Bennett And The Communists by Malcolm Bruce PAGE SIX The People’s Advocate Western Canada’s Leading Progressive Newspaper | Steps To China’s Marching by Harry Gannes PAGE FOUR FULL No. 141. == Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1937 Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. Ill. No. 37 CHINESE CREW REFUSES TO SAIL TO JAPAN Refugees Reach France Cs ey East of 450 refugees are seen leaving the small freighter Cantabria after it ran ashore at Lacanan beach, near Bayonne, France, while Carrying men, women and children from Santander, in northern Spain. Able-bodied men are returning to Spain, via Catalonia, to renew the fight against the Fascist invaders. Council Hears Jobless Spokesman Unions Here Pledge Aid To Smgie Unemployed An eloquent appeal to the Trades and Labor Council was made last Tuesday by R. W. Campbell, youthful representa- tive of the Relief Workers’ Project union, on behalf of young men in the city now facing starvation or jail. Dealing with the situation that has existed since June when relief camps were closed, Campbell de- ~“Mmanded that the provincial sovern- ment fulfill its election promises. Campbell's appeal was made even more powerful by the arrest the day previous of 28 jobless who were out on the streets with collection cans. The council promised every sup- port in the campaign for more hu- mane treatment, according Gamp- bell a hearty reception. Interviewed by the PA, Campbell stated that 120 unemployed, more than 50 of whom were ex-service men, had been jailed in the past few weeks. Arrest of 28 men last Monday and another 12 on Wednesday made 160 all told. Organized collections around Woodward's department store proved to be good publicity for the public works campaign, and many women raised their voices in pro- test, Campbell stated. “Its simply no use talking about jobs. All kinds of us have taken in the hops, tomatoes and baling of hay, but these jobs last only a few days,’ he declared. Campbeil said the situation was much worse this year than last, when only 26 men were jailed for soliciting. He spoke bitterly of the enforced contact with petty pilfer— ers in jail, which had a demoralizing effect on boys whose only crime was to constantly and in an organ- ized fashion, bring their plight be- fore the government. Film Union Waits Word. From East Projectionists’ Strike Hinges On Negotiations Determination of Local 348, Pro- jectionists union, to fight for reten- tion of two operators in every pro- jection room in BC; even if it re- quires strike action te enforce this safety regulation, resulted in a meet- ing last Tuesday between the Pat- tullo cabinet and 8 trade unionists, 4 of the latter representing the Van- couver Trades and Labor Council, I from Victoria Trades and Labor council and 3 executive members of Local 348. While the cabinet announced that its decisions on the matter “‘would be made in due course,’’ local union of- ficials who have established a new deadline for negotiations for October 4, state that the delay really rests with international officials of the Spiro’s Cafe | Is Signed Up | Girls Desert Phoney For Legitimate Union Applause greeted announcement by W. Stewart, business agent, Hotel and Restaurant Employees, at the Lrades and Labor Council this week that Spiro’s cafe, Granville street, had signed an agreement with local 28 and had posted a union card in the window. Opened recently under this name, the management of the cafe told the Waitresses that they were members of the same “union’’ now deserted by Scott's cafe, and that dues would be deducted from their wages. Approached later by officials of local 28, the girls eagerly signed up in the legitimate union, declaring that many customers had been urg- ing them to make the change. The cafe manager refused to be- lieve Stewart when he informed him that his girls had joined local 28, until he had called the help to- gether to get it first hand. Next day, Friday of last week, the management phoned up declaring Willingness to sign an agreement. “PRAGUE, Gzechoslovakia, Sept. 23.—The Czechoslovakian govern— ment has refused to accede to the representations of the Japanese le- icone ie gation here that it cease exports of arms to China, it was learned here. union who are now negotiating with Famous Players in New York. Postponement of strike action until October 4 was suggested by the International during the recent conference in the Bast, at which a Jjoecal union official was present. Local projectionists state that im- patience is expressed by a large number of operators at the stalling ef both Famous Players and the government. Many Organizations Planning Functions Goal of Joint PA-Clarion Press Drive Is $3,000 HE big push for Clarion Weekly which begins one week hence will see an army of supporters commence an onslaught on the objective of the campaign for $3,000 and doubled circulation of both papers. At the moment the drive commit- tee is uncertain as to which organ- ization or district will capture the honor of being the: first to send in a donation. Certainly Grandview is trying hard to make the biggest if not the first contribution ‘to the war chest. Theirs is perhaps ,the the PA andg most ambitious bid for splendor in that they have mortgaged them- Selves to the tune of some $250 and are confident that the considerable reserves of the progressive move- ment will roll up on Saturday, Octo- ber 2, to make it a) day of victory. There will be a big. spectacle at the Auditorium on Denman street that night at 8 pm, worthy of Canada’s great labor press. ! Some of the drive committee mem- bers are beginning to express some- what premature regrets for ener- getic but small Atlin which has flicked the press banner from under 5 will knock everyone out, except Bill the nose of Vancouver two years in succession, but one Irishman recent- ly down from Atlin swears by all the gods that the miners will ‘‘match any chickenfeed put up.” There are dark horses, however, which have the habit of doubling and trebling quotas set. The Russian workers, for instance, who say they will reach $80 and Cumberland miners $100. Then there is the Van- couver Sports Club which is hiring” the Embassy for October 20. They say that the show they contemplate Ravenor and Phil Gibbens, who are the main worriers in this drive. Collective work is expected of Communists and the Oddfellows Hall will be the venue of a snappy enter- tainment on Tuesday, October 7, ac- cording to reports from the Broad- Way and Mount Pleasant branches whieh have a joint committee. A small army of canvassers will inform the public that it can save 75 cents if advantage is taken of the new club offer of both papers for six months for the inclusive cost of $1.50. Need for clarity and a strong lead Was never greater than now. All thinking people should be up to date on momentous questions of the day with which the PA and Clarion Weekly deal. ~ Company towns and unions in BG must have the searchlight turned upon them and legitimate unions must haye a powerful yoice. ‘The fight for work and higher wages in these inflationary days must be backed up by the two papers that champion the producer and wage earner. Cafe Girls Rap Action Of Council Waitresses In Chinese Cafes Oppose Move ‘FIND US JOBS’ “The city has taken away our jobs, therefore it is up to them to find other jobs or give us funds to live on.” This was told to a PA reporter in the Royal Cafe, 61 Pender Street, this week, by two waitresses, with the Chinese proprietor maintaining Silence on the question. Encouraged to talk, the two girls stated that the cafe was run in a business-like manner and that nothing irregular had occurred in the 18 months that one of them had worked at this cafe, ‘‘except,” as one stated, “for the odd rowdy, white young fellow who imagined he was in a tough joint.” Both waitresses were married, with babies; their husbands unem- ployed. One of them could not get relief from the city because she was from Edmonton, and the pres- ent job was obtained after a long search for work. Respect for their Chinese em- ployer was evident as the girls spoke of his consideration for them. They told of a special shift arrangement whereby they could go home and look after their babies. The minimum wage is paid. “Many a white employer would have no consideration for us in such matters,” declared one. The girls claimed that the Chinese were fighting for a prin- ciple. “He could easily have fired us and taken on Chinese waiters, but that isn’t the point. They feel that the present city by-law on this question is not only illegal but an insult to their pride,” they j stated. j Bill Stewart, business agent for | Local 28, Hotel and Restaurant Em- | ployees, stated that cafe jobs were | | | very scarce and that as far as the union was concerned, there was no cbjection to white girls working for Orientals. “Our constitution makes this plain. Our job is to organize all the help, whatever their color or ereed, to get decent conditions and union wages,” declared Stewart. House Openings | WiICTORIA, BC, Sept. 23—The | British Columbia Legislature will | meet for its first session October 26, it Was announced at the Legislature | Buildings this week. Pootung Fired By Incendiary Bombs section of the=-USS Augusta is Smoke and flames pouring skyward after a bombarament by invading Japanese planes. shown on the ex treme right. This pic- ture was taken from Shanghai’s International Settlement. across the Wangpoo river. The forward Stewart on Provincial Executive B.C, relegate to Congress Remarks Unions’ Progress Declaring that in his opinion “the trade union movement in Canada has travelled 10 years in the last 12 months,” Charles Stewart, Vancouver streetrailway employee, just returned from the Trades and Labor Congress held in Ottawa, gave the PA some of his impressions of the Congress. Vernon Union Meet Is Called Sixty-five Are Signed Up After Recent Strike VERNON, BG, Sept. 23—Follow- ing a number of well attended mass meetings held since the recent strike of Belgian Orchard workers, a busi- ness meeting of 65 workers whu Signed for the formation of a union will be held Sunday, September 26, 7:30 pm, Empire Club rooms here. With local enthusiasm for organ- ization growing, it is expected that the majortiy of worker residents will Sign up in the newly formed union. Sunday’s meeting will decide whether the local will affiliate to the Okanagan organization or not. Mediterranean Piracy Conference Scene hb —in—ne View of the town of Nyon, Switzerland, sixteen miles from Geneya, scene of the international par- ley for the suppression of “unidentified” pirate submarines which have created a new crisis in Euro- pean affairs by raids on the shipping of democratic nations. Telephone Petition Is Near 15,000 Outlying Areas Oppose Higher Phone Charges The small-businessman’s view- point on the proposed increase in telephone rates was obtained by the PA this week when a reporter made a canvass of the Fraser avenue area, and reasons aplenty were supplied for the popularity of the signature campaign which is now approach- ing the 15,000 mark in Vancouver. The fact that this district is peo- pled principally by workers who are faced with an increase of $1.10 per month afforded a genuine cross- section of public opinion on this question. : One retailer in particular, who had reaHy gone into the question, | stated that a recent survey by the BC Telephone company of the Fraser district, proved that only one inter-exchange call per person per month is being made, adding four cents to regular bills of $1.50 a month. Now the charge is to be $2.60. The telephone company has been working for the new rates for some years and it is due to the lack of an aggressive lead by the city coun- ceil that the present danger of higher rates exists, declared a dry- goods man. Dissatisfaction with the way the whole thing was engineered was expressed by some. It was looked upon as more than a coincidence that the entire telephone company management saw fit to go east when the Railway Commission came west three months ago to ad- judicate, and when discussions be- tween these officials took place finally, it was in the east—away from BC public opinion. RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil, Sept. 23.—{P'P)—A meeting of the Brazil- jan Labor party here was attended by 65 delegates representing 54,000 members in the capital and 226 branehes in the country. Stewart believed that Quebec, at the rate it is going, will be the “hub” of the trade union movement in Canada and that the bulk of the Catholic syn- 3 dicates will likely be affiliated to the Trades and Labor Congress in the near fut- ure. He based his prediction on the unity achieved during recent strikes, especially the recent suc- cessful struggle when the right Charlies Stewart of collective bargaining was won from the Holt-Gordon interests. Paddy Draper, president of the Congress, gave credit to the work- | ers of Ontario in rubber, auto, steel and mining industries for “bearding the industrial barons in their den,” Stewart said, in a description of Draper's speech to the Congress. Stewart got the impression that Premier Hepburn of Ontario is com- pletely discredited because of his Savage atempts to suppress organi- zation and strikes and for his in- troduction of the CIO bogey. Labor candidates in the Ontario provincial elections nad a good chance to win, thought Stewart. There are 69 unions in Toronto alone that endorse these candidates, | he said. The Congress insisted on a strong resolution in support of Spain and adopted the provisions in the Inter_ national Federation of Trade Unions’ resolution which call for assistance in money and kind for the Republican cause, also free en- try of arms and munitions for the Loyalists, Stewart informed. The BC delegation did some good work, he said, Sam Shearer of Van- couver getting a big hand for his contribution to important discus- sions from the floor. Mexico Aids Spain MEXICO CITY, DF, Sept. 23-—— (PP)—The Mexican government re- port on expert of arms to Spain shows that last year’s shipments amounted to $2,250,000. It says that Support of the Isgally-established Spanish government will continue. Dutch Ship Is Held At Union Bay Labor Pledges Support In War Risk Cases aid DALCROY SAILS NANAIMO, BC, Sept. 23.— Secrecy surrounds an wun- named Duteh ship reported to be lying in Union Bay with a cargo of munitions destined tor Japan. Meagre information received by the PA this week states that the crew of twenty-five Chinese is re— fusing to work the ship and that the vessel's captain is endeavoring to force the men to take the ship with its cargo of death for their country— men to a Japanese port. At its sessions Sunday in Vancou- ver the British Columbia provincial council of the Communist party. authorized Provincial Secretary Tom Ewen to send the following wire of protest to Prime Minister Mackenzie King. No reply had been received at press time. “Dutch ship loaded munitions for Japan lying Union Bay stop Captain attempting force twenty- five Chinese seamen take ship to Japan stop Communist party British Columbia request govern- ment grant Chinese crew asylum Canada until can return China with safety further that govern- nent as signatory League Coy- enant intern ship.” At the meeting of Vancouver Trades and Labor Gouncil this week, delegates approved a motion “that the secretary of the council be instructed to investigate cases where ships’ crews refuse to sail to Japan or China due to war risk and possible.” The motion arose after the case of the 4,500-ton British steamer Daleroy last week, erew of which walked off in Port Alberni when de- mands for a $75 war bonus each were refused by Capt. D. Russell. The Daleroy was bound for Dairen, Manchukuo, with a cargo of logs and lumber, With the exception of H. Wilson, Vancouver seaman,* the erew agreed to work the ship without bonus on the understanding it would not pass through the present war zone. Wilson, who joined the ship at New Westminster, lost ten days’ pay, less advance, and his dis- charge book was retained. Urge Action Against Japan Progressive Opinion Here Sympathetic To China Aid for China was an important item on the agenda at a meeting of the provincial committee of the Communist party of Canada this week, Initiation of a campaign through- out the province for financial and technical aid te China was agreed upon and all sections and branches of the party will be asked to for- Ward resolutions and letters of pro- test to the Japanese consulate in Vancouver against massacre of the Chinese people. A “paper of indignation” to be presented to Prince Chichibu of Japan on his return to the Orient through Yancouver, is being con- sidered. At the mass meeting of the Ga- nadian League for Peace and De- mocracy, held in Moose Hall, at which A. A. Macleod, national] sec- retary of the league, spoke, a reso- lution was endorsed which called for stoppage of ail munitions to Japan and a boycott here of all Japanese goods. that this council give all support” SOLIS elt STITT oratory