The Western Socialist: The Official Organ of the Socialist Party of Canada
19364457Winnipeg Manitoba: The Socialist Party of Canada June 1936 - March 1938. First Edition First Printing. Stapled Wraps. Unpaginated uniformly numbering twelve 12 pages per issue. 8vo's. measuring 8.5" x 11". Original twice-stapled mimeographed self-wrappers. Commencing publication in 1903 in Winnipeg by the Socialist Party of Canada our offering comprises of eleven exceedingly rare early issues of this most elusive early Western-Canadian Socialist periodical. Published in the heart of Canada Winnipeg Manitoba the site of some of the most vociferous early workers' movements notably the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 and where some of the early socialist and CCF movements germinated the Western Socialist would serve as an important mouthpiece of this fledgling coalition of workers activists and early self-styled "Canadian Socialists". Printed with the stated objectives of "the establishment of a system of society based upon the common ownership and democratic control of the means and instruments for producing and distributing wealth by and in the interest of society as a whole" complete with a printed "Declaration of Principles" to the rear covers of all issues. Replete with commentary news and updates of the International Socialist movement and the state of Socialism in Canada notably in British Columbia and the Prairies with headings such as: "Another Labor Government" "The C.C.F. and the League of Nations" "Why We Study Marx" "The Fallacy of Reform" "Why We Oppose Religion" "Fighting Fascism" et al. Much critique of capitalism a selection of Socialist literature complete with a price-list world news humor and a consistent appeal for their membership to engage politically: "The Socialist Party of Canada therefore enters the field of political action determined to wage war against all other political parties whether alleged labor or avowedly capitalist and calls upon all members of the working class of this country to support these principles to the end that a speedy termination may be brought to the system which deprives them of the fruits of their labor and that poverty may give place to comfort privilege to equality and slavery to freedom." Light foxing to the margins of most issues unaffecting text or legibility else very good. Weinrich 5409 p.416 <br/><br/>Corresponds to OCLC #865191077 indicating only one institutional holding at the University of British Columbia. To be distinguished though not unrelated to a similarly titled but entirely separate publication bearing the same title though published out of Boston Massachusetts as a consequence of a later merger with their American counterparts "The Workers Socialist Party of the United States later known as the World Socialist Party of the United States please refer to our listing No. 4458. Our offering comprises of the following issues: Vol. III Nos. 30 33-35 1936; Vol. IV Nos. 36-38 41 45 1937; Vol. V Nos. 44 46 1938. Unrecorded in Peel BAC/LAC University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections et al. Rare indeed. The Socialist Party of Canada paperback
