Ross Dowson -1946 Correspondence

1945 forward to 1947 back to main page send a comment or question to the editors of this site

General, including Montreal and Windsor correspondence

(See Vancouver & B.C. below)

01_12 Letter to Comrades (of the RWP, Montreal), re: financial contributions; personnel
01_11 Minutes of Political Committee (PC) RWP; additional full-time person for Montreal sent, Resolution on French Constitutional Referendum, Draft Resolution on the World Conference of the Fourth International (FI)
01_14th Letter to Don (Windsor), re: the press blackout of our Mayoralty election campaign, CP and CCF endorse Tory candidate
03_2nd
15 Pages
Document: March IB: Political Committee document "Perspectives for the Canadian Section;" the importance of the party; the treachery of the Stalinist and Social-Democratic parties; the belated political development of the class in North America; our intervention in the CCF; our basic strategy towards the CCF; history of the entry tactic; the main task of building the revolutionary party
03_22 Letter to Comrades (Montreal), re: the movement financial crisis
04_29
2 Pages
Letter to Louis (Montreal), re: attempts to hold study classes; personnel and financial challenges
05_01
2 Pages
Transcription of May Day speech (from RD's notes), Toronto: unable to get a hall for the meeting; the history of May Day 1886 and since in Europe and America
05_04
2 Pages
Letter to Jean-Marie Bèdard (Montreal) re: west coast comrades planning to come East; their potential value for the Montreal branch
June 19
Montreal
Letter to the Montreal Branch, Comrades; an emergency communication re: the subscription drive; the need to connect with both the French and English working class in Quebec
07_00
13 Pages
Document from the ? July IB? ? for the Canadian Section of the F.I. by R.D.; ''A contribution to the discussion;'' a brief history of the difficult birth of Trotskyism in Canada; the isolation and demoralization of the W.P. and the first fruitless entry into the CCF; the 1938 reconciliation of party factions nullified by World War 2; the 1944 regrouping of the movement; the debate on setting up an independent revolutionary party; the urgent need for such a party today in Canada; the inadequacy of the CCF for the task at hand; the necessity to move out beyond the CCF
08_11
2 Pages
Letter to Jean-Marie Bèdard (Montreal), re: the possible Stalinists leading a one-day strike in Valleyfield and our withdrawing from the WLB
08_23
2 Pages
Letter to Louis (Montreal), re: emphasizing the importance of the Montreal group; it`s lack of financial response and party organization
08_28
2 Pages
Letter to Jean-Marie Bèdard (Montreal), re: developments in Quebec Stalinist politics; ''conference'' preparations
09_07
2 Pages
Letter to Alice (Montreal), re: (RWP) founding convention plans; prominent B.C. trade union comrades resign from CCF
09_28-29 Document: RWP Internal Bulletin: ''Constitution of the RWP of Canada and a report of its founding convention`` -- see March 1947 (Publication date of IB)
09_99 (Undated letter) To All Branches for their immediate attention: the RWP founding convention mandated fund drives; the suggested branch quotas are given for adoption as minimums
10_00
(4 pages / files)
Undated transcribed RD speech notes '' On the launching of the Revolutionary Workers Party (RWP);'' gathered around the program of Labor Challenge; the profound crisis of Stalinism; the urgent need for a revolutionary party of the class
10-_02b First meeting of new Political Committee" (PC Minutes);decision to send M (Murray Dowson) as substitute to Montreal after his mayoralty campaign in Toronto, journal sub campaign
10-_02nd Letter to Maurice (Windsor), re: founding convention a success;a financial drive
10_07 Letter to Don (Windsor)re success of RWP convention which included prominent BC union activists
10_08 Letter to Jean-Marie Bèdard (Montreal), re: inviting him to reply to a Toronto Star article on labor independent political action
10_08th B Toronto Globe & Mail article on the founding of the RWP: ''Up the Revolution;'' garbled report centres on LPP (CPC) strength and union influence in Canada
10_09th
2 Pages
Letter to Alice (Montreal), re: brief report on the convention; seeking news reports from Quebec; the availability of French-language Marxist literature
10_10 Letter to Jean-Marie Bèdard (Montreal), re: the defection of a comrade and his rotten politics hold a lesson for us
10_30
4 Pages
Undated transcribed article from notes by RD: ''The revolutionary situation in Europe following World War II;'' the crisis of capitalism sharpest in Europe and the working class of Britain the most experienced; the bankruptcy of the Stalinists and Social-Democrats; the second stage of working-class mobilization approaching; an opportunity for the parties of the Fourth International
10_31 Document: RD speech ''Russian Revolution Memorial 46;'' the 29th anniversary of the event which proved the working class can take power; the storm that swept Europe and shook the world; the need to extend the Revolution; Trotsky's defeat and Stalinist betrayal and terror; the isolation of the Revolution; the illusory strength of Stalinism rda-RWP2.doc
11_04 P.C. meeting around November 4th, NEW as of Sunday, June 29, 2008
11_08th
2 Pages
Letter to Jean-Marie Bèdard (Montreal), re: the situation in the Montreal branch, the IWA unionization drive and his election victory
11_03 Tom bradley quit NEW as of Sunday, June 29, 2008
11_17 Letter to Don & Eleanor (Windsor), re: his activity in the Detroit SWP branch; finances and local subscriber contacts
11_21st
5 Pages / files
Letter to George (Novack, SWP, New York), re: a complete and detailed report of the progress and problems of the RWP (4+ pp)
Undated speech found in 1946, transcribed from RD's notes, ''What is Trotskyism?'' (to a group of young socialists); the danger of yet another war at the close of WW 2; has Stalinism arisen inevitably from the Russian Revolution? No, Trotskyism is Bolshevism; the pro-capitalist nature of social-democracy 1946-Nov00-1 -2 -3 -4.tif (4 files)


Vancouver & B.C. correspondence - 1946

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01_10 To Dear Comrades (Vancouver Branch), re: payment received on Vancouver quota of fund drive for the twice-monthly LC; a few organizational questions; a donation from a CCF club; sketchy communications
01_15 Letter to Ellaline, re: heavy BC correspondence, journal coverage and Vancouver distributions and sales
02_16 Letter to Reg Bullock, re: late articles received; future deadlines; need signed articles
02_26 Letter to Van, re: his article arrived too late for the issue of LC
03_06 Letter to Tom, re: discussion on an European document; requesting information on the upcoming BC-CCF convention; tight finances make a BC trip impossible; sending him minutes of PC meeting
03_06th C Letter to Ellen, re: no literature orders yet from BC
03_06th B Unsigned letter to Comrade Faulkner from RD or Murray Dowson; explaining the Marxist method of characterizing a state by its economic base, not upon the policies of the group in power (i.e, the socialist nature of the USSR despite its Stalinist leadership)
03_08 Letter to Reg Bullock, re: sending SWP Party Builder bulletins to the BC literature agent
03_16
Letter to Van, re: does he wish his document on Perspectives of the Left Wing published?
Letter to Comrade Fergusson re his trip to the Prairies and a list of LC contacts he should visit
03_20 Letter to Tom, re: all Vancouver documents to be published; some organizational questions; Van's document to be the basis of a rebuttal by the NC; the need for a full unrestricted literary discussion; the need for a common policy at the BC CCF convention
03_22nd Letter to Vancouver Comrades, re: our financial crisis;
the need to ask members and friends for funds to avoid being forced to revert to a monthly journal
04_01st Letter to Paddy Stanton (Prince Rupert), re: his big donation; requesting that Angus move East to bolster young comrades in Toronto; can he come East to Toronto or Montreal
04_06th A Letter to Reg Bullock, re: awaiting news of the citywide conference; CCF MP seems washed up by his statements in the House
04_06th B Letter to Ellaline, re: the necessity to cover expenses when selling literature; the need for BC input on the emergency fund drive
04_19 Letter to (Paddy) Stanton, re: Stalinist publishers do not alter Marxist classics but offer slanted prefaces and footnotes;
big gaps in the English edition of Lenin's complete works;
Lenin quoted on how sycophants attempt to render Marxist writers useless icons
04_19th B Letter to Comrade Fergusson, re: following his tour visiting socialists across Canada;
document discussion important but Van and his critics absent from conference discussion
05_11th A Letter to Tom Bradley re: agreement on perspectives but need discussion on upcoming CCF National convention
05_11th B Letter to Ellaline, re: literature circulation; positive reports of BC
05_31st Letter to Tom Tom Bradley, re: PC minutes enclosed;
need to sharpen the struggle at the CCF convention;
the tactic of seeking CCF affiliation to the F.I.,
BC to decide on some retaining CCF memberships
06_04 Letter to Reg, sending some sensitive correspondence to BC Missing the JPG
06_13 Letter to Comrade White (Britannia Beach), re: renewing contact
06_19 Letter to the Vancouver Branch Comrades, re: an emergency communications re the subscription drive for 1000 new readers; the BC quota of 300 very short to date; let's go!
06_26 Letter to Comrade White (Britannia Beach), re: sending books and offering new ones; the unions as a field of activities for revolutionaries; a local strike vote coming up
07_07 Letter to Tom (B.) re NC resolution on the Fourth International; need to tighten up BC organization in advance of August convention; copy IWA caucus leaflet
07_17th A Letter to Ellaline, re: letters from promising subscribers, journal bundles; the necessity of promoting LC rather than The Militant
07_17th B Letter to Reg Bullock, re: turning down his request to extend the sub campaign
07_22 Letter to Lloyd (W.) re need for BC statement to CCF convention
08_08 Letter to Reg Bullock, re: Lateness of bulletin due to manpower problem in the centre (Toronto); a second bulletin to appear before the (RWP founding) convention; discussion on the D.C. (Van.) minutes; discussions with the dissident CP McKean group; the need for a common BC discussion before the CCF convention
08_10 Letter to Ellaline, re: good news on the BC sub drive; the need to double the journal bundle order; a (5th anniversary) Trotsky's assassination memorial meeting possible for August 21st ?
08_16 Letter to Ellaline, sending issue of Labor Challenge announcing RWP founded; need mass distribution among CCFers
08_19 Letter to Comrade White (Britannia Beach), re: literature and sub sales; BC labor action; Paddy Stanton working in Toronto
08_20 Letter to Lloyd, re: hoping for an LC article as an IWA delegate, some suggestions as to how to criticize CCF policies; facing the possible expulsion of the Trade Union Committee from the CCF
08_24 Letter to Tom, re: sending out extra copies of LC for factory distributions; possible intervention by Shachtmanites in BC, need good delegation from BC (for RWP convention)
08_28_A Letter to Reg Bullock, re: paper delayed by late articles on CCF convention; Reg's fine job at Trade Union Conference where he publicly withdrew from the CCF; the question of BC's opposition to announcing the date and place of the RWP convention; the necessity of publicity on our break from the CCF; the need for a prompt reply from BC on publicizing the convention date and place
08_28_B Letter to F.G. Bonn, Richmond BC, re: a militant subscriber with industrial worker contacts invited to distribute LC on a wider scale
09_05 Letter to Tom, re: the formation of an Labour Challenge supporters club as the North Vancouver CCF considering defecting
09_13 Letter to Ellaline, re: good sub sales, factory distributions in BC and Ontario; the importance of sub renewals
09_14 Letter to Tom, re: a hot contact in Victoria we must send someone over to visit (a 2-day ferry and road trip! -ed.)
09_18 Letter to Comrade White (Britannia Beach), re: unable to make trip East to the convention because of their strike situation
10_08 Letter to Reg Bullock, re: suggestion to Lloyd (W.) re a BC mass meeting to announce foundation of RWP
10_10 Letter to Reg Bullock, re: our public withdrawal from the CCF in BC; work on the party constitution; the need for study classes and public forums; the W.P. in Canada and in the U.S.
10_22nd Letter to Comrade Fergusson, re: the success of the (RWP founding) convention
10_26 Letter to Vancouver branch on Campaign;'' re: need to revise old financial campaign quotas and set new standards to meet new perspectives
10_28 Letter to Reg Bullock, re: our policies regarding appearing before the B.C. Election Committee, against property restrictions and the (first-past-the-post) electoral system and for lowering the voting age to 18
11_05 Letter to Reg Bullock, re: the branch meeting planned for Nov. 6;
their first public forum and promising potential new members;
new educational tools; recordings of Trotsky received
11_08 Letter to Reg Bullock, re: reporting a P.C. decision that the group around (Stan) Stanton publicly break from the LPP immediately
11_14 Letter to Ellaline, re: sub lists and raffles; the need for a financial campaign director, paper distributions at Stalinist functions require at least 5 comrades to avoid violence; need reports of BC meetings; the criteria for members-at-large
11_20 Letter to Reg Bullock, re: his discussions with a Stalinist unionist faction leader; Vancouver meeting report too late and flat; disagreements on the electoral commission approach; the Borland-Stanton split from the LPP (CP)
11_22 Note to Reg re the Bradley affair
12_05 Letter to Reg, re: the PC discussion on Comrade Bradley; his reproachable conduct while in Toronto; differences in trade union work, his slanders against (Paddy) Stanton
12_06 Letter to Comrade White (Britannia Beach), his excellent work in the strike situation


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