in Passing : By C. A. Saunders ©

party leader Laski, the people voted

P. A. PACIFIC_ADVOCATE

PEOPLE’S VOICE FOR PROGRESS RYONE who attended the public meeting

. Published every Saturday by The People Publishing Com- pany, Room 104, Shelly Building, 119 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia and printed at East End Printers, 2303 East Hastings Street, .Vancouver, British ‘Columbia. Subscription Rates: One year $2; six months $1.

Editor Phone G. A. SAUNDERS MA rine 5288

Unite To Win!

@ TEPPED-UP activity on all labor fronts this week signal- ized the determination of workers, veterans and all pro- gressive people to resist the attack of big business and to

fight for a future free from the unemployment and neglect

which characterized the prewar period.

The convention of the Hardrock Miners, held in Van- couver over the weekend gave a magnificent lead to organ- ized labor in this province. Outlining a program designed to maintain and increase living standards and ensure a mini- mum annual income to all workers the miners gave notice to the mineowners, and big business in general, that

' this was not a paper program, but a program designed to meet

the needs of the Canadian people around which a united fight would be staged.

Action of the Vancouver Labor Council this week in pro- posing an all-in conference of Labor-Veterans and leftwing political parties, is a huge step toward forging that unity of action which alone can beat back the attempts of reaction to sabotage the peace, and end the sitdown strike of business which is responsible for the immediate unemployment crisis.

A mass meeting, called by the Labor-Progressive party for Sunday, on Cambie Street grounds, will give expression to the determination of Labor to fight and will outline a program for action.

Labor and ‘Veterans are losing no time in repudiating the spurious ‘odd job’ program advanced by General Hoffmeister and emphasizing the unity between the two groups.

_ Action by the great CIO-led unions of the States is be- ginning to be felt in Canada. Labor, as it must, is going over to the offensive in a showdown fight.

Program of the IUMMSW will mark the beginning of a union-led offensive to safeguard the living standards and the future of the Canadian people.

Workers in other industries will be drawing up programs, suitable to their industries, but based on the same minimum demands for union security, maintenance of living standards, guaranteed annual income, the 40-hour week.

_ Action is the order of the day. Unemployment is begin- ning to reach prewar standards, with over 20,000 unem- ployed in B.C. alone.

The developing unity of fighting action evident in all quarters is the best guarantee that the wishes of the people will prevail, and the present drive of Tory-led. reaction to create a pool of unemployed, to lower wages and crush or- ganized labor as a precondition to starting postwar projects will be defeated.

- An Added Service

Starting next week, ex-Sgt. Jack Phillips, who spent five years with the army overseas, and who has contrib- uted to this paper will start a regular weekly column for P.A.

His column will deal with problems as they affect the veteran.

In addition, Jack is placing his services at the dis- posal of veterans with special problems. He can_be seen at the P.A. office, 105 Shelly building on Saturday

afternoons from 2 to 5 p.m.

We are glad to be able to bring this service to our veteran readers.

PACIFIC ADVOCATE — PAGE 4

held in the Vancouver Hotel last Sunday by the hardrock miners of this province must have been impressed by the sim- ple yet forceful presentation : i of Union President Reid Robinson.

Robinson made frequent reference to the World Fed- eration of Trade Unionists and stressed the tremendous. factor for peace and pro- gress that this organization represents.

Tt is a fact that, in as- sessing the present situa- tion, we are apt to forget the tremendous gains made by the forces for progress during the years of turmoil. The international organiza- tion representing over 60,000,000 workers stands as a positive weapon for peace and justice.

In the course of his address Robinson told of the great inspiration he gained from listening to delegates who had been leaders in the under- ground movements of Europe; the lessons learned in those bitter days have instilled a deep determination to eliminate the causes of war. The process is well begun in many of these coun- tries.

We can see ‘the results in France. Despite redbaiting campaigns, despite splitting tactics inspired by*the Social Democratic, British Labor

>

Around Town by Cynthia Carter | : E

.

powN at the corner store the other day we were talking about politics while the proprietress weighed carrots for a customer.

“Well, what do you think of your old mayor now?” said one woman, who always makes it quite clear that Mr. Cornett is definitely not her mayor.

“What’s . happened?” we wanted to know.

“For months now we've been pestering the council for better lighting on our streets. And what does he suggest? That we all leave our porch lights on all night. Can you imagine the nerve of the guy! Street lighting is the city’s job, far as I can see.

“Next thing you know,” she went on, “he’ll want us to carry our own garbage down to the dump. And sweep our own roads. And maybe carry our water home in buckets.

“Well, I’m on to him. If he wants to save the city so much money, why don’t he and some of them aldermen do a bit more for the money we pay ‘em? You take Jack Price and Corey— they could take on city hall janitor’s jobs (might do better at that than they’re doing now, come to think of it). They always say theyre working men.

“And speaking of working men, I sure don’t like the setup of this here veterans odd-job scheme. Vets need regular jobs, not chorework. And it’s dangerous, too, because the vets won't all be union members. My man’s a carpenter, see. Now suppose somebody wants some shelves built, in—-cheap. They aren’t going after him; they’ll figure they can get a vet to do it cheaper, and pat themselves on the back cause they’re being patriotic. And wage rates will be pushed down.

“The way I figure, we should all get to- gether and plan so that everybody can have decent jobs with decent wages. This other idea —I don’t like it. Do you?

THE hue and cry on the subject of race prejudice

has hit a new high in the last few weeks.

Main bone of contention, of course, is the ques-

iThe trade union movement is alread:

ingly left—giving a substantial ma Communists. ae President Robinson had the op visiting the Soviet Union. He visit Leningrad. His description of the r. of this city which endured months of off completely from outside help a eent. é

dt

There is no unemployment in th there is a shortage of Labor. ‘Ther after effects from the war—such | tioning—shortage of clothing and things are moving, production is ¢ there is a live keen spirit among the

VES! We face many struggles ahead. Unemployment, attacks labor—anti-Soviet propaganda—an

rumblings of a third world war.

But we face them with greatly add

ing the fight to win the peace. Thes be intense, for big business will no fice its profits. It will call for deter unity. But a start has already b message given by Reid Robinson wa struggle, it was also a message of inst hope, emphasizing the added strengtho :

for progress in the decisive days al | ‘e

tion of the Japanese, and what shd — with them. A most shameful expre ; tolerance was that shown by the Sint and son, who used the influence ver | by the electorate to have the Japan ; language school—set up to train loy ; Canadians for overseas work with ; Army—moved from Vancouver te

and now out of West Van to som

of Canada.

Race prejudice is a funny sort of § “least, it might be funny if it were”

Sid hemes geaponl

I have been in a position to vier dice first hand in Wancouver, fo’) reason that my husband and 1f are | racial origins. And the situations | against are sometimes almost 1 }|

In the first place, there are sey

ver restaurants and night clubs wi ? together. I could be admitted if i) white man, and my husband wow | inside if he accompanied a colored |} gether we find the door shut to — visited white restaurants that wor 4 and colored ones that won’t admit | are other places where I could ¢ | and he would be barted until Tue. One day recently the two of 1 | an East Indian friend, were going | together. The first restaurant we | to serve us on an anti-Negro basi - a second restaurant where we wer - nored, and when we demanded «4 we were told that whites and Ne lowed, but the East Indian would | We had almost lost our apr | We met a second East Indian, ¢ | first, and decided to forget abo’ have a beer to cheer us up. We beverage room, and once again th: | us by. 7 “Well, what is it this time?” 1] “Can’t serve you here. You 7% (he indicated our first East Inc husband and myself), “but this. to go. We only serve East Inc wear turbans.” : No kidding—it really happene world! :

#

FRIDAY, DECEMBER