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Hi Wally,
Most of my information about Tutte, the Douglas
visit to BC, and the early history of Social Credit here comes from BC historian
and former politician David Mitchell's extensive 1983 biography titled "WAC
Bennett and the Rise of British Columbia."
While Mitchell gives a rather distorted view of
Douglas and some of the Social Credit principles elsewhere in that book, (which
might be expected from a non-Social Crediter in a work that is primarily a
biography of someone else), I believe from what I've read of that era elsewhere,
(Margaret Ormsby's "History of BC", and other works), that he gives an
accurate account of the early history of Social Credit here.
From the bibliography in his book, I would
think that most of what Mitchell has recounted of that time was drawn from a
theses by a Barbara Horsfield titled "The Social Credit Movement
in British Columbia", which was written in 1953 while she was attending
UBC.
I have never read that particular theses
myself, but doubtless she must have interviewed people involved that were still
alive then, since most of the earliest SC activities were centered in
Vancouver.
There was a biography about Duff Pattullo, who was
BC Premier for most of the Depression years, (right up until the Liberals and
Conservatives formed a coalition in the early 1940's to forestall any
chance that the radically socialist CCF might come to power through 'free
enterprise' vote splitting), written a few years ago. I'm going to see if
the Library here has a copy, and if there's any mention of the Douglas visit in
it. I'll let you know if I'm successful.
Sincerely,
Joe
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 1:01
AM
Subject: Re: [socialcredit] Douglas
Social Credit for Canada
Thanks for these interesting additional comments and details,
Joe. What are your sources? I am sure the Tutte book is readily
available to you in the archives of the B.C. parliamentary library and some of
the larger libraries in B.C. Anyway, we will have to make a point of
getting it into electronic format.
Sincerely
Wally
On 11-Feb-07, at 8:57 AM, Joe Thomson wrote:
Hi Wally, (and
Jim),
No, I've never seen that
particular book, Wally. Though I have heard of it, and would very much
like to read it.
Prior to the Hughes' book,
I do not recall ever seeing Tutte's name being attached to the
newspaper accounts of Major Douglas's welcome to
Vancouver. Nor of Premier
Pattullo's subsequent invitation to
him to address to the B C Legislature, nor in the reporting
of the substance of that address.
William Tutte was one of the
founders of the Douglas Social Credit Group, British Columbia Section, along
with (another?) reporter working for the Vancouver Sun, Henry Torey,
in 1932.
They, and a number of their
friends and acquaintances formed an informal study group to discuss
Douglas's ideas and how they might be applied here. They didn't
make any effort to 'spread the word' or expand, and maybe only a few dozen
people were involved in total.
When Douglas visited Vancouver
on his return journey from New Zealand in 1934, Tutte's group assisted the
Kiwanis Club in inviting him to address a meeting. Which he did, and
the reception was apparently far greater than expected. Over a
thousand people turned up to hear him speak.
A few days later Douglas
travelled to Victoria to address the Legislature. There was no Hansard in
the BC Legislature in those days, (or until relatively recently), so I do
not have the complete text of that address. Apparently he stressed
that Social Credit reforms were 'economic' rather than 'political' in
nature, and could be administered by any political party forming
government.
The "Vancouver Sun" newspaper
was still independently owned then, and very committed to the BC Liberal
Party, which Pattullo headed. While its rival "The Province" was
a Southam paper and supported the Conservatives. (Now both are owned by
Canwest Global and march to the tune of a different drummer ~ fortunately
the political influence of newspapers has waned
somewhat)
Pattullo was essentially a "New
Deal" advocate, rather than a 'monetary reformer' as was his main rival in
BC Liberal-dom, G G McGeer. When Aberhart was elected in Alberta
the "Vancouver Sun" showed its true colours. It's headline proclaimed
"Alberta voted for Santa Claus."
Joe
----- Original Message
-----
Sent:
Sunday, February 11, 2007 12:09 AM
Subject: Re:
[socialcredit] Douglas Social Credit for Canada
Hello Jim,
Thanks for bringing attention to W. A.
Tutte's work, Douglas Social Credit for
Canada, which you have recently borrowed from the Alberta
Legislature Library. The book has been referenced in
various publications dealing with Social Credit. I read it many
years ago having obtained it either from the same source or from the late
L. Denis Bryne. Surprisingly, I cannot seem to find a copy and must
have returned it without making a duplication. In his recent
book, Major Douglas: The
Policy of a Philosophy, John W. Hughes (deceased) relates
that during their "world tour" of 1934, upon disembarking from the Aorangi at Vancouver arriving from
Sydney, Australia, Major Douglas and his wife Edith were met by an
enthusiastic gathering which included Major-General Victor Odlum "and A.
W. Tutte of theVancouver
Sun, one of the most energetic advocates of Social Credit
in Western Canada."
By all means, it is part of the Social
Credit literature and should certainly be available to students of the
subject and should be accessible in electronic format. Let me know
what progress you make in this regard.... I would assume that Joe
Thomson is entirely familiar with the Tutte book and probably has a copy
of it (correct, Joe?).
Sincerely
Wally
On 10-Feb-07, at 9:58 AM, Jim wrote:
Hi
Wally:
I'm wondering if you, or
anybody else, has seen W.A. Tutte's book entitled "Douglas Social Credit
for Canada"?
I loaned it from the Alberta
Legislature library. It is an excellent introduction to Social
Credit, and if it's not readily available, I may try to scan
it.
Have you seen it? Any
comments would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim
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