——"

Ee attempted bombing of | 4 the Japanese steamer Hiye = Maru last week in Seattle har- »bor leaves much to speculation ' and conjecture. Sorting a few ' bare facts from the reams of “sensationalism that litter the pages of the Vancouver press, ' wherein nonenities often leap to

| prominence, one can build up | a case that so far has been kept

_ off the record.

- Two young men—one who lest his life in the attempted _bombing — are the pmincipal

Remember The Reichstag Fire!

actors. Behind them — in ac cordance with the best Hearst practice —— stands a_ sinister “QOnental” conspiracy. All the weight of inference is aimed to impress beyond doubt — that the “Onental” conspiracy to bomb a Japanese ship in an American port, is a Chinese plot!

The sympathies of the Ca- nadian and American people are with the Chinese people in their struggle against Japanese

fascist aggression. Official Japanese apologia has been un- able to make the least dent in this great peaceful bulwark of public opinion to justify the wanton actions of the impenial government of Japan against a peaceful neighbor.

It is clearly obvious that the Chinese people of North America are fully conscious that they would have nothing to gain by implication in such an act. If the contrary were

the case, it is equally obvious

that they would net entrust the carrying through of such a pro- yocative act to men’of unknown calibre. The wholé unwarrant- ed inference of Chinese impli- cation is crude and absurd. Pa IN TRE other hand, the fascist block which at the moment guides the destinies of Japan, in the present extremity of meeting a united Chinese people, of attempting to consoli- date its grip upon the domestic

situation at home which the

continuation of the war will sharpen, must and will resort to provocative “incidents” to strengthen its position.

How better to alleviate the indignation of the bombing of the Panay than by a counter bombing of an unarmed Japa- mese vessel in an American port? Ihe Japanese never tire of reminding us that the Sino- Japanese affair is all a huge “‘misunderstanding, that they have nothing but the greatest “consideration for China,” that

they are such poor propa- gandists.

While opinion may differ on this point, the “incidents” throughout this undeclared war so far have shown the Japanese fascists to be adept provoca™ teurs. Lhe shooting of a British ambassador; the bomb- ing of the Bnitish destroyer Ladybird; the bombing and sinking of the Panay; the burn- ing and sinking of Standard Oil tankers; the calculated Japanese attacks upon British,

French, American and other troops and police in the foreign settlements of Shanghai . . . all were incidents’ which show beyond cavil that Japanese fas- cism, like its murderous proto- types in Germany, Italy and elsewhere is a provocateur par excellence.

We remember the “inci dent’ of the Reichstag fire, when fascist incendiaries pre- pared a cold-blooded act to

(Continued on page 2)

WE’LL SEE YOU at the

PA BALL TONIGHT!

The People's

Western

Canada’s

Leading Progressive

Advocate

Newspaper

WE’LL SEE YOU at the

PA BALL TONIGHT!

<< Published Weekly

Single Copies: 5 Cents

VOL. IV, No. 3

FULL No. 159.

VANCOUVER, B.C., FREDAY, JANUARY 28, 1938

Domestics Win Wage

Increases

Cheaper Room, Board Proposed At Hearing Given Girls’ Union Representatives

FREE UNIFORMS

That $55,000 a month will remain in the purses of an estimated 5500 BC girls and women, mostly chamber-

_ improve * workers, officials of Local 91, Do-

maids, will be the immediate outcome of amendment order plans read out by Chairman Adam Bel] at a hearing be- fore the Board of Industrial Relatiens in the Gourt House recently.

Jubilant after a long struggle to conditions for female

Mmestic Workers’ Union, stated to the PA that many girls will be getting the equivalent of $10 a month pay raise.

Provided it is made law, cham- bermaids, for instance, can no jonger be charged $3 a week for a reom whether they stay in it or not. It will be $2 and then only when occupied.

The same will apply to meals. Whereas $5.25 was demanded for 2i meals per week, the new ruling will reduce this to $4, and the girl Can eat where she likes.

43-Hour Maximum.

Wo more than 48 hours a week, Says the amendment proposed, and if overtime is necessary then time and one-half must be paid.

Uniforms must be supplied and laundered at the employers’ ex- pense, and rooms can be inspected at any time.

This last ruling is important, union officials state, because shock- ing conditions exist today in many hotels.

Im -the case cf restaurant em- ployees, better treatment is to be accorded in case of breakages.

Mauch publicity, organizational work, and representation to the government has been made by the Domestic Workers’ Union for these reforms since its inception eighteen months ago.

YCL To Support Students’ Demands

Covering Wednesday’s mass stu- dent meeting of 1500 which, de- manded of Pattullo restoration of the $600,000 government grant and provision of more accommodation in University of British Columbia, and arranged for a city-wide peti- tion campaign to win public sup- port,, a PA reporter, in interviews with individual students after the Mmass meeting, gathered that the sentiment of many was in no means expressed on the floor.

“The raising of student fees,”

Said one young fellow, ‘will sure be a@ hardship. I’ve worn this suit for five years and can barely make my summer stake sufficient.” Said another: “What we need is the old ginger group. Although we must win the public to our side, yet a stronger lead would help plenty.

“A guy like Lionel Backler would be right in the thick of this fight,” he added. (Backler, a graduate from UBC, was killed recently while fighting in the ranks of the Mackenzie-Papineau battalion in Spain.

Wotices have been published that @ mass rally In support of the Students’ demands will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 8 p.m., Moose Hall auditorium, under the aus- pices of the Young Communist League. Student speakers are ex-

pected.

In Teruel

Loyalist soldiers, after their cap-

ture of Teruel, search ruins of civil governor's building for fascists.

Deductions To Be Returned

ing Company.

similar claims. Company Aim Is Defeated

Blubber Bay Workers Walk Out When Attempt Made to Question Union

Rights.

BLUBBER BAY, BC, Jan. 28. — Unity of white and Chinese work- ers here defeated an attempt made last week by Pacific Lime company fo set up a company union, when employees walked out of a com- pany-called meeting to demonstrate their loyalty to genuine trade union principles.

Hoping to take advantage of slack times at the plant and be- fore the busy season commences, the company called a meeting on January 21 of all employees, ap- pointing as chairman an employee named Simpson who acted as a strikebreaker in the 1937 strike.

Ostensibly called to discuss the Conciliation and rbitration Act, the real purpose of the meeting be- came apparent when it was put up to the men whether or not the un- ion committee, four members of which are temporarily unemployed, had the right to represent the men.

The men decided that it had, and walked out of the meeting, later affirming unanimous allegiance to the union and committees elected.

Feature of the Blubber Bay Local 74, International Woodworkers of America, is the strong bond exist- ing between white and oriental workers who are about equal in number. The company, state union officials, has tried repeatedly dur- ing the eight months since the strike to play up racial hatred, but without success.

Organized last June, the local has a good functioning committee which binds the company to the hard-won agreement signed at that time.

CHICAGO —(FP)—Faced with a strike threat which could not be swerved by intimidation or “loyal- ty’ meetings, the management of two Hearst newspapers here, the American and Herald-Examiner, has signed with the American

Wewspaper Guild.

the books would show illegal de- ductions for years previous, were ,

Fishermen’s Claims Met Out Of Court

Glaims of 24 union fishermen totalling over $500 were settled out of court yesterday (Thursday) by Canadian Fish-

When, three months ago, the company met the demand of one fisherman that he be paid $22 for illegal compensation deductions from his pay check, 24 other fishermen pressed

Charges made by the union that

substantiated in an examination of company books, ordered by Su- preme Court of British Columbia.

Claiming previous records were destroyed, the company could only show books back to 1930.

George Miller, business agent, Salmon Purse Seiners of the Paci- fic, stated that over 200 men had filed claims with the union against Canadian Fishing Company for alleged illegal compensation de- ductions.

Probe Sought Of Election Forgery

CLOVERDALE, BC, Jan. 28— The section committee of the Com- munist party here this week re- quested an investigation by the" provincial Attorney-General’s de- partment into violation of the Municipal Blections Act by individ- uals who used names of local can-

didates to a “contemptible” docu- ment which was circulated to voters.

Found in rural mailboxes Friday, January 21, the day preceding municipal elections, was a crude, hectographed leaflet drawn up as follows:

“Comrade: Our efforts toward taking over control these times are nearing success. Help us with your

vote on Saturday, 22nd. Per Sey. Com., affiliate of Sov. MRussia. Ardiel. Binny. Shepherd.”

The three names were those of candidates for municipal office, two of whom, T. Binney and B. Shepherd, were elected in Wards 1 and 2, respectively. They de- clared the leaflet a malicious for- gery calculated to play on former mInisrepresentations of the Commun- its party of which none is a mem- ber.

J. Ardiel, who ran unsuccessfully for reeve, phoned the editor of the British Columbian, New Westmin- ster daily, which printed the story, asking that he print an official denial should it be made by the Gommunist party. The editor re- fused. Sig) os

Further

JAPAN SEEKS TO BUY NEW BC PROPERTIES

Mines On Island ©

Prominent Citizens To Sit On Medical Aid To China Committee Set Up Here :

NANAIMO TAG DAY

Victoria League For Peace, Democracy Calls Peace Conference For

Feb. 4

Announced this week by the pro- vincial office of the Canadian League for Peace and Democracy is formation of a Medical Aid to China Committee on Which “many prominent citizens will sit.

Members of the committee are: Rev. W. Cooper, St. James Angli- can Church; Rev. R. N. Mathieson, Collingwood United Church; Mrs. Stuart Jamieson; W. G Black, Ph.D.; G. G. Sedgewick, Ph.D.; Rabbi Samuel Cass; Mrs. Dorothy Steeves MLA; Miss Jean Cameron; Foon Sien, Chinese Benevolent Association; Charles Ting; Joseph Hope, Chinese National Salvation Bureau; A. G MHolmes, editor, Highland Echo. Medical advisor to the committee is Dr. R. E. Cole- man, MD.

Press Gov’t For Embargo

Organized by the league, a reso- lution directed to Prime Minister Mackenzie King calling for an em- bargo on war material to Japan, is now being circulated. The reso- lution reads:

“On April 10, 1937, the Customs Act was amended in such a way as

to make it possible for the gov- ernment, by order-in-council to ‘prohibit, restrict or) control the

exportation, or the carrying coast- wise, or by inland navigation, of arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war, military, naval or air stores, or any articles deem- ed capable of being converted thereinto, or made useful in the production thereof.’

“We, as citizens of Canada, de- sire to associate ourselves with the action of the Canadian League for Peace and Democracy in calling for an embargo on shipments of war materials to Japan.”

Collect $603 For China

NANAIMO, BC, Jan. 28.— Citi- zens throughout the district here last Saturday donated a total of $603.19 in a tagday in aid of the Chinese Medical Aid Fund.

With permission from the city council to organize street collec- tions, the league committee con- ducting the tag was assisted by the local Chinese National Salva- tion Bureau, which collected $140.50 from the Chinese commun- ity in Nanaimo toward the total amount.

A. M. Stephen, provincial presi- dent of the league, addressing a well attended meeting in Union Hall Sunday, voiced his apprecia- tion to taggers and the public for their splendid co-operation, stat- ing, “This magnificent expression has again placed Nanaimo in the lead.”

Victoria Plans Peace Conference

VICTORIA, BC, Jan. 28—Sched- uled for February 4,8 p.m., in the auditorium of the Chamber of Gommerce, the Canadian League for Peace and Democracy here has called a conference to help build

(Continued on page 5) See “BOYCOTT”

Discontent Stirs Trail ‘Tranquility’

Special Correspondence

TRAIL, BC, Jan. 28.—This happy hunting ground of Con- solidated Mining and Smelting company for the past 15 years, envy of every big employer and corporation in Canada with its employer-employee cooperative plan, over which S. G. Blaylock rules with all the powers of a dictator, smoulders

in discontent.

erease on the basic wage.

at any time by the company.

mittees.

Conditioned by exelusion of legitimate trade unionism and maintenance of an elaborate spy system, abuses arising from the regime in this company union fortress are challeng- ing the long-yaunted “tranquility.” ferreting out workers to be blamed for the growing dissatis- fa¢tion in this greatest of Canadian war industries:

But, arising out of its proposal to increase working days, the company has suffered its first major defeat in 15 years.

On January 1, Blaylock informed workmen’s committees that all employees would receive an extra 25 cents a day in- Newspapers throughout Canada carried the announcement as front page news. Later, Blay- lock claimed he had made a mistake, stated the 25 cents in- crease was an “increased cost of living bonus” to be rescinded

Actually, this bonus was given about a week after smelter workers turned down the company’s proposal to increase the number of working days a month. company of growing dissatisfaction among the men as a result of the practice of giving favored employees extra work. The company utilized this srievance to propose that the num- ber of working days be increased from five to six with two days off. This involved a rotation shift with no time-and-a- half for Saturdays and Sundays.

The day notices asking for a decision were posted a snap vote was taken by the workmen’s committee. Smeiter work- ers, however, defeated this move by boycotting the ballot and even boldly throwing out those representatives on the com-

Trail Housing Conditions ‘Appalling’

The smelter-controlled Trail Daily Times supplies many. reasons for unrest to the observant reader. appalling loca] housing conditions published recently shows

”

Company stools are busy

Spies had informed the

An account of

(Continued on page 5) See “TRAIL”

aid Under Consideration; C Shipments Increasing

Several Mines Expect To Reopen To Feed Big Demand Of Japan’s War Machine

:

‘PROFITS OF DEATH’

Fourteen Thousand Ton Of Copper Shipped From Copper Mountain Mine To Japan

Japanese capitalist inter- ests, which already control vast timber and mineral-re- sources in this province, are surveying mining properties on the west coast of Yancou- ver Island and on Porcher Island with a view to pur- chase, it is reliably reported this week.

Last year Japanese interests purchased the Iron Duke mine on Louise Island in the Queen Char- lottes, writh ore reserves estimated at 10,000,000 tons, and timber prop- erties at Port McNeil and Cowi- chan Lake, Vancouver Island, in- volving an estimated 700,000,000 feet of timber. Sale price of- the Port McNeil property was stated to be more than $1,000,000.

While the Japanese boycott wins support from ever larger numbers of the Canadian people, British Co- lumbia’s mining millionaires con- tinue to derive huge profits from the sale of war materials to Japan-

Gargoes of concentrates destined for Japanese munition factories leave the Port of Vancouver almost daily. Mines, long closed because they could not be operated at a profit, are now being reopened to fill the demands of Japan’s insati- able war machine.

Latest mine to join the list of those shipping regularly to Japan is Lucky Jim. A test shipment of zinc concentrates was sent two weeks ago and a further ship-

ment left on the Hiye Maru last weekend. The mine expects to

make regular shipments up to

New Sooke Fish Traps Protested

VICTORIA, BC, Jan. 28.—Strong protest against proposed setting of eight new fish traps at Sooke and

request that the Todd interests be | refused a license for such action, was sent last week to federal de- partment of fisheries by Victoria Trades and Labor Council, in sup- port of petitions now being circu- lataed by the Fishermen’s Union and local sportsmen.

Following are new Trades Coun- cil officers elected by the council at the last business meeting: E. 8. Fox, Street Railwaymen, president

by acclamation; N. Robertson, Typographical Union, vice-presi- dent; Miss E. Johnson, Local 49,

Laundry Workers’ and Dry Clean- ers’ Union, secretary-treasurer

(first lady to sit on the council); W. Coe, Inland Boatmen’s Union; sergeant-at-arms; executive council, CG. Chivers, Carpenters’ Union; C. A. Peck, Electrical Workers, and #. Belton, Truckdrivers and Help- ers.

A strong organizational commit- tee was set up, composed of one delegate from each affiliated local, and is charged with the task of setting in motion an active cam- paign of organization.

Chu Teh

fi —o— ie

hein uh

1000 tons monthly for an “indefi- nite period.”

Other BC mines expected to re- open shortly on the strength on

Famous Communist leader and

commander of the 8th Route Army, who is directing Chinese guerrilla warfare against the Japanese. Repeated raids which have broken the invaders’ lines ef communications and annihi- lated isolated troops, are credited with having prevented Japanese capture of the important Lung- hai railway, main east-to-west lifeline.

Japanese purchases are White- water, Ruth Hope and Noble Five.

The entire copper output of Granby Consolidated Mining and Smelting company is now being absorbed by Japan, which has al- ready taken 14,000 tons of concen- trates under the present contract.

Cameron Loses By Three Votes

Jim Gameron, well known Fraser Valley progressive, needed but three votes to be the new reeve of Maple Ridge last Saturday, when 26 British Columbia municipalities voted on candidates for office: Reeve Soloman Mussallem was Te= elected. Councillors O. E. Mattson annd John Larson were returned in Wards 4 and 5, respectively.

Councillor J. W-. Ardiel : polled 1469 votes in Surrey, losing to Gouncillor John Hunter.

Milton Switzer, candidate for Matsqui reeveship, lost out by. 30 votes to Reeve George A- Cruick- shanks. Fred Ayling was elected councillor in Ward 3, but Rev. E. H. Baker went down to defeat.

Vincent Yates and E. M. Geuho were elected councillors for one= terms:

| year