Joseph Unwin
Encyclopedia
Joseph Henry Unwin was a provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
.
. In a hotly-contested election, Unwin defeated incumbent Labor Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Christopher Pattinson
who was running for a third term.
The election victory was a 400 margin vote transfers against Alberta Liberal Party
candidate J.S. Cowper. Pattison had been the first candidate eliminated, and finished a distant third. Unwin's party formed the provincial government and he served as a backbencher in the Legislative Assembly.
. Premier William Aberhart
, frustrated over increasing newspaper criticism of his policies, attempted to enact legislation that would have forced newspapers to print government rebuttals to objectionable stories. After this failed, the government devised a plan to produce material to distribute directly to the Alberta population. Joseph Unwin, along with government advisor George Powell, created what became known as the "Bankers' Toadies" leaflet.
The leaflet, produced as an official publication of the Alberta government, urged members of the public to "exterminate" prominent bankers and politicians who were standing in the way of Social Credit monetary reform. Top among those listed was Senator William Griesbach
and Opposition Conservative Party
leader and Member of the Legislative Assembly David Milwyn Duggan
.
While still in office, Powell and Unwin were arrested and charged for libel and for counseling murder. Their trial became known as the "Bankers' Toadies trial
." Unwin was convicted and sentenced to hard labor, though his sentence was later overturned on appeal.
. He was defeated by Labor candidate Angus James Morrison
in another hotly contested election in vote transfers. After his defeat Unwin did not return to provincial politics.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
1935 election
Unwin ran as a candidate for the Alberta Social Credit Party in the 1935 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1935
The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. In a hotly-contested election, Unwin defeated incumbent Labor Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Christopher Pattinson
Christopher Pattinson
Christopher Pattinson was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1926 to 1935 sitting with the Dominion Labor caucus in opposition.-Political career:...
who was running for a third term.
The election victory was a 400 margin vote transfers against Alberta Liberal Party
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
candidate J.S. Cowper. Pattison had been the first candidate eliminated, and finished a distant third. Unwin's party formed the provincial government and he served as a backbencher in the Legislative Assembly.
The "Bankers' Toadies" leaflet
In 1937 the Social Credit government was having problems in trying to implement its monetary theorySocial Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
. Premier William Aberhart
William Aberhart
William Aberhart , also known as Bible Bill for his outspoken Baptist views, was a Canadian politician and the seventh Premier of Alberta between 1935 and 1943. The Social Credit party believed the reason for the depression was that people did not have enough money to spend, so the government...
, frustrated over increasing newspaper criticism of his policies, attempted to enact legislation that would have forced newspapers to print government rebuttals to objectionable stories. After this failed, the government devised a plan to produce material to distribute directly to the Alberta population. Joseph Unwin, along with government advisor George Powell, created what became known as the "Bankers' Toadies" leaflet.
The leaflet, produced as an official publication of the Alberta government, urged members of the public to "exterminate" prominent bankers and politicians who were standing in the way of Social Credit monetary reform. Top among those listed was Senator William Griesbach
William Antrobus Griesbach
Major General William Antrobus Griesbach CB CMG DSO was a Canadian politician, decorated soldier, mayor of Edmonton, and member of the Canadian House of Commons and Senate of Canada.-Early life:...
and Opposition Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
leader and Member of the Legislative Assembly David Milwyn Duggan
David Milwyn Duggan
David Milwyn Duggan was a politician in Alberta, Canada, a mayor of Edmonton, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and a leader of the Conservative Party of Alberta.-Early life:...
.
While still in office, Powell and Unwin were arrested and charged for libel and for counseling murder. Their trial became known as the "Bankers' Toadies trial
Bankers' Toadies incident
The Bankers' Toadies incident took place in 1937 in Alberta, Canada when a pamphlet was discovered advocating the "extermination" of nine men identified as "Bankers' Toadies"...
." Unwin was convicted and sentenced to hard labor, though his sentence was later overturned on appeal.
Defeat
After the highly publicized trial, Unwin attempted to save face and defended his incumbency to try and win a second term in office for the Alberta Social Credit Party in the 1940 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1940
The Alberta general election of 1940 was the ninth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, was held on March 21, 1940 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He was defeated by Labor candidate Angus James Morrison
Angus James Morrison
Angus James Morrison was provincial-level politician in Alberta, Canada.Morrison was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 1940 Alberta general election defeating incumbent Joseph Unwin in a hotly contested race...
in another hotly contested election in vote transfers. After his defeat Unwin did not return to provincial politics.