Maurice Duplessis. Marguerite Paulin

as a bulwark for their survival. When Taschereau’s Liberals passed a law on public assistance, Duplessis sided with the Church’s condemnation of this law and with the State’s meddling in community affairs. How dare the State take responsibility for Christian charity. It is the duty of the Church to take care of the poor, the alcoholics, the unmarried mothers, the orphans. His Eminence Cardinal Rodrigue Villeneuve likes to hear this kind of talk. He and Duplessis are on the same wavelength for many things. He finds the interim head of the Conservative Party sympathique.

      “How do you like your new title, Mr. Duplessis?”

      “My dear friend, you know that I am only replacing Camillien Houde at the Assembly. My party has not elected me. Our leadership convention will be held in a few months. Camillien doesn’t stand a chance. He goes from defeat to defeat. He can no longer sit in Quebec City, and Montreal prefers Fernand Rinfret to him. But do you want my opinion? Houde still has a trick or two up his sleeve. He will come back, either as mayor of Montreal or to sit in the Assembly or go to Ottawa. He is indefatigable… like myself. You’ll see, Your Eminence, in less than a year, you will be speaking to the premier of Quebec!”

      And what if an adversary were found to prevent Maurice Duplessis from being acclaimed leader of the Conservative Party? Camillien Houde’s friends have no intention of being derailed, of not throwing a monkey wrench into the works. Their plan: convince Onésime Gagnon, a backbencher, to present himself at the leadership convention in the autumn. Who – Duplessis or Gagnon – will replace Houde?

      The leadership convention is being held in Sherbrooke. Delegates from all over Quebec arrive in cars decked out in ribbons and streamers. Onésime’s supporters are meeting at the New Sherbrooke Hotel. Maurice has installed his headquarters at the Magog Hotel. Primed for a fight, the member from Trois-Rivières has brought with him a group of faithful supporters whose energy is infectious. The undecided ones will soon know for whom to cast their vote.

      At the convention, Duplessis rises to speak. He is calling for a program to electrify the rural areas. He wants a law to allow victims of an accident to choose their own doctor. His speech is a success. In his speech, Onésime Gagnon tries to undermine his adversary’s credibility but to no avail. On October 5, 1933, Maurice Duplessis is elected leader of the Conservative Party.

      He is forty-three years old and does not intend to remain long on the benches of the Opposition facing Louis-Alexandre Taschereau. The provincial election takes place in less than two years. Is he being presumptuous? Too sure of himself? Maurice has a taste for power. Working in the Opposition is clipping his wings. He wants to soar, like an eagle.

      1 Quebec folksong.

      1. National hymn sung in Quebec before O Canada became popular.

      1. An important historical figure and a priest who promoted colonization and founded villages.

      2. About 200 square kilometres around the town of Saint-Jérôme, north of Montreal.

      1. June 24 – originally a holiday honouring St. John the Baptist, St-Jean-Baptiste Day eventually became officially Quebec’s Fête national, sometimes known as la St-Jean.

      1. Nicknamed La Bolduc, (1894–1941) composer/singer/musician, she performed widely and recorded ninety-four songs.

3

       A Strategic Resolve

      “Can you tell me why a “po-at” would bother going into politics?”

      Maurice slaps his knee, a gin in one hand and a cigar smoking away in an ashtray. In his suite at the Château Frontenac, he is entertaining his friend Hortensius Béique, who is talking to him about Paul Gouin.

      “You know, Maurice, maybe he’s a poet, but I hear that he is recruiting people who are unhappy with the Taschereau regime.”

      “You don’t have to spell it out for me. I already know what Lomer’s son is cooking up. He should stay with his scribbling. I’ve read his book, Médailles anciennes. Have you ever heard of a guy who wants to become premier and writes: “Your hands blackened with gunpowder, O Virgin from Verchères, wear bloodstains instead of rubies!” A premier who writes books can’t be taken seriously!”

      Maurice Duplessis during the 1920s, at the beginning of his political career.

      Since 1932, the rumours circulating about a third political party in Quebec have gathered momentum. A solution to alleviate poverty is being sought. Endemic poverty has destroyed a whole generation’s dream of happiness. Public works programs and direct aid have proved inadequate. The worst off have even begun to hope that a war, like that of 1914, will jumpstart the economy. Where to find a job? The Saint Vincent de Paul Society is doing their best to look after needy families, handing out a meagre pittance. In winter, children are out begging in the streets. Moved by the appalling poverty in certain neighbourhoods of Montreal, pharmacist Émile Coderre, under his pen name Jean Narrache, publishes in 1932 his bestseller Quand j’parl’ tout seul [When I’m Talking to Myself]. Yes, there are many little orphans with “dresses thin as paper.” In Ottawa and Quebec City, governments remain deaf to the cries of distress and sorrow of the destitute.

      In Quebec, new ways of thinking are taking root and opposition groups are springing up. The Montreal École sociale populaire denounces the excesses of capitalism and promotes corporatism. Some people are attracted by fascist ideas that are currently fashionable. In Europe, isn’t Mussolini considered to be the saviour of Italy? And in Germany, has not the Nazi dictatorship found a solution to unemployment? In their search for an authoritarian and messianic leader, will people here succumb to the temptation of the Right?

      Some prefer tolerance to demagogic solutions, and they are coming up with daring ideas. These people, dissatisfied with the status quo, gather around Paul Gouin, the lawyer who has been asked to lead a new progressive movement. He is joined by dissatisfied Liberals as well as the disciples of Lionel Groulx and Dr. Philippe Hamel from Quebec City. Gouin lays out a program that emphasizes co-operation and reform destined to bring about the economic and social recovery of Quebec. Among these measures is a plan for colonization, creation of a farm credit, and electrification of the rural areas. Nationalization of the electricity trusts is a project dear to Dr. Hamel. On July 28, 1934, Maurice Duplessis opens the newspaper: the program of the Action Libérate Nationale fills a whole page. He phones Paul, son of Arthur Sauvé. This member from Two Mountains is one of his most faithful lieutenants.

      “Did you read the latest ravings of Gouin and his clique? Word for word, it’s the program of the École sociale populaire founded by the Jesuit Papin Archambault! They trumpet all kinds of reforms: agriculture, commerce, finance, and even the elections. Absolute insanity. The world turned upside down. I’ve always said that intellectuals know nothing about politics.”

      Maurice is not worried. How could voters possibly think of supporting the Action Liberale Nationale since he, Maurice, has the best political platform? In the Assembly, his weapon is always good old common sense when he attacks the Taschereau government. The previous week, he accused the Liberals of favouring Dominion Stores because they are being given tax credits. He defended the small grocers who were being victimized by the trusts.

      “I’m telling you. Paul Gouin better go take a flying leap. The real opposition is us, the Conservatives. Did you phone Bona Arsenault? I have to go to New Carlisle. I hope he’s prepared a good presentation speech.”

      When Premier Taschereau announces the date of the election, Maurice has already been campaigning for a month. From Baie-du-Febvre to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, he is criss-crossing