Political party Social Credit Name Joseph Unwin | ||
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Died January 4, 1987(1987-01-04) (aged 94)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | ||
Preceded by Christopher Pattinson Succeeded by Angus James Morrison | ||
Joseph Henry Unwin (September 15, 1892 – January 4, 1987) was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada.
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1935 election
Unwin ran as a candidate for the Alberta Social Credit Party in the 1935 Alberta general election. 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.
The "Bankers' Toadies" leaflet
In 1937 the Social Credit government was having problems in trying to implement its monetary theory. 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.
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 election. 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. He died at the age of 94 in 1987.