New-York tribune., 1919-06-08
Russian Plan Of Govern
ment Hiding Behind
Trivial Labor Dispute,
Saws Sir Robert Borden
Question Is Now
One of Loyalty
There Is No Compromise
Possible. 1T Must Be
Beaten, Premier Insists
By Stanley Frost
OTTAWA, June 7.

" ~ w ~, d uue I,
Canada stands to-day at the criss S
Of a fight to finish with the soviet
idea.
Behind trivial labor dispute, under
the slogan zone Bis Union,' drawing
money and support from mysterious
sources in the United States. the Rus
sian idea suddenly took form three
weeks ago in the Western Provinces
Against it there have lined up the
employers, the conservative labor ele-
ment. the solid bourgeois" citizen
ship, and finally the city, provincial and
Federal governments. Though appar-
emily beaten at Winnipeg, where it
started and in spite of all the odds
against it, the leaders of the movement
have decided to continue the fight,
apparently in confidence of some hid
den support, and it has found strength
to spread through the four western
provinces and has come east to. To-
ronto in slightly different form.
Blunder Broke Strike
1t was by a blunder that the soviet
advocates and the more vaguely minded
Winnipeg strikers have made the
Dominion government a direct and pow
erful opponent instead Of leaving it in
the position OF powerless mediator
Inc strike committee induced the
street railway men, as we'll as the pos
Ia. workers, to go out in the svmpa-
thetic attempt TO tie up Winnipeg on
behalf of the metal trades. The COM
mlttee did the sane Cor the emploves
OF the city of Winnipeg and the prov.
'nce OF Manitoba. Thus the side issue
OF the action of civil employees became
dominant, and the leadership in the
night against sovietism passed from the
unpopular employers, who were first
attacked; from the city and provincial
s1thorlties, who had been defiled; from
the big citizens committee that was
formed to resist proletarian dictator.
ship, and came to the Dominion Federal
government. That meant that it was
up to the Premier, Sir Robert L. Bor-
den
Policy Perfectly Simple
The issue and our policy are per-
fectly simple" he said, when asked
ABOUT the situation. The governmen,
rad to-and maintain law and
order. 1t had to-and will-keep its
services running. 1t will discharge the
outles for which it was created The
CIVIL servant who quits his post will
stay out"
The Premier's square and solid jaw
closed with a snap that was almost
bang.
Ine issue in the West is not pri
marty one Of hours and wages" hs
ssld. 1t has become one Of loyalty t.
'ne government. which means the peo
pie' by the civil servants. Behind tha
's the issue Of the attempt to oust tn,
s'ected government by a committee rep
1esenting Il faction. There is no com
promise possible on that. That ha
70 De beaten once and for all. Now i
- good time az any
Inc probability that the same innu
.nces .es that failed to put over the sove
'oea in Seattle were responsible 70
the Western Canadian disturbance
saa suggested.
influence from United States
inere undoubtedly is some nfu
.nes from the United States that |
1--we 1--we In the West," said tic Premc,
we cannot tell just where it come
| .rom' IL has been felt for some tim,
lux relationship between Vancouvc
.aa Seattle, in labor matters, is yer
..''e. They often work together, eve
s''s snan ID general IN Canada, whcr
n ' ~hoie labor unionism is closel
''rnecsed with yours."
.ae correspondent suggested that tn
r'Daey might come from German 0
''sn q, propaganda funds.
a 40 not know whether there il an
'ns'ik -. money here" said Sir Rok
- bat We know it is almost ever,
s.sl s's else in the world, and it may h
ts. H.. and Of course there is Away
poss'bility II funds from Gel
~.1s aas Premier said the Russian ele
rss' though present, is not scriou
\ slssd. '' are manly oi or'''S
4 ..,. ~ Kobert was emphatic in hi
II. that the laboring popul,
HI ~ canada as a whole have M
" Inc present movement.
More Than One Cause
s,,ss conditions Of unrest" he gai
s.s. s"ributable 10 more than or
h,s firEe, there is the strain {
fys.. SsaT var, the nervous reactio
~ "hg oysrwork and priyatior
A'"fs Or less serious nature, tn
Soetanued om poge TEN