The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

THE HERALD OUTLOOK Saturday October 1989 Page 7 Book Review Smallwood biography fair frank ByJL GRANATSTEIN Newfoundland has all the at tributes of nationhood in a fashion that no other province but Quebec has Separate from Canada for more than eight decades after the Confederation of 1867 the great SquidJigging Ground in the North Atlantic developed its own legends and lore Then came Joseph Smallwood the last living Father of Confederation whose story has been told once more in Harold Hor- woods Joey Stoddart pages It was Joey who linked Newfoundland to Canada as the 10th province and it was Joey who ruled the provincial roost for almost a quartercentury The story is a familiar one Smallwood grew up in relative poverty and received little formal education But he was quicksilver bright and both socialist doctrine and the press attracted him For a time he worked in New York as a reporter on a socialist newspaper then he returned home and got into union organizing and backroom politics Never did he make much money never did his restlessness ebb His opportunity finally came at the end of the Second World War Britain had taken over the islands affairs at the bottom of the Depres sion but London its own finances left in ruins by the costs of war wanted out A great convention was called to decide on New future and Joey Smallwood was a delegate The choices were responsible govern ment a continuation of the British- controlled Commission of Govern ment union with the United States or Confederation with Canada Joey was for Canada and although he Initially had little support at the convention his radio broadcasts of the conventions daily events soon reached virtually every citizen Horwood who was at side throughout this struggle is at his best here offer ing a shrewd and brilliant insight on the campaign for Canada Finally by dint of his prodigious speaking ability his quick wit and his innate skill at parliamentary procedure Smallwood won the conventions agreement that a delegation could go to Ottawa to discuss possible terms with the Canadian government DIFFICULT These negotiations were lengthy and difficult but the deal ultimate ly offered was a good one all the rights of social security enjoyed by Canadians guarantees that Labrador belonged to New additional millions of dollars each year to raise the islands standards then still very low to the national level and more much more But good as the offer was still faced the opposi tion of the Water Street merchants the Catholic church and others The first referendum in June 1948 saw a small plurality opt for Responsible Government with Confederation close behind A se cond vote saw Smallwood New foundland and Canada the victors was Joeys triumph and the best thing that had ever happened to Newfoundland Confederation took place on March Then it was Premier Joey at the head of huge Liberal majorities election after election Smallwoods first priority was economic development and his zeal led him into perpetual pro blems The provinces treasury was ripped off by rogues of every description year after year Everything he touched was a financial fiasco says of Smallwoods personal finances but the comment applies just as well to his economic efforts as premier But what he did do brilliantly was to improve the lot of the average Newfoundlander Gone was starvation substandard housing and the isolation of the out ports Shrewdly milking the federal treasury by his ability to deliver votes to the Liberal party and through his friendship with Jack Pickersgill his pesonal choice as Newfoundlands cabinet minister in Ottawa got roads help for fisheries and every benefit that was going They were the peoples rights and he delivered Inevitably hubris set in as it usually does Joey became con vinced that he had done everything himself that he was always right and that he was the indispensable man In 1971 he finally was dnven from office amidst charges counter charges and farcical events The smell of scandal lingered over the departing ad ministration and went through years of travail Today he survives still though with his speech affected by a stroke Horwoods account is that of an insider a friend turned foe He is nonetheless fair and frank admir ing of Joeys great virtues and understanding of his equally giant flaws The book reads well though the research and accuracy are un fortunately less than perfect Joe Smallwood deserved better than this to be sure but most great men never receive even this much of their due Prof J L GranatsteJn author of more than books on Canadian history and politics teaches Cana dian history at York University Toronto OUR LANGUAGE by Jeffrey- In psychiatry neurosis refers to a personality problem or disorder Re member that the plural is neuroses and youll wind up with roses Sonic relates to sound or to sound waves This adjective is used so often these days that we seem to be having a sonic boom Whats wrong with Ive spoke to the neighbors A friend told me not to use It A The problem involves using spoke as the past participle of speak The verbs past tense is spoke I spoke to the neighbors is fine but its past participle is spoken At one time spoke was acceptable in place of spo ken but such usage is now considered archaic or non standard so to speak Do you have a question or comment about our language Please write to Jeffrey McQuain in care of this paper BAHAf FAITH For more Information contact Box 91 Georgetown or Phone J I j Meet Peter Robson Friday November 3rd 79 PM Renowned Ontario Artist Peter From Studio Sparta will sign your purchases Enjoy Wine Cheese Browse and see Peters originals in the NEWEST Gallery in Georgetown We Feature Limited Edition Prints Decorator Prints Posters Antique Prints Quality Custom Framing is our Specially Sunday 8777491 ft effects 348GuelphSt Next to BELL GLASS in the Knolcrest Centre Georgetown