New-York tribune., 1919-03-19
Radical Labor
MenOfCanada
Adopt Soviets
Unions of Western Part of
Dominion Secede From
Federation to Bolshevism
General Strike Is Planned
To Be Rcferendums on
WalkOut and Radicalism:
Propagandists Are Busy
Special Correspondence

Specict Correspondence
OTTAWA. March 1S.-The labor
ynions of Western Canada. meeting in
conference in Calgary, have voted to
sever affiliations with the American
Federation OF Labor and to follow the
l. W. W plan of organizing by indus
tries instead of by crafts. Two hun
dred and forty delegates, representing
practically every A. +. of l.. union from
Western Ontario to Vancouver, voted
unanimously TO ubmit to a referendum
Of their local unions a scheme for re
organization under the title of the One
Big Union Similar action was taken
some months ago by the labor unions
Of Australia.
The rebellion of radical Canadian
labor against the leadership, policies
and method of organization of the
American Federation of Labor follows
the lines laid down by radical labor
leaders of the American Northwest
who went to the Mooney conference in
Chicago in January with the avowed
purpose of breaking the A. F. of L."
The actions and resolutions of the
Canadian conference are even more
radical, however, for in drawing up the
plan of reorganization for the One Big
Union, the delegates adopted a resolu-
ton committing them to the Bolshevik
policy of the dictatorship of the pro
ietarat." Part of the resolution, which
was unanimously adopted, reads as fol-
lows:
Industrial Soviet control by selec-
ton Of representatives from industries
is more efficient and of more value to
producers than the present form of
Canadian political government, and we
accept without alteration the principle
Of proletarlan dictatorship as a means
of transforming society from a capi-
talistic to d communal basis"
The conference further voted for a
referendum to call general strike on
June /, unless the Canadian govern
ment acts favorably on the demand
that free speech be immediately re-
stored and all political prisoners re-
leased A thirty hour, five day week
by June l is also demanded.
While there is tendency IN Ottawa
not to attach undue Importance to the
situation or to regard the conference
as expressing the viewpoint of a great
body of Western labor men, the plan
for organizing the One Big Union is
looked on with considerable appre-
hension.
The matter has been under consid-
GRAFTON by the government for some
time and there appear to be divergent
views as to how best to grapple with
the situation. Some incline to the view
that the great volume of Canadian labor
is too sane to be swayed by the revo-
iutionary type of social agitation; to
adopt vigorously repressive measures
would. it is argued, tend to martyrize
some of the leaders, and this is what
they invite.
At the same time matters have
reached that stage where action of
some kind would seem imminent. Some
months ago an order in council was
passed making illegal all the meetings
Of |. ". ". and similar organizations;
but, if not actually suspended, the or
der is not being enforced The present
situation is being put in the hands Of
the Northwest Mounted Police, and the
general law against treason furnishes
a sufficient authority to proceed.
The Biishevist propaganda has been
carried on quietly but sedulously for