Solon Earl Low | |
|---|---|
 Low in 1946 | |
| Leader of theSocial Credit Association of Canada | |
| In office 6 April 1944 – 6 July 1961 | |
| Preceded by | John Horne Blackmore (parliamentary leader) |
| Succeeded by | Robert N. Thompson |
| Minister of Education of Alberta | |
| In office 1 June 1943 – 12 September 1944 | |
| Premier | Ernest Manning |
| Preceded by | William Aberhart |
| Succeeded by | Ronald Ansley |
| Provincial Treasurer of Alberta | |
| In office 2 February 1937 – 12 September 1944 | |
| Premier | William Aberhart Ernest Manning |
| Preceded by | Charles Cockroft |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Manning |
| Member of Parliament forPeace River | |
| In office 11 June 1945 – 31 March 1958 | |
| Preceded by | John Sissons |
| Succeeded by | Ged Baldwin |
| Member of theLegislative Assembly of Alberta forWarner (Vegreville; 1940–1944) | |
| In office 22 August 1935 – 1 May 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Maurice Conner |
| Succeeded by | Leonard Halmrast |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1900-01-08)8 January 1900 Cardston,North West Territories, Canada |
| Died | 22 December 1962(1962-12-22) (aged 62) |
| Resting place | Cardston,Alberta, Canada |
| Political party | Social Credit |
| Spouse(s) | Unknown (1920–1922) Alice Fern Litchfield (1922–1958) |
| Children | 8 |
| Occupation | Farmer Teacher |
Solon Earl Low (8 January 1900 – 22 December 1962)[1] was aCanadian politician, farmer, teacher, and school principal in the 20th century.
Low was born inCardston,District of Alberta,Northwest Territories, on 8 January 1900, to Sarah Ida (Barber) and James Paton Low. His parents were American immigrants, and Mormon pioneer settlers.[2][3] Low's father was a teacher, businessman, and participant in theUtah Constitutional Convention in 1895.[4]
Low attended Cardston public schools and studied education atCalgary Normal College, theUniversity of Alberta, andUniversity of Southern California.[4] At the University of Alberta, he took a lively interest in student activities including debate, basketball, and other sports. After his education he began teaching.[5] He was married twice, the second time to Alice Fren Litchfield; together, they had five of his eight children.[4]
Low was elected to theLegislative Assembly of Alberta in the1935 Alberta general election that swept theSocial Credit Party of Alberta to power. Low became provincialtreasurer underPremierWilliam Aberhart in 1937. Low brokered an agreement during the1937 Social Credit backbenchers' revolt to continue the government through a three-month budget and to try to bring MajorC. H. Douglas to Alberta.[5] As a Minister, Low introducedAccurate News and Information Act on 1 October 1937,[6] and was passed by the legislature on 4 October 1937, during a marathon session which lasted until 12:30 the next morning.[7]Lieutenant-Governor of AlbertaJohn C. Bowenreservedroyal assent until theSupreme Court of Canada evaluated the act's legality. In 1938'sReference re Alberta Statutes, the court found that it was unconstitutional, and it never became law. Low was defeated in1940 but regained a seat in a by-election in whichGeorge Woytkiw resigned for him. Low also held the Minister of Education position in PremierErnest Manning's government in 1943-1944.[4]
In 1944, he was acclaimed the first national leader of theSocial Credit Association of Canada at the party's founding convention. Though there had been a group of Social Credit MPs in parliament since 1935 under the leadership ofJohn Horne Blackmore, the party did not have its first national convention until 1944, when the national party was formally founded. He was first elected to theHouse of Commons in the1945 federal election. Low representedPeace River, Alberta until he lost hisseat, along with every other Social CreditMember of Parliament (MP), in the1958 federal election. Low retired as party leader in 1961 and became a judge of the juvenile and family court in Lethbridge in 1961.[8] He would die later in 1962.
Low was a member of theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[9] His family moving to Edmonton in 1937 was a key event in the growth of the church in that city. His wife Alice was the first leader of the young women program in the Edmonton Branch.[10]
Low contributed to Social Credit's reputation foranti-Semitism by numerous controversial comments. As Alberta treasurer, he once said:
In 1947, when Low was the federal leader of the Social Credit party, he used a nationalCanadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcast to lambaste "the international power maniacs who aim to destroyChristianity" and the "international gangsters who are day-to-day scheming forworld revolution." He also claimed there was a "close tie-up between internationalcommunism, international finance, and international politicalZionism."[11] Low repudiated anti-Semitism in 1957 after he had criticized Canada for not fully supporting Britain and France in theSuez Crisis and also visitedIsrael.[12]
{{cite journal}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)| Legislative Assembly of Alberta | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | MLAWarner 1935–1940 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | MLAVegreville 1940–1944 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | MLAWarner 1944–1945 | Succeeded by |
| Parliament of Canada | ||
| Preceded by | Member of ParliamentPeace River 1945–1958 | Succeeded by |
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