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igtters From Our Readers

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ee Affiliation Turner, 1709

Nyncouver, writes:

uy “anouncement by Tim he proposed formation F political party sponsor- ©, Gommunists will find

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yt legality for the Com- ‘as been denied, where- | majority of United Na- S ntries the Communists & i recognized as a legal oree. ‘jements in Canada who 'd the Communist Party stocked up with bogies 'ibed the Communists as agents,” and “tools of = based on the existence ' ommunist International. ) it stock-in-trade of Axis ia has been exploded se :cent dissolution of the fy pinion, the present situ- ‘Sanada presents the de- "+ a new political party, a toal war program for ‘ictory. over fascism and © 2ss in the post-war world. "arty will have a broad program, based on mna- ity and comprising work | armers and the most pro- » sections of ali classes of

' connection, my proposals “jew party are briefly as

— this new political party » form community clubs jues-paying membership, -is te be represented on ® and provincial councils © iittees: These clubs will

' fective means toward de- » a progressive municipal

| vision should be made | the new constitution of » ‘ party to allow for affilia- | trade-unions. ‘tural areas, particularly | prairie provinces, clubs de established and pro- Hmade for affiliaton from + farmers’ organizations. ontention is that this new 1 party, as proposed by the = nists, will be a true Cana- irty, carrying forward the ms of our forefathers and in the carrying out of its ns by the basic teachings ntifie socialism. jugh decisive victories are be won on the front line the Axis, to recognize the or this new political party first step on the home front Winning the race. This could proudly bear the Communist Farmer-Labor

tteran’s View

M. H., New Westminster, steran of the last war and Y for home front service orld. War II, writes:

pleased to hear of the being taken for the organ- 0 of a new party which, if sstully completed as I be- it will be, should result in Strength that we can at last the offensive in solving ' problems we all haye at

pre Discussion On forming New Party

heart, first making every effort to help win the war and mean- while making plans to win the peace.

At this stage I have one sug- gestion to make to the organizing committee—namely, that a sub- committee be formed in every district of old veterans who are prepared to take an active part in the win-the-war work, thus helping to keep the home fires burning brightly till the boys come home, and AFTER.

@ur family has four boys over- seas and four more to follow, so we have to do our part if we wish to look the boys in the face on their return:

Broad Policy

Charles Garon, North Van Ship Repair worker, writes: Much speculation is going on

regarding the proposal for forma- tion of a new party of Com- munists in Canada. The proposal is certainly not put forward to meet the requirements of the iso- lationist Mr. St. Laurent, for such a policy would be alien to the interests of the Canadian people in a total war effort and post-war security. The emphasis placed by the Communists on the defeat of fascism and the plans of the pro-fascists within our country will be recorded as labor’s big- gest single contribution toward victory. It will help remove the threat of world fascist slavery and presuppose the extension of the social welfare of the Cana- dian people.

A new party of Communists is a recognition of the political de- velopment taking place among the people in the struggle for the survival of the democratic na- tions. The change—from a Marx- ist viewpoint—necessitates a re- adjustment in the character of the left-wing labor movement. It is very desirable that the new party be organized in such a fashion that it will be a means of political expression in all phases of life of the Canadian working class. In the ranks of such a party people are needed who are interested in the achieye- ment of labor and are prepared to submit to the necessary disci- pline for carrying out the major- ity-rule decisions. By the or- ganization of such a party, a greater reflection of the problems of the working class is received through a larger membership, and J would personally favor or- ganization on a club basis.

I feel] sure that the discussions that will take place prior to the August convention will assist greatly in the formation of the new party and help it to play the role necessary for its part in the main task of the Canadian people —-strengthening of the United Na- tions’ fight for unconditional sur- render of the Axis powers.

Canada Program

North Burrard Worker writes:

It is with great interest that we hear of the proposed new or- ganization through which Com- ‘munists can work together again

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for the good and welfare of Ca- nadian labor and Canada as a whole. In the present national emergency it is very- important that the constructive efforts and energies of these sincere and tire- less workers should not be hind- ered by any restrictions of leg- ality.

We wonder, if the facts could be told, just how much influence Communists have had in pre- venting labor strife in the war in- dustries, and what part they played in speeding up war pro- duction. Also, we wonder just how much Communists aided and worked for the successful Victory Loan drives. We feel that the Communists have played an im- portant part in mobilizing the workers of Canada for all-out pro- duction, and that if these same people can work as a legal body out in the open, that still greater results can be obtained.

It is hard to understand why any interests in Canada should be opposed to the activities of Communists, unless it be the fifth columnists whose main purpose is the sowing of discord and the prevention oi a united war effort in this country.

In greeting Tim Buck and wel- coming him to Vancouver, we await with interest the coming convention and hepe te see put forward a Canadian policy for Ganadian people.

Timely Move

Lawrence Anderson, business agent, Amalgamated Shipwrfghts’ Union, Local No. 2, writes:

The steps being taken through- out Canada to organize a new Canadian party of Communists is a very interesting and timely de- velopment. The discussion on the new forms of organization re- quired to fit the present period indicate the desire and the need to broaden the base of the organ- ization to correspond with the expanding base and influence of the Communist movement among the people of Canada.

The growing political con- sciousness and enlightenment of the working people and many. intellectuals and professional people is fundamentally sound. It seems to me that the new party must be non-sectarian and take into its ranks thousands of new members embracing those people who are today bent on bringing about the full and final defeat of the fascist Axis and all that fascism stands for, and who are keenly interested in creating a new and prosperous life after the war. People that are so inclined do not see in the term socialism something that can be played around with but see in it a policy of doing away with the exploita- tion of man by man and the root cause of wars.

That a change must come after the war is recognized on all sides. What is missing is full clarity; yet clarity and direction is sought for. Devotion and enthusiasm for winning the war and a “full-speed ahead” program is invariably linked up with confidence in what the future has in store.

Therefore the new party, by having an organizational struc- ture capable of embracing thous- ands of people, will not only serve our immediate task of winning the war but will also be a politi- cal school for the people joining its ranks and for the public in general. Therefore, I say, forward do a new mass party of Commun- ists.

a party.

duction front.

into life. :

of an all-out war effort.

New Party Must Cope With Organization of Farm People

Roy LaVigne, New Westminster, writes:

In welcoming the formation. of a new party of Com- munists in Canada, I believe there are many features of a true democracy that could be assisted materially by such

An enormous amount of assistance has been given to the trade unions throughout the land. The fact that we have not less than 60,000 workers organized into the trade unions in the province and the important gains made both politically and economically are the living proot of the correctness of trade union policy.

There is still an important section of the people in BC who have not yet been given any great degree of as- sistance in their struggle for organization—namely, the farmers. The struggle for greater production of the sinews of war is dependent upon the farmers’ ability to produce food for the armed forces and the workers on the pro-

The question of the production of food is attaining a position of prime importance in the economy of our na- tion.” The new party of Communists must have in its pro- gram a complete and comprehensive plan for the organi- zation of farmers as a very vital part of our war economy. This party must be broad enough to include within its ranks thousands of farming people.

The organization of farmers into democratically con- trolled organizations, closely allied with the trade union movement, is the only way of bringing about real farm- labor unity and the only guarantee that they will not be- come the political pawns of the isolationists and fifth col- umnists who have used farmer organization to foster anti- labor legislation, particularly in the United States.

One of the most important tasks of this new party must be the working out of a program that is in the best inter- ests of the farming people and the carrying of this program

This is the only way that real farm-labor unity can be achieved and farm-labor unity is one of the cornerstones

Continued .

Tim Buck

duced this war, or if they will in- sist upon the carrying through of the spirit as well as the letter of the Atlantic Charter and the main- tenance of co-operation and mu- tual assistance between those na- tions which choose socialism as their “way of life and the great capitalist nations such as Canada, Great Britain and the U.S. To

secure this latter alternative it is.

most necessary to develop the unity of all democratic people. The tremendous possibilities for far- reaching social progress are Tre- flected in the Anglo-Soviet treaty, Anglo-Soviet trade union coun- eil, etc.

“The left-wing of the labor movement has a vital role to play in influencing the Canadian pub- lic. Our new party will contribute to the solution of Canadian prob- lems as we have contributed to the solution of all Canadian problems in the past twenty years,” he concluded.

Tim Buck left Vancouver Fri- day morning for Victoria, where he addressed public mass meet-

ings. He returns to Vancouver Saturday, to participate at an initiative conference called to

discuss the new party, and to ad- dress the Athletic Park meeting Sunday night.

7-\PINIONS contained in

these columns are strictly those of the writers. We welcome correspond- ence, but ask that letters be held to 300 words.

Continued

New Party

ship should be basically an open- ly acknowledged membership.

It is high time that Canadians with Communist convictions en- force the right to publicly pro- claim them.

8

DO not subscribe to the view

that a mass political party need necessarily be a loose; undiscip- lined party. Working class politi- cal discipline is essentially a selz- imposed discipline achieved mainly through education and un- Gerstanding of the need of a dis- ciplined, well organized party without factions advocating con- iradictory policies. This can only be achieved through acceptance of majority decisions after demo- cratic discussion has been prac- ticed, and voluntarily vesting au- thority in the democratically elected higher organs in guiding and leading the day to day activi- ties of the Party.

Of course, a new mass party conducting political activities, in- eluding participation in parlia- mentary campaigns on a wide scale, will create new problems and in some cases necessitate new policies. However, so long as the guiding principle is the welfare of the working people, and one of the chief aims unity of the work- ing class behind a program and policy that serve both their im- mediate and ultimate aims and as- pirations, we can be contident that. under the capable leader- ship of Tim Buck and others of proven worth, these problems will be solved as they arise and that the new party will lead the Can- adian people to “victory in the war and prosperity in the peace.”

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