The political debate over the future of the country which heated up again in the fall  of 1947 continued into the early days of  1948 and beyond.  The political apathy so evident in 1946 was replaced by the enthusiastic involvement, thanks to radio, of an electorate that had become much better informed about the options available – and particularly about confederation, and what joining Canada might offer. Adam was delighted that so many of his countrymen had finally begun to sit up and take an interest in the affairs of their homeland, but he sensed that the rivalry between the two largest factions was also about to divide the people and pit neighbour against neighbour. 

The financial and economic reports prepared by the Finance Committee, which was chaired by Peter Cashin had been presented to the convention in late October and early November. Both of these were highly optimistic documents, and could be considered the manifesto of those wanting to return the island to nationhood. Then Smallwood led the debate on the Ottawa delegation’s report and the draft terms for union with Canada, which lasted from 20 November until 16 January, 1948.  The debate that followed was the climax of the Convention, long and emotional, ending at 5.30 am on 28 January. The motion to include Confederation with Canada as one of the choices to be voted on in the referendum was defeated by 29 votes to 16, and two days later the Convention dissolved. The anti-confederate victory was short-lived however. Almost immediately, thousands of telegrams from all over Newfoundland, began pouring into office of JR Smallwood, leader of the group advocating confederation with Canada, demanding that the electorate  be given that option . In early March the British government announced that confederation would be placed on the ballot after all, and the people themselves, rather than the members of the convention, would have the final say in the matter.  

Adam couldn’t help but feel that Major Cashin’s claim that the British government was trying to off load Newfoundland unto the Dominion of Canada probably had some merit. Although it was the depression that brought the government to it’s knees in 1933, and caused it to turn  to Britain for help, responsible government had never worked well in the small island dominion. The majority of people had remained very poor and many lived a hand to mouth existence. The war years had brought some prosperity to the island as it had in Canada and the US, but such prosperity could not be expected to continue. The date for the referendum was set for June 3, 1948 and the choices would be 1. Commission of Government for a period if 5 years. 2. Confederation with Canada. 3. Responsible Government as it existed in 1933. The British Government had also warned that the island should not expect any financial help from the mother country, if it chose to go it on it’s own as an independent nation.  As Adam listened  to this news, he realized that the battle for the hearts and minds of Newfoundlanders had only just begun.