Id. Stewart Smith Outlines Path To A People’s Front

‘ORONTO, Ont., May 19.— (Special) —The main task facing

the Communist party today is that of building the demo- e Witic people’s front around the slogan of “democratic national

ity for security and progress”

tario here.

rn-Duplessis alliance,

litical Trends Clear

against the Hepburn-Duplessis

e and its foster-child, fascism, Ald. Stewart Smith of Toronto an enlarged executive meeting of the Communist Party of

‘Toward this end all phases of the mass work of our party st be directed,” he told executive members, setting defeat of «1 Quebec padlock law as an essential immediate objective

ealization of which would deal a severe blow to the Hep-

To See

l ig JRINENG to a survey of present

political trends, Stewart Smith rien ie

A Political realignments in Gan-

( are now shaping up, in a man-

on@ that is for the first time becom-

anim Vvasible to the average man,

@ pind two main trends; the trend

Wewmards a reactionary bloc, repre-

ah fed by the Hepburn -Duplessis Dene ce, and the trend towards a he-# Ocratic people’s front.

y gp seither the former nor the lat-

> 4 lem

ter has taken fully crystallized form. Great masses of people are still unaware of the issues involv- ed and do not consciously see in which direction to go.

“In the old political parties and groupings there are large sections even in the active circles which have as yet no conscious direction. The policy of the Hepburn-Duples- sis alliance is forcing the issues. It is compelling the realignment of forces.

‘liance Serves Fifty Big Shots

nts

~.§ RASSLY and under a thin layer ef Of Superficial demagogy, it is -=9 ing forward the demands and sen cy Of the 50 big shots and bring— tht eto a head the broadest national nen 2S In Such clear form that with cee Ct work on our part hundreds

+ housands of Canadians will be tae to see in a short space of » that they belong in the oap- ;te camp to the Hepburn-Du- /sis alliance, in the camp of pro-

sire National Unity

‘= ESE divisions, left by con- R/ federation, are taken over by @\burn and Duplessis as the fngholds of finance capital in ‘fight, in the place against the and of the people for nationat ©al legislation,’ Ald. Smith said. ‘*he monopoly interests behind Hepburn-Duplessis bloc desire “reserve and deepen the national nity of the country, to main- Quebec as a zone of especial- ; .oW wages and practically no al services,’ he explained. so long as social services and sis costs are paid for in a large # - by municipal and provincial

| ation and so long as the wealthy |

gress and democracy, and, as we

must show, in the camp of the democratic people’s front.” The Hepburn-Duplessis reaction-

ary alliance has now chosen its Main ground for the struggle against the people on behalf of the 50 big shots, Ald. Smith asserted. This ground, he said, “is the pro- vincial divisions in the government structure of Canada.”

municipalities of Quebec and On- tario, they, the economic despots, escape paying their share of the costs of the crisis and social ser- vices nationally.’

“National disunity,” Smith de- clared with emphasis, “renders im- possible unemployment insurance, health insurance, measures for the rehabilitation of agriculture and the curbing of the power of mono- polies to exploit the farmers and the consumers, real government regulation of industrial conditions and the guarantee of labor rights, the release of the municipalities from social service costs and the

) ilies live mainly in two or three establishment of equitable taxation.

| vision Serves Reactionary Financiers

ATIONATL division and the formal vesting in the province Pthe power to take these meas- 5, which however are not and _m™@ not be taken, while formally @aholding this power in the “® ere of federal lepislation, where y are alone practical, is the fy condition desired by reaction- finance capital.

kit is the. ground from which

ry measure in the interests of “nomic improvement for the i1adian people can be obstructed "| prevented,” Ald. Smith said. To take up this position was

21 OM

the logical and inevitable thing for the Hepburn-Duplessis alliance to

do. But in doing so they have made it possible now for every progres- sive Canadian to see that they are the enemies of Canadian unity and progress; that they are obstructors and disruptionists, setting province against the nation, the part against the whole, fostering separatist movements, seting up a political force against the fuller national unification of the country —all in

the interests of the ruling financial circles,” Smith continued.

(Continued on page 5)

‘afe Workers Set Record

Trade Unions Donate $579 — To Advocate-Clarion Drive

Five hundred and seventy-nine dollars has been raised to Bie by cemmittees composed of trade unionists to aid the $3,000 int press drive for the Advocate and Clarion Weekly, the

live committee reported this week. ¢

Outstanding contributions are:

Unity Aim | Of Liberals

Meet Stresses Need For National Unity

OTTAWA, Ont, May 19.— Har- onious relations between the Do- inion and the provinces were zressed as “essential to preserva- on of the much-needed unity” of anada in a resolution presented } the meeting of the National Lib- fal Hederation here Wednesday ad unanimously adopted by the 40 delezates present.

*Denouncing sectionalism as in- nical to the interests of Canadian mity, the resolution pledged the ‘ational Liberal party to promote

‘ad preserve the unity of the ‘puntry.

'Condemn Padlock

Both the BC Conference of the Jnited Church of Ganada and the ‘-Oung People’s Union of the United

fhurch, in session here over last eee Sent strongly worded tesolutions to Prime Minister Mac- @2nzie King urging him to disallow © Quebec padlock as inimical to ae interests of Canadian democ-

Atlin Miners’ Union, $152.45; Local 28, Hotel and Restaurant HEm- ployees, $125.73; Division 101, Street Railway Employees, $111.05; In- land Boatmen’s Union, $86.65, and eleven new subscribers in the BC whaling fleet; Salmon Purse Sein- ers, $52.30; Domestic Workers’ Union, $21; Electrical Workers, $14.65; Needle Trades, $11; Bakery Employees, $6.

With proceeds from socials al- ready arranged to be turned in from fishermen and street railway- men, the relative standing of the trade union committees may yet be changed, but for consistent sup- port with steady subs and dona-

tions. Local 28 will be hard to beat for second place.

Among committees to attain quota objectives are Vancouver

Bast and Salmon Arm. New con- tributors this week are Educa- tional Gommittee, $12; Maxim Gorky Club, Prince George, $7.

The East End Joint Committee members are competing with one another in selling tickets for the big Victoria Day dance to be held at Town Hall, May 24. Their hands will be full and their hopes are great.

Individual efforts of outstanding merit are: Mrs. Linda Hovi, $25.10; Mrs. T. Hill, $13.20; J. Brown, $23.55; J. Wills, $10; B. Larinski turned in $9, the result of collec- tion sheet work with nickels and dimes; Oscar Salonen, despite his many tasks, set an example with a

(Continued on page 6) (See DRIVE)

PRAIRIE MAYORS STATE 100 MANY JOBLESS IN OWN CITIES

The People s Advocate

Western

Canada’s

Leading Progressive

Newspaper

FULL No. 175.

<> ©

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1938

Sin

gle Copies: 5 Cents

VOL. IV, No. 19

Arbitr

Fishermen

Picket All Fish Docks

One Thousand Mem-=- mers Demand Nego= tiations Begin Over Salmon Prices.

PEARSON WIRED

Fishermen began picketing Vancouver waterfront and all other BC ports last Wednes- day when cannery operators openly refused to negotiate for 1938 salmon prices, the Salmon Purse Seiners’ Union and Pa- cific Coast Fishermen’s Union deciding this step at special meet- ings held this week, and recom- mendation for similar action has been sent to all union locals up the coast. Union patrol boats are covering the harbor and False Creek waters.

For the past three months at- tempts at negotiation have been made by the unions to no purpose, the operators putting the question off by evasive means until the sea- son opened on May 15, when they flatly refused to negotiate.

Qver 1,000 fishermen are involved, and are pledged to refuse to fish or repair boats and nets until fish prices are settled either by nego- tiation or arbitration. Union per-

(Continued on page 6) See FISHERMEN

State Stand On Defence

CP Supports Defence Against Fascist Threat

Communists stand with all other

democrats in support of measures to protect British Columbia from fascist attack, warning, however, that arms are no substitute for foreign policy.

This, in brief, is the position taken by the Communist party on the question of defense as outlined in the political resolution published last week by the provincial execu- tive committee of the party.

"We can prevent Japanese fas- cism, and its allies, German nazi- ism and Italian fascism, from ex- tending its claws to Canadian ter- ritory and homes by compelling Ot- tawa to utterly repudiate Chamber- lain’s policy of encouraging Japa- nese, German and Italian aggres- sion, to stop the shipments of war materials to Japan, Italy, Germany and fascist-held territory in Spain, and to allow arms and materials to be supplied to the Spanish and Chinese people,’ the resolution states.

It continues: “Instead of drag- ging at the tail of the British na- tional government, Canada must cooperate with the United States and thus help to make impossible the extension of fascist arms to BC.”

The Communist party’s stand is further clarified in another para- graph of the resolution, stating: “We support a policy of arming to defend our country from the fas- cists but arms are no substitute for foreign policy. Given a foreign policy based on collective action against the aggressors abroad and accompanied by full democratic rights at home, Canada can take its place in keeping Canada out of war by keeping war out of the world.

“Tt is our party's sacred task to make this viewpoint the prop- erty of all BC people and to de- nounce the criminal actions of the federal government, with ‘which Premier Pattullo agrees, of assist- ing with arms and war materials the very enemy against whom they profess to be arming to de- fend Canadian territory.”

Ald. Leslie Morris, western organizer for the Communist party, two of those who tagged for single job- less Saturday.

(Story on page 3)

Helena Gutteridge and

Highway Approved

Premier To Discuss Project In East

WASHINGTON, DC, May i9—A resolution sent from: the House of Representatives providine for crea- tion of an Alaska International Highway Commission to co-operate directly with any similar agency from Canada on construction of the Alaska-Yukon Highway was adopted by the Senate Wednesday.

Passage of the resolution is seen as indication of the readiness of the United States government to proceed with construction of the highway, which is known to have the support of both President Roosevelt and Secretary of the In- terior Harold Ickes. It is now considered that the Canadian poyv- ernment will be obliged to make a definite pronouncement on the matter.

VICTORIA, BC, May 19.— Pre- mier Pattullo announced Wednes- day that he would go to Ottawa at the end of this month to confer with federal authorities on the Alaska-Yukon Highway project.

The Premier hopes to be able to overcome reported objections in some quarters to his plan to make a provincial $15,000,000 non-interest bearing long-term loan.

Fred Grange Ill In Prison

Say Jobless Leader

Denied Privileges

Word that Fred Grange, unem- ployed leader, now serving a two- year sentence in New Westminster penitentiary, is suffering from se- vere, recurrent heart attacks is causing concern to his many friends in Vancouver.

Despite this, information received by the Advocate at press time was to the effect that Grange is being deprived of many ordinary priv- ileges enjoyed by other inmates, including tobacco and writing ma- terials. It is well known that visitors are not allowed to see him on the excuse he has no kin in BC.

His friend, Harry Molland, who was released on ticket-of-leave re- cently, reported that Grange’s health was had and that he had ibecome depressed because of his isolation. Molland recently appealed to Judge Manson on his friend’s behalf.

Grange’s application for release will be considered next month by the remissions branch of the de- partment of justice at Ottawa, and a number of friends are writing there urging his release. Molland is appealing to all sympathizers to write immediately to this effect.

Chinese Movie Here

“A Woman's Heart,” first all-star Chinese movie of its kind to be shown in Vancouver, will be pre sented at the Orpheum Theatre, Sunday, May 22, 8 p.m., when 2 benefit program will be given to raise medical aid funds for Chinese war refugees.

Pearson s Attitude Branded

Will Stand Solidly For Dominion Works Program, Say Men’s Leaders.

PUBLIC SUPPORT

“We are not surprised at Hon. G. S. Pearson’s brutal re- marks about the single unem- ployed after the craft he has shown in recent attempts to hamstring organized labor.”

So declared John Matts, unem- ployed leader, after reading the minister of labor’s cynical remark: “Well if their stomachs can hold out that long, it is up to them.’

Obviously nonplussed at the tone of telegrams sent by Calgary, Ed= monton and Regina mayors, Van- couver’s chief magistrate blustered his rage to the press at the irre- futable proof furnished by the Single unemployed determined to stand their ground.

“The single unemployed refuse to reduce their serious problem to a question of domicile in various cities and hamlets,” W. R. Camp- bell stated, although these voluble officials are afraid to refer to gov- ernment employment agency rec- ords in Vancouver which would show an overwhelming percentage

(Continued on page 6) (See JOBLESS

War Far From End

Japan Is Staking All On Decisive Victory

By EDGAR SNOW. (Far Eastern Correspondent for London Daily Herald)

HANKOW, China, May 19. — China’s resources are far from be- inng exhausted and the end of her war with Japan is still remote.

Both sides, I believe, are capable of continuing the war at least un- til 1939. China, in fact, has more than 2,000,000 fresh troops now be- ing trained.

Since hostilities began, Japan has mobilized more than 1,250,000 troops for service on the mainland. Of these, 640,000 are now operating in China proper. Japanese casual- ties are conservatively estimated at 225,000 to date. The rest of Ja- pan’s troops are on garrison duty in Manchukuo, Mongolia and Korea.

China has an army of 1,600,000 now operating on all fronts. Her casualties have been approximately 700,000. New Chinese troops now being trained and already partly equipped number about 2,400,000. This is exclusive of guerilla bands and irregulars.

The battle around Suchow, now raging, is Japan’s last chance to avoid a vast extension of the the- atre of war. Japanese strategy, therefore, aims at finducing the Chinese to mass their major re- serves of men and equipment in the Lunghai area. They hope thus to make the Suchow campaign a great, decisive battle.

It will, they hope, be a Waterloo for China, ending in the complete annihilation of the main Chinese forces and an overwhelming Japa- nese victory. Japan would then offer terms “reasonable” enough to create a negotiation basis for the Chinese peace party.

If, however, as seems probable, Japan fails to win a decision at Suchow and is obliged to continue inland, pushing on to Hankow, she will need at least 400,000 more men.

She will, moreover, be involved in such enormous new military and economic problems that the ex- treme measures of the National Mobilization Bill—recently passed by the Tokyo parliament after bit- ter opposition—will have to be ap- plied to every aspect of Japan’s business life.

tion Ruling Fought

Award Rejected By

Blubber

Bay Men

Strenuous Objection Taken By Union

To Set-up Of Non=

Union Committee

Rumors that the arbitration award made in the Blubber Bay dispute last week was accepted by employees of Pacific Lime company were swept aside at a plant meeting held Wed- nesday, by a vote of 3 to 1 against inclusion of clauses one and two, which, the men claimed, rendered useless the entire award.

Objectionable clauses are:

Labor Bill Talked Out

Rogers Reaffirms Right To Organize

OTTAWA, Ont., May 19—While Hon. Norman Rogers, minister of labor, again declared the right of

workers to organize into trade unions, J. S. Woodsworth’s bill to amend the criminal code was “talked out’ in the House this week,

The amendment would have made it illegal for employers to

dismiss or refuse to employ work— ers because of membership in a trade union.

Gabor Minister Rogers contend- ed that the right to organize was a civil one belonging to the prov- inces and, therefore, the govern- ment could not accept the bill. He declared that the government up- held labor’s right to organize and had used its influence in” cases brought to its attention where this right had been ignored.

Two Volunteers Killed In Spain

Harold “Duke” Levens and Nor man Chandoin, both BC volunteers in Spain, were reported killed in ac- tion in a telegram received yester-

day from the national office, Friends of the Mackenzie-Papi- neau Battalion. “Duke” MWevens

was well known as an amateur wrestler in Vancouver.

1) “A general grievance commit— tee, to be composed of one member elected by the present unionized employees, and one elected by the group of non-union employees; in the former case the member elected | shall not be a member of the ex-~ ecutive of the union organization. These, together with a representa- tive of the employers, shall form the grievance committee, which shall meet on a set day each week without fail, to dispose of any small disputes or incidents which- have arisen.”

2) “A negotiating committee, which shall consist of two members of the unionized employees, namely, the president or secretary and one other, and an elected member of the unorganized employees, none of which shall be members of the grievance committee. These, to- gether with the general manager and plant superintendent of the employers, shall form the. commit— tee. This committee of five shall meet at least once a month, or oftener if necessary, to dispose of any matters which the grievance committee fails te Solve, and all matters affecting the general work ing conditions and the welfare of the organization including the em- ployees and employer.”

A protest was sent to Minister of Labor Pearson stating that while the rest of the award was partially acceptable to the men they were entirely opposed to these clauses. It was pointed out to Pearson that such clauses were a yiclation of Clauses 4 and 5 of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act whieh provide . for one representative committee which must be elected, and that such a committee had been elected, With Conciliation Commissioner McGeough present.

(Continued on page 6) See AWARD

First Agreement In City

Safeway, Piggly-Wiggly Sign With Retail Clerks

“This is the first agreement covering work and wage condi- tions and giving recognition to a trade union which has been signed in local retail history; and it should be a welcome example to retail clerks throughout the city.”

Don Maxwell, of the Retail Clerks’ International Union, Local 279, made this state- ment to an Advocate reporter this week as he told of the signal suc- cess, made possible, he said, by the co-operation of the organizing com- mittee of the Trades and Labor Council and stated that the sign- ing of a union agreement with Safeway and Piggly Wigely Stores in Vancouver presaged wider or- ganization among retail clerks.

The agreement provides wage in- ereases totalling $32,000 per year for 265 employees in the company’s 75 retail stores in Vancouver, Worth Vancouver, West Vancouver and New Westminster, and is retro- active to May 1 until May, 1939.

Maxwell quoted Lon W. Raley, president or the company, as stat- ing that the union will provide an agency for unifying their efforts in craft improvement and better pub- lic service, as well as handling mat- ters in their own interest.

Hours of labor, wages and work- ing conditions in general, Maxwell declared, were not the essential points at issue as these were found to be better than those prevailing in the industry. He said, however, that the personnel and the man- agement decided that display of the union shop card would be a definite guarantee to the public as

to the standard of wages and con- ditions obtaining in the company’s stores,

capable organizer}

Pickets Still At Hollywood

Owner Refuses Meet

With Union Officials

Pickets still patrol the Holly- wood Theatre, 3123 West Broad- way, Vancouver's only movie house without a union projectionist, as the proprietor still refuses to meet with union officials of Local 348, Motion Picture Projectionists.

Six thousand leaflets explaining the dispute will be distributed by union members this week. The leaflet tells of an agreement be- tween the union and the theatre owner, provisions in which were that the proprietors son would work in the projection room when he qualified for his license, and at that time the owner would content himself with running his store on Davie street to give 4 union man a chance to make a living.

This agreement was not lived up to, and between them, the theatre and store are strict family affairs with no outsider drawing “wages.

With keen understanding the

public goes to other shows.- -=~