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VoL 1 ' May 31, 1919 Published in Winnipeg’ in the interest of the Citizens./ /No. 12ThistGeneral Strike’ IS RevolutionA persistent effort is now being made by the strike leaders, through the medium of their newspaper mouthpiece, and through the medium of those who have been deceived and are not yet awake to their deception, to repudiate the fact that this is not a mere strike, but a revolution.Senator Robertson, who is the minister of labor and a lifelong trades unionist himself, in addition to which lie is the leading authority in this Dominion upon labor problems, says that it is revolution and that it is part and parcel of the ‘‘One Big Union'9 movement.*The “One Big Union” movement is a movement to supplant our established institutions with Soviet Government. Ilere is the trxt of a resolution that the “One Big Union” convention passed at Calgary last March :This convention expresses its open conviction that the system of industrial Soviet control by selection of representatives from industries is more efficient and of greater political value than the present system of government by selection from districts.”And the leaders of the present “general strike” in Winnipeg are among the chief organizers of the “One Big Union.” To heap denial upon denial of any intent toward revolution will do 110 good. It will not change the issue nor blind the citizens of Winnipeg to the fact that Winnipeg was at first placed under an “industrialsoviet,” with “representatives selected from industries.”Denial after denial of intent to overturn constitutional authority will not offsilt; the fact that eonstituional authority was temporarily overturned in Winnipeg. Denial after denial of intent to revolt, will not even change the admission of the notorious “Food Committee** that “reports were rapidly coming in of children on the verge of death through want of milk.”No amount of denying will blink the fact that Winnipeg had a practical demonstration of the crass, blind brutality of the type of revolution which misrepresents the starving of innocent babies as a means to enforce “collective bargaining” which had never been challenged.Do not he misled by the wailing of the Labor News that Ibis is not revolution. Read these two telegrams sent by Senator Robertson, one to the mayor of Calgary and the other jointly to the mayors of Fort William and Port Arthur; they will tell you what the leading federal authority sees as the meaning of the so-called “General Strike.”This is the message sent to the mayor of Calgary:“Winnipeg, Man., May 26, 1919.“R. C. Marshall, Mayor of Calgary :“Your wire. Have been here since Thursday last. Very carefully investigated the cause of the existing general strike which the strike committee claimed was called for the purpose of forcing upon certain employers the recognition of workmen’s rights to collective bargaining.“The employers affected proved conclusively that they had no objection ro their employes organizing, and have dealt with committees of their employes elected as representatives of the various craft unions concerned in their industries. Have furthermore expressed perfect willingness to meet with executive officers of the various organizations if desired, but refused to deal with a body known as the Metal Trades Council, which is elected by employes in other industries outside their own.“Twenty-four hours before the sympathetic strike was called, the Premier of Manitoba urged an adjustment of the matter in dispute by arbitration, and in a final attempt prevent the general strike, asked the committee if they would cancel it, provided the employers would agree to recognize the Metal Trades Council, to which question a negative reply was given.“Subsequently, events have proved conclusively that the motive behind the general strike effect was for the purpose of assuming control and direction of industrial affairs; also, municipal, provincial and federal activities so far as they were being carried on in this city, and with tin* avowed intention of extending that eoiVteol to a wider field.“T have no hesitation in stating that the One Big Union movement is the underlying cause of the whole trouble, and that the Winnipeg general strike deserves no sympathy or support from labor organizations outside.“(Signed) O. IX ROBERTSON,**Minister of Labor.Now read this other message, sent to the mayors of Fort William and Port Arthur. Particularly note the statement that cmis-«saries have been sent east and west to stir up the revolt in other cities. Here is the message :“It is currently reported that a joint meeting of Fort William and Port Arthur Trades Council has been called for this afternoon for the purpose of taking sympathetic action with Winnipeg workmen now on strike.“After carefully going into the whole situation here since last Wednesday, I am fully convinced that the gen- ;oral strike at Winnipeg deserves no sympathy from organized labor outside. The underlying motive in calling this strike is, in my opinion, undoubtedly intended to be a'bbnv at international trade unions, and in support of the Big Union movement, and with the probable intention of seeking to overthrow constitutional affairs and government, both as to federal, provincial and municipal affairs.“The justification alleged for rhe calling of the sympathetic strike was that certain employers refused to recog nize the Metal Trades Council or right of collective bargaining to their employes. That this was an excuse and not a justification is evidenced by the fact that the Premier of Manitoba was informed by the committee the day prior to the sympathetic strike, that even though the employers would recognize or deal with the Metal Trades Council the strike would nevertheless occur.“Emissaries sent east and west this week for purposes of obtaining sympathetic strike action in other cities is, in my opinion wholly without justification as the citizens of points outside of Winnipeg are in no way responsible for the dispute here and certainly should not he inconvenienced as result of this conflict. Would you be good enough to convey this information to the proper officers of the joint Trades and Labor Council of Fort William and Port Arthur. ”This* Paper is Distributed Free — Don’t Pay For It
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Citizen
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Sat, May 31, 1919
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 25 Jan 2022
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