Joseph Unwin

Infobox CanadianMP | name=Joseph Henry Unwin


cabinet=
term_start=1935
term_end=1940
predecessor=Christopher Pattinson
successor=Angus James Morrison
birth_date=
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death_date=
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profession=
party=Social Credit
party colour=Social Credit
residence=Edson, Alberta
riding=Edson
religion=
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Joseph Henry Unwin (born: - died: ) was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada.

1935 election

Unwin ran as a candidate for the Alberta Social Credit Party in the 1935 Alberta general election. He defeated incumbent Labor Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Christopher Pattinson whom had previously served 2 terms in office in a hotly contested election.

The election victory was a 400 margin vote transfers against Alberta Liberal Party candidate J.S. Cowper, Pattison himself was eliminated first and finished a distant third. [cite web| url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=1935&Constit=Edson | title= Edson electoral district 1935 general election | publisher = Alberta Heritage | accessdate= 2007-07-31] Unwin's party would form government and he would serve as a backbencher in the Legislative Assembly.

The "Bankers' Toadies" leaflet

In 1937 the Social Credit government was facing severe problems implementing its monetary theory, Premier William Aberhart, frustrated over increasing criticism in the press over its policies, attempted to enact legislation that would have forced newspapers to print government rebuttals to stories the provincial cabinet objected to. 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, came up with and produced what would become 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 changed for "libel" and for "counseling murder". What followed was the sensational "Bankers' Toadies Trial." Unwin was convicted and sentenced to hard labor, though his sentence was later overturned on appeal. [cite web| url=http://www.albertasource.ca/lawcases/criminal/bankerstoadies/bankerstoadies.htm | title= Great Alberta Law Cases: 1937 Bankers Toadies Trial | publisher = Alberta Online Encyclopedia | accessdate= 2007-07-31]

Defeat

After the highly publicized Bankers Toadies 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 election. He was defeated by Labor candidate Angus James Morrison in another hotly contested election in vote transfers. [cite web| url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=1940&Constit=Edson | title= Edson electoral district 1940 general election | publisher = Alberta Heritage | accessdate= 2007-07-31] After his defeat Unwin would not return to provincial politics.

References

External links

* [http://www.assembly.ab.ca/legislaturecentennial/pdf/membersBooklet.pdf Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members Listing]