The Member of Parliament represents his constituents. Did you ever write or telephone to your representative, to tell him what you expect from the Government of your country? Your M. P. is there to speak and act in your name. Are you just content to vote for or against him on election day, then to pay him and keep quiet?
Taxation, unemployment, lack of purchasing power, are surely things you do not like: why don't you shout it to your representative? And if you think that the increasing productive power of Canada should bring you and every Canadian an increasing share of the goods produced, why don't you ask your M. P. to see that you get an increasing share?
Following is a suggested text of a letter to your M. P., to demand the national dividend which is your due, and every citizen's due, and which you never received. Use this text or some other of your own, and let your M. P. hear of you. Democracy must be something more than just a ballotbox game once in four or five years.
Until the opening of the session, send the letter to your M. P.'s home address, duly stamped. After the opening of the session at Ottawa, January 7, and all the time it lasts, just address:
.............., M. P. for.......... (constituency), House of Commons, Ottawa -- and then, instead of a stamp, you just write on the corner of the envelope the four letters O.H.M.S. The letter will be delivered free of any charge.
..........................................................................................
(Place and date)
Mr.......................................................................................
M. P. for..............................................................................
(constituency) (address)
Dear Sir,
I know that Canada can produce more and more wealth, as long as the goods find buyers.
I know that Canada's productive power is thus increasing with even less man-labour. I know that this progress is largely due to applied science, more and better machinery, more power derived from nature, technical improvements, and increment of association. All these things are a common capital, inherited and increased from one generation to another.
This great common capital, being a major factor in production must earn dividends for all.
Why do we hear of public debts when Canada gets richer? Why do we meet destitutes, when all Canadians are co-owners of a great producing capital? And why are we loaded with taxes which take money from us, when we should receive dividends?
Please use all means of your disposal, as a member of Parliament, to urge the Government to make such changes in the finance mechanism as will bring me and every one the dividends to which we are all entitled.
Sincerely Yours, (Signature)