SS ee Th PEOPLE | Phone MAr. 6929 SS a R= [* a recent national network broadcast made under the new CBC policy allowing free radio time to leaders of political parties, M. . J. Coldwell, CCF national leader, outlined some of his party’s ideas for postwar reconstruc- tion, at the same time warning his listeners of the “serious danger’ of postwar depression should Canada return to what he termed ‘‘un- planned private enterprise to which powerful forces in this country wish to return us.” What did he propose—a national housing program for the elimination of slums: develop- ment of water power to relieve areas threatened by drought and provide for general electrifi- cation; reforestation and soil conservation: im- provement of highways; provision of progres- sive educational facilities: preventive health service; establishment of intelligent trading re- lations arranged on the basis of an expanding ~* economy “and the greatest good to the greatest number” —all proposals with which “‘the great- est number” of the Canadian people can agree and all capable of being carried out within the . confines of the present system. There is no doubt that in Canada the power- ful forces of which Coldwell speaks do exist. Their plans for'the future of Canada, should they ever be allowed to gain power, are but thinly concealed behind the “‘progressive’’ pro- gram of the Progressive Conservative Party: and the demagogy of the Bloc Populaire and the Union Nationale in the province of Quebec. What is deceptive and dangerous in thé pro- posals advanced by Coldwell lies not in the proposals themselves but in the manner of their presentation and the narrow exclusive policies by which the CCR plans to realize them and by which it will just as surely prevent their realiz- ation. : If this is the “‘socialism” of which the CCF speaks with such evangelical fervor and makes the pretext for its arrogant refusal to have any- thing to do with other sections of the labor movement who believe in calling a reform a reform, then the self-seeking partisan anti-unity stand of the CCF stands exposed for what it is—a bid for governmental power regardless Published every Saturday by the People’s Publishing Com- pany, Room 104, Shelley Building, 119 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia and printed at East End - Printers, 2303 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British * Columbia. Subscription Rates: One year $2, six months $1. SS ES Editor Coldwell’s Proposals of the danger to the people's interests its stand cteates. 25 : For the powerful forces to which Coldwell refers welcome the way in which the CCE con- fuses and divides the working people by mis- tepresenting as “‘socialist’’ reforms which the majority of the people want and could be uni- ‘ted to win. Using the reverse edge of the poli- tical weapon the CCF itself uses to divide the people, the reactionary forces seek to. widen. ‘the division. When the leaders of the CCF make their gloomy. speeches about the inevit- ability of unemployment and point to “social- ism, as the only way. out, their defeatist clamor, defeatist because it ‘obstructs the unity of the people for immediate social advance; provides reaction with the means of bringing that defeat about. Goldwell and his political lieutenants may think that it is good partisan politics to cry about upheavals and unemployment in hopes of attracting votes. But the Bloc Populaire and the Union Nationale are indulging in the same game. The fact is that such propaganda and re- fusal to cooperate with other sections of the progressive movement tends to drive all sections of the capitalists into one camp, a reactionary camp, which would soon bring the unemploy- ment and upheaval Coldwell predicts. ~The greatest good for the greatest number’ on the basis of an expanding economy will not be achieved should such a coalition take politi- cal power. And Coldwell and MacInnis, who continually sneer at the Teheran agreement which symbolizes the spirit of cooperation for reconstruction of the postwar world, aid only the “powerful forces” opposing Teheran by their policies. Placed against the background of the actions of the CCF, Coldwell’s proposals are a lie and a deception because the one defeats the other. The working people, by uniting themselves in action around the progressive forces whose policies are designed to realize the proposals, must make sure of victory. the past. ‘rejecting the Halifax-Smuts pro- Perspect ITH victory in the war now in sight as a x armies from east, west and south, Canadians with the kind of Canada we will have in the © citizens in all walks of life are determined there and relief lines of the hungry thirties. They - return from this war shall be properly cared for, fathers were following the last war. > Achievement of these aims re- the oor cues ; : loy- tated countries of quires first of all, full employ Asia toca paca ment and advanced social legis- Oper lation. As soon as peace is at- ait as Hus hoy 3 pendent;on the coc tained the government and the tinity, of EheiCanae people of Canada will be con- the xreconversion. fronted with the problem of pro- dustry. economic viding jobs for two million men, and social reform and women discharged from the _ Security and raise ae d whi will. armed forces and from war in- .@8"ds which will dustry. _ Pand the domestic tes f Whether or not ¢ But jobs alone are not enough. spective of social The war has shown that Canada democratic -Pprogeres: has the productive capacity to Which the destruct ide a higher standard of liy- 148¢ism will provid provide a higher s pda Y;