Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-12-29

ted States from the south md the
points through which the various
trans-continental lines of Canada
pass. 1t was not only accessible. but
fruitful Of the greatest damage t.
the country. II the cause Of BolshSv-
ism prevailed.
All the agricultural products of the
four great western provinces OF. Can
ada travel eastward through Winni-
peg. and likewise the manufactured
products OF eastern Canada travel
westward to supply the demands of
the rural provinces.
The stage was well set. The pre-.
liminary plans had been successful
and the combat between the radicals
and the great sober thinking major
ity began on Thursday morning, Nav
18th. 1919. at II o'clock.
The common impression prevails
that a strike or revolt of this ma :
ture is the result of hasty action
without definite purpose, but such is
not the case.
The Winnipeg trouble really began
IN the spring Of 1918 when the Do
lice Of that city became unionized ana
amliated with the American Fedora :
tion of Labor. The Police Commits
sion OF Winnipeg refused to permit
this. and the policemen went on
strike which lasted several weeks.
A citizens committee Of one hum
dred was formed which used every
power to secure the return of the DO :
licemen to their posts Of duty with
out connection with or allegiance to
any outside organization.
On the plea that the country was
at war and industry could not afford
70 be tied up and strikes permittec.
the people Of Winnipeg capitulated.
recognised the policemen's right to
uniontxe and afflliate with the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and they re-
turned to their duties. This was the
initial and greatest victory of the
Bolshevistic element and the leaders
were jubilant.
And who were the leaders? Not
az you may suppose an unruly mass
OF foreigners. but a supposed to be
intelligent group consisting mainly of
English socialists, among whom were
several preachers and several city al
dermen. The directing genius of this
movement to overthrow the consti.
tuted government. was a preacher of
one Of the Protestant denominations.
who has since been expelled from the
ministry.
Following the victory of the Do
iicemen, the unionization of all other
city, provincial and dominion en-
ployes ana their afYiliation with the
American Federation Of Labor, fol-
lowed.
In the early spring Of 1919, a con.
vention OF all these radicals under
the guise Of Union Labor and the
American Federation Of Labor was
held at Calgary. At this convention,
ratification was given to the cailins
OF . general strike throughout Can
ada-to the adoption Of the Soviet
form OF government based upon what
was claimed to be the original and
only plan of the Soviet government
In America, having come direct from
Russia. This was spread broadcast
over Canada. under the alluring title
Of the "one Big Union," but It was
merely a subterfuge and guise for
Dolshevism and I. w. w. ism.
Several weeks following this con.
vention. q duly appointed commission
Of the Canadian government toured
the country. held meetings at vari-
Gus important cities with q view to
ascertatning the cause Of the indus.
trial unrest and presenting some plan
Tor solving II. When this couimis-
sion met In Winnipeg. representa-
ttves OF the radical element and the
Central Labor Union, stated before
the coanmission that tho time of com.
missions apd arbitration was passed,
and that IN the future, labor would
own, eentrsi and operate industry,
In all this preliminary. the radicals