Canada Votes 1945: Liberals 118, PCs 62, CCF 26 (6-11-45)

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The Gazette (June 12, 1945)

LIBERALS ELECT 118 – PCs WIN 62 – CCF 26, OTHERS GET 34
Race stays close – slim Liberal edge is indicated at 4 a.m. – 5 doubtful

West splits parties – Progressive Conservatives make inroads in Ontario – major leaders elected
By F. C. Mears, Gazette staff correspondent

Party standing by provinces

Party Total PEI NS NB Que Ont Man Sas Alt BC Yuk
LIB 118 3 3 10 7 45 35 10 3 1 4
PC 62 0 1 3 1 46 2 1 2 6 0
CCF 26 0 1 0 0 0 5 16 0 4 0
SC 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0
IND 8 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 1 0
IND-L 8 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0
IND-PC 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
BLOC-P 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
LAB-P 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
IND-CCF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DOUBTFUL 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
TOTAL 245 4 12 10 65 82 17 21 17 16 1
Last Update: June 12, 3:00 AM EDT

LIB leading (2) – Athabasca, North Battleford.
PC leading (3) – Queens, Toronto-St. Paul, Yukon.

Standing at dissolution

LIB PC CCF SC LP INL IND BP UN LP VAC
155 40 10 10 5 3 6 2 1 1 12

Party standing by total vote

Province Total LIB PC CCF OTHERS
PEI 56,121 27,567 26,686 1,868 –
NS 226,891 101,426 86,235 37,749 1,418
NB 171,820 85,289 69,124 11,006 6,401
QUE 1,121,514 476,578 89,868 22,668 532,400
ONT 1,534,582 639,747 659,368 198,619 46,298
MAN 206,101 72,475 47,835 66,030 19,761
SASK 178,277 62,277 37,742 73,335 4,923
ALTA 110,417 24,890 20,389 21,491 43,647
BC 32,973 9,227 10,992 9,493 3,261
YUKON – – – – –
TOTALS 3,638,696 1,499,476 1,048,239 442,259 658,172
Last Update: June 12, 1:00 AM EDT

OTTAWA (June 11) – Another Liberal government with Mackenzie King at its head was indicated as a certainty by incomplete returns midway in the night’s news, and before midnight it looked as if the King government would have a bare overall majority in the new Parliament, or at least 125 seats.

This was accomplished by checking the CCF threat in the eastern half of the country, doing better in the Maritime Provinces than the Liberals had hoped, getting not less than 55 seats in Quebec, losing less than half their representation in Ontario and holding their own in Manitoba.

But the Progressive Conservative Party, led by John Bracken, did well in Ontario and cut into Liberal majorities in Nova Scotia. They failed, however, to make any inroad into Quebec and suffered the same fate as the Liberals in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Prime Minister King, in a statement broadcast late tonight, declared the verdict showed the people were satisfied with the Liberal conduct of the war, said there had been no scandal in that conduct, reiterated his campaign assertion – that the moneyed interests had sought to control the government of Canada.

McNaughton beaten

There were at least two ministerial casualties, according to incomplete returns. Notable of these was Defense Minister A. G. L. MacNaughton who was beaten in a three-cornered fight in Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, the second electoral defeat for him in five months. Another was Lawrence MacLaren of Saint John, New Brunswick, new Minister of National Revenue.

All the party leaders were elected: Mackenzie King, John Bracken, M. J. Coldwell (CCF) and John Blackmore and E.G. Hansell (Social Credit).

Another ministerial result of importance was that Prince Edward Island heeded the warning given by Mr. King at a press conference just before he left for San Francisco. Then the Prime Minister said PEI was left out of the cabinet shuffle and he said it would continue to be unless the government was returned. So, the island province returned three Liberals, enough to give them a seat in the cabinet and this is certain to go to Dr. Cyrus MacMillan of McGill University, who was a considerable time ago Minister of Fisheries, and in the last Parliament was Parliamentary Assistant to the Air Minister.

There will be a further cabinet reorganization and it will bring in a new minister for New Brunswick. The most likely choice will be Maj. H. F. G. Bridges, who wrested York-Sunbury from the Progressive Conservatives and who has had a notable record overseas in the present war.

With another portfolio to go to Ontario because of the retirement, due to illness of Postmaster General W. P. Mulock, it is expected the call will go to Ross Macdonald of Brantford. The shuffle, too, will have to take account of the second defeat of Gen. MacNaughton who is not expected to be included in another ministry.

A vast pile of unfinished business awaits the re-elected government and one of the first moves of the Prime Minister is expected to be a visit to Washington to confer with President Truman on fiscal and other matters, and then to San Francisco to sign for Canada on the dotted line of the World Security Pact.

To reshuffle cabinet

Reorganization of the cabinet will probably await Mr. King’s return from San Francisco at which time the soldier vote will be complete. That it will be a factor is admitted by all parties, especially in constituencies where there were close votes, but the ballots of the armed forces are not likely to radically change the total results.

Another item of big national business is the much-heralded conference between the Dominion and the provincial governments which is absolutely imperative before the federal Parliament can finally pass upon the national health insurance scheme for which a draft bill has already been prepared and also before there can be any real attempt at a readjustment of financing as between the various taxing authorities.

The twentieth Parliament is expected to meet very early in September and tit will be necessary for legislators to meet for at least two months. Five-twelfths, or nearly a half of the total estimates, war and non-war, of over $5,500,000,000 has already been approved by the short session but a large amount of work remains for the House and Senate.

There were at least five features to the Quebec voting. One was the exceedingly narrow margin by which Naval Minister Douglas Abbott won in Montreal. Another was the highly satisfying defeat of Mayor Houde in St. Mary’s. A third was the success of John T. Hackett in Stanstead, which brings this colorful Progressive Conservative member back to the House after a lengthy absence.

Still another highlight was the remarkably strong run made in Sherbrooke by Maj. John Bassett Jr.

Another personal feature of the election was the defeat of Liberal Mrs. Cora Casselman in East Edmonton, and Mrs. Nielsen failed of election in the Battlefords, which means there will be no representative of women in the new Parliament. This conforms to the pattern of the provincial result in Ontario where the women were left home.

An important success out on the Pacific Coast was that of Gen. Pearkes who won in Nanaimo and who will be in Parliament to quiz the government on its military effort against the Japs.

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That’s a party? What?

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No. Just votes in doubt lol.

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@rit_upy There ya go…

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How can you have votes in doubt? Do people just scribble over the paper?

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“Too close to call…”

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It does happen occasionally. What’s more common is that the mark on the ballot isn’t as clear as it could be or the voter marked more than one candidate. Decades ago, I was a scrutineer in a federal by-election, and I “rescued” many votes for my candidate (not for a major party) that scrutineers from the bigger parties had challenged as being invalid. The intial hand-count of ballots is reported and those numbers are the ones used even today in media reports as an election is underway. In theory, the votes will be verified and the final number (sometimes a bit different than the initial number) is recorded as the official result in that electoral district.

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GRIP IS HELD ON QUEBEC WITH 55 OUT OF 65 SEATS WON
Betters position – Liberals lose to independents but virtually sweep Quebec

King Ministers elected – Power and Cardin and returned and expected to support Liberals
By Abel Vineberg

Drives from various angles against the Liberal Party in the province of Quebec failed to noticeably shake the strength of that party in yesterday’s federal election, and the government emerged from the fray stronger than it had been on the day of dissolution of the last Parliament, certainly more compact, though numerically weaker than after the 1940 elections.

Of the 65 seats in the province, the government carried all but 10, though strictly on the record there may be question of two more seats not being counted in their list.

Included in this list of 10 non-Liberals is Hon. P. J. A. Cardin, a staunch Liberal dating back to the 1911 vintage, who left Premier Mackenzie King on some war policies. There is John T. Hackett, KC, who won Stanstead as a straight party Progressive Conservative, defeating Armand Choquette, Bloc Populaire Canadien, who had sat in the last Parliament, and who went down to defeat yesterday with all but two members of the Bloc.

Bona Arsenault, who won in Bonaventure as an independent, was formerly Progressive Conservative organizer in the district of Quebec, and who left his chief on internal party differences. He defeated Liberal John C. Filker. There was elected G. H. Heon, a former Conservative organizer of the Montreal district, who carried Argenteuil County against J. W. McGibbon.

Independents elected

In addition to these eight elected candidates, P. E. Gagnon was elected as an Independent in Chicoutimi, defeating Liberal J. A. Hamel. Still another Independent candidate was elected was Liguori Lacombe, who defeated Liberal Joseph Ouimet in Laval-Two Mountains.

This makes 10 seats which the Liberal Party did not carry, and if the record is followed strictly as to party affiliations as given on nomination day there are two other seats which the Liberals did not carry, but which went to independent Liberals. Hon Wilfrid Griepy, running as an independent Liberal, was elected in Three Rivers, defeating Robert Ryan, the official candidate. Lucien Dubois, running as an Independent in Nicolet-Yamaska, defeated Paul Trahan, who won a Liberal convention against Mr. Dubois. Whether these two elected candidates will return to the Liberal fold or remain outside the fold as independents is a question. Mr. Garipey is a former Liberal Minister in a one-time Liberal government at Alberta, and has always been considered as a Liberal, ang may be expected to accept a party invitation if extended.

Two Bloc Populaire Canadien candidates were elected. They were the leader, Maxime Raymond, who just edged his way to victory in Beauharnois-Laprairie, and Rene Hamel, who won in St. Maurice-Lafleche. All other Bloc Populaire candidates were defeated, heavily so, including Armand Choquette, who had been sitting member for Stanstead at the time of dissolution. Frederic Dorion, running as an independent in Charlevoix-Saguenay, was re-elected, though his partner in the House of Commons, Sasseville, was defeated in Gaspe. Fred Rose was re-elected in Cartier, Montreal, the only Labor-Progressive to be elected in the province, if not in all Canada.

Bloc fails

The failure of the Bloc to get more than two seats in all the province, despite the fact that they had 37 candidates, and they campaigned intensively and loudly, was equalled, and even outpaced by the record of the Social Credit Party, and the CCF. These parties carried not a single seat. It had been expected that Mayor Edward Wilson of Verdun might win, but he failed, and the Social Credit Party never came near to winning.

All the Liberal Ministers were re-elected by huge majorities, some of the staggeringly huge.

Several of the independents made excellent fights, such as in Joliette-Montealm-L’Assomption, in Lake St. John-Roberval, and elsewhere, but they were not good enough. J. A. Crete, Liberal member in the last Parliament, who had pronounced himself as favoring the Cardin movement when that movement was announced, was defeated in St. Maurice-Lafleche. The party took him back to the fold, but the people rejected him for the second of the Bloc Populaire candidates elected, Rene Hamel.

In several cases, Liberal members of the last parliament who had been in a state of revolt against the King government on war policies, were re-elected, but they were re-elected as Liberals, the party putting up no candidates against them, and they were amongst those present to honor the Liberal chief when he appeared in the province. They dropped the qualification of independent Liberal.

Hon. Wilfrid Gariepy, who ran as an independent Liberal, waseleected in Three Rivers, defeatin he official Liberl candidate, Robert Ryah but Mr. Griepy an ex-Liberal Minister in an Alberta government, is expected to be a supporter of the Libral government, and may be counted among he Liberal frcs of the province.

Lesage in lead

From below Quebec, first news was of Montmagny-L’Islet, and showed Liberal Jean Lesage in the lead with 1,170 votes as against 206 for Boulanger (Social Credit) and 474 for Ringuette (Independent). This was for 11 polls in 77.

Independent P. E. Gagnon was ahead in Chicoutimi with 14 out of 207 polls, the figures being 825 for Gagnon, one independent Liberal, Landry had 43 votes, another independent Liberal, Hamel had 462 votes, while the Social Credit candidate Maltais had 111 votes and Agers, the BP, had 469.

The Bloc Populaire candidate in St. Maurice-Lafleche showed strength with 30 of the 141 polls reporting, the figures being. Rene Hamel, BP, 2,692 against 1,879 for Liberal J. A. Crete, 831 for J. A. Bilodeau, and 144 for Lucien Lamvert, SC.

In Jacques Cartier, in 14 of 164 polls, Eiphege Marier was leading with 781 votes, while Progressive Conservative Elmo Deslauriers totalled 646, Paul (Bloc), 266 and Charron (CCF), 160.

In St. James, in 6 of 259 polls, Beaudry had 700 votes while others were recorded as Cote (SC), 23; Dugas (Independent), 10; Duhame (Bloc), 326; Jeannot (Independent), 88; Loiselle (Independent), 16; Mathieu (Ind.-L), 10, and Rochon (CCF), 15.

In St. Denis, in 40 of 226 polls, Denis, a Liberal, led with 3,121 against Fournier (Independent), 615; Poulin (Bloc), 1,617; Roberge (SC), 58.

First St. Antoine-Westmount returns gave Progressive Conservative Maj.-Gen. C. Basil Price 788 for a lead of 100 over Douglas Abbott, Liberal Navy Minister. Flanagan, CCF, had 94 and Wisdom, Independent, 9.

Maisonneuve-Rosemount early returns gave:
Fournier, LIB 140
Tremblay, PC 60
Dion, CCF 11
Fortin, IND-LIB 36
St. Laurent, SC 4
Sauriol, BP 72
Simard, IND 2

In Mercier, in 10 polls of 212, Joseph Jean led with 600 against Belisle (Independent), 12; Brien (PC), 50; Chausse (Bloc), 229; Gill (CCF), 11; Lajeunese (SC), 32, and Larin (L-Lab.), 4.

Liberal in Sherbrooke

A close fight was shown in Sherbrooke, with indications when 66 out of 124 polls had reported, that Liberal Maurice Gingues had won over Maj. John Bassett Jr., the Progressive Conservative. The figures for the two candidates were 4,703 and 3,629, which considering the fact specially that Maj. Bassett arrived from the battlefront with very little time in which to create an organization, constituted a surprise. An independent candidate, Joseph Labreque, with Conservative leanings drew 1,627 votes. The CCF candidate gathered 123 votes, and the Bloc Populaire candidate for 1,708 votes.

The closeness of the fight put up by some independents is shown in figures from Kamouraska where Eugene Marquis had 2,590 votes against Wilfrid Levesque (Independent), with 43 out of 87 polls reporting.

In Bonaventure, the indications were strong that Bona Arsneault, running as an independent, had ousted his Liberal opponent, Gilker, the figures for 76 out of 104 polls being 5,685 and 4,713.

Dr. Leo Duguay, independent in Lake St. John-Roberval, with 83 out of 125 polls heard from, was also doing well. The figures were:
J. J. A. Dion, LIB 6,063
Duguay 5,677
Harvey, BP 3,100
Larouche, SC 680

Hackett elected

The situation in Stanstead was reversed, when reports indicated that John T. Hackett (PC) had defeated J. A. Choquette, the Bloc Populaire candidate, bringing the Bloc showing from three to two in the province.

In Dorchester County, L. D. Tremblay was re-elected, with 30 out of 67 polls reporting, but the result was not definite, since the figures were 2,020 for Tremblay while Independent Emile Boiteau had 1,805.

Ex-Mayor Ernest Gregoire of Quebec City, a leader in the Social Credit movement in this province, gathered in 947 votes.

Later figures indicated that Liberal G. E. Lapalme had been elected in Joliette-Montcalm-L’Assomption.

Final figures for Beauharnois-Laprairie showed that while Maxime Raymond, Bloc Populaire Canadien leader, had won his fight, it had been a very hard fight. Mr. Raymond gathered in 10,472 votes in the 112 polls, as against 10,068 which went to his Liberal opponent, Mayor Robert Cauchon of Valleyfield.

Final figures for Quebec West and South show Charles Parent was re-elected as Liberal with a large majority over the runner-up. The figures were:
Parent 9,727
Bouchard, SC 3,854
Coulombe, LAP 380
Lespinay, CCF 194
J.N. Parent, IND 4,954

The complete figures for Argenteuil show that independent Conservative G. H. Heon carried the county with a vote of 5,105 against 4,975 polled for Liberal J. W. McGibbon. A Social Credit candidate, E. Gendron polled 304 votes.

Final figures in Quebec show Hon. C. G. Power elected by an overwhelming majority. He polled 11,554 votes, and the nearest man to him was C. A. Plante, an independent, with 1,468 votes.

Mr. Power’s neighbor in Quebec, Hon. Louis St. Laurent, was also reeelevted with a huge majority, total figures being 17,267 for the Minister of Justice, while the next man to him, Noel Dorion, an independent, got 7,069 votes.

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15 KING CANDIDATES RETURNED IN MONTREAL ISLAND RACE
Houde is defeated – four cabinet ministers are returned on island

Rose is again elected – all others are in Liberal column with St. Antoine-Westmount close
By Tracy S. Ludington

Yesterday’s federal election on the island of Montreal returned 15 Liberals to the House of Commons in 16 ridings, four of them cabinet ministers.

The only non-Liberal to be elected was Labor-Progressive Fred Rose in Cartier division, who held his riding handily over Sam Schwisberg, a Liberal and his nearest opponent.

The four cabinet men to be returned were:

  • Hon. Douglas C. Abbot, Navy Minister, who eked out a 109-vote victory over Maj.-Gen. Charles Basil Price (Progressive Conservative) in St. Antoine-Westmount

  • Hon. Brooke Claxton, Health Minister, who defeated Maj.-Gen. E. R. Phelan (Progressive Conservative) in St. Lawrence-St. George

  • Hon. Joseph Jean, Solicitor-General, elected in Mercier

  • Hon. E. Bertrand, Minister of Fisheries, elected in Laurier.

Other Liberals elected included: Edouard Rinfret in Outremont, A. Denis in St. Denis, Roland Beaudry in St. James, Sarto Fournier in Maisonneuve-Rosemount, Raymond Eudes in Hochelaga, J. A. Bonnier in St. Henry, F. P. Whitman in Mount Royal, Elphege Marier in Jacques Cartier, Dr. Gaspard Fauteux in St. Mary, Thomas P. Haly in St. Ann and Paul Emile Cote in Verdun.

In one riding, St. Antoine-Westmount, there is a possibility that the small majority of Hon. Douglas Abbott may be reversed by the soldier vote, but this is perhaps the only case in which the overseas vote would be able to reverse a decision, although it might be a mathematical possibility in Mount Royal where St. Clair Holland was defeated by F. P. Whitman.

Many in race

Popular objection voiced by the vast majority to the election, that there were “too many candidates,” also seemed to provide the key to the Liberal strength in some ridings, while in others the King party was genuinely Strong.

In Laurier, Hon. Ernest Bertrand was running in a seat he had held in the last House. In Outremont, Edouard Rinfret is a new man, a former president of the Young Liberals of Quebec and a son of the Chief Justice of Canada. He ran in the seat formerly held by Maj.-Gen. L. R. LaFleche.

Cartier, the only seat on the island to go out of the Liberal fold, is again held by Fred Rose who gained it originally in a byelection after it became vacant on the death of Peter Bercovitch.

St. Denis goes again to Azela Denis. It was formerly held by his brother, the late Dr. J. G. Denis. Mercier is again in the pocket of Hon. Joseph Jean, Solicitor General who held it in the last House.

St. James has been captured by Roland Beaudry, one-time Gazette reporter, now publisher of several weekly publications. It was formerly represented by the late J. A. Desroches. Maisonneuve Rosemount is again represented by Arto Fournier who has been taken back into the Liberal fold after following Cardin from the Liberal bandwagon at the time of the conscription debates and amendment to the mobilization act.

Hon. Brooke Claxton retains St. Lawrence, St. George which he originally wrested from late Hon. C. H. Cahan. Hochelaga is again represented by Raymond Eudes, St. Henry by J. A. Bonnier who beat Camillien Houde in a byelection there in 1936 and Mount Royal is again represented by Fred Whitman who won it in 1940 from the late W. Allen Walsh.

Elphege Marier goes in again in Jacques Cartier with more than 3,000 majority over Mayor Elmo E. Deslauriers of Ste. Anne.

Dr. Gaspard Fauteux won a handy victory over Camillien Houde whom he defeated in the same seat once before in the provincial elections.

Thomas P. Healy again took St. Ann and P. E. Cote in Verdun to bring the Liberal sweep within one of the 16 seats on the island.

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PC Party led to high point

Bracken promises electors a strong, alert opposition
By Harold Dingman, Gazette staff reporter

OTTAWA (June 11) – John Bracken, national leader of the Progressive Conservatives, in today’s election returns carried his party to its highest fortunes in 10 years and definitely reestablished it in its traditional role as one of the great political parties in Canada.

Late tonight, when the trend of the vote was clear, and after Prime Minister Mackenzie King had spoken, Mr. Bracken went on the CBC and in a national broadcast he promised a strong opposition. He made it clear that he accepted the people’s verdict only “for the time being,” and said he would work consistently toward the objectives he set out in his campaign.

He also made it plain that he had no intention of carrying into Parliament any bitterness aroused during the election campaign and he promised to the government that it would have the cooperation of the official opposition. The government would also find the opposition an alert body, he pointed out, reminding the nation that representative government required an opposition. In the difficult years ahead, his party would aid Parliament in a constructive manner, he assured the people.

The Progressive Conservative leader received the election returns in Bracken House on Laurier Avenue, not far from Laurier House where Prime Minister Mackenzie King and a few of his aides watched the teletype anxiously, particularly in the early evening when Mackenzie King’s own seat was in doubt.

For John Bracken personally, today’s election can be regarded as a major political gain, not because he won his own seat in Neepawa, Manitoba, but because he, through two and a half years of leadership, reasserted the old party as a strong factor in the political life of Canada. When he was asked to lead the Conservative Party – and the party went to him, not he to the party – it was at its lowest point in the history of Canada, with only 39 seats and with the CCF rapidly becoming the second most influential party in the administrative life of the nation, so that his contribution to the political life of Canada has been of tremendous significance.

As the leader of a party he suffered his first defeat, for never from the time he left the presidency of the Manitoba Agricultural College to become premier of that province, until he voluntarily left office there, was his government defeated, and today he carried on his own tradition for personal triumph, with his opponents early conceding his win in Neepawa.

Mr. Bracken arrived in Ottawa early this morning from his final campaign through Western Ontario, and shortly after 9 a.m. he cast his vote in a downtown polling booth. From there he went directly to his farm and only returned to Bracken House, national headquarters of his party, after dinner this evening.

He received the returns by special wire in the office of Richard Bell, national director of the part. Mrs. Bracken was with him as the news came in. A few of the officials of the party were present in the room. One of them commented that Mr. Bracken looked exceedingly fit after his strenuous campaign, and he replied: “I have a clear conscience in this election, perhaps that’s why.”

In a nationwide broadcast, Mr. Bracken said:

The people of Canada have spoken. The returns so far indicate that the Prime Minister will be able to form a government and carry on. They also indicate the opposition in parliament will be much stronger than before. The years ahead will be difficult ones and the opposition will contribute in a constructive way to the tasks they bring.

The final civilian returns are not yet received and the soldiers vote not yet known. It is evident, however, that while the government has not yet a clear majority, the major political direction for the life of the next Parliament will remain with the Liberal Party.

I accept the verdict of the people and extend my congratulations to the government. At the same time, I wish to express our thanks to the many workers across Canada who gave so much of their time for our cause.

We put forward a good program. It has not received the majority endorsation. We accept the people’s verdict for the time being. But we shall continue to work consistently toward our objectives. As the opposition, we will bring no bitterness to our task, but shall be vigilant and cooperative and carry out the responsibilities that fall to the opposition.

To my friends in Neepawa, may I say one brief word. I could not spend much time with you. You did a wonderful job in my absence. I shall try to be worthy of your confidence.

As a political party our duty is clear. Representative government requires an opposition as well as a government. We shall carry on to the best of our capacity the high and responsible duties which Parliament traditionally has vested in His Majesty’s loyal opposition.

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King sees plan winning point

Attributes support to post-war program of Liberal Party

OTTAWA (CP, June 11) – Prime Minister Mackenzie King in a radio address tonight attributed support given his government in today’s general election to post-war plans of the Liberal administration.

Looking to a new world order in which there would be world security and world peace with a national standard of well-being and full employment and social security, Mr. King called on Canadians to meet post-war problems with the same determination and cooperation which made possible Canada’s war effort.

Mr. King said:

There is no longer any doubt that the result of today’s voting means the continuance in office of a Liberal administration with a majority over the combined total of representatives of all other parties in the House.

For this expression of confidence in the present administration, I cannot thank you too warmly on behalf of all members of the government.

After six years of war it would not have been surprising if the people had placed upon the government the blame for inconvenience, sacrifice and suffering. One of the most noticeable features of the campaign had been that opponents of the government at no time suggested that after 10 years in office it was time to change the government.

The result of today’s election discloses that most of our people not only are justly proud of Canada’s contribution – their own contribution – to victory, but that it is recognized that our country’s effort was wisely planned, organized and directed by the present administration.

The election result had also “repudiated the efforts of those who have ignored parliament and parliamentary methods and who have sought by high pressure publicity methods to gain control of the government of our country.”

The mandate the government has received today is a mandate to strive, above all else, for full employment and social security in our country, and a new world order based on international understanding, on mutual aid, on friendship and goodwill – an era of world security and world peace.

The Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader met last night, for the first time in the campaign, as Mr. Bracken entered radio station CBC, in Ottawa. Mr. King was just leaving.

“I’ll be seeing more of you now,” said John Bracken, the member for Neepawa, in answer to Mr. King’s repeated attacks on the Progressive Conservative chief because he held no seat in the last House of Commons.

Earlier, Mr. Bracken had sent the Prime Minister a personal message of congratulation.

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Coldwell places defeat on LPPs

CCF leader says Communists confused issue to aid Liberals

OTTAWA (CP, June 11) – M. J. Coldwell, CCF leader, tonight attributed defeat of his party in today’s general election to “tissues of falsehoods and distortions” and to “confusion deliberately created… in the interests of the Liberal Party by Communists under the guise of Labor-Progressives.”

He said, too, that the result of last week’s Ontario election was no doubt reflected in the Dominion vote.

Text of Mr. Coldwell’s statement follows:

Naturally I am disappointed with the general result of one election, however I believe that a vast majority of those who voted did so in the manner they believed was best for our country.

That many were deceived by tissues of falsehoods and distortions by Trestrail [B. A. Trestrail of Social Suicide] and his employers is also certain. Confusion was deliberately created in many eastern industrial constituencies in the interests of the Liberal party by Communists under the guise of Labor-Progressives.

No doubt, too, we suffered severely because of the election returns in the recent Ontario provincial election.

Now there is a big task ahead for everyone. The old parties pledge themselves to maintain both free enterprise and full employment, which progressive thinkers all over the world believe to be incompatible. That view I share.

Some results may be changed when the overseas service votes are counted. Returns already published show that the CCF was warmly supported by service personnel. This is not surprising for they have been engaged in defeating capitalist dictatorships under Mussolini and Hiter overseas. It is natural that they should continue the struggle at home.

I would like to express my deep appreciation to all who are giving and will continue to give this people’s movement most devoted and continuous support. For myself I shall carry on under the same handicaps as before the election for I have faith in the ultimate success of our just and democratic cause. Might I take this opportunity too of thanking my loyal supporters and the electors of Rosetown-Biggar who gave me such splendid support today.

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CP recruits help to cover election

Fifty workers in Montreal office busy tabulating cross-country figures

(CP) – A battery of newspapermen, on loan from their papers, including several who have left the profession, augmented the Montreal staff of the Canadian Press last night to help gather and compile election returns from Canada’s 245 constituencies and communicate them to 98 daily newspapers throughout the country.

A few minutes after the polls were closed, results started to filter in until they were augmented by polls closing in other parts of the country, where there was a time difference. The first returns came from the Maritimes, then the Montreal district, then Ontario, the Great Lakes area, the Prairies, the Rocky Mountain area and it was about 10 o’clock before the first report came from the Pacific Coast. This was flashed from New Westminster.

Results reached the CP office from correspondents spread through every section of the province whose reports were routed by telephone and telegraph, to workers who were ready to receive the calls with prepared forms.

“This is Stanstead reporting, 10 polls give Mr. Choquette a majority of 28 votes,” says a voice from down in the Eastern Townships.

The worker in the Canadian Press office jotted down the figures which were checked by editors and subsequently relayed to waiting newspapers and radio stations.

The Canadian Press supervisor might have doubted whether the report in favor of Mr. Choquette was accurate, and would send a query to the CP representative at Stanstead, to probe the result, whereupon the matter was double-checked and the small margin between the man in the lead and the second-place candidate verified from time to time. Finally, a report came in stating that John T. Hackett had overtaken his adversary, and the fight from then on was followed until the last poll reported.

Where it was clear that the man in the lead would not be overtaken by his opponents, the Canadian Press wrote that election of the leading candidate was “indicated.” This is how the winner was described because it was difficult to “concede the election” on the basis of the civilian vote only since to the present returns must be added the soldier vote. This may change results in some ridings where the running is close.

Reports came kicking into the CP office from the West and from here they were relayed on multiple repeaters to the Maritimes. A technician looked after the relay rack, which is the mechanical nerve centre of the office, and helps link the office with papers from coast to coast.

At 8:35 p.m., the CP conceded re-election of the Liberal Party.

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