Western Producer
August 10, 1961. p.1 & 2
By Gordon Dewar
OTTAWA--A new Canadian political party was born here last week and Saskatchewan
Premier Tommy Duglas will return soon to federal politics as its
leader.
Of the birth of the New Democratic Party (which began the week simply as
the New Party) it can safely be said that the mid-wives were more than
satisfied.
They had good cause to be.
Elderly experts in politics say they have never seen a convention such as
this. They point not only to the number of delegates, which at 1744 is the
most ever registered for a political convention in Canada, but to the mood
of the delegates.
Enthusiasm at a convention is nothing new, perhaps, but enthusiasm which
keeps every delegate in his seat on the convention floor for all sessions
for five days is something new.
The coliseum here, set up as it was with tables and chairs on the large central
floor surrounded by the bands of seats common n any hockey arena, can hold
a bet better than 4000 people. In the five days of the convention empty
seats were a rarity.
Men such as Mr. Douglas, CCF Leader Hazen Argue (federally the CCF no longer
exists and Mr. Argue is no longer a leader), CLC President Claude Jodoin,
Douglas Fisher (CCF-Port Arthur) and Murdo Martin (CCF-Timmins) looked on
the gathering as an omen of good times ahead for the New Democratic Party.
If such enthusiasm could be passed on to the voters, they said, the party
might well win 35 to 50 seats in the next general election.
With anticipated Conservative losses and possible decimation of the Liberal
party, this could place the NDP in a position of reasonable power in the
House of Commons. Such is their hope.
NO COMPARISON
The convention itself was far the noisiest, busiest, most enthusiastic and
happy one seen here in some time. Certainly the three which precede it.
(Liberals in January, Conservatives in March and Social Credit in early
July) could not compare.
For a change there was far ore heard from delegates on the floor than from
officials and official speakers.
Different chairmen repeatedly said the delegates were in control, that anything
they wished would be done, and this was exactly the case.
Delegates received recommended articles of the constitution and resolutions
of the platform from committees which had approved them. They did not like
some of them and sent them back to committees with instructions for changes.
The committees made the changes.
A prime example was the objection of Quebec delegates to the use of the word
"national" in the constitution. Many speakers, including Mr. Argue, complained
that the word had a connotation to French-speaking Canadians which seemed
to exclude them from the party.
Their logic was not particularly good, but their displeasure was obvious,
so the committee thought again and recommended that the word be altogether
removed from the constitution, to be replaced wherever possible by the word
"federal." The convention cheered its approval.
SOLID STAND
On the other hand, the convention stood solidly behind the committee on the
question of organizations which should be encouraged to join the
party.
A small but vocal group urged, on the third day, that unions not affiliated
with the Canadian Labor Congress should not be excluded from party membership
for that reason alone. It was admitted there is either Communist influence
or leadership in some such unions, but speakers declared the rank and file
would make good NDP members.
A series of catcalls and boos preceded a vote in which the committee was
soundly supported and the non-CLC union supporters were thoroughly
trampled.
There was wrangling over the party name, too. On the third day ballots were
distributed with seven suggested names (29 other write-in names were eventually
revealed by the ballots).
This vote come out the New Party on top with 614 votes, but this was not
a clear majority of the 1452 ballots cast and when an official tried to pin
this name on the party, the convention exploded.
The result was another ballot, on it only four names which had received the
most votes and when these were counted New Democratic Party came out on top
of New Party, 784 to 743. Thus, it's the NDP.
NO SOCIALISM?
The platform preamble brought on a real row. There were voices from the
far left claiming that any socialism inherent in the party was being watered
down to the point of innocuousness, while more modern socialists clamored
for wording abandoning all the "old" socialist cliches.
The latter group (having been largely responsible for the final draft of
the preamble) won the day, but they still insist there is no watering down.
The program calls for a "planned economy," which to them means a large measure
of government control and selective nationalization.
There was a large split, too, on the question of Canada remaining in NATO-one
which Premier Douglas pretty well healed when, in his speech following his
election, he sided firmly with the committee which recommended continued
membership but pressure to expand NATO activities into fields other than
the military.
There was no question about membership in North American Air Defence
Command-everybody wanted out.
LEADERSHIP BATTLE
The real highlight of the convention, of course, was the election of the
new leader.
Premier Douglas and Mr. Argue approached the fight in far different ways.
The former insisted to the end of the office was seeking him, while it was
obvious to everybody that the latter was more than actively seeking the
office.
In the end, the office found the man.
For days the experts, semiexperts and just plain betting men had been calling
a Douglas victory by either a three-to-one or four-to-one margin.
Delegates, when polled, indicated this and the reaction of the convention
to the appearances of the two men on nomination night strengthened the feeling.
The voting on Thursday confirmed it all.
Premier Douglas romped in on a vote of 1391 to 380, which is better than
3.5-to-one and not a bad compromise for the experts.
With this assured support of the heart of a growing party, the premier proceeded
to lay down his own platform ND it may be significant that it did not differ
from the one prepared by committees of the New Party National Committee,
made up largely of CCF and CLC members.
ACCEPTS CHALLANGE
In the middle of his speech he declared the willingness of himself and his
party (the cheers of the delegates substantiated this) to accept the challenge
of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker to fight the next election on the issue
of socialism versus free enterprise.
His version of socialism was a planned economy, which would put to work the
unemployed, invest the savings of Canadians in capital projects to develop
resources and create services (housing, schools, hospitals), balance trade
through import and export quotas and redistribute the wealth of the country
more equitably, particularly aiding old age pensioners, the blind, widows
and the like.
His view of free enterprise was that it is neither free not enterprising,
that it means every man for himself "as the elephant said as he danced among
the chickens."
Premier Douglas told reporters later that he will resign as Saskatchewan
premier by Nov. 1, when a provincial party convention is slated. It will
elect a new provincial leader.
He is still debating which of four constituencies in his home province (which
have invited him to their candidate) he will choose as the place to gain
a seat in Parliament.
Whichever one it is, it will become the site of him home if he has his way.
He has no desire to settle in Ottawa.
He also said he has no idea how many seats he may command after the next
federal election, declaring he would no more try to forecast an election
than the whims of a woman or the outcome of a horse race.
Premier Douglas is sure he will be here, however, and his staunchest supporters
are sure he will have a solid contingent of NDP men with him.
This roaring convention has engendered amazing enthusiasm on all sides.
It is safe to say the New Democratic Party will be a force to reckon with
in the future.
