to demon- Strate against unemployment and the Trudeau govern-

_ ment. The convention supported

Campbell’s motion.

As reported by the resolutions committee, 467 resolutions were received by the March 22 dead- line and about 100 more after that. date.

What happened to them at the hands of the NDP right- wing establishment was reveal- ed by Mrs. Carol Gudmundson of Saskatchewan, one of two contestants for the NDP presi- dency,* who charged in her speech that “resolutions from the riding associations of our party have been deliberately distorted by the present leader- ship.”

Her presidential candidate speech was made Thursday afternoon. The following day she received 565 votes as against the 885 that elected the former Ontario NDP leader, Donald MacDonald as president. The 39% ofthe votes cast in that contest for Mrs. Gudmund- son presaged the 37% vote that went the next and final day of the convention to Jim Laxer, Waffle candidate for NDP lead- ership, on the fourth and final ballot of the election won by David Lewis.

Mrs. Gudmundson was elect- ed as one of seven’ vice-presi- dents chosen by the convention. Her election, and those of Cy Gonick and Melville Watkins among the 20 members of the Council, were the only posts won by those on the Waffle slate.

The only major policy resolu- tion adopted unanimously by the convention delegates was entitled “War Measures Act.” Commending the Council of the Federal NDP and the. party’s caucus in the House of Com- mons for their stand against the War Measures Act last October, the resolution condemns use of the Act “and any exception legislation restricting the basic freedom of the citizens.” (See full text of the resolution in this issue.)

Three delegates only spoke in the brief debate on the compo- site resolution on Plant Shut- downs. All three protested it spoke only of what the NDP would do about plant closures if and when elected as the gov- ernment of Canada. “What is to happen today to the thou- sands of workers already vic- tims of shutdowns and the thousands more sure to be hit by them?” one delegate asked. Another declared, “We have proposed no action whatsoever until we win a federal elec- tion.” In spite of the protests, the resolution passed with lit- tle opposition.

Brevity of debate, and action delayed until the NDP is the government, -characterized the composite resolution ‘Labor Rights and Industrial Democra- cy.” Advancing positive posi- tions around the need for “a strong trade union movement exercising the rights of free col- lective bargaining,” the resolu- tion set forth terms of a Labor

Bill of Rights <thatua’New De-s PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PRIDAY, “APRH 30; 1971-PAGE 6

mocratic government “will pro- claim.”

One hour on the second tg last day was assigned by the convention committee for con- sideration of a number of ma- jor resolutions under the head- ing of Canadian Independence. Of these, only the resolution on Natural Resources was discuss- ed at any length. It was one of three resolutions around which the Waffle group and other forces of the NDP left battled the party’s right-wing leader- ship. They contested the basic premise of the resolution that public ownership is only one of the “available and appropriate means” to increase public in- vestment. Instead, the anti-NDP establishment forces argued for outright “nationalization of Canadian resource industries.” Following sharp. challenges of rulings by the chair, the compo- site resolution carried.

Already highly charged by this debate, the convention pro- ceeded immediately to a climac- tic confrontation around the resolution entitled, “Towards a New Canada,” dealing with the constitutional crisis. Drafted by the NDP leadership, the resolu- tion does not recognize the ex- istence of two nations in Cana- da. The Quebec NDP, supported by the Waffle and other NDP left forces, argued for “a recog- nition to Quebeckers of their absolute right to self-determina-

tion,” and called for a “new al- ©

liance between the two peoples which make the Canada of to- day.”

In a standing vote on the mo- tion, made by Quebec NDP president Raymond Laliberté to refer back the original resolu- tion and to substitute for it the resolution submitted by the Quebec NDP, delegates voted 853 against and 423 for referral. The vote to support the origi- nal resolution then swiftly car- ried. Immediately following the conclusion’ of the convention, the new NDP leader, David Lewis admitted in a press con- ference that this resolution in fact_provides no policy for his party on the constitutional crisis. °

On the fourth and final morn-

_ ing, after a prologed debate on

the “Women in Canada” reso- lution, bitterly but fruitlessly contested by many women dele- gates as “nothing better than the Liberal party proposes,” the convention moved to considera- tion of the resolution on South- east Asia. After its introduc- tion by retiring NDP leader T. C. Douglas and former asso- ciate president Robert Cliche, the delegates stood in silence for one minute. They then adopted the resolution.

It speaks of “the indefensible position of the United States in the war in Southeast Asia,” and declares that the voice of the Canadian peoplé “has not been

registered in objection to the war, because the Canadian gov- ernment has sought to avoid

‘responsibility by being silent.”

A delegate from Vancouver- Quadra, Mrs. Hilda Thomas who attempted to strengthen the resolution was cut off by chairman Eamon Park. Inter- viewed at the microphone, sil- enced by the chair’s Mrs. Thomas said she had want- ed the convention to condemn the U.S. aggression against the peoples of Indochina and to de- nounce Nixon’s Vietnamization policy. She felt deeply that the resolution should have called for an immediate embargo of all Canadian arms to the USS., and for immediate and uncon- ditional withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Indochina.

Although the resolution failed to do these things, Mr. Douglas did so later..At the luncheon break, several hundred dele- gates gathered on the steps of the Civic Centre to express their solidarity with Ottawa peace demonstrators who were to march from there to Parlia- ment Hill. Addressing them on behalf of the convention, Mr. Douglas declared, “There is only one way to settle the war in Southeast Asia and that is for the U.S. to get out and to get out now! No Vietnamiza- tion, no gradual withdrawals— but just get out and let the peo- ples of Vietnam, of Laos and Cambodia settle their own affairs.”

This was Tommy Douglas’ last speech as NDP leader.

Amchitka test

“TheU.S. decision to proceed this coming October with huge H.-Bomb tests at Amchitka Island in the Gulf of Alaska bordering on British Columbia, despite widespread protests from Canada, Japan and other count- ries, is a colossal piece of ar-

.rogance endangering Canadian

life and property,” declares a statement adopted at the Cent- ral Committee meeting of the Communist Party.

“Pacific coast cities and com- munities have good reason to remember the tragic Alberni tidal wave caused by a minor earthquake a few years ago. The projected tests are to be con- ducted in one of the world’s most dangerous earthquake zones where faults in the earth’s crust are a constant source of concern.”

Operation “Cannikan”, as the test is to be known, is to be of five megaton strength — the equivalent of five million tons of TNT, and five times the force of the previous 1969 test con- ducted in the same area.

The Communist Party urges the Canadian government to strengthen its demands that the Amchitka tests be stopped.

ry

Photo shows the thick pall of sulphur dioxide and other poisonous gases which pour out of Standard Oil’s refinery in Richmond, Calif. Similar pollution will cover the U.S.-B.G. border area if the much larger refineries. now being built and planned at Cherry Point, near Blaine.

ruling, ©

NDP farm

delegate

question resolution

OTTAWA —. Entitled “R-1, Agriculture”, a composite reso- lution covering 15 other resolu- tions was introduced on _ the morning of the first day of the NDP convention held here April 21-24. With its introduction, the resolution committee announced that a second resolution, “Agri- culture and Forestry” submitted by the Quebec NDP, would come up later in the four-day proceed- ings.

“R-]” had a rough passage. On its first appearance it was passed after very brief consider- ation. This was in spite of the efforts of a number of delegates who wanted it referred back and a resolution on agriculture from the Saskatchewan NDY substi- tuted for it.

There were strong objections to chairman Eamon Park’s han- dling of the defeated referral motion and of his efforts to stampede the vote on “R-1” it- self’ A woman farm delegate challenged the chair, and only a close vote sustained it.

At that point, and just as the Quebec “Agriculture and Forest- ry” resolution was to be intro- duced, an elderly farmer from The Pas movingly protested that he had come a long way to the convention and refused not to

have the opportunity to te delegates of the terrible P’ farmers. His protest rest a motion to reconsider agricultural debate. @ requiring a two-third ™ It carried, with the decis! agriculture must come ¥ at the next plenary sessi This was Thursday ™ Delegates who spoke let emphasis on the fight the family farm. Differ? opinion appeared ang farm delegates. A Nn delegate said, “Gene is good, and if I were” berta I’d tend to supp? eg as I’m from the east, 1¥ say the resolution ma d ference to the food indu A beef farmer suppor A Saskatchewan fi flected the general [26 the farm delegates. te ff farm problem “goes right the country”, he sav’ nion that “there are this convention rite se quickly of thlp |” eal Sctolation! which a and not precise enovg™ The convention V tion of R-1 and they, debate, carried the ee resolution on Agricl

- Forestry.

Tell Nixon end war M1?

@ Continued from page 5 proportions. Thousands came from New York City but thous- ands more came from the Mid- west. It was in the ranks of labor that vast numbers of black and brown peace fighters were to be seen.

The contingent of union gov- ernment workers stretched for two blocks 30 abreast. Hospital workers, mostly black women, in their blue paper caps marched more than a thousand strong singing, ‘Amen, Amen, Amen.” The National Council of Distri- butive Workers (District 65) added hundreds more. A throng of Chicano workers marched under a banner which declared, “UFWOC-AFL-CIO,” — the ini- tials are those of the farmwork- ers’ union.

Thousands of welfare recipi- ents marched under a huge ban- ner that read, “6,500 or fight.”

Other contingents were identi- fied by geographical area. A green velvet banner proclaimed “Brattleboro, Vermont,’ and close behind it came another “Bloomington, Indiana.”

One avenue-wide banner said, “U.S. Navy Seabees For Peace.”

Rally organizers put the size of the crowd at 500,000.

The demonstration was easily twice the size of the November 1969 march of 300,000. When added to the demonstrators who flooded San Francisco the same day, estimated as high as 500,- 000 it is clear as many as a mil- lion protested against President Nixon’s war.

Hundreds of Communist Party members and youths of the Young Workers Liberation Lea- gue surged past chanting, “Nix- on in, Angela out.”

Their vermillion banner read “Communist Party of Illinois” and “Communist Party of New York State.’ But a banner which read ‘Tennessee Com- munist Party” created a sensa- tion among spectators and fel-

-, low marchers. <Right-on to the _

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CP of Tennessee,” ont remarked. “I didn’t ei was one,” his compan

A YWLL sign $2! Brass and Nixon TO?) other said “Que Me co libre,” (Free Puch

The crowd listené ‘aa ers at the rally 9); blooming azaleas 4 trees. Peter, Paul am in( “It’s blowin’ in ne j wind arose from i and sent boiling ¢l2 over the people. gathered over the

Rep. Bella Abzus \_ to laughter and ¢ ee Es ( like everybody is hé He’ cept Richard NixOD “4 treat at Camp Dav! “ric! treat from the A®

ple.” vies She lashed Pres for prolonging vg | 90,000 New York Cll face layoffs, th welfare crisis, 2 health costs soar. 5 v Harold GibboP>» oni dent of the Interna sa therhood of Teamst e | must now turn tO © for a final solution nam war, not the Black congressine yers (D.-Mich.) 59 demonstration ! end the war. “Un late this into P® this will be anol an empty Capitol. must go!” He cre roared its approv” | jf Mrs. Coretta cused President “strengthening

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the war. She demi ; troops be withdra g, 19 china by August 74 versary of het 4 gm band’s “I have 4

“Let us declar? tar is over. Let us Cag war on poverty: © ; pression is in for ole