Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

is David A. Croll 'The Forgotten Man of Parliament Hill'?

Hamazkir, the popular columnist of the London (England)
Jewish Observer and Middle East Review,. recently made this com-
ment about the popular David A. Croll, under the heading "Jewish
Mayors":
"The new Jewish Mayor of Toronto is by no means the first
Jew to hold the position of First Magistrate in a Canadian city, as
I have seen it stated in some other paper. At least three other
............................... Cities in Canada have had Jewish
Mayors. Probably the first was Vic-
toria, on the Pacific Coast, where
Lumby Franklin was the third Mayor
in 1886. The next city to have a
Jewish Mayor was Vancouver, where .
David Oppenheimer was so popular
when in office that he was re-elected
for another two years in succession,
and he so distinguished himself that
his. fellow-citizens erected a monu-
ment to him in Stanley-Park.
"The most outstanding Jewish
Mayor in Canada was undoubtedly
David Croll, whom I had the pleasure
of meeting in Windsor over twenty
years ago. He was the Mayor of that
city for six years, and afterwards en-
tered the wider arena of politics and
David A. Croll
became the first Jew in Canada to
obtain a seat in the Dominion Cabinet. His phenomenal advance
was all the more remarkable as he began life there as an alien
immigrant and earned a living for a time as a newsboy. He ap-
plied his mind ta the study of law and is the senior partner of a
leading firm of , lawyers in Windsor." •
This item took us back a few weeks to a, sensational article in
Maclean's, Canada's national magazine pUblished in Tordnto, by
George Bain.' The title of the article was "The Forgotten Man of
Parliament Hill" and the sub title told this story: For ten years
Ottawa has debated a minor•mystery: why have bcith Toronto and
its most success sful Liberal MP been ignored m all cabinet appoint-
ments? Some say it's because Dave Croll is too outspoken or inde-
pendent; others say it's simply because he's a Jetv."
This is a serious chargé. Let's see how Mr. Bain treats it in
his provocative article.
We are told that David Arnold Croll of Toronto Spadina,
"looked like a natural for some cabinet post ever since he arrived
in the House of Commons after the general election of 1945." But
the government stopped short:of a- cabinet appointment for • him,
limiting assignments to the former Windsor Mayor to other jobs.
He has "remained a backbencher" and: "No Jew has ever been a
member of a Canadian cabinet,"
Yet, it is generally agreed that David Croll is well qualified
for many major assignments:. He'was elected Mayor of Windsor
in the trying depression days when he was only 30'. When he was
34 he became - a.minister in the Ontario government of Mitchell F.
Hepburn. He held many important committee posts. He was the
guardian of the Dionne Quintuplets and administered the fund
so well that the famous girls were left with a handsome income.
The national president of the Conservatives of Canada, George
Bees, of TorontO, said of him: "Comparing Dave .:Croll to the pres-
ent members of cabinet, I think that it would be the generally
. more ability
held opinion Of all members of the House that he has
than two thirds of the ministers. He is infinitely more capable
than some . "
George Bain's article describes a reinarlcable career of a man
who started as a Windsor politician, who has risen to high ranks
of statesmanship, who had'a diStinguished military career—having
started as a private at the age of 39, rising as an officer and as a
member of the military gOvernnierit overseas.
He has a remarkable way of winning political battles. The
Toronto Spadina district he represents (here we must quote
George Bain in full)—is-
"the home of the arment industry. It is mixed not only in race

.

and religion but also in levels of income. At the north end of
the riding Croll has constituents whose cloSets hold mink coats
stitched as likely as not by other constituents hi the south end.
Among its 115,000 residents Spadina numbers Jews and Negroes;
Italians, Anglo-Saxons and Hungarians, Japanese, - Ukrainians
and other races. There are near-mansions and near-tenements.
There are railway yards, loft buildings, shops, an infinite variety
of restaurants, an airport and a,suminer resort—the last two on
Toronto's islands.
"The riding each time has given Croll staggering majorities
his smallest was his first, 7,130—and he has had majorities not
only in the south end which is predominantly a workers' dis-
trict, but also in the well-to-do north end. Croll himself is a
resident not of Spadina but of North Toronto where he and his
wife share an apartment in a district of fashionable apartments
with twin daughters Constance and Sandra. Another daughter,
Eunice, is married. _
"At Ottawa„ Croll speaks as more than the representative
of Spadina. He is the senior of two Jewish . members of , the
; ;House, ; and, as such, is virtually the official parliamentary
;
spokesman of the Jewish people of Canada.; - .
"Last year, when Croll introduced _ the Fair Employment
Practices Bill, an anti-discrimination measure, Labor Minister
Milton. F. Gregg, ITC„ did honor to 'one voice from this side of
the hoUse that has beep forceful, consistent and eloquent in its
demands for action against discrimination ... I."
This-is only part of the sto•ry of David Arnold Croll. We-know

.

him here as a fearless defender of the oppressed, as a courageous
spokesman for Jewry,s, as an ardent Zionist and a devoted sup-
porter of Israel. •
His wife—the former Sally. Levin--is equally well known here.
We have watched the Crolls beginning with -the. days when it
took courage to tackle problems attendant to hunger and starva-
tion in the - depression days: when David Cr011 became the idol of
all Windsorites. We believe he remains that idol of all his Con-
stituents.
Yet, he is without a cabinet post. Is it because he is a Jew?
That has rot affected Dave Croll. He holds his head' high as
a spokesman for his people. If he is kept out because he is a
Jew, so be it, he must have said. For, it has • not diminished his
consistent and firm stand in, behalf of his peoples : and all human-
itarian needs. He is truly a brilliant spokesman for Israel—well
worthy of the pride he inspires in all his friends.

2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Nklai, March 4,19.5

Dettoiders at UJA Parley: man y ' Detroiters participated

in the
conference at Miami Beach, last week-end, to mark the launching of the 1955 United
Jewish Appeal campaigns throughout the la nd. Advance gifts totalling $1,160,000 were

announced in behalf of the Detroiters. Detroit leaders in attendance included: From lefts
Continuous, starting with the top row, Israel Davidson, C. William Sucher, Nathan
Fishman, Louis Davidson; Selig D. Sidney, Irwin I. Cohn; Charles Grosberg, Louis Berry,
Phillip Stollman, Max Pincus, Abe Green; Sol Shaye, Mrs. Sol Shaye, Mrs. Harry Becker,
Dr. Joseph Schwartz, executive vice-president of UJA, of New York; Morey L. Rosen-
thal; Mayor Norman Weiner, of Albion, Mich., Judge Nathan.). Kaufman; Dr. and Mrs.
Joseph Schwartz, of New York, Leonard Ratner, of Cleveland,' EdWard M. M. Warburg,
national UJA president, of New York; Mrs. Phillip Stollman, Mrs. Nathan Fishman; Mrs.
Abe Kasle, Mrs. Irwin I. Cohn; Abe Kasle, Morris L. Fruman, Barney Rapaport, of Haat-
Fisher, Maurice
Aronsson.
ford, Conn., Mrs. William Fisher, William
.4_
4.,

Solis Sra@Par's Column. Dealing With Israel Bond 'Controversy. o*Paage 9

