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VOL. I., No. 25

Published Weekly

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1936

Single Copies: 5 Cents

S=

FULL NO. 77

FRENCH FASCIST FO

MOVE TO SPLIT SEAMEN FAILS

Local Union Official De- livers Threat to Sailors

Qn Thursday, June 25, the local Wational Labor Council of the Ali- Canadian Congress of Labor, called an open meeting of seamen, with the intention of forming a branch of the National Seamen’s Union in B-C., in opposition to the existing union of seamen, the Seafarers’ Industrial Union, oe

That the plan did not meet with the approval of the B.C. seamen was Soon made evident. Qutside of the five delegates of the N-L.C. the re mainder of those in (some 33) were members of the Sea- farers’ Industrial Union. 2

A. Fiett, Lecal No. 3 Engineers, was chairman. Qpening the meeting he explained the purpose of calling the seamen together, and then in- troduced J. Williamson, of the Amal- famated Buildme workers, as the organizer when asked if Willamson Was an organizer for the National Seamen’s Union, the chairman evasively answered that Viliamson Was an unofficial organizer.

As far as the purpose of the meet-

ine was concerned, there was nothing accomplished, the entire eudience being supporters of the

Seafarers’ Industrial Union.

A member from the S.1.U. gave a brief review of the formation and activites of his union, claimed for it the honor of winning sreat i1m-— provements in the weges and con- ditions of the seamen, and of haying the respect, not only of its member- ship, but also of the great majority of the unorganized seamen, who hau shown, by their non-attendance at ¢his meeting, that they would not be a party to the splitting of the ranks of the seamen by setting up a dual union. The member deplored the re- actionary actions of a small coterie of the leadership of the A-CC. of L., and suggested that if they would devote aS much energy towards pbuilding the S.1.U., as they were de- voting towards splitting the sea- men, then the organizing of the workers would be boosted consider-

ably. A sinister note was struck when

Williamson stated that it they (meaning apparently Williamson, McKinley, etc.) could get enough

£ B.C. pressure put on, the seamen Of

would be forced into the National - Seamen’s Union.

LOGGERS ARE COMING TO TOWN

Gerry’s Jubilee Racket Hopes to Profit by Shutdown

Vancouver papers accept with glee the announcement that the logging camps are closing down, and 22,000 loggers will have nothing to do for the next few weeks but Spend their money on Gerry's Ju- bilee.

A few weeks ago the same papers were lamenting that a few thou- sand loggers, who had quit work in an attempt to stop disrcimination and gain a wage increase, were los- ing wages. :

What position the papers will take, when, 22,000 loggers, and the thousands of single unemployed and relief camp boys who have been turned loose to starve, begin to take steps to alleviate their destitute con- dition, remains to be seen, but it is certain the ballyhoo surrounding the loggers today will have disap- peared.

There are two reasons for the logging camp shut-down. At this time of the year the closing of the camps, because of fire hazard is

(Continued on page 2)

ITARY PARADE MN OPENS JUBILEE

Vancouver’s Golden Jubilee was officially opened Wednesday with @ parade of the military, naval and air force units, which incidentally was the largest since the war. The only civilians mear it were specta- tors standing on the curb.

As the 1800 men marched along onto Georgia street shortly after 10:30 a.m. with their rifles at the slope, scattered applause broke out, apparently the hand-clapping being for the units in which relatives or friends were parading.

Bands and troops were brought here from Victoria aboard the H.M-. ©S. Skeena and E-M-CS_ Vancou- ver.

Some discontent was prevalent amone the troops here who threat- ened to withdraw from the parade if the bandsmen were paid. The sol- diers’ annual camp has been cancel- led in order to participate in the Jubilee celebration.

In former years bandsmen have ‘been paid for their services on Do- ‘minion Day, but this year the parade Was taken over by Military District Wo. 11, and no remuneration was “mentioned.

attendance

B. C. LOGGERS IN CONVENTION

The Vancouver local of the log- gers’ section of the U.B:of C.& J. (Local 2783) commenced their two- day Convention in the O’Bren Hall, Homer and Hastings street, Thursday niorming.

Fraternal delegates from all

B.C. locals in the sawmill and logeinge industry are in attend- ance.

The “Lumber Worker,” official organ of the lumber and sawmill workers of the A.F.of L. (B.C. Dis- trict), has held back publication this week, but will come out next week with 2a special Convention Issue.

25 Killed In Log Accidents Profits of ctry Writ-

ten in Blood of Loggers

Logging fatalities in B.C. woods continue to mount. Since the last issue of our paper two more loggers have paid the price to the god of Mammon, bringing the year’s total to 25, five more than at this time a*year ago, despite the fact that this year because of the strike and other reasons there has been at least one month's less logging than in the eorrespondine period in 1935.

On June 26 John Ochman was killed when struck by a falling limb at Camp 4, Alberni Pacific Lumber Company's Camp, Alberni Canal,

James Murphy, chokerman, 25 years of age, was Kilied on June 29, at the M.& LT. Camp, Harrison Lake. Yardinge was being done on a side hill, when Murphy was hit by a log. We died instantly.

Recently officials of the Compen- sation Board and of the logging companies discussed ways and means of cutting down accidents in the woods. The net result of their deliberations was the posting of Warning notices. Wo attempt has been made to reach the real cause of the accidents, speed-up, and loggers State that the public announcement of the compensation and logging officials re their concern over the number of accidents was merely a camouflage to fool the public, as a prelude to an intensification of the speed-up.

The accident ratio has increased and will continue to increase until the loggers, through proper organ- ization are able, without fear of ais- erimination, to put the brakes on the mad orgy that is claiming four lives a month.

C.C.F. Convention Faces Vital Issues

Future Policy, Leadership and Control of Paper ~ Some of the Problems Which Will Confront the Three-Day Meeting

, This evening (Friday) at the Vic-

tory Hall, Homer street, the annual convention of the C.C.&. (B.C. Sec- tion), will get under way, to continue Saturday and Sunday, in what prom- ises to be the most vital and im- portant convention in the history of the party.

Some 300 credentialled delegates are expected to be present; and with visiting delegats; it is expected the number will be swelled to beyond the 400 mark.

The national leader, J. S. Woods- worth, will attend. -

Already more than two hundred resolutions have been sent in by elubs throughout the province, reso- lutions covering practically every activity of the party.

The Communist Party of Canada has addressed a letter of greetings to the convention, urging the neces- Sity for unity between all working elass groups.

It is xpected that most of the de- bate will centre around three main points—Party leadership, Party pol- icy, and the obtaining of a Party paper.

On Wednesday your correspondent talked with a number of out-of- town delegates. For that day they were holidaying, Yet the serious problems of every day life, and their part in the approaching Convention were uppermost/in their minds.

From delegates representing both right and left wines came the com- mon assertion that “‘a united €.C.F. can win the next B.C. election.”

The delegates were unitd, too, on the principle that not the personal ambitions of any leader or srowp of leaders, but the good of the move- ment, must be the main considera- tion. And all were agreed that the party must have an official publica- tion owned and controlled by the party. :

Unity Essential

All delesates. deprecated the ap-

parent split which had developed

amongst the leadership. Some were

of the opinion that it was not serious, and would be ironed out at this convention. Q@thers felt that it was deliberately engineered by the Rey., Connell and his faction to pre- vent the C.C.F, from becoming the majority in the next House. Some of them thought the convention would demand the removal of Rey. Connell from the leadership of the Opposition in the House, but the #eneral opinion was that the leader- ship was not the issue, but that it Was a question of this policy of the party, and the participation of the party in the immediate struggle of the workers.

The recent events in France were quoted as an example of what could be accomplished here through unity. Unity with all working class poli- tical parties and trade unions on an anti-capitalist program. United on such a program, the C.C.F. would win the next B.C. election,

Threaten to Smash A.F.

of L. Locals of Loggers and Millworkers

At a meetine of seamen Thursday, June 25, called by the NGC, for. the purpose of setting up a dranch of the National Seamen’s Union in opposition to the Seafarers’ Imdus- trial Union, J. Williamson, business agent of the Amalzamated Building Workers, stated that if they (pre- sumably the reactionary officials of the N-L.C.) could get enough pres- sure put on, the seamen of B.G would be forced into the Nutional Seamen’s Union. :

Recently Williamson threatened the secretary of the shingle weavers that he would smash eyery AF. of L. union in the lumber industry (logeers and mill men) and organize the workers into the A.C.G. of L.

Some time ago Williamson and McKiniy, the latter, president of the Wational Labor Council, and » vice- president of the All-Canadian Con- Sress of Labor, announced that “in- terested parties’? had donated $200 to the council to pay for radio broadcasts to be used to put over Canadian unionism. This was during the early stages of the loggers’ strike, when the logsin= operators, and the Citizens’ League, through their paid mouthpiece, Tom Mce- Innes, and through the capitalist press, were carrying on their bitter- est attacks against the AE of L., to which the loggers and mill workers had just affiliated. Looking at this donation in the nature of a bribe to the leaders of the N.L.C., several rank and file delegates demanded to Know the source of the donation, which both Williamson and Mc- Kinly refused to divulge.

(Continued on page 2)

A:C.C.L. Union Officials Collaborate With Bosses

MOSLEY STONED IN MANCHESTER

MANCHESTER, Eng., June 29. —(ALP) Angered by a fascist demonstration at the Town Hall here yesterday an angry crowd of More than 3,000 stoned the auto- mobile of Sir Oswald Mosley, would-be British blackshirt dicta- tor.

Windows of the Fascist Club at Hulme were smashed.

Mosley, surrounded by a body- Suard of fascist storm troopers, left the hall amid shouts and boos from the crowd which tore down the fascist emblems and attempted to overturn the trucks in which the British Hitlers were riding.

BRITANNIA MINERS KILLED BY SLIDE

Crushed beneath a large rock, two miners, Jas. Thompson, 45, and W. EH. Brockbank, 25, were inmantly killed Monday night, while working in a slope of the Victoria Mine at Britannia Beach.

A slab of rock sixteen feet in length, three feet wide, fifteen inches thick and weighing several tons crashed down on the men from the roof of the mine, which accord- ing to miners who have worked there is dangerous because of its loose rock.

Brockbank leayes a wife in New Westminster, while Thompson’s nearest relative is a sister-in-law re- Siding at Bickle, B.c.

An inquest was held at Britannia Beach on Tuesday, and a verdict of accidental death was returned.

REGINA SEEKS SPECIAL CHARTER

Taboo Council Wants Act of its Own

REGINA, June 26—(ALP)—Re- gina’s labor civic government has found a hurdle in the Saskatchewan City Act which is blocking plans for a superannuation scheme and for a re-organization of the relief System.

Mayor Pllison announces that Re- gina will seek to have a special act of its own passed by the provincial legislature giving the city power to work out its own destiny, a plan under which many municipalities in other provinces operate.

At the present itme all cities in Saskatchewan are foverned by the Provincial Act. Such cities as HEd- monton, Winnipez and Calgary operate under special charters.

Mayor Ellison has a draft of a Civic charter prepared and will sub- mit it to the city council at an early meeting.

CES IN FULL

Thousands Of New Members

Flock Into Unions, Socialist And Communist P

FRENCH SOLDIERS’ WAGES DOUBLED

PARIS, France, June 27.—41ALE) —The Council of Ministers has ap- proved a decree doubling the pay of Soldiers and sailors and increasing: their food allowances.

In addition, the Council has abrogated the Laval decrees of econ- omy thus exempting the smaller paid civil servants from the ten per cent tax, benefiting them to the ex-— tent of 1,300,000,000 francs.

Another bill receiving the cab- inet’s approval would nationalize War factories and initiate a public

Works program.

Great Victory Of

Spanish Seamen

By HENRY MORICE

The Spanish seamen haye won an important victory. In a four days’ general strike throughout the coun- try (May 1 to May 4) they have won conditions by which they have risen from one of the lowest to one of the best in international Shipping.

Bight-hour day throughout Span- ish shippings and for all departments including the catering departments; a general wage increase of from 50 to 100 per cent according to the different departments; crews have won the right to control the use of food allowance which, by the way, was inereased; engasement by rota

in uniform shippin= offices in every.

Port; payment.for overtime Work; 20 days paid holidays annually tor the lower ranks and one month for of- ficers and engineers: increase in manning corresponding to the strict application of the eight-hour day. Added to these they have Gained a condition which is a sensational novelty, i.e., the owners are opliged in the event of their ships being laid up to sign daily a crew of watch- men and for other tasks aboard idle

FARMERS DEMAND DOLLAR WHEAT

CALGARY, Alta, June 25.—(ALP) In a resolution forwarded to the Dominion government at Ottawa, the United Farmers of Canada are demanding a minimum price for wheat. They demanded 4a guar- anteed price of 8714 cents a bushel at least, and $1.00 a bushel if pos- sible.

RELIEF STOPS INNORTHBAY: MANY HUNGRY

Unemployed Association Refuses Responsibility

For What ‘‘May Happen’’

GOVW’T. REFUSES AID

NORTH BAY, Ont., June 30.— (ALP)—Unless the unexpected hap- pens, North Bay's 2,500 relief recipi- ents will starve from tomorrow morning onward by joint decree of the city council and the provincial government.

In a telegram to the Hon. David A. Croll this afternoon, the North Bay Unemployed Workers’ As- sociation warned that actual starva- tion conditions exist and that the “unemployed are on the verge of riot.”

Ten days ago, with less than 310,- 000 in the relief treasury, the relief committee of the council decided that, unless money came from some- where, relief would have to cease on July 1. City council refused to pass a special levy to take care of the situation, throwing the onus di- rectly to Queen's Park. The result was the decision to end relief.

Rank and file of the unemployed association have been restless, urg- ing that some form of mass action be taken to force a change in the Situation before the financial crisis actually arrived. They were re- strained by the executive.

Council places the blame for the situation squarely on the province. When the city budget was struck this spring council was prepared to put in a $67,600 item for relief. This was slashed to $45,000 by A. J. B. Gray, expert for the Department of Municipal Affairs which is also ad- ministered by Mr. Croll.

Ships. These men to be seamen of 45 years of age and over. Union Recognized

Finally official recognition of the trade union organizations of the seamen was won as well as intro- duction on the ships of elected dele- gates of the crews on every vessel. Shipowners have thereby been com- pelled to acknowledge trade union rights and their unrestricted exer- cise aboard ship.

These are the most important of the gains won by the splendid move- ment of the Spanish seamen. ‘he Popular Front Government has is- Sued a special decree in which as- surance is given that the ship- Owners comply with the conditions of the new agreement. 2

Unity Brings Victory

The most essential reason tor the victory is to be seen in unity. Span- ish seamen united for the strugele and established united action. On April 9 of this year all national or- Sanizations of the seamen, from the unions of the officers to those of the lower ranks and including all trade union opinions (U.G.T., CNT and autonomous) agreed to a pro- .2ramme of joint demands and on the basis of this establisheu the National Alliance of ‘Seamen’s Trade Unions. In this manner the united front of all seamen, from of- ficer to deck boy, was set up.

A second and also important cause of the victory can be seen in the fact that the dockers, who are also united in a national al- liance of dockers’ trade unions, came to the assistance of the sea- men the moment the struggle begzan and ceased work in all ports.

Tactics and Stratesy

The strike was conducted ‘‘on the spot,” ie. on board the ships in- Stead of the traditional practise of Seamen to leave the ship in the event of a strike being declared. The seamen remained on board, ovcupied their ships and organized feeding of the strikers aboard.

There can be no doubt that this new strike stratezy as employed by the Spanish seamen has proved its effectivness and it is to be expected that it will be used in the coming struggles of the seamen of other countries,

RE I I l

ls

WOMEN’S LEADER

ah — it fe OED

IN. K. Krupskaya (above), widow of Lenin, has taken an active part in developing educational facilities

in the Soviet Union. She was one of the chief speakers at a recent All-Union Wemen’s Conference in Tioscow.

ORGANIZATIONS FOR PEACE MEET

A gettogether of peace organi- zations in Vancouver will take place in a few days in support of the World Peace Congress to be held at Geneva, Sept. 4, 5, 6.

With the League of Nations So- ciety taking the initiative and with

the co-operation of the Ganadian League Against War and Fascism and the International “Women’s

League for Peace and Freedom, Brit- ish Columbians wil be fully informed of the world-wide efforts for peace, as well as the imminence of world war.

A proposal to send a Sritish Columbia delegate to the Geneva Congress will be on the agenda of this joint committe meetings: one who will be duly elected as repre- senting wide public opinion in this province. All peace lovers should be on the watch for anouncements and invitations to participate in this provyince-wide effort to strengthen the peace forces of the world.

STRIKE CONTINUES AT CAPILANO MILL

The strike continues at the Capi- lano Shingle Mill, with the ranks Still solid. To date the management has refused to deal with the men, meantime Capilano shingles are ta- boo on the American side.

The City Council has arranged a meeting between the strikers and the operators, and a committee of the council for this morming. At this meeting the question of wages, and the company’s attempt to dis- criminate against the union men, will be aired.

Lumber, Sawmill Work-

ers of Northwest Pledge Support to B.C.

Fifty-three delegates, representing five district councils of the lumber and sawmill workers union of the U.B.of C&J_ of Washington, WOre- gon and B.C., met in convention at Centralia, Wash, June 27th and 28th, with William Plestead, presi- dent of Gray’s Harbor District Coun- cil, presiding.

Harold Pritchett, president of the B.C. District Council, was the B.C. delegate.

Delegate Pritchett gives a siowine report of the proceedings ut the Convention, and the enthusiasm of the delegates. A wonderful recep- tion was accorded him by the Ameri- Can delegates, and any mention of B.C, was greeted with spontaneous applause.

A significant feature of the gatnh- ering was that both the Seamen and the Longshoremen of the U.S. Pa- cific Coast were represented, and an open invitation was extended by these delegates to take part m the council meetings of the Maritime Federation of the Pacific. The dele- fates also suggested that the Lum- ber and Sawmill Workers and the MLY.of P. meet in joint convention.

The close link between the two bodies was emphasized, and no doubt was left but that in future there

63,000 Workers Represented

At Northwest Convention

PROTEST FROM ’PEG POGIES GETS ACTION

WINNIPEG, June (ALP)—Action by unemployed single men who have been eating at the city’s central din- ing halls has brought some results, although not the full measure de- manded by the men.

Arrangements have been made by the Single Men’s Relief. GCommis- Sion to give the men, mostly youths, free use of the public parks baths on presentation of their identifica- tion cards.

A physician is to check the qual- ity of the food at each civic dining hall to see that it is up to the Standard demanded by the men, The men, however, are askne for res- taurant meals.

ETREAT

arties Daily

Blum Has Support of Overwhelming Majority of French People

COMMUNE LIVES AGAIN

By PIERRE VAN PAASSEN PARIS, France, June 22 (Federat- ed and Associated Labor Press) — The organized workers of France are victorious all along the line, Fascism has been smashed into helplessness by the People’s Front victory at the polls. The bosses have been compelled to agree to a general inerease in wages amounting to 15 per cent through the gigantic strike movement. The department store Owners held out, but they too have accepted the Strikers’ basic de- Imands. They had to, as the govern- ment has given the wage increase the power of law. Without a shot having been fired or a single dis- turbance having occurred, a com-= Van Paassen plete transforma— tion of social life in Brance has taken place. It is the greatest victory of the working class in Europe next to the Rus- Sian Revolution. Commune Lives Again. i Phe workers’? flag is up on hundreds of buildings in Paris and in the provinces. In a day of celebration ail state theatres and operas were opened freely to the people. In the Pere Lachaise cem- etery, on the Rue des Federes, where the last defenders of the Commune fell in 1871, hundreds of wreaths of poppies have been hung by the victorious labor un- ions. Above them hangs a banner which proclaims in flaming letters Six feet high: “The Commune Lives Again!” The fascists are howling calamity and the “patriots”’ are shipping their

(Continued on Page 2)

NORANDA MINE STRIKERS FREED

Fifteen Men Released; Two Held for De-

portation

MONTREAL, | Que, June 30— (ALP)—Pifteen of the WNoranda strikers, who were sentenced in Wovember, 1934, te serve two years each for their part in the de- termined strike at the Noranda mines, arrived in Montreal today, free.

The men were released from St. Vincent de Paul Penitentiary after Serving about two-thirds of their sentence, less time off for good be- havior, and following an agitation for their release which included rep- resentations= on their behalf by. many members of parliament, headed by the €.C.F. members.

Announcement that the men had arrived in Montreal came from the Canadian Labor Defence League here.

Two Ordered Deported.

Two of the men, M. Persil and J. Shulantich, were ordered deported to Jugoslavia on the grounds that they had been but a short time in the country prior to taking part iz the strike.

Although the men were sentenced. in November, 1934, an appeak against their conviction took five months to pass through the courts. The men were held without baik and the time spent waiting for the decision on their appeals did not count on their terms.

The men who went to prison were: L. Oreskeyich, L. Shustar, T. Majerle, T. Zopon, T. Brusmich, F- Dukoyvaec, J. Hhulentich, B. Ballke- vitch, J. Wissila, A. Behikainen, M- Bundiak, T. Cludmovitch, G Evanik, W. Logac, N. Skubin, K. Bachickh and M. Persil.

would be the closest cooperation be- tween the organization of both in- dustries.

Vice-president Mason pressed the need of cooperation between the workers of B.C. and the U.S. In this connection the followings resolu- tion was endorsed:

“That this Convention of dis- tricé councils, representing the basic industry, namely the timber industry, goes on record as sup- porting all district councils, and

industry rather than allowing the question of international boundar- ies, which is being raised by the bosses in order to split our ranks.”

Amother far-reaching resolution which definitely puts all scab prod- ucts, regardless of their source, on the “hot” list, states that ‘No prod- uct of our labor to be used in any Strilke-breaking activity.”’

Delegates also represented the Brewery, Flour, Cereal, and Soft Drink Workers. Following a report from the representative of the Brew- ry workers, the Convention went

cooperating all of our activities, on the basis of workers in the lumber

(Continued on page 2)

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