Canada: MANITOBA: Another Licking

Socialism, riding high in many another nation, was having a rough ride in Canada. As virtually everyone thought it would, the socialist CCF Party took another lick ing at the polls this week—this time in Manitoba. In that province’s first election since 1941 (and Canada’s first since war’s end), the Liberal-Conservative coalition of Premier Stuart Sinclair Garson won easily.

The CCF’s greying provincial leader Seymour James Farmer had raised the banner of a “bold and practical people’s program,” had charged that the Garson coalition was the “tool of big business.” What Manitoba needed, he cried, was a socialist regime like Saskatchewan’s. Saskatchewan’s CCF Premier Thomas C. Douglas bounded over the border with four of his Cabinet ministers and stumped around rural Manitoba to spread the word.

But Premier Garson’s coalition had a running start, with seven members elected by acclamation (without opposition). He needed only 21 more seats to be sure of a majority in the 55-seat legislature. On a warm, Indian-summer voting day, Manitobans marched to the polls in droves, gave him considerably more seats than he needed.

For the CCF, there was only the consolation of having gained a little ground. The Party had had five seats. On the basis of unofficial election-night counts, it would now have eight or nine, most of them in Greater Winnipeg.

It was the Party’s third straight setback since it swept Saskatchewan a year and a half ago.* Within a matter of days, it would have two more chances—in Nova Scotia (prospects: dim) Oct. 23, in British Columbia (prospects: fair) Oct. 25. If it failed again, it would surely be time for Canada’s socialists to stand off and take a long, severe look at themselves.

*The others: in Ontario last June 4, in the federal election June 11.