A correspondent asks us: "How do we go about setting up a Social Credit Unit in our town?"
The question is welcome, more so because we heartily encourage the multiplication of Social Credit Units to the end that, eventually, there may be one in every municipality in Canada.
The purpose of a Social Credit Unit is the fostering of Social Credit in a locality. In other words, to make Social Credit known hence, to gain subscribers to "Social Credit" which in turn instills into the members the principles of Social Credit and teaches them how to put these principles into action so that Social Credit may finally come into its own in this country.
Another purpose of the Social Credit Unit is to keep a close watch over the peoples' elected representatives in the municipal, provincial and federal governments, in order to ensure that they really act as representatives of the people and not as delegates of vested interests or financial powers.
A Social Credit Unit, then, is essentially a group formed for action; a group in which each member participates in this activity not all to the same degree, perhaps, but, each one to the extent of which he is capable.
And because it is a group formed for action it will be set up by a man of action and will be inspired by men of action.
What is necessary in order to set up a Social Credit Unit in your locality? The first necessity is someone who really wants it. - That is YOU, since it is you who has asked how to found a Unit in your locality. So you are the one who wants it? Then you are the one who is going to organize it.
If you are the only Crediter in your district, then necessarily you will have to make another Crediter in order to form a group. But if there are already subscribers to "Social Credit" in your municipality, then the material from which to build a Unit is already at hand. Go and vis it them. Explain to them your idea, tell them of your decision. Ask them to join you. Set an evening aside for a get-together either at your home or at the home of one of the others, or even in a small meeting hall if you can secure one free of charge.
At this reunion you will explain clearly and in detail the ends for which the Unit is to be formed to promote Social Credit, to enlist families as subscribers to "Social Credit", to see to it that public men serve the community, to protest against local wrongs and injustices.
If there is a good active body of Social Crediters in a place, the Unit there may develop into a Social Credit Center. The Social Credit center holds regular meetings of its members: once a week, always on the same day and at the same place. There, reports are given of the activities of members since the previous meetings, and programs of action are drawn.
In minor places, the Social Credit unit will be somewhat of a Social Credit committee, intervening whenever an occasion arises to further the cause of Social Credit. No formal weekly meeting is necessary. But at the call of the animator of the Unit, the members enter action for a definite purpose.
It is one of the particular functions of the Unit, whether a center or a simple committee, to keep an eye on the public affairs of the municipality. The animator should see that at least some members of the unit be present at every monthly sitting of the municipal council. The committee seizes every opportunity to show the councillors, and the public, how they are handicapped solely by financial restrictions, when physical possibilities are there craving for use.
At the meetings of Social Credit Units, be careful to avoid all gossiping and useless discussions. Social Credit is a doctrine that is complete in itself, tried and true. It is not a matter to be argued about, but to be studied. Further, the purpose of these mettings is to foster action.
Furthermore, there is no question of voting a president or vice-president or any other such rigamarole. A Unit is a group formed for action, a group made up of workers. There is no such a thing as voting to decide who will make door-to-door visits, who will solicit subscriptions, who will write that letter to the local M.P. Each one decides what his or her objective will be and then goes ahead and attains it.
Now obviously there must be someone to coordinate the activities of the group and see to it that the true spirit of Social Credit is kept alive in the Unit. The one to do this is the animator. Ordinarily he is the founder of the Unit, at least to begin with. It is always he who is the most active, the most zealous, the one who, by his example, fires the others to action.
In a Social Credit Unit there must be no striving for honors or titles. If there must be rivalry let it be for subscriptions, for winning new members to Social Credit.
As long as the Crediters' Unit preserves this spirit it will do good work and the cause of Social Credit will be furthered in that place. But the minute ambitious, smooth-tongued individuals start using the Unit for their own profit, to serve them as a stepping stone into politics, at that moment the Unit will start disintegrating. It will cease to be what it should be, an organism to watch and act.
Wherever there are subscribers to this publication a Social Credit Unit should be established. Let there be Units covering the land from one end to the other. It is thus that Social Credit will take hold of Canada.
You understand the importance of the Unit. You are anxious to have one set up where you live. Very well, why delay? Don't be one of the let-George-do-it type. Do it yourself right now!
When you have founded your Unit, please let us know. Make use of the form below for this information. You will receive the special communications we send to the animators of Units when some matter calls for concerted action by Social Crediters.
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A MAYOR READY FOR MARCHING ORDERS - At Lorette (Manitoba), after a Social Credit meeting held by Alphonse Pelletier, Paul Gauthier, mayor and a good Crediter himself, declared that he was ready and willing to go to Winnipeg to demand of the provincial government the establishment of Social Credit just as soon as the citizens of his municipality made the necessary representation to him to do so.
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Hartland, N. B., Feb. 20th, 1956.
My dear Mr. Even:
I feel it my manful duty to extend to you many thanks and to all your hard working staff for the great assistance to us in New Brunswick, in way of administering Social Credit.
The western way was far more different. They came to us in planes, high class trains, new cars and staying to high class hotels. We wonder where all their money comes from.
Your missionaries are about the province in the cold and snow, doing the work we can't do that is to say many people were fed up with the above way of bringing Social Credit. The people I find are glad to see your missionaries, the members of Parliament are using them with courtesy and signing up, even our Premier who is a personal friend of mine and invited them to our House of Parliament.
Again, they enter into no arguments, but preach pure Social Credit on Major Douglas style.
It is somewhat difficult for me to go out on the road, but get me I am on the job doing my bit, attending meetings, speaking, and in my business dealings have a grand chance to show up what Social Credit can do if given a break: I have made some grands contacts, time will show it too.
In closing may I again thank you for your valued co-operation and help which I know wil render to you and yours a huge return.
Yours very sincerely,
A. R. SIPPRELLE
St-Laurent, Man., February 21 - Today I was making the rounds from door to door in company with a good Crediter of the town, Napoleon Dumont. He was wearing his white beret and i didn't take long for the entire parish to know about it. When we went into a house the folks would say: "When we see your beret, Napoleon we know you're working for Social Credit." We took, 10 subscriptions in the afternoon. Mr. Dumont did not know it was so easy to take subscriptions. He has promised to carry on the good work.
Another first-rate Crediter of St-Laurent, Mrs Trefflé Gareau, was very keen to make door-to door visits. But she is 73 years old and unable to go out into the snow. She is looking forward to taking up the work in the Summer.
In the evening a meeting was held in the parish hall which was put at our disposal free of charge by the parish priest. Everyone is convinced that Social Credit is well on the way to arriving.
Alphonse PELLETIER
Dear Mr. Even,
Here in Welland we have been fortunate enough to hear a discourse by your Social Credit missioner, Louis-Philippe Bouchard. About a hundred people listened with close attention to his explanation of Social Credit and Social Credit's demands on behalf of families, old people and invalids. He spoke of the wide expansion of the movement this year from Prince Edward Island right through to Manitoba; he told of the force Crediters were learning to exert in order to make the voice of the people heard by their elected representatives. He also explained how it was up to Crediters themselves to foster and promote Social Credit propaganda especially by subscribing to their paper - Social Credit or Vers Demain, depending on their language. We are looking forward eagerly to the establishment of a Social Credit Unit here in Welland where your other missioner, Henri-Louis Lapierre, pays us a visit next Saturday, 18. (This has been done and well done!)
Mr. Bouchard has taken 75 new subscriptions in Welland. Certainly we have the stuff on hand to make a good beginning on a first-class Crediters' Unit, a promising Social Credit center. Levis DEMERS
The day our first missioner set foot in Nova Scotia, scarcely a person could be found there who had ever heard of Social Credit. The day marking the end of this first venture into Nova Scotia, especially after the furor raised by the press and radio over the trifling incident at New Waterford, it would have been difficult to find in all Nova Scotia a soul who hadn't heard about Social Credit.
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