tk reer Theatre of Action Takes To Road By HAROLD GRIFFIN * PAGE FOUR The People’s Advocate Western Canada’s Leading Progressive Newspaper Progressives In Alberta Unite By MALCOLM BRUCE PAGE SIX — FULL No. 136. «<=> Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1937 Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. II. No. 32 VETERANS PLAN MASS PROTEST Board | Meet Board Of Conciliation Hears Case For - UMWA : CLOSED SESSIONS (Special Correspondence) NANAIMO, BC, Aug. 19.— Demands of Nanaimo and Cumberland locals, United Mine Workers of America, were presented by Patrick Conroy, of Calgary, at the Opening session of the conciliation board held in the court house here Tuesday. Application for appointment of the board was made by the union, in compliance with federal law Soverning such disputes, after direct negotiations between the UMW.A, Canadian Colleries, Cumberland, and the Western Fuel Corporation of Canada, Nanaimo, broke down. On the board are: lL. W. Brock- ington, KC, chairman appointed by. the Dominion government; Patrick Conroy, Angus J. Morrison and one other representative for the union; Gieut.-Col. CG. W. Villiers, Robert Daird and P. S. Fagan for the com- panies. 2 Following is the full text of the UMW=A_ brief as presented by Pat rick Conroy: Qn behalf of District 18 of the United Mine Workers of America, which is the representative organiz- ation of the employees of the Cana- dian Colleries (Dunsmuir) Limited, ef Cumberland, BG, and the em- ployees of the Western Fuel Corpor- ation of Canada, Limited, of Nanai- mo, BG, we wish to outline to your board the justification of the de- mands of the union for increased wage rates and better working con ditionss in the mines of Vancouver island. We attach hereto copy of the or- iginal proposals submitted to the representatives of the two com- panies, namely: the Canadian Col- lieries (Dunsmuir) Limited and the Western Fuel Corporation of Can- ada, Limited, as a basis for the consummating of a wage agree- ment to govern theemployees of the aforementioned mines. During the hearing we will submit as evidence copies of wage agreements cover- ing wages and working conditions in mines in Western Canada aand in the United States of America. We are satisfied that after perus- ing the rates outlined in these agree- ments the board will immediately be convinced of the fairness of the rates contained in our proposed (Continued on page 2) See UNION BRIEF Union Brief | Is Given At ; New United China Faces Japanese Aggression NC. CHINA is neither the be— ginning nor the end of Japan's ambitious imperialist appetite. The tale of Japanese conquest at the expense of China begins in 1879, Japan was then in its eapitalist teens. It looked upon China as the source of its “primitive accumula_ tion,” that is, its initial plunder to develop a capitalist base for devel- opment into an imperial power. The first victim of Japan’s grow- ing proclivity for conquest was the Luchu islands, a tributary of China, now an important chain of naval bases to threaten the China coast and as a link from South Japan to Formosa in the South Chine sea. Conquest of the Luchus was a com- paratively easy task for Japan. The totterine and corrupt Manchu dras- on throne offered no resistance whatever. ‘This easy plunder en- couraged Japan. Invade China By 1894, the Japanese imperialists With their brand new navy and Modem weapons, decided to try them out against China. Without pretext and with the definite objec- tive of plunder, China was invaded. After a short and ferocious war, the Japanese were able to wrest Korea and Formosa from the Geles- tial Empire. These’ fabulous gains at the ex- pense of China were the greatest impetus to Japan’s imperialist am- bitions. The superprofits wrung out of the new conquests assisted the Slant Japanese trusts to expand and become a competitor for com- mereial hegemony in the Pacific. Like a parasite, Japanese capital- ism, grafted on its: own feudal base, continued to grow and expand by eating away Chinese territory. The growth of Japan as a domi- nant power in the Far Hast, how- ever, intensified the antagonism between the United States and the rowing aggressor in the Pacific. To counteract America’s growines share in Far Bastern trade, Great Gritain entered into an alliance With Japan in 1902—an alliance that lasted for 20 years, until it was rup- tured by the United States at the Washington conference. In the meantime, Japan considered itself strong enough in 1904 to contest with Czarist Russia for control of Manchuria and Mongolia. War With Russia In 1904-05 rotten Czarist Russia was defeated on the Plains of Manchuria by the Japanese army; and the Russian navy was crippled at Tsushima. Yet Japan was too much weakened by the shock of battle to attempt at that time to Swallow all of Manchuria and Mon- golia. The United States stepped in and the treaty written at Ports- mouth, Connecticut, limited Japan’s (Continued on page 2) See CHINA Nipponese Resistance Chinese Drive Invaders Of Shanghai Back RED ARMY MARCHES NANKING, China, Aug. 19. —A China united as never be- fore for national defence against the unprovoked ag- gression of Japanese imperial ism is facing the invader on two fronts, the one centred around the devastated city of Shanghai and along the Whangpoo river; the other in the north where Chinese ar- mies are stubbornly contest- ing the Nankow Pass. The legislative Yuan, executive of the central government, has already decreed national mobilization to re- Sist Japan and the people every- where are rallying to its support as the flame of resentment against con- tinued provocation and aggression of Japan sweeps the country. The Communist party of China, backed by the Soviet districts, has pledged its full strength to the war of defense against Japan in lime with its repeated demands for unity. Divisions of the Red Army, rated as China’s finest fightine force, are already on the march in the Northwest, where they are in an excellent strategic position to attack the Japanese rear. Qn the Shanghai front, after a week's fighting, Japanese have been forced back to the river despite ar- rival of reinforcements. Whole sec- tions of the city are in ruins as the result of repeated bombings by Jap- anese air fleets and a merciless bombardment by the WNipponese fleet. Potato Board Resumes Control Demands For Democratic Board Raised By Growers Demands for a fully democratic marketing board made last year by potato growers on Lulu Island and in the Fraser Valley are being raised again with the announcement this week that the BC Coast ‘Vegetable Marketing Board has resumed operations and has placed field inspectors on duty again, : Announcement followed handing Gown by the Appeal Court at its special session in Victoria of a de- cision lifting injunctions against the board granted by Supreme Court Julge Manson. The unpopular G. H. Snow Agency, Limited, is replaced by Op- penheimer Bros., Wood, Limited, ac- eordine to the announcement. It is also stated that 50 per cent of the market price of onions and potatoes will be paid to the producer on delivery and the balance on the tenth of each month. Meanwhile, Ladner growers who recently refused to market their potatoes through the board appear determined to carry through their decision, despite intimation from Hon. K. C. MacDonald that prosecu- tion would follow any attempt to dispose of produce through other than board channels. Richmond growers are also reported to be con- Sidering what attitude they will adopt toward the board. In Duncan, Vancouver Island potato growers have gone on record as being “unalterably opposed’’ to the Marketing Act. Of forty grow- ers attending a meetine in the office of the Cowichan Creamery Associa- tion, at which Harry Evans was chairman, seventeen voted for this resolution and four against. Nine- teen present did not vote. Several growers related their grievances against the board, assert- ine that only approximately one- third of the potato supply was han- dled by the board, the other two- thirds being disposed of through hootles channels. Moot Federal Jobless Bill Unemploym’t Insurance May Be Introduced At Ottawa A bill covering unemployment in- surance may be introduced into the federal house at its fortheomine Ses: | sion, the PA learned this week on good authority. The serious Columbia particularly, and the plight of jobless in other provinces, is forc- ing the government to give serious consideration io the entire problem situation in SGritish of unemployment. Won. Ian Mackenzie (Lib., Vancou- ver-Centre), minister of defense, on a visit to the coast, is reported to have stated that “unemployment in- surance must be introduced at the next session.’’ Arrests of singie unemployed and jobless veterans here have brought the whole inadequate relief system before the public with the result that considerable pressure is being brought to bear on Civic, provincial and federal governments alike. Meet Stiff China’s Leaders in War With Japan q Pity fo—n— Bons Military chiefs who are organizing their forces to resist invasio Generals Yeng Hsi-shan and Feng Yu-hsiang, Generalissimo C m, at a meeting in Lu-shan. Left to right: hiang Kai-hek and Gen. Li Tsung-jen. Economic Conferences Meet Offer To Co-operate With CCF On All Correct Issues Although the CCF at its last provincial convention with- drew its sponsorship of the Industrial and Economic confer- ences, nevertheless the conferences wil] co-operate with the CCF on all correct issues This decision was reached at a© joint meeting of Vancouver and is- land conferences held in Nanaimo Sunday, the first meeting since the CCF relinquished nominal control of these bodies in July. Conferences represented were: Vancouver, Nanaimo, Victoria and Comox. New Westminster confer- ence was unable to send a delegate, but affirmed its intention of abiding by all decisions made. Bull text of the resolution £overn- ing the conferences’ relations with the CCE reads: “Whereas, the 1937 CCF conven- tion withdrew sponsorship to these conferences, nevertheless, be it re- solved: That this joint meeting of the yarious conferences desires full contact with the membership of the CCF and will co-operate on the in- dustrial and economic field on all correct issues with the CCE Econ- omic Relations Committee.’ A letter read from the Ontario Federation of Unemployed stated that preparations for a national con- ference on unemployment were be- ing made with a view to petitioning the federal government. The conference decided to forward full reports on the British Columbia Situation to the Ontario Federation. Officials of the various confer- ences are: Comox, Mrs. J. Evans, Cumberland; Victoria, Nigel Mor- gan, Ritz Hotel, Victoria: New Westminster, L. G. Parnell, 222 Six- teenth avenue, New Westminster; Nanaimo, George Lestrange, Town- Site road, Nanaimo; A. Fordyce, 20 West Twelfth avenue, Vancouver. Draft Constitution. Following is a draft of the consti- | tution of the joint conference: Wame: Left to the discretion of ; each area. u Object: To co-ordinate the activi- ties of all organizations towards es- tablishing economic unity amone all | sroeups; to act with respect to im-! mediate problems of workers and | unemployed and ameliorative meas: | ures urgently required thereto: to intensify and promote such activities that add to the benefit of the com-|} munity as a whole. | It: shall be the policy of the con- ferences to: | { 1. Adyocate with all available re- sources the enactment of measures | and regulations designed to ensure | a greater economic security among | all workers. | 2. Assist organization amon= the employed and unemployed for the followin purposes: (a) To promote and intensify or- (Continued on page 2) See CONFERENCE LEAGUE NAME IS CHANGED AFTER POLL Anti-War Leasue Now League For Peace, Democracy TORONTO, Ont... Auge. 19—The Canadian League Against War and Fascism will henceforth be known as the Canadian League For Peace and Democracy, according to an an- mouncement made this week by A. A. Macleod, national chairman of the organization. The decision to changé the mame was recently reached by the national executive after taking a poll of the member- Ship. “There are several reasons for the change,” said Macleod. “Tirst, because we desire to bring the name of our organization more into line with our program. We have never approached the problem of war and peace in a negative or abstract way. The great majority of Cana- dians are opposed to war, but they have neyer fully realized their own power to prevent it. We not only Stand for peace, but we also have a very concrete program for achiey- ing it. We haye accepted the four points of the International Pesce Campaign, of which Lord Robert Cecil and Pierre Cot, French min- ister for air, are joint chairmen.” The four points are as follows: 1. Recognition of the sanctity of treaty obligations. 2. Reduction and limitation of armaments by international asree- ment and the suppression of prolit from the manufacture and trade In arms. 3. Strenethenme of the League of Nations for the prevention and Stopping of war by the organiza- tion of collective security and mu- tual assistance. 4. Establishment within the framework of the League of Na- tions of effective machinery for remedyimeg international conditions which might lead to war. “We believe m democracy,”’ said MacLeod, “and we also believe that there are those in Canada who are trying to restrict Canadian democ- racy. We have had Stoiking ex- S of this recently in the proyv- of Ontario and Quebec. There have also been recent attempts to Stir up race hatre tempts which are undoubtedly financed fram for-_| eign sources: ‘Sash, Door — Employees Win Strike New Agreement First Signed In Industry Here Quick victory marked the seven-day strike here of 125 employees of Sigurdson’s and Arbutus sash and door factor- ies when the first agreement in the industry was sioned olice Chief ccused By icketers M. Rush Asserts Foster Tried To Provoke Trouble PICKETS REMANDED That it was Colonel W. W. Foster, chief of police, who at- tempted to provoke the en- tirely lawful picketing of the Italian vice-consul’s office last Saturday, is the statement made by Maurice Rush, secre- tary, Young Communist League, to the PA. Here is the corroborated state- ment made by Rush: “I was walking steadily back and forth before the bank building when the chief of police bumped into me, Saynig, ‘Why don’t you look where you're going?” Tf replied: ‘Now look: don’t Start- anything here,’ and endeavored to walix around Colonel Foster, realizing that he wanted trouble of some sort be- Cause we were quite peaceful and moving on all the time. “Whereupon the chief grabbed my arm, Saying, ‘You know who 1 am,’ and he took me over to the patrol wagon. “It was obvious to me that Foster was trying to provoke a scene to provide an excuse for the charge ‘obstructing the police,” grounds which did not otherwise exist.” Defended by the CLDL with Gar- field King for counsel, the four young fellows were remanded until Monday, August 23. The CLDL fur- nished bail demanded by, the court —$50 each. Commenting on the demonstra- tion, Rush said that Mayor G CG Miller was the one who drew the great crowd to witness the Ppicket- this week by local 71, Inter- national Woodworkers of Am- erica, CIO affiliate, formerly local 2775, Lumber and Saw- mill Workers union, and em- ployers. The new agreement to May 1, 1938, provides for 12 to 16 per cent wage increases, time-and-a-halft for over- time, Sundays and holidays, and rec- ognition of shop committees. Called on August 9, when em- ployers refused to negotiate with the union for wage increases and an- Swered by all employes, the strike was strengthened by refusal of mem- bers of the Brotherhood of Carpen- ters, AIML, Local 452, and members of the Amalgamated Building Work- ers to handle products of the fac- tories on jobs under their jurisdic- tion. Included among these jobs was Woodward's department store. Picket lines effectively prevented shipments from leaving the factories. As a result ofthis victory, organ- ization in other city shops and mills has received considerable impetus, the union reports. Loggers Hold Courtenay Dance COURTENAY, BC, Aue 19.— Largest to be held in this district within recent years, a dance under auspic of the International Wood- ers of America local here real- ized $190 for the fund to aid sick and destitute loggers. Wew CIO charter of the local will be installed at a public meeting to be addressed by Colin Cameron. MLA, Tom Bradley, and A. J. Bell. Cumberland Asks Victoria Grant! CUMBERLAND, BG, Aus: 19,—| A delesation has been authorized by | the Industrial and Economic council | here to go to Victoria askin= for a/| srant to complete the park and cultural centre at Cumberland. The council has also decided to issue a monthly bulletin to acquaint of this district with its residents work, i ing of the consulate and that his in- tentions were not of the best when he had police hiding in an alley on Cambie street along with ambu- lances. MEETING ay 53 Veterans 36 Jobless Go To Jail Relief Dept. Will Look After Threatened Evictions BONE INTERVIEWED Failure of the government to face its responsibilities and its tragic lack of policy on un- employment Jed to 53 mem-_ bers of the Ex-Service Men’s Association and 36 Single unem- ployed men being sentenced to jail terms on Charges of obstructing police by mass Soliciting of funds on city streets this week. Veterans were sentenced to six Weeks, single unemployed to two months. A mass meeting of veterans’ or- sanizations to demand annulment of sentences imposed and inaugura- tion of a public works scheme will be held in Orange hall this Sun- day, Ausust 22, 3 pm. Imperial Veterans, organizations will participate and Tom Barnard is expected to speak, At a meeting of the ESL this week a letter of protest was sent to Hon. G. S. Pearson, minister of labor, reiterating demands for a publie sworks scheme. Waced with eviction for non-pay- ization on the part of relief authori- ties, a number of men working on the Still Creek project voicea their and elected a committee. Following an interview with Pet- tipiece; an appointment was made with Relief Officer Bone who told the delegation that any man faced with trouble from his landlord, due to delayed payment of rent or evic- tion, should give his relief number, name and address, also the land- lord’s name, address and phone num- ber, to the city relief office. He as- sured the delegation that such cases would be looked after by his depart- ment. On the question of delayed pay- ment of relief cheques to those now on works projects, Bone stated that those men who did receiver their re- lief and rent cheques before August 15 and who are now working on any project, are working for their maintenance for the entire month of September and wili not be eligible for work or relief until September 30, On the other hand, those who did not receive script or rent allowance before August 15 and are now work ing on Projects, are working for their maintenance for the last half of Ausust and first half of Septem- ber. They will be eligible for relief September 15. - Labor May Contest Elections. Provincial Platform To Be Drafted In Ontario TORONTO, Ont, Aug. 19—In readiness to enter candi- dates in the coming provincial election the Toronto Labor Representation Association instructed its executive commit- tee to draft a $166 Donated By Sointula Mrs. B. Ewen Successful On Tour For FMPB SOINTULA, BG, Aug. 19. — Con- ducting a lecture and organizational tour up the coast under auspices of the Friends of the Mac | E provincial platform. While the association has decided to the municipal field for the moment, limit its activity to it has also made provision to “stand ready to meet and co- operate with similar bodies towards the formation of provincial and federal associations,” leaving the Way open for activity in these two fields. The association’s entrance on the provincial and federal fields was opposed by Rev. Ben H. Spence. However, most of the delegates in- sisted the provincial field must be contested particularly in view of Premire Hepburn’s anti-labor at- tacks. Limiting representation of any body to ten delegates, the confer- ence adopted a constitution setting: forth its aims and objects. Support of and affiliation with the LRA was promised by Ald. Stewart Smith and Trustee John Weir, representing the city commit- tee of the Communist party, as ob- servers. “The people of Toronto have been looking for a strong force in the municipal field to combine labor and small professional people to clean up the city hall,” declared Ald. Smith. “T believe that your movement Can achieve that object in a very Short time. We are ready and willing to cooperate with your con- ference. We are prepared to sub- ordinate our activity to yours so the larger interest of the progressive movement to sain broader labor representation may be served rather than narrow purposes.” EE x-Service Men’s League and other veterans’ - Veterans are adamant in their” determination not to accept charity. ment of rent, due to clumsy organ-~’ grievances at a meeting Monday, q if it i i