i Ss

CG. a

ull un 1mm

int OES UNA

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15,

TANG: MM

wp | estlrvesstltuntsenn

1954

What’s in a name

,

While the Canadian government was rolling out the plush carpet
for witch-hunting U.S. Senator Pat McCarran, U.S. immigration of-
ficials were roughly interrogating these two University of Toronto
students in West Palm Beach, Edward Rogers (left) ‘and William
Boultbee. Both are members of the Progressive Conservative party
and “progressive” was the word U.S. officials didn’t like. (See story

on page 2.)

Continued from page z

McCARTH YISM

_jority of those signing the peti-

tion were former Conservatives
who followed Premier Bennett
into the Social Credit party.

Since his resignation as prin-
cipal, Woodsworth asserted, high
school students were openly
boasting that they had “got rid
of Woodsworth” and were openly~
defying their teachers.

This week Arnold Webster,
himself a former school principal,
leader of the CCF Opposition,
said he would demand a full ex-
planation when the legislature
convenes next month. .

“TY should think Premier Ben-
nett would be the man to explain
this matter, since it occurred in
his own riding of South Okan-
agan,” he said.

The Vancouver Sun saw “a
strong suspicion of McCarthyism
surrounding this case. .. .“” But
its editorial completely ignored
the fact that only a few days be-
fore, Miss Beatrice Ferneyhough,
who contested Point Grey as a
Labor-Progressive candidate in
the 1953 provincial election, was
dismissed from her newly-appoint-
ed position as provincial director
of the Junior Red Cross after both
department of education and Red
Cross officials had expressed
themselves as satisfied with her
qualifications. (Full text of Miss
Ferneyhough’s statement will be
found on page 6.)

By its editorial silence on this
issue, the Sun actually posed this
question for its readers: Is Mc-
Carthyism to be condoned so long
as it affects only Communists -
and deplored when inevitably it
strikes at all opposition, as in
the U.S. it is now striking at lib-
erals, socialists, former New Deal-
ers and even former President
Truman? ‘

Readers of both the Vancouver
Sun and the Vancouver Daily
Province, have noted that both
daily papers have played their
part in promoting McCarthyism
by resorting to the McCarthy

technique of
smear story.

The Province splashed the story
of Miss Ferneyhough’s dismissal
over its front page.

The Sun by its sensational
stories helped to create the poli-
tical atmosphere for the dismissal
of Mrs. Kay Gardner from. Van-
couver Public Library because
she attended an _ international
peace conference.

Both papers raised no protest
when the late John Goss, inter-
nationally renowned singer, was
ousted from the U.S. where he
had gone to attend a peace con-
ference, and Vancouver Park
Board, of which Arnold Webster
was a member, cancelled his con-
tract. ;

These were instances of Mc-
Carthyism, which, the Sun now
says, must be killed in B.C. Its
readers will agree that if this
means abandonment of the meth-
ods of McCarthyism by the Sun
itself and consistency in oppos-
ing every instance of McCarthy-
ism, the Sun can indeed make a
contribution to preserving Can-
adian democratic traditions and
civil liberties.

sensational.

Labor demands

ie 5 : a :
A demand that the provincial eovernment,, in consultation with other groups,

“prepare and institute plans that will alleviate the unemployment situation’’ was made
by delegates attending the tenth annual convention of B.C. Federation of Labor here

Nelast weekend.

“Unemployment in B.C, has reached 52,000, with 23 000 in Vancouver,” said

‘Vic Forster, secretary of Van-
couver Labor Council. ‘The gov-
ernment must be forced to lay its
blueprint for blocking a reces-
sion.”

Recognition that labor unity is
a vital necessity in defending
labor’s gains won over the years
and in making further advances
was contained in the joint of-
ficers’ report, and a resolution on
the subject said that “the records
show that the greatest legislative
gains were made in B.C. when
there was joint action by the
organized labor movement in the
province.” -

A resolution on hospital insur-
ance submitted by the BCFL ex-
ecutive committee outlined “a
compulsory plan based on ability
to pay, with contributions from
employers.” This was a distinct
backing away from the CCF plan

(the BCFL gives political support

to the CCF) which calls for hos-
pital insurance costs to be met
out of. general government rev-
enue. But CCF delegates to the
convention failed to oppose the
executive committee resolution.

A resolution submitted by Grain
Workers Union, Local 333, urged
“the Canadian Wheat Board and

other marketing agencies for ~

agricultural products to accept
sterling in payment for exports
of agricultural products.”

Other resolutions called for:
higher minimum wages, a full
time Labor Relations Board,
amendments to the ICA Act, abol-
ition of labor injunctions, two

weeks annual vacations with pay,

a housing program, plugging of

loop holes in the government’s

Equal Pay Act, automobile insur-
ance at close to cost, and higher
old age pensions.

Elections saw only two changes
in the top executive. C. L. Cox,
IWA, was dropped as third vice-
president and Pen Baskin, Steel-
workers, replaced Hugh Allison,
CBRE, as second vice-president.
Allison was elected third vice-
president.

Dan Radford, president, was
returned by acclamation; Stewart
Alsbury was re-elected first vice-
president; and George Home was
returned as secretary-treasurer.

Executive board includes Law-
rence Vandale, IWA; Bill Sym-
ington, Packinghouse Workers;
Gerry Emary, Retail-Wholesale;
Don Dunphy, Steelworkers; and
Bill Pierce, B.C. Woodworkers.

Financial Post predicts
half-million unemployed

TORONTO

“Tt looks as though 1954’s un-
employment peak will top half a
million,” the Financial Post de-
clared in its January 9 issue re-
porting from data provided by
National Employment Service
and federal department of labor
officials. The peak is expected
in February or March.

The federal department of la-
bor in Ottawa estimated that ap-
plicants for jobs across the na-
tion last November (last official
figure available) amounted to 6

percent of the working force. In
November 1952 the igure was
4.3 percent.

Canada’s total Somene force
fell from 4,900,000 last Septem-
ber to 4,714,000 in late Novem-
ber, despite increases in popula-
tion. ‘

The “crisis” line of unemploy-
ment is usually held to be 10 per-
cent of the working force. If the
500, 000 forecast by March is cor-
rect, it will have passed the
danger line.
force includes those working
more than 35 hours a week.)

(The total working ©

Continued from page 1

MALENKOV

should be strengthened and |
hope that it will be so.”

Question: “How do you evalu-.

ate the possibilities of maintain-
ing world peace and lessening in-
ternational tension in 1954?”

Answer: “All peoples are eager

for lasting peace and there are
favorable opportunities to further

weaken international tension in —

1954. Governments, primarily the
governments of the great powers,
cannot fail to heed the voice of
the peoples and reckon with their
growing desire for the lasting
peace urged by the Soviet gov-
ernment which has. done and is
doing and shall continue to do
everything toward enabling the
people to live in peace and to-
ward relaxing international ‘ten-
sion and toward establishing nor-
mal relations between states.”
Question: “What do you con-
sider the most important step
which could be undertaken in the

interests of peace throughout the
world in 1954?”

Answer: “Such a step would be -

the conclusion of an agreement
between the states under the
form of which participants in the
agreement would take upon them-
selves the solemn and uncondi-
tional obligation not to employ
atomic, hydrogen and other weap-
ons of .mass destruction. —

“Such an agreement would fac-
ilitate the possibility of reaching

an agreement of the complete
banning of atomic weapons and
of the establishment of strict in-
ternational control for implement-
ing the banning of employment
of atomic energy for military
purposes,

“At the same time the Soviet
government would consider it
necessary to reach an agreement
on a considerable reduction of

all other types of armaments and
of armed forces.

“All this undoubtedly would
decrease expenditures for mili-
tary purposes and would improve
the economic position of the
population of the world.”

Burns Night
supper Jan. 23

The proud contribution made
by. Scottish immigrants and Can-
adians of Scottish origin to this
country’s democratic heritage
and militant labor traditions will
be recalled at the annual Burns
Night supper to be held in Hast-
ings Auditorium (Lower Hall) on

Saturday, January 23, under aus-
‘pices of New Frontiers.

Tickets at $1.25 each are now
on sale at the Pacific Tribune
and the People’s Cooperative
Bookstore.

Keep McCarthyism
out of Canada
Public Concert- Meeting

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 — 8 P.M.

PENDER AUDITORIUM
| 339 West Pender

4

- SPEAKERS:
HARVEY MURPHY

Trade Unionist

EES PETH

MUNRO

Barrister

@ Bill 7, the Canadian version of
McCarthyism, must be defeated.

y Come to this rally and add your
voice to the growing volume of

protest.

AUSPICES: VANCOUVER BRANCH, /
LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — JANUARY 15, 1954 — PAGE 12

i

4