Won't someone do something about the liars?

Just in case you deluded yourself into thinking Newfoundland politics had advanced in any meaningful way since the Smallwood era... it hasn't.

From a January 25, 1969 CP wire report.


Plus ça change…

Premier Joseph Smallwood of Newfoundland lashed out at his critics Friday, calling them “liars, filthy liars.”

Addressing the annual meeting of the Corner Brook Women’s Liberal Association, the premier said liars were responsible for reports that the Newfoundland government had asked the federal government to delay the start of a proposed national park at Bonne Bay for three years.

All just a little bitta history repeating (VI)

Another object lesson from one of this corner's best book-sale finds in ages:

It is strange that so many of the reporters who regularly trooped out to meet Premier Smallwood when he visited Ottawa and questioned him, never seemed to be shocked — amused, yes, but never shocked — at his actions. They never seemed to be concerned with is rash decision to invest the better part of $45 million that he had received immediately after Confederation into a bounch of industries all within a couple of years.

– William J. Browne, “And now... Eighty-seven years a Newfoundlander”. St. John's: Dicks, 1981, pp. 292.

All just a little bitta history repeating (V)

Another blast from the fading past:

I have never heard of a party leader in any country, outside countries ruled by dictators, who applied so much pressure to get all the members on one side. Premier Smallwood's strategy was applied to do exactly this. His idea in reducing the number of issues in the election to one — "how badly Mr. Diefenbaker's government has treated us over Term 29, therefore vote Liberal" — was clear because most people wished to see Newfoundland get more money. J.R. Smallwood was easily the greatest propagandist in Newfoundland, and he stressed how wicked Mr. Diefenbaker, myself, and Jim McGrath and the rst of the P.C. members in the House of Commons were. He called me "the greatest traitor of them all."

...

In my opinion, Mr. Smallwood's idea was, as one of the N.D.P. candidates said, to get people to forget all about his mistakes, especially in regard to his new industrial policy...

– William J. Browne, “And now... Eighty-seven years a Newfoundlander”. St. John's: Dicks, 1981, pp. 292.

All just a little bitta history repeating (IV)

Another blast from the fading past:

When the Premier was asked when it was decided to give free tuition to all students at the University and to grant special salaries to the students, he said that it had been made the previous year but that the decision tom implement these plans was made only a short time ago...

When asked if the University authorities had been consulted, the Premier replied:

“No. The University was not consulted in this matter. We are the ones to decide how to spend the people's money.”

Such arrogance in the House of Assembly and to the administration of the University showed the dictatorial mentality of the Premier.

– William J. Browne, “And now... Eighty-seven years a Newfoundlander”. St. John's: Dicks, 1981, pp. 442-3.

All just a little bitta history repeating (III)

Sound familiar?

The interest of Newfoundland is not the interest of John Diefenbaker or William J. Browne. These two men have betrayed Newfoundland. They have betrayed Newfoundland. They are traitors to Newfoundland. Perhaps Mr. Diefenbaker is not a traitor because he is not a Newfoundlanders, but William J. Browne is a traitor to his country, to his Province, and no one can sit in this House and represent him without betraying Newfoundland. And I appeal from my heart to the heart of the Leader of the Opposition... I appeal to him to break away from Diefenbaker and Browne, push them where they belong, and take our side, take his place on the side of Newfoundland, the Newfoundland people, come over here and join the new party or the Liberal Party or if not, if he doesn't like these two, just move away to the right or to the left, but get away from the Tories, get away from Diefenbaker and get away from Browne and vote for Newfoundland.

– Joey Smallwood in the House of Assembly, during the Term 29 debate, July 27, 1959, as quoted in William J. Browne, “And now... Eighty-seven years a Newfoundlander”. St. John's: Dicks, 1981, p. 287.

All just a little bitta history repeating (II)

A 1956 Smallwood-era anecdote, convenient for printing off and stapling to the head of the next person who tries to tell anyone in opposition that they ought to not be so “negative”:

No one can blame the Premier for trying to make a favourable impression with what was in the Speech from the Throne, but his idea that we should spend all our time praising the policies he chose for us was most unacceptable to me. What was surprising in his speech was that he devoted a lot of his time to saying how important it was to have a good Opposition. He then proceeded to give [PC leader Malcolm] Hollett a list of ten prohibitions...

1.Stop all petty criticism.

…

10. No more criticism of the Liberal Government.

– William J. Browne, “And now... Eighty-seven years a Newfoundlander”.

St. John's: Dicks, 1981, p. 164.

Soundalike

For some pre-Halloween eeeeeriieee fun, and quickly, before the audio gets removed in the rapid-fire world of VOCM website updating, visit this page.

Play the audio.

Now, close your eyes, and play the audio again, and, for a couple of seconds at the beginning of the clip, ask yourself: am I listening to Danny Williams in 2010, or Joey Smallwood in 1963?

Guess who (II)

From the Toronto Star, December 2, 1967, p. 4:

Circuses, then and now

Another of Meeker’s young journalist pen-pals digs up an interesting blast from the past:

Smallwood came well before my time, and so I don't pretend to know anymore than this - did he stay in Canada for surgery? What kind of surgery did he undergo? More relevant to today's circus is how, and what, he told his constituents prior to departing and upon his return.

For the benefit of anonymous journalist (thanks for the historical research lead!), from a CP wire dispatch that ran on November 30, 1967 (the “last fall” referenced by Ray Guy):

Toronto – (CP) – Newfoundland Premier Joseph Smallwood entered St. Michael’s hospital Wednesday suffering from a suspected detached retina of the eye.

The premier, who had planned to leave Wednesday night for Scotland to receive an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh, announced his change of plans at the afternoon session of the Confederation of Tomorrow Conference.

He will be examined by eye specialist Dr. W.P. Callahan.

[…]

Mr. Smallwood, one of the most vocal premiers at the conference which began Monday, has been on the move almost constantly recently. He arrived here Sunday directly from a European trip that included a visit to Czechoslovakia.

It was learned that the 66-year-old premier – he will be 67 next month – spoke to Premier John Robarts of Ontario about his eye injury and that the Ontario government co-operated in arranging for the operation.

In his broadcast to Newfoundland, Mr. Smallwood said he “will not be completely out of touch” with his duties and that he will be permitted visitors and use of the telephone.

Education Minister F.W. Rowe will be acting premier while Mr. Smallwood is in hospital and Finance Minister Alex Hickman will head the Newfoundland delegation for today’s final conference session.

Mr. Smallwood remained at the conference after his announcement, saying he would “listen quietly a little while and then slip out to my destiny.”

What was the tipping point?

Geoff Meeker gets email from a journalist who chooses to remain anonymous:

I wasn't around in Joey Smallwood's time, but for the first time, I'm beginning to understand the cult of personality that surrounded him. It's being repeated under Danny Williams. I have to say, it frightens me a bit. The media has been very respectful of the premier's privacy. Every reporter in every newsroom knows that, Kathy Dunderdale knows that, the premier knows that. For the likes of Tom Hedderson to suggest otherwise, to stoke the fires like he did on VOCM is pathetic and small. A better communications strategy at the outset would have largely avoided all this. Great blog Geoff. I think you've covered this in a fair and comprehensive way....

[Emphasis added]

If you were that oblivious, you’d probably want to remain anonymous, too.

Back to the future, again

The preamble to An Act to Incorporate the Newfoundland and Labrador Corporation Limited, S.N. 1951, No. 88, creating Smallwood's "NALCO":

WHEREAS it is expedient for the promotion of the industrial and economic development of the province of Newfoundland and for the development of its natural resources and the improvement of the standard of living of its people of the Province that a corporation be formed with the powers and be granted the concessions and rights hereinafter respectively described and set forth [...]

The bumpf to the re-branding of Our Dear Energy Corporation as NALCOR:

"We have a tremendous wealth of energy resources in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nalcor Energy will enhance the value of the people’s assets, while growing an internationally-competitive corporation that will be a flagship for the province," said Premier Williams. "No longer are we passive players in the development of our resources; rather we are now fully engaged partners, sitting at the table and actively involved in resource development for the benefit of our people. Nalcor Energy will represent the people of the province in developing and managing our energy developments, and we look forward to a bright future for this new provincial corporation."

You're kidding, right?

Smallwood had NALCO.

Danny has NALCOR.

This is one of those days where you really miss Bob Benson.

And how much did that website, including the musical composition, cost, anyway?

Two-step

"First," Smallwood said, "announce that you are going to announce something."

"Then, you announce it."