SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE
Lieutenant William A. Kardash, althbugh already pos- sessed of wide experience in the leadership of progressive movements, is still a young man. He was born 28 years
agoof a poor homesteader in Northern Saskatchewan, near.
the since established town of Hafford. His education was achieved by dint of much diligence
and sacrifice. , It is recorded, however, that he was an indus- ‘
trious and clever student, and it is a tribute to his deter- mination and ‘persistence, that, being unable to afford the last year -of high school, he studied «the course at ‘his’ farm home, without the assistance of instructors, and obtained his Grade 12 matriculation. V . ' . 9 During the years of High School, however, many things in the world were changing. Nineteen twenty-nine passed, and with it went the visions of “prosperity,” “security,” and
a. safe, assured future which had been the hope of thousands 1 of small farmers of the West. The headlong descent of -farm ’
commodity prices wiped out farm incomes; debts mounted
rapidly as obligations piled up and ability to pay disappeared‘; 1
mortgage and finance companies, the machinery trusts, tax-
collectors and banks only served to further -aggravate the
desperate plight of the ruined farmers. And so, for Bill Kardash,‘ completing High School education left him with -no opportunity to learn more, to train himself for the future, or even to establish himself as a farmer on his own land.
Bill Kardash, however, was not -one of those people who
accepted this state of affairs as “fate” or “accident.” He‘
refused to accept the idea that economic -crises, poverty of abundance and ruthless" exploitation of farmer and worker, are divinely ordained, He believed that farmers could, and should do something. to. adjust the workings of -society so that prosperity and security and a- good life could be more than idle dreams. He believed this so strongly that he became 8. farmers’ organizer, working among the farmers, discussing with them their various problems, bringing them together in meetings and -conferences, telling them of the necessity of organization and action to protect their own interests. From 1933gto 1937 this was his life, travelling, speaking, writing. teachi-ng———and learning. ‘ ’
Under these circumstances, the growth of fascist forms of Government throughout the world, the promotion of fascist propaganda in various countries, were very disturbing to him. The rise of Hitler and the .subsequent degradation of the German peoples; the aggression of fascist Italy against Ethiopia and the passive acquiescence and secret encourage- ment given to these enemies of democracy ‘by the ruling «classes of other c’ountries,~ aroused ‘in him a burning hatred «of the fascists and their “democratic” accomplices. When he spoke to farmers, it was notonly of wheat and mortgages
, -and relief, but againstfascism and “appease-me-nt” and war.
-With Bill, thought and action could never be separated. Wit.h«_the conspiracy, of fascism against democracy developed tojthe pointof attack upon Republican Spain, he felt that the time had come for something more direct than speech- making. _He made careful plans a.nd preparations, and finally, in-,the early spring of 1937, arrived in Spain as a recruit of the International Brigade of the Spanish Republican Army.
9 Many things have been written and said of the courage, -
the sacrifice, ‘the great military achievements of «the Interna-
tional Brigades. It is sufficient to say that.William Kardash was one of its finest soldiers and officers. yle was accepted
into the Tank" Corps, was rushed through a course of training,
and in a short space of time -the young farmer who a few months before had been driving a tractor in :Saskatchewan', was taking his tank into battle against the invading armies of Hitler and Mussolini. He ‘participated first in the success- ful Brunete offensive, then" in the great Aragon ofiensive of the Republican Army in the fall of 1937. It was during that time he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. And it was there, in October 1937, in the midst of bitter fighting, with his tank on fire, that he received the ‘wounds which made necessary the amputation of his~right_le.g.
The next tenmonths were spent in various hospitals in Spain. As his strength came back and his wounds healed, plans were made for his return to Canada, and in August, 1938, Lieutenant William Kardash of the Spanish Republican Army, came home.
But he left behind him thousands -of fighters who were still in the front lines against fascism. Volunteers -from 53 countries of the world. And the millions of brave -Spanish men and women. He could not forget them—-he still con- sidered himself a comrade-in-arms of those still in Spain. It was agreed by the Friends of the MacKenzie-P-apineau Bat- talion that the best contribution he could make would be to tell the people of Canada the truth about thestruggle
of the Spanish people against the Fascist invaders. He spent’ a few * weeks in hospital in Toronto for rest and -surgical I attention, -and made use of the time thereto write a book
entitled “I Fought For Canada In Spain” which was later published with a preface by Rev. Dr. Salem G. Bland, former moderator of the United Church of Canada. Then," out of the hospital, and a strenuous round of public speaking engage- ments which culminated in national tour la-sting over two months. In this time, Bill addressed meetings in every major Canadian -city west of Toronto. He spoke to students,
teachers, trades councils, religious groups and i at public,
functions and meetings of every kind. He explained how the war in Spain had come about, how it was being fought, a.nd what the result of it would mean to the future of Canada and the rest of the world. The tour was a terrific strain on him, but every meeting found him full of vigor and enthusiasm forthe work he was doing. , I ' And, finally, in the -Spring of 1939, he came to Winnipeg to live. His activities in progressive movements were in no way diminished" by the loss of ,-his right leg. He made new
a friends, won respect for his qualities of leadership an.d intelli-
gence. He married and settled down as a citizen of Winnipeg. His recordas a champion of liberty, as a leader of the common people; his determination and courage, when faced with decisive issues, have earned him the nomination as candidate of the Workers Election Committee in the forth- coming Provincial Election. 1
“We now have a chance to show our appreciationof their heroic service to liberty and democracy and their beloved Canada.” ‘ -
Preface to “I “Fought For Canada In Spain.”.-—Rev. Dr. 9
Salem G. Bland, Toronto, Nov. 4, 1938.
TUNE IN TOCIRC
Friday, April 4, 1941 ..... ......... .. 8.15- 8.30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, 1941 ............. 7.45 - 8.00 p.m.
Saturday, April 12, 1941 ....... .. 7.45 . 3.00 p.m.
van: mus:
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Monday, April 14, 1941 .......... .. 83.45 - 9.00 p.m.
. ‘Thursday, April 17, 1941 ....... ..lO.15 - 10.25 a.m.
Saturday, April 19, 1941 ....... .. 9.15 - 9.30 p.m.
Kardash, William A.
Phone 53 011
WORKERS’ ELECTION COMMITTEE. 1 :7‘:
843 Main Street
25
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