[BC Conserative Party] Mudslinging Propaganda Pub. for 1924 Provincal Election

Vancouver, BC: The Provincial Party of British Columbia, 1924. Archive. Condition Varies from Good Only to Fine. Pickings and Plunder" ; "Kill This System or It Will Kill You." ; "Can a Leopard Change Its Spots?" ; "It's Time to Swing Our Axes" ; "Do Honest Men Burn Their Books?" ; "What About the 1920 Slush Fund?" - these headline issues and other burning questions are all answered within this rare collection of 1924 ephemeral election propaganda. These accusatory items were published by the Provincial Party of British Columbia - a breakaway Conservative party led by Alexander Duncan McRae during their 1924 election bid. Items included are : 1) a seminal Provincial Party of British Columbia 20-page pamphlet titled "Platform and Policy" [near fine w. minor soil and creases] of resolutions and political planks which were adopted at their Convention held in Vancouver on Dec. 4th-6th, 1923. A fiery right wing party, the Provincial Party passed many resolutions at that meeting, including punitive anti-asian resolutions No. 27 "Oriental Menace" ; No. 28 "Chinese Merchants" and No. 29 "Oriental Truck Farmers" viz "... to withhold naturalization and political privileges... that annual Japanese immigration be not in excess of the number of its Canadian citizens who annually emigrate to Japan... that the Chinese Exclusion Law be more strictly interpreted... that the intrusion of Chinese merchants into the mercantile business of the province is a menace to the community, and that all possible steps should be taken to put an end to this... and, that the Provincial Party is opposed to and will do all in its power, to prevent Orientals from further owning and leasing land" ; 2) a Nov. 23, 1923 typed form letter [letter browned and brittle, missing c. 1 inch from right edge] from McRay to a gentleman in Nelson, BC "Press reports state that only four citizens in Nelson attended a meeting to appoint delegates to the big convention... if there are not enough electors in Nelson prepared to support the movement, the Provincial Party, much as they will regret it, will have to get along without your support. AS A GOOD CITIZEN, DO YOUR PART" ; 3) a printed copy of a lengthy Oct. 26, 1923 open letter [Near Fine w. minor toning and fold line at center] to the Premier of BC from McRay, directing him to read his pamphlet "Searchlight No. 5" (a slightly toned, Near Fine copy is included in this collection as item #4) wherein he accuses the premier of incredible neglect of duty, or connivance with others to defraud and plunder the people of the Province." He also demands a Royal Commission and an Audit - of which he offers that, The Provincial Party will bear the cost ; 5) a small broadside [toning, paperclip and mailing creases w. loss along bottom edge] titled "The Trail of the Burnt Books and Lost Records" with "Do Honest Men Burn Their Books?" overprinted in loud red ink ; 6) a copy of their 32 page pamphlet "Searchlight No. 9" [minor wear and soil, else Fine] with a relevant political cartoon on the back cover ; 7) a letter [light toning and minor creases] dated April 26th, 1924 titled "We've Turned the Grindstone Long Enough - It's Time to Swing Our Axes" ; 8) a blue flyer [minor creases] underwritten with "Kill This System, or It Will Kill You." ; 9) a beige flyer [minor creases] titled "On Which Side Do You Stand?" ; 10) a brown flyer [toned and brittle w. losses to lower and right edges] with "$650,000 Campaign Fund - - Dare They Deny It?" printed on recto and "Can a Leopard Change Its Spots?" verso. Together, an advanced and uncommon collection of political ephemera which aims the limelight onto a turbulent time in BC politics. "In 1923 McRae organized a group of British Columbia Conservative Party dissidents he called the Committee of 100 which became the Provincial Party of British Columbia. The party sought freight rate equalization, cooperation with the federal government in the development of a northern railway, the elimination of Oriental labour, abolition of patronage, hiring of veterans and the elimination of income tax which had been introduced as a temporary measure during the war. The party nominated candidates in only one provincial election: the 1924 election. In that election, McRae claimed the Liberal government of John Oliver and the previous administration of Conservative Premier William John Bowser, then the opposition leader, were corrupt. Many of his allegations were related to the funding of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway plan to reach Prince George in the Northern interior of the province which was not achieved until many years later. He claimed that there were kickbacks, patronage and various wrongdoings. His allegations were never proven. He offered to pay for an independent audit of the books of the railway. His offer was declined. Although the party achieved 24% of the popular vote in the 1924 election and took 3 seats, McRae was not elected. Both Bowser and Oliver lost their seats but Oliver continued to lead his conservative party as Premier of a minority government after the election. McRae reconciled with his former Conservative allies after the election and went on to federal politics. The Provincial Party disappeared." wiki accessed 01/23. Ref. In the Sea of Sterile Mountains: The Chinese in British Columbia, Morton (1974).