Page Four

B.C. WORKERS.

NEWS

3

May 10 a:

BC Workers NEWS

Published Weekly by

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THE TRADES & LABOR COUNCIL
AND THE SLAVE CAMP STRIKE

The role of the bureaucrats in control of
the Trades & Labor Council (A.F.of L.) in the
present strike of the Slave Camp workers is
consistent with their organized strike-
breaking over a period of years.

Tt is conceded on all sides that the stub-
bornness of the authorities in offering the
alternatives of starvation or return to the
abominable conditions in the slave camps
ean be successfully met only by a general
strike. The sentiment for such action is
strong in the local unions affiliated to the
Trades and Labor Council, but the latter
body, after its leading officials combined
with McGeer to persuade the men to capitu-
late and go back to the camps, have done all
in their power to discourage the unions from
coming out on strike in support of the Camp
workers.

They give as an excuse their inability un-
der the constitution to order or declare a
general strike. But even granting the exist-
ence of this obstacle—which was put there
deliberately to prevent solidarity in action—
it is incontestable that an encouraging lead
from the Trades and Labor Council would
have a powerful effect on the unions in their
deciding to come out on strike.

The actions of the Council, on the contrary,
were to discourage in every way any such
move on the part of their affiliates. And this
is the logical step following upon their ef-
forts to get the men back to the camps on
the basis of lying promises.

Failing in their efforts to get them back,
and seeing the growing mass support for
the strikers, they have been denying that
they ever favored or advocated the return
to the camps.

The facts are against them, however. At
@ meeting in the office of Mayor McGeer on
April 25th, at which were present Hvans,
Shaw and Cumber representing the strikers;
Macinnis, Price and H. Winch, C.C.F. mem-
bers of the provincial legislature; General
Ashton of the Dept. of National Defense;
Bengough and Jamieson of the Trades and
Labor Council, and others, the Mayor, in
opening the conference, stated that two
meetings had been held the day before at
which Bengough was present and at which
it was decided that ways must be found to
get the strikers back to the camps, after
which something might be done for them.

This statement from the Mayor was not
challenged or contradicted by anyone pres-
ent. Pressure was brought to bear on the
strikers’ representatives to agree to a re-
turn to the camps. This failed, and Ben-
gough then declared:

“T came here today with the purpose of
helpine to solye the situation, and up to
now I think there has been only stumbling
blocks (referring to the refusal to return
to the camps.—Hd.), and there will be until
such time as the men will climb down and
figure out some basis on which to return
to the camps. There is nothing I can do
until then. My belief is that there is no
obstacle in allowing these men to go back.
...- It means only returning to the camps
until such time as the machinery can be
set up to settle this thing. ... On this basis
IT could possibly be of some help.”

Later during the conference the following
discussion took place:

Evans: “We want relief, regardless of
where it comes from, and further than
that, I would like to know if you wish to
state that the representatives here are all
in favor of the men returning to the
camps?”

McGeer: “I understand that the idea was
to get the men to the camps and then to
discuss their demands.”

Winch: “I did not understand that it was
for the men to return to the camps, but to
open negotiations.”

McGeer: “The plan was to arrange for
ways of returning the men to the camps.”

Bengough: “I was under that impres-
sion.”

Ashton: “That is the basis I came here

TOWARD NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT

For a long time, behind the scenes, there
have been efforts made to form a national
government in Canada. Bennett's delay im
calling a federal election is due to this de-
velopment. The finance capitalists who rule
the country desire as much time as possible
to carry out this move toward fascism; and
Bennett and his cohorts in the cabinet, being
of that group, are assisting in the scheme.

Already there is in existence a Semi-fascist
organization which calls itself the League
For National Government, with a member-
ship in its Toronto branch alone of 3000. A
national convention is to be called soon to
further their plans on a national scale.

Such a development is fraught with men-
ace to the workers and farmers of this coun-
try, and must be met with the most determ-
ined organized resistance from all sections
of the working people, for it represents the
boldest step yet taken in Canada toward the
corporate (fascist) state.

¥ 3

A PROPER STAND

The stand taken by Harold Winch, C.C.F.
M.L.A., in refusing to accept a jubilee medal
Was a commendable action. In his public
letter he gaye sound reasons why any per-
son representing the working class could not
retain his integrity and accept such a thing.

There is no doubt that his action served as

sE *

-a deterrent to others in a position similar to

his, for only too often have nominal repre-
sentatives of labor bowed the knee to ac-
eept such “honors.”

While the medals were supposed to be from
the King, they were bestowed by the capi-
talist governmeits. The Pattullo govern-
ment, who sent in provincial police to slug
women and men of the working class in Cor-
bin, picked out the ones who were to receive
the gewgaws in British Columbia, and they
included some of the worst labor haters in
the Province.

*

LOGGERS FOR STRIKE

The unanimous vote of the Loggers in
Carson’s Camp for a general Loggers’ strike
in support of the Slave Camp workers, and
the 97 per cent vote for strike action by the
men in the Rock Bay camp of Smith and
Osberg, show clearly that the overwhelming
mass of the employed workers see in the
Slave Camps a menace to the standard of
living of every employed worker as well as
of the unemployed.

It also shows what trade union democracy
permits men to do as against their helpless-
ness when chained to the corpse of a reac-
tionary bureaucracy.

The lead given by the Longshoremen and
Seamen has been an inspiration and a guide
to workers throughout the province, and
those workers who desire to enter the
struggle on the side of the camp strikers
must break through the barriers with which
they have been surrounded by the agents of
the bosses who have wormed their way into
leadership in the trade union movement or
who have become corrupted during their in-
cumbency.

The united front of labor bureucrats with
the McGeers, the Pattullos and the bosses
must be smashed and the united front of all
organizations in the trade union movement
established.

Such a fighting unity would in short order
decide the isuse in favor of the camp strik-
aS and strengthen the fighting front of
abor.

k *

The foregoing proves that Bengough and
his fellow reactionaries worked in close co-
operation with McGeer and the provincial
and federal governments, and conspired with
the Mayor and others to break the strike.

The unions affiliated with the T. and L.
Council can now realize that the bureau-
erats of the Bengough type are not working
in the interests of the workers, but in the
interests of the bosses. Their strike-breaking
role in the Shingle Weavers’ strike alone
proves that.

The T. and L. Council, under the leader-
ship of Bengough, has degenerated into an
appendage of the corrupt Liberal machine,
Bengough himself being a member of the
Pattullo Brainless Trust for the suppression
of the workers and the adding of greater
burdens on them. .

The do-nothing policy of the bureaucrats
(except for discouraging all united action)
must be met by the unions acting on their
own and coming out solidly in support of the
Slave Camp workers, for their strugle is a
struggle for all workers, organized and un-
organized, employed and unemployed.

CUMBERLAND HAD A BIG

MAY DAY, FIRST FOR YEARS

Youth Dept. P.W.C.
Makes Gains

The youth director of the Pro-

S
Militant Miners Feel the
Strength of Their
Organization

few
school that day.
closed up the

ever, very

CUMBERLAND, May 2. — May
Day, 1935, will long be remembered
for the first time in twenty
in

brations.

here.
years the workers turned out
Between 600 and 700 par-
Hall to the

masses. ing and dance.

aded from the Union Matheson

Sports Grounds. Young fPioneers; War and Wascism
had their own float. workers. At
Stoers Closed the meeting a

amounting to
for to aid the
struggle.

The miners appealed to the com-
pany to close the mine for May
Day, but the Company said it was
“rediculous,” but the miners closed
it. The School Board was appealed
to, in order to close the schools, but |

they said it was “impossible.” How-
kiddies
The
stores, and some of
them donated to the May Day cele-

Help Corbin Miners

At night there was a mass meet-
of the League

the dance held after
sum
around $45 was raised
Corbin Miners in their

The Cumberland miners
now that organized we are mighty,
unorganized we are nothing.

vineial Workers’ Council in an inter-

went to] view stated that

storekeepers

today within a

Short time they expect to have a

number of new unemployed youth

branches established in Whe city.
The relief camp strike has brought
of the

ployed youth forcefully to the eyes

the pressing needs unem-

Mr. Foley and Mrs.| of the public and the chances for
Against | building a huge unemployed youth
spoke to the] movement are very good. Younes un-

employed youth are very much ap-

of money] posed ot the idea of relief camps,
and by building up the unemployed
youth sections of the P.W.C. we will
strengthen the of the camp
strikers and help total

relict

hand
ensure the
semi-fascist

realize
abolition of the
system.

camp

Spokane Gang
To Close Mine

Peeved Because Miners
Are Not Credulous
Saps

VICTORIA, May 7— The forcign
capitalists, who own the Corbin
furious at their inability,
with the aid of Pattullo’s police, to
force down the livine conditions of
their mine slaves in Corbin, have
announced that they will close the

mines,

mine down for good.

The mine at Corbin is a mountain
of coal. OQwing to the companys
greed for quick and large profits it
has been mined in a reckless and
wasteful manner. Thirteen fires are
already consuming the coal, which
runs into the millions of tons.

The Spokane capitalists are dis-
appointed over their failure to fool
the miners with their offer of an

UNITED FRONT OPEN FORU’

As
strives to keep in touch with the
constantly changing situation in the
class struggle I must take excep-
tion to the article signed “E. L.”” in
your first columns opened to dis-
cussion on the United Front.

In the first place, the whole tenor
of the article seems to preciude the
possibility of the formation of the
United Front so vitally necessary to
the working class. The old method
of debate which smacked of name
without serious and close
“em
doubtless is a Sincere revolutionary

calling
analysis was used by who
worker and would die, if necessary,
on the barricades tomorrow.

To “lump up” McGeer and the
leadership of the C.C.F. is not cor-
rect. In my opinion, MeGeer does
not stand “in practice” for the vio-
lence and brutality as E. L. states.
McGeer’s whole ideology makes class
violence acceptable to him. McGeer,

@ revolutionary worker Sek The C.C.F. membership is anti-

a Liebral, belongs to the capitalist
class and does not hesitate to use
the state forees of his class against
the working class.

This; in my opinion, is the point
of departure. To correctly use the
term “in practice’ means that
whereas a labor leader or a political
program may state openly that they
are for the interests of the workers
such as do the C.C.E., a revolution-
ary worker can point out that the
policy of the said labor leaders or
political party IN PRACTICE can
only lead, or pave the way to Fasc-
ism, and then we must painstakinely
prove our point. There is then a
difference between McGeer, who is
definitely of the capitalists, and
therefore a potential fascist who will
fit perfectly into a fascist regime.

arbitration board to be appointed by
the government, which has done
everything possible already to ter-
rorize the miners back to work.

Adam Geil, deputy minister of
labor in the Pattullo Goyernment,
who worked so faithfully for the
leggine companies during the last
great Loggers’ Strike, is raising the
Red scare because the miners are
too wise to accept a capitalist gov-
ernment as mediator.

NOTICE
Girls and boys interested in sport
are invited to attend the next meet-
ing of the Youth Section of Ward 3
W.P.A., which will be held at 941
Commercial Drive, Vancouver, on
Tuesday, May 14, at 8 p.m.

capitalist. Whatever peculiar theo-
ries are presented in the programme
of the C.C.F., which aim at the re-
form of capitalism, we revolution-
ary workers must admit that the
C.C.F. membership is anti-capital-
ist. And this is the reason why the
working class with all its currents
and cross-currents of opinion must
build up a united front of anti-capi-
talist against the capitalist parties.
Buildmg Wnity Solidly
Criticism or current theories and
policies must take place continually
among all thinking and class con-
scious workers. This is an axiom
generally accepted by all. It is the
methods to use that all who strive
for unity must consider. When the
workers and press attack McGeer.
he gets the -works, because he is
and represents the class enemy.
Quotation marks are always applied
to REFORMER when it refers to
R. B. Bennett or McGeer. -

When eriticism develops between
two anti-capital parties, then it is
entirely different ground upon which
the struggle takes place. These
facts must be Kept in mind when
working for unity between workers
who are at present divided by ide-
ology. In the concrete struggle
against capitalism, i.e., evictions, re-
lief strikes, camp strikes, ete., unity
is quickly established with beneficial
results known to all. This being the
case, the fight engaged in by tre-
mendous numbers of workers for a
broad united front of anti-capitalist
sections against capitalism, must be
boldly fought for by all honest ele-
ments who are playing leading parts
in the workers’ movement.

Co-ordination to Achieve Greater Unity and
Assure Victory of the Strike

The following statement has been received by mail with
a request for publication.—Bd.

The Relief Camp strike has been in progress nearly five
weeks. This strike has won tremendous sympathy and sup-
port of all working people in Vancouver and throughout the
province, which alone is responsible for the continuation of
the strike until the present time.

Unions of the American Federation of Labor, the All
Canadian Congress of Labor, the Workers’ Unity League and
the Longshoremen and Water Transport Workers of Canada
have splendidly responded with financial and moral aid to
the camp boys’ strike.

The C.C.F. and Socialist Party likewise joined up with
the mass movement in support of the strike and for the com-
plete abolition of slave camps. The Communist Party’s rec-
ord in strike struggles all over Canada, as organizer and
leader of the working class against employers and govern-
ments reducing the stand of living of the workers, is recog-
nized. The Arena meeting of 17,000 and the May Day Parade
and meeting with 25,000 prove conclusively that the majority
of the working people are against the relief camps.

While giving all due credit to all trades unions, various
other labor organizations, political parties and thousands of
workers who are resolutely supporting the camp strike, we
must at the same time point out, however, that the responsi-
bility for not spreading the sympathetic strike to all Ameri-
can Federation of Labor unions falls on the Executive Com-
mtitee of the Trades and Labor Council.

This responsibility must be stressed, first, because the
authorities are determined to smash the strike and force the
boys to go back to the camps, refusal and relief and reading
of the Riot Act by MceGeer, and second, there was a wide
sentiment for a sympathetic strike among all workers in
trades unions and in the unorganized factories and mills.

Such strike action would have compelled the authorities
to grant relief and begin negotiations; and if no action was
forthcoming, it would have been the forerunner for a longer
strike until the relief camps were abolished.

The Executive Committee of the Trades and Labor Coun-
cil refused to take any definite action to bring about the
strike. Instead of voting for the strike, calling special meet-
ings of the Executives and union meetings to take immediate
action, they make the excuse that it is up to the various
unions to take such action. Only a general strike could have
accelerated the processes of the settlement of the strike and
complete abolition of the camps.

The Communist Party welcomes the support the C.C.F.
and Socialist Party have given to the camp boys’ strike.
Unity of the ©.C.F., S.P.of C. and the Communist Party can
successfully repel the employers’ and government’s attacks.
We have a Committee of Action with representatives from
many trade unions, labor organizations, and including the
C.C.F. and the Communist Party. What is needed now is
closer coordination between our Party and other working
class parties and all trade unions, in rallying the working
people for the complete victory of the camp strike.

The Communist Party has had discussion with the C.C.F.
and haye made proposals for closer coordination of our ac-
tivities. We sincerely hope that this will be accomplished.
Now more than ever before, consolidation of the united front
must take place. Complete unity of action by the C.C.F., the
S.P.ofG. and the Communist Party must be our next step.

No time must be lost. Our next step must be united front
demonstrations and mass meetings organized by the C.C.F.,
S.P.of C., and Communist Party, with trades unions partici-
patine.

Forward to the united front of the C.C.F., S.P.of C. the
Communist Party, and all trade unions! Forward to victory
of the camp strike!

—District Committee, Communist Party of Canada.

The C Pof C Statement
On Relief Camp Strike

Calls Upon the C.C.F. and S.P.of C. for Closer |EVENING BEFORE

MAY DAY IN USSR

MOSCOW, April 30—Railway sta-
tions here are teeming with holiday
travellers. Every train brings pum-
erous workers and delegations of
collective farmers from the far ends
of the Soviet Union. Many foreign
tourists are arriving. British, Ameri-
ean, French, Czech, Belgian, Swiss,
Dutch, Swedish, Spanish and other
workers’ May Day delesations are
being given an exceptionally warm
reception by the workers of the Red

ae

Full Explanations Alway.
Necessary
Asreed that Pritchard’s le4
article in the “Commonwi |
boiled down to the ridiculous |
of “Scanlon Must Go’ Adn
that the slogan of A General ‘|
should in all sense have been a
at this crtiical period of the |
boys’ strike. This is where =
crete, friendly criticism come:
We can’t convince Pritchard of |
but there are thousands of we {
who will see the point. Again, |
did Pritchard congratulate the ;
force on their restraint, etc”
would argue that this acceptan™
the forces of the bourgeois Stz-
bound up in the whole ideoloj
the G.C.F., who claim that ca
ism can be reformed, that the j
ers can utilize the capitalist |
forces, once the C.C.F. is elect
“power.” Patient explanation t¢
workers.”

Pivonare 1

put

This is how we convince re
of the worker’s press, and by
means the man on the street is
vinced. Keeping in mind ajj)

:

time that the anti-capitalist
must be built up. —B.

From The Organiza
Notebook (

i

“What Do You Think?” |

Mr. Moorhouse, speaking to}
Fishermen: “If you must joij

organization why don’t you io

GOOD union?” 4
Fisherman: ‘What union ¥
that be?’’ j
Moorhouse: “Why, the Up
Fishermen.”
Fisherman: ‘Would you be
an organization like that?’
Moorhouse: “Sure.’’ :
Fisherman: “Well, an orgal

tion that you’ad belong to, woul
no damn, good for us.’’

Ed. Note—Mr. Moorhouse is
general manager of the B. GC. Pp
ers Association:

“Ves, We Have No Bosses’
Charter’

B.C.F.P.A. Questioner: “Is >
organization approyed by the |
ernment?”

Organizer: ‘No, we have the
proval of the workers in the fis
industry, that is what counts we
not concerned with the Staniped
Sealed Cardboard Charter of
Bosses’ Government.”

“Believe It or Not’’
There is an Indian woman |
ING at Bella Coola, who is ove
years old, still living on the

capital.

food allowance of $3 per mont

Jubilee Celebration
Conspicuous Failu

Slave Camp Strikers and Ex-Servicemen St
Great Counter-Demonstration

VANCOUVER, May 7.—“‘What
flop!’ This and similar expressions
could be heard among the onlook-
ers as the highly heralded jubilee
parade passed by last Monday. Ap-
proximately 1700 were in the parade.
The capitalist press went as high as
2000 in estimating it.

Contrasted with the Workers’
May Day parade and demonstration,
the doings of the cockroach aris-
tocracy and lesser bourgeoisie of
Vaneouver in aping their superiors
in Tiondon, was a fizzle, a dud, and
a washout. it was a futile attempt
to pump patriotic hop into a popu-
lace which all too plainly see and
fee] the “‘benefits” of empire with its
concentration

a

misery, starvation,
camps and other forms of slavery
and oppression.
Scant Enthusiasm
Although the capitalist
‘ballyhooed for weeks in support of
the jingoistic celebration, as a part
of war preparation, and althoush
those in charge spent thousands of
dollars to boost it, the thing just
didn’t come off—that is, with any
semblance of show or enthusiasm.
Fearful of a sorry showing if they
asked the citizenry to parade, they
confined the procession to a show of
capitalist state force. Police,
mounted and on the hoof, soldiers
and a few from the crews of the
tin-pot Canadian marched.

press

navy
Puppets on Parade

The majority of the soldiers were

youth who seemed bewild-

Every man in the parade was

and his meal

callow
ered.
there under orders,
ticket depended upon his being
“among those present.” They jerk-
ed, turned, twisted and jumped like
marionettes at the barking of some
petty. officer, who was Siven his

brief hour of “glory.”

o

The business came to a concel
at a mass meeting at Bro
Point, where Riot Act Jerry m
Speech characteristic pf capi
tools on such occasions. It abi
ed in platitude, bombast, rodc
tade, hyperbole, patriotic gush
true statements and boasts abot
beauties of capitalist rule.

No Pride of Empire Here
A fly in the ointment of pat
foo was the counter parade of
Camp strikers and ex-servic
who turned out 1500 strong and
aded in the downtown sectio!
the city. The 25 years of cap
rule under a constitutional mon
brought no joy to these men
they had no hesitancy in shi
their resentment and disgust a
mockery staged in another pz
town by the people who have cl
them and tried to starye them
soing back to the militarism
slavery of Bennett’s slave
pounds.

.Prize Blue Ribboners
The imperialistic show at E

ton Point included medals
presented by McGeer, the man 7

police clubbed the Slave
Workers and who refused to
them relief. Those who re
the medals were chosen by the
taHst government and they re
them for their service to the
talist class and state, or in th
pectation of such service. A
ance of the medals constitu
pledge on the part of the rec
to render such service in the f

Th whole show was wunins
even to those who revel in
mummery and tinsel, and thos
organized it have a bad taste in
mouths eyer since as a resi
such a conspicuous flop.