ROUSING CANADA

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 31, 6 August 1934, Page 9

ROUSING CANADA

BUSINESS INDICTED

SENSATIONAL PAMPHLET

MINISTER'S OUTBURST

United Press Association—By Slccirlc Tel«crnnh—Copyright. NEW YORK, August 1. The Ottawa correspondent oil the "New York Times" says that a sensational pamphlet was issued today by the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Mr. H. H. Stevens, -which alleged that unscrupulous financiers and business men "had exploited Canada's consuming public, starved producers, sweated workmen, and left the country facing alternatives of reform, dictatorship, or revolution." The statement, which daringly mentioned personal friends and business associates of Mr. E. B. Bennett, Prime Minister, is regarded here as possibly the beginning of a campaign for a "new deal" in Canada. After the issuance.of the pamphlets, which were printed by the Minister's own department, Mr. Stevens escaped the brewing storm of resentment by departing for a holiday trip. Several of the persons concerned have uttered threats of libel suits. Mr. Bennett confiscated 1000 copies of the pamphlet which remained in Mr. Stevens 'a office. Observers generally believe that Mr. Bennett .will soon demand Mr. Stevens's resignation. Iu the- pamphlet itself- Mr. Stevens alleged that thousands of skilled workers received as little as four dollars a week, that members of the board of directors had "milked" a certain Toronto concern of 20,000,000 dollars, meanwhilo selling eruployees 2,000,000 dollars 5 worth of worthless stocks, and that the pulp paper industry had been "gouged" of 30,000,000 dollars. Mr. Stevens, declared: "I will never rest until something is done to remedy it. j\ro economic or political system that will tolerate that can survive, without either revolution or a dictatorship."

He urged reform by the Conservative Party by basing its policies first on the well-being of agriculturists and then of industrial workers.