July 21, 1939 THE PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE Page Three Says CCF Leaders {Bear Terrible ‘Responsibility 3 _ TORONTO, Ont.—CCF leaders, particularly in the West, save a tremendous responsibility in the developing election situ- -ation, the Clarion Weekly declares editorially in its current issue, "urging Westerners to “think deep, think fast,” The paper declares if Has re=- _ ceived wide and favorable com- ment on an article written by | Leslie Morris for its last issue, de- ) pictinge the splendid possibilities -for a large number of progressive "members being elected to the [poext parliament by the western S\orovances and analyzing the dom- 0 dS ee ee pre fe met Tin Gh et ®nant role of the CCF in achieving > his. iuring the past few weeks have S:erved to emphasize the need for Sjuick understanding of the basic © ssues involved in the elections, © he Glarion Weekly makes the fol- "owing estimation: BS Pointing out that several events “firstly, the Leadership League nas folded up with an admission inf defeat. Secondly, it is clear at the forces of reaction are nding it very difficult to meet sven the as-yet-divided challenge ‘rom the progressive groups and ie distinctly worried. , “fhe disunity of the Tory party, whe difficulties facing Hepburn in 21S amibition to blast Mackenzie Sing out of Liberal leadership, the ar-trom-—tavorable comment in the “oresS on the Montreal Gazette's :ditorial callings for a reaetionary ‘ealition of the two cid parties to meet the ‘socialist menace’—ail terve to indicate that as yet re- - Protest Customs Ruling. CPSU History Is Banned But Mein Kampf Permitted ler’s Mein Kampf is freely sold in booksteres throughout Ganada and is obtainable at most public libraries, the Short History of the Communist Party of the So- wiet Union has been placed under a customs ban. This fact was Pointed out in a statement pro- testing the ban released here this week by the Dominion committee cf the Communist Party. Full text of the statement fol- lows: “The Canadian customs autho- rities have banned the imporia- tion of copies of the Short His- tory of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from the United States. where the English edition is published. Wo reason, we are informed, has been advanced by the authorities for this act. It is an arbitrary ruling which no amount of ordinary enquiry has changed. There can be no doubt that the action of the customs department was taken with the consent of the government. “The Short History of the CPSU is an invaluabie and the only authoritative account of the gSreatest Social event in modern history. it is published with a view to providing a thorough understanding of the revolution of 1917 and the tremendous ad-— vances which have been made Since that time by the USSR. it explains the preceding history of the people of the Tsarist em- Pire and the efforts of the mass- es to achieve political and econo- mic democracy. it is of interest, not only to Communists, but to all students of modern society. “To ban it is not only to de- prive the members of our party the right to read and study this book, but to refuse permission to many thousands of non-Com- munist Canadian citizens to understand fore fully the his- tory of the USSR and of the Communist party of that coun- try, a history which has been distorted and misinterpreted in the daily press and in most or- gans of public opinion—most re- eently in Dr. Manion’s ignorant diatribes against communism. INTERFERENCE Witte RiGHT. “In the interests of democracy and of scientific knowledge it is essential that this book be on sale in Canada. To continue the customs ban will be to inter-— fere with the right of the Cana- dian people to understand the modern world and to get assist- ance in dealing with their prob- lems by a study of the great so- cial movements which the Com- munist party of the Soviet Union has so nobly advanced. “There iS.no customs ban upon Hitler’s obscene and violent pro- gram, Mein Kampf, on sale in all Canadian bookstores and in most public libraries. The gov- ernment has permitted the sale of a book which aims at world Nazi domination, and which is the handbook of every fascist spy and agent in Canada. Mein Kampf aims at the conquest of Canada by the Nazi legions. “The Short History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Unien is devoted to world peace and wellbeing, to social justice and liberation and te friendly eooperation between the common people of all nations. That Mein Kampf should be freely import ed and the Short History of the CPSU banned is an imsult to Ganadian institutions and demo- eracy. “The Communist party urges all democratic people to protest to Ottawa this arbitrary and un- democratic ruling, and to de mand of the authorities that they at once permit the importation of this book. We cannot permit the continuation of a customs censorship which favors the Nazi agents and discriminates against the history of a friendly demo- cratic nation and of the party which led it to its present Streneth and power.” TORONTO, Ont — While Hit-- PRESIDENT Lazarus Cardenas of Mexico is greeted citizens of Tia Juana after he approved construction of a 131-_ mile highway from Mexicali on the US-Mexican border to San Felipe on the Gulf of California. Youth Greets President > by young Japanese Agent Arrested In US Stated To Have Worked With Nazis DETROIT, Mich.(ICN).—US department of labor immi- gration inspectors arrested Satohata Takahashi here this week on a technical charge of returning to the United States after having been deported to Japan in the spring of 1934. Arcand NB Tour Flops ‘Fuehrer’ Fails To Get Response In Maritimes EREDERICTON, NB—The re- cent New Brunswick tour made by Adrien Arcand, ‘fuehrer’ of the fascist Wational Unity party, proved a miserable flop. At Moncton, where Arcand, Ed- ward Goguen of Shediac, and Daniel O’Keefe of Campbelltown, Wational Unity party organizer in New Brunswick, addressed a poor- ly attended meeting, main feature of the speeches was a vitriolie at- tack on the Jewish people and on democracy in general. At the close of the meeting a local rabbi sought to ask a few questions. Chairman William Mac- Duff refused to permit him to speak. Finally RCMP suggested that the meeting had better be terminated. : Another meeting, scheduled for Chatham, was not held. Gonsider- able publicity had been gsiv¥en to the meeting, but notices failed to name a place, On the night Arcand was to have spoken all Chatham halls were dark. Townspeople Said they knew nothing about Ar— cand. , “It was all arranged by out- siders,” was the reply given by sev- eral approached. “No one here would have anything to do with it. The editor of a local paper which carried advance notices dis- closed that 1000 dodgers namins a local theatre as the meeting place had been ordered but not called for. The theatre was closed. At other NB points public re- sponse was equally lacking. Britain Boycotts Fascist Goods LONDON, Eng.—(CN)—Nearly half the population of Britain goes out of its way to buy British goods in preference to foreign goods, ac- cording to results of the latest poil iImade by the British Institute of Publie Opinion. Of those who make inquiries in- to origin of goods, over half boy- eott commodities from Germany, Italy or Japan. Of this group 79.7 percent boycott German goods, 69.1 Percent boycott Japanese soods and 23.5 percent boycott Italian goods. Sponsor Picnic To Aid Advocate NEW WESTMINSTER, BC Launching a drive to assist the People’s Advocate to issue the pro- posed enlarged paper, the local Clarion-Advyocate press committee is Sponsoring a picnic in Richmond Municipality, about 200 yards from the end of the Queensboro bus line, Sunday, July 30, starting at i pm, Takahashi is founder and chief organizer of the “Society for the C2eveepment of Our Own,” an or- Banization seeking to exploit, in the interests of Japanese imperial-— ism, the legitimate aspirations of the Negro people and other col- ored races for democracy and freedom. Takahashi, 49 years old and speaking Enelish without trace of accent, was arrested -Monday by imamigration inspectors, a large quantity of literature containins subversive propaganda being found in his possession, It was estimated at the time of Takahashi’s first arrest in 1934 that his organization had a mem- bership of 10,000 in Detroit, Mt, Clemens, Pontiac and Flint. It is reported that Takahashi has also been working with German WNazi agents in the US. One purpose of the organiza-— tion, it was said, was organization of revolt among the Negro people in case of war between Japan and the United States. Prepare For Meet TORONTO, Ont.—Organized la- bor is getting ready for the 55tn convention of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada which will open in London on Sept. 25, Main questions to come before the convention are expected to be the fight for economic recovery and trade union unity. Present in- dications are that there will be a large number of resolutions on economic recovery, with feeling Beneral throughout the trade union movement that the international trade union movement can play its rightful part in the fight for re- covery and democracy only if the breaches in its own ranks are mended. It is expected that the majority Opinion will. demand reinstate- ment of CIO unions suspended by the congress executive last Janu- ary under pressure from Pres. Wil- liam Green and the AFI. executive. in the past few months Green’s splitting tactics and invasion of the congress’ autonomy have come in for heayy criticism. Prediction is made that of con- vention delegates to be elected during coming weeks a majority will be unity advocates. Boycott Japanese Goods! C Electric Refuses To Consider Lower Fares In City } made by experts. Sask. CCF Refuses Unity Yorkton Member’s Convention Pilea Proves Unavailing SASKATOON, Sask. — Unity with other progressive forces in Saskatchewan to defeat reaction in the federal elections was re— jected by the CCE provincial convention here last weekend. in a resolution introduced by the CCF central executive the convention also refused the over- ture made by A. C. Stewart, MILA for Yorkton, in a2 memo- randum to G. H. Williams, MiA, CCE provincial leader, suggest- ing that the CCE refrain from running candidates where Stew- art and three others elected by unity efforts in the last provin-— cial elections are now sitting members. Under the leadership of M. J. Coldwell, MP, and G HH. Wil liams, the convention rejected offers of cooperation with the New Democracy movement as advanced by Mayor A. G. Ellison of Regina and George HM. Barr, recently Dominated as New De— mocracy candidates in Regina. Mayor Ellison told the con- vention the New Democracy movement was not a new poli- tical party, but a. movement to align all existing progressive political parties, groups and in- dividuals for the purpose of de— feating reaction. It was, he said, a movement for immediate re— forms for the people and did not ask the CCE to sink its own identity. DELEGATES UNSEATED. Representatives from Meadow Lake constituency were unseated, their credentials taken away, when they refused to line up with the convention’s anti-unity stand. Asked to assure the con- vention they would support the CCF and no other party, Meadow Lake delegates replied they would support a CCE candidate if one were nominated by the united progressive group of which they formed a part. Fail- ing’ such nomination, they stated, they would abide by decisions of their constituency convention to support the progressve candidate obtaining the largest number of votes. Convention decisions were this week viewed with concern by progressives in northern Sas- katechewan. Danger is seen that, unless the decisions are reversed, the CCH may proceed to nom- inate in every constituency, even where it has little following, in Opposition to other progressive candidates, with resulting benefit to reactionary candidates of the old-line parties. While the CCE is the strongest progressive party in Saskatchewan, its strength is not reflected in all constitu- encies. Oakes, Millionaire Tax-Evader, Given Council Position NASSAU, Bahamas.—Sir Harry Oakes, who reaped a fortune from his mining interests in Canada and then came to this British West Indian centre to avoid pay- ing Canadian taxes on it, has been appointed a member of Bahamas legislative council, non-elective body which functions similarly to the British House of Lords. This is the second reward given to the millionaire tax-eyader. Only a month ago Oakes was knighted. S Murrin Rejects Proposals Made By City Council Hinting that the city might consider purchasing the whole street car system, Mayor Iyle Telford, at a conference between BC Electric officials and a special civic committee, refused to discuss the matter further until a full investigation had been “It is essential for us to have expert advice,” declared the Mayor, after lengthy arguments from W.- G. Murrin, president of. the com- pany, that there was not sufficient revenue to warrant lower street car fares. “Listening to Mr. Murrin almost causes usS to Shed crocodile tears that the BC Plectric is operating at a loss,’ Telford continued. ““Wwe hayven’t access to the books and we don’t really know what the re- venue is. Some people say that the company investments could be improved. As a council it is our business to know all about these things.” Murrin’s offer to sell the trans- portation system to the city is in accordance with the agreement which states that the city has the Tight, at five year intervals, to take Over the system within the old city boundaries at an agreed price or an amount fixed by arbitration based on costs to the company, less depreciation. REFUSES REDUCTION. Early in discussion of the city’s various requests for lower fares, Murrin indicated he did not intend to consider any reduction in fares. “It’s no use discussing each re— quest,” he announced. “You must know what is in my mind. You iknow my anstver before you Start.” Later in the discussion regard- ing payments to the city, he de- Clared: “I’m not going to accept anythine in addition to the pay- ment now made unless I’m or- dered to by a judicial body.” Asked whether he would con- Sider running the system for an-— other three years on the same agreement, Murrin said he didn’t think he would. “The company must take the Stand that the fares are insuffi- cient,” he said. “We are certainly not willing to pay to have the agreement extended.” To Alderman John Bennett’s re- quest for a special $1 pass for six days, Murrin insisted that the passes were the main cause of the alleged small revenue. He main- tained that the average fare paid by a pass user was 2:9 cents per ride which was “entirely unremun- erative to the company.” “We are seriously considerin= whether we can continue with the Passes at present,” Murrin said. “In fact it is highly questionable whether we can. There’s certainly not a chance of issuing a $1 pass-’ The request for school children's tickets at 10 for 25 cents met witn a similar cold refusal, Mairrin gsiy- ing figures supposedly to show that the company was exception- ally kind to school children, even allowing them to use school tickets on Sunday to go to the park, which was, according to him, “a very bad principle and gets misunderstood.” WANTS MCGRE FRO CITY. Rather than pay the city more than the present rate of 53125,000 for the franchise, Murrin consid- ered that it was now time the city paid the BC Electric for proyvidine its excellent service. The present charge of $125,000 is a fixed amount set by the last agreement in place of the old per- centage of revenue. On the per-— centage basis the city, in 1929, re- ceived more than $132,000 from the company. “The city was receiving $8,000 more in 1928 and yet you must be better off now,’ remarked Ald. John Bennett. “Areas have been built up andi there are many more passengers than there were ten: years ago. I think the city is en- titled to a little more from the company.” Replying, Murrin asserted that the revenue was not as high today as it was ten years ago and it cer- tainly didn’t justify increased pay-— ments. Obtaining an unwilling consent from Murrin to consider the in- creased annual franchise payment, the conference decided to mect later when he was ready to go into the matter again. S : x = r2I9O° 2s0z. 475 advertisement is not published aed : 3 --. Gove splayed mment of British = ‘ — Sa by the Se Sse : Poatd eeby hs