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Class Conflict and Civil Liberties: The Origins and Activities of the Canadian Labour Defense League, 1925 - 1940

1982; Athabasca University Press; Volume: 10; Linguagem: Francês

10.2307/25140138

1911-4842

JAROSLAW THEODORE PETRYSHYN,

Canadian Identity and History

THIS PAPER RECONSTRUCTS the origins and activities of the Labour Defense (CLDL) and assesses its role during a turbulent period in history. Led by Albert Edward Smith, a former Methodist minister, the CLDL rose to prominence during the worst years of the depression, promoting communist policies, agitating on behalf of the Communist Party of Canada and defending before the courts over 6,000 individuals who had ventured astray of the law because of their militant activities. The CLDL was especially effective after the arrest and conviction of Tim Buck and seven other communist leaders in 1931 under the controversial Section 98 of the Criminal Code. Skillfully intertwining communism with the defense of civil liberties in Canada, the CLDL launched a series of protest campaigns which not only brought to the organization a substantial following, but also had a significant impact on the political authorities in the nation. L'ARTICLE TRAITE DES ORIGINES et des activites de la Canadian Labour Defense League (CLDL) et evalue son role durant une periode troublee de l'histoire canadienne. Dirigee par Albert Edward Smith, un ancien ministre methodiste, la CLDL a acquis de l'importance pendant les annees les plus creuses de la depression en mettant de l'avant le programme communiste, en faisant de l'agitation en faveur du Parti communiste du Canada et en defendant en cour plus de 6,000 personnes qui avaient outrepasse la loi a cause de leur militantisme. La CLDL fut particulierement active apres l'arrestation et la condamnation de Tim Buck et de sept autres chefs communistes en 1931 sous l'article contreverse 98 du Code criminel. Identifiant habilement le communisme avec la defense des libertes civiles au Canada, la CLDL a organise des campagnes de protestations qui, non seulement ont apporte de nombreux partisans a l'organisation, mais aussi elles ont eu un impact significatif sur les autorites politiques du pays.