Evening star., 1935-03-10

burn became the first Liberal prime
minister since 1905 The prospect was
dark for Mr.. Bennett: it was appar-
ent that he was destined for an in
glorious defeat He decided to call the
New Deal to his rescue.
A royal commission has been inves-
tigating Canadian business practices
for many months, following the lines
of congressional Investigations at
Washington 1t has disclosed highly
unsatisfactory conditions-low wages,
long hours. child labor. sweat shops
and exploitation of the primary pro-
ducer. It's chairman was H. H. Stew
ems. minister of trade and commerce
in Mr.. Benefits cabinet. When Mr..
Stevens in a number of speeches COM
mented in rather forceful language on
the disclosures Of his investigation,
he brought down upon himself the
wrath of certain corporations; Mr..
Bennett virtually dismissed him from
the cabinet. This move threatened
to split the Conservative party. which
already was apparently doomed. Then
something happened.
Wields Thunderbolt.
On the night of January Mr..
Bennett delivered the first of a series
of five radio addresses; it came as
thunderbolt. He took up the torch
of Mr.. Stevens-and more. He poured
out his wrath upon the evils ana
abuses of the capitalist system; he
saw it doomed to extinction unless
subjected to governmental control and
regulation. In succeeding broadcastS
he outlined a legislative program to
carry his reforms into effect. The
legislation is now being drafted and.
it is understood, will be presented
to the present session of Parliament.
1t will embrace the following meas
ures:
(a) Unemployment insurance:
(b) Health insurance;
(c) A revised system OF old-age
pensions;
Id Federal enforcement OF uni
form minimum wages and UNIFORM
maximum working week;
(e) Termination of child labor and
of sweat-shop conditions:
(f) Amendment of the income tax
law to correct inequalities as between
earned and unearned income.
(g) Company legislation to prevent
stock-watering and to prohibit no
par value stock:
CHI Regulation Of concentrations
in production and distribution" and
the prevention of unfair trade prac-
tices:
do Appointment of an economic
advisory council.
Not Revolutionary.
This reform program is extensive,
but it is not revolutionary. 1t en-
bodies provisions of Mr.. RooSevelt's
N. r. A. and his projected social
security measures; it proposes nothing
which has not been tried in Great
Britain. In so far as it introduces
social legislation it will merely raise
Canada to the level of a normal
modern industrial nation. 1t Is
typical liberal program in the present
economic state of society. 1t Is out
of the ordinary only in that 1t is
proposed by the traditional party Of
conservatism in Canada, presented In
forceful language denouncing the
evils of capitalism by Mr.. Bennett,
wealthy bachelor, brilliant corpora
ton lawyer and former bank director.
In enunciating his new deal plat
form. the prime minister has amazed
his own party no less than his op-
ponents. orthodox Conservatives have
fvH hQCTe
slowly. They have witnessed with
suspicion and fear the growing tend
ency toward state interference. They
have attempted to stem the TIDE,
but now find their leader abandon
ing them. They don't understand 1t;
they don't like it.
Some may have hoped that the
torch of laisSez-faire and freedom
would be carried on by Mackenzie
King and the Liberal party: MT;
Bennett hoped so, too; he devoted
his fifth radio address to slashing
attack on Mr.. King as the apostle
of reaction. He hoped to provoke him
into violent opposition.
King Political Strategist.
Mackenzie King was prime minis
ter of Canada for almost nine years.
He is a student of the social sciences.
He initiated important social meas
ures, such as old-age pensions. He
is a past master in the art Of po-
litical strategy.
And so, when Parliament met, Mr..
King took the offensive. He did not
oppose. He challenged Mr.. Bennett
to introduce the projected measures
Immediately He offered to cooperate
in the enactment of all legislation
conforming to Liberal principles. He
suggested that the proposed reforms
were in large part copied from the
Liberal platform. He is not going TO
CONTINUED on Tenth Pase.l