Circular time

More proof, not that much is needed, of the belief held by many cultures that time is cyclical:

Smallwood Says Canada Will Reassume Role Ignoring Nfld.

Ottawa, (CP) [April 4, 1959]—Premier Joseph Smallwood of Newfoundland said Wednesday the “excitement” will die down and “Canada will reassume its role of ignoring Newfoundland as it has done for the last 10 years.”

The remark in a speech before a record attendance of some 800 at the Canadian Club of Ottawa dissolved the audience into laughter, cheers, and applause.

Another remark which brought prolonged applause was “We will not allow union gangsterism or gangster unionism in Newfoundland.”

Nearly all of Mr. Smallwood’s address was devoted to his version of the Newfoundland logger’s strike and a bitter attack on the International Woodworkers of America (CLC).

Mr. Smallwood said the IWA “let loose the mob spirit” and had misused its power “shamefully.”

[…]

No PCs

The head table guests included Opposition Leader Pearson, J.W. Pickersgille, Liberal MP for Bonavista-Twillingate, and other Liberals but no Progressive Conservatives.

Mr. Smallwood said the Canadian Club doesn’t permit political discussion and that he therefore wouldn’t discuss Term 29 of the articles of Newfoundland-Canada patently become a partisan constitutional issue.

Prime Minister Diefenbaker has announced that the federal government will no pay special grants to Newfoundland after 1962 under Term 29. Mr. Smallwood has maintained these grants were supposed to continue indefinitely.

The Newfoundland premier said he is “trying hard under some little difficulty” to be a good Canadian and loyal to the national government.

[…]

“We don’t doubt that we have a democracy in Newfoundland despite certain rumours,” Mr. Smallwood said at another point.

All churches, newspapers, and political parties had supported [Smallwood’s actions against the IWA]. “Stark disaster” had faced Newfoundland and “we had to prevent the growth of gangsterism, mob rule and defiance of the law.”

Mr. Smallwood added he has had letters from Conservative MPs strongly supporting his actions in the loggers’ strike.