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Page 4 — May 19, 1945

P.A.

ine eeey VOICE FOR PROGRESS

SURIERDSEADESEEECHEDIDOSRSCURSSTELCOTUSLSONUESECSERESESEERUSECELSUESES LESTE TERE,

PACIFIC ADVOCATE

WEESAPOPSEUUESACHUALUAEDECEELESECCLCERPCLISEPEAAED SERS LESSLSRSESCLESESSEERLAENER

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Editor Phone c. A. SAUNDERS MA rine 5288

Fight For Unity

S the date of the election draws closer, the drive of the

Tories to take over power becomes more evident as the chief danger facing the people of Canada. In the face of the un- scrupulous propaganda of the Tories and the link up with the Bloc Populaire, pro-fascist and Nationalist elements, the need of unity among the progressive forces’ to defeat the aims of the Bracken-Duplessis-Dorion axis becomes essential.

In the face of these facts more and more people within

‘the ranks of the CCF are repudiating the anti-unity, partisan

policies of the leadership and are rallying their strength behind candidates pledged to cooperate with all progressives against the drive of Tory reaction.

(he consequence of the disastrous isolationist policy of the CCF leadership manifests itself more strongly this week as a result of the expulsion of H. W. Herridge, CCF M.L.A. As a consequence of this action against Herridge, who accepted the federal nomination from the local CCF organization with the backing of all labor and unions in the district, Oscar Elia- son, prominent CCF’er and several times provincial candidate for that party, has broken away and is urging support and speaking on the platform for Harvey Murphy, LPP nominee for East Kootenay.

Protesting the expulsion of Herridge as the last straw, he stated that the present policies of the federal and provincial CCB leadership could only lead to disaster.

This split in CCF ranks following a wave of defections from coast to coast is evidence of a deep internal conflict be- tween the ambitious selfish partisan aims of the top leadership and the growing desire for unity in the rank and file.

The heat of election battles is bringing out more clearly the fact that most of the CCP leadership stand apart and isolated from labor.

Contempt fot organized labor can be seen in the statement of Arthur Williams, Ontario CCF candidate, to the effect that ‘trade unionists who do not support the CCF will be purged following the elections. :

Further evidence can be seen at the World Security Con- ference where Canadian opposition to the admittance of dele- gates from the World Labor Federation passed without protest

from M. J. Coldwell, member of the delegation and leader of |

tle Cr:

» It is as a result of such actions and policies, based on a CCF or nothing outlook, that labor and many within the CCF itself are looking elsewhere for candidates who they can sup- port. They realize that such policies can only doom the people of Canada to five years of the kind of unemployment and distress which was their lot in the depression years. They realize that the opportunity for coalition exists, provided there is unity in the labor movement. They are beginning to reject those policies which prefer a Tory combination in power and places its own partisan interests above that of the nation.

The issue facing the labor movement is simply this. By its yote on June 11—it will be either a partner in government

or by following the CCF policy become an impotent force unable to help in the solution of the problems that the postwar

years will bring.

iP Passing By C. A.. Saunders a oS

HE issues in this election are too vital for pussyiotinge or mincing words. To much de- pends on the kind of government we are to have in the next five years: Tne sacrifices have been too great, suffering too in- tense to leave any room for quibbling.

We have realized these things before but they are being brought home with greater intensity now that some of the boys are return- ing from overseas. It js in- teresting to talk to them and realize that these men who have carried the ball through five years of the most ter- rible war in history of man- kind, know what they fought for and are determined not to be cheated out of it. They don’t deseribe their thoughts in high sounding phrases but in down to earth terms. Ask them and their answer will be al- most invariably. ‘I want a decent job: a home and a fair measure of security”

This was the answer Lt. Austin Delany gave me when I talked to him when he arrived in Van- couver this week. He had just landed after a flight across the Atlantic and Canada in his journey home from England. He was naturally

_anxious to see his wife and the baby girl that

had arrived since he left for overseas a year ago. But he was full of enthusiasm and bursting to get into the fight again. He swung right into action with a speech to his old union mates in the Boilermakers that same night and is anxious

to speak to as many people as he can. to tell ©

them what the boys over there expect of them in the coming: election, to urge them to save Gan- ada from Tories, to preserve the unity that has brought such wonderful wartime results. Delany is a young man. he is full of enthu- Siasm for the future of Canada, he wil hear nothing of the calamity howling, ‘If we can do it in wartime, and what a wonderful job we have done, then we can do it in the postwar period.” These are the men who can help Canada through the next period. Men who have seen unity im

Around Town

Tee whistles have stopped blowing, the red- white-and-blue horns have been tossed in the trasheans, and the street cleaners have swept up the ticker tape, torn paper and streamers: And the people have got

back to work on the job Of xen aan xe rebuilding the world.

The statesmen at San Francisco are making the. world-shakinge decisions, but groundwork for the peace is -also being laid in the little communities, neighborhood centers and town meetings all over Canada-. Statesmen must draw up plans for in- ternational organization, but the people themselves have to decide how the new school- house will be built at Hop- kins Corners, what kind of community, work shall be done in Mapleville, and the best place for the park at Perkins Point. During the past few weeks I’ve met several people who are engaged

in this type of postwar planning, and they were -

so enthusiastic about their work that I thought perhaps you would like to meet them. too.

If you talk to the people of Lynn Valley. for instance: you wil-be told that. first, Linn Valley is the most wonderful place in the world: second:

that Lynn Valley has more possibilities than any _ other place in the world; third that the people

of Ikynn Valley intend to make the most of them.

I visited Lynn Valley Community Center with one of the officials, an enthusiastic young man who lives in the valley with his houseful of boisterous children, a dog, three cats, several rabbits, a flock of chickens, and a goat named Wimpy. He took us to the basement of the neat wooden building. Desks, cupboards and toy

_ shelves lined the walls.

“This is going to be our playschool.” he said. “We have a commitee on the job and we'll be open any day now. Another thing were work- ing towards is an outdoor playground with a good supervisor. There is a vacant lot not far away that will be dandy I think.”

“How will you go about it?” I wanted to know.

“Well, we'll get a bunch of the neighbors to- gether, talk the whole thine over and when we are agreed on what we want we'll <0 to the authorities with our plans. Then we'll keep on

°

By Cynthia Carter

aetion on the pattlefields, men who renee ean be acomplished, men who have the £:

the future of their country and the ener ©

will to work for it. The “electors of Var

North are lucky to have the chance to y —

such a man. 4

ALKING to these men sharper the enormous responsibility

_ brings soa .

the Canadian electorate in this coming’ ¢ |

What will the future offer to them under | regime, just take a lok at-the ‘thirties, op” think a change in label means any basics

in policy, look at Ontario and Quebec,

every piece of progressive legislation ha. balked and opposed by the Tory Governm those provinces: :

The battle of the next three weeks wilf easily won, reaction is- on the offensiyi demagogic speches of their proponents 7 airwaves, find ample “space in the daily

£ 4 =| F | ;

;

They are old hands at the political fame =

able to dress their policies in toothsome on for public consumption.

This means that the next three oe be a period of the most intense actiyit must bring our program to the people by means at our command. This is 2 decisive

|

It will open up to our boys from overseas ; people of Canada a period of Peace Jo

Security based firmly on a government if labor will have a deciding voice. Or it wi

us to a period of reaction under a Tory doi

right wing coalition. Labor’s voice can and must ‘be decisi ing the next few weeks, support must be

around those candidates who base the

firmly on the perspective of a coalition =

democratic forces.

The boys in the front lines have Bet value of cooperation. They are realizi futility of the CCF isolationist policy, Ti no desire to endure five years of privat.

suffering in order that they might possill a CCF government as a reward for their |

This is the point which the returned mer stand. They want something now wit few months and years. Not the Brose In the Sky When You Die’

lobbying until we get things underway the way to get things done.”

Get a bunch of neighbors together: over, do something about it. Not exact barton Oaks or San Francisco: but da fective!

THER groups of people throughout 0 Mee, in trade unions, discussion gre |

political parties are hard at work on type of postwar planning. They are mak that their elected representatives will

and women who have sympathy with t

and desires of the people. f I was passing the Grandview Labor

sive Party hall on Hastings Siret the o 7

ning, when a paint-smeared, overalle

poked a head out of the door.

“Come on in and see what we "re Up

a familiar voice.

Inside four or five members of th |

were hard at work painting woodwork,

walls, polishing floors, making their ha : They were about to G7

ally shipshape- out for coffee and cake, and while the they told me about their activities. “The election campaign is next on tht now the P.A- press drive is over,” said 0)” wite. “We’re arranging meetings in Ot so the neighbors can meet and get to] candidate, Jimmy Thompson. We're.

canvass the riding, to. And soon as” th i

redecorated we'll have public meetings cials here-”

“Ves, there certainly is a lot to te

said a shipyard stager who had been peach-colored paint to the hallway. “Thi is just about the most important ye and it’s people like us who have to make | are elected that have got what it takes winning the peace is going to be even portant than winning the war.”

There is so much to be done! Thai opinion of the LPP branch members, ~ munity workers in Lynn Valley ,and m~ British Columbians who are realistical’ the tasks of the future rolling up the | and diggings in.

Next week in this column I will tell © another organization which is dome 0 most important postwar jobs imaging ing; discharged servicemen reestablish in civilian life. ay E