rage Four Bi nS = WO Roker RR SeeNg vES October iS, ag i B C WorKERS REWS Published Weekly by THE PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASSN Room 10, 163 West Hastings Street - Vancouver, BC. 4 — Subscription Rates — One Year poe SIE BO Half Year —__—._ 1.00 Three Months__$ .50 Single Copy ——__-O£ Make All Checks Payable to the B.C: WORKERS’ NEWS Send All Copy and Manuscript to the Chairman of the Editorial Board ——- Send All Monies and Letters Per taining to Advertising and Circulation fo the Business Manager. Vancouver, B.C., October 18, 1935 VANCOUVER EAST Inability to reach two-thirds of the thirty- four thousand voters in the Vancouver East Riding is responsible for the comparatively small vote registered by the Communist can- didate. : The fact that all political parties except- ing the Communist Party had free access to the radio, the most powerful weapon _for propaganda, must be considered as a serious handicap in an election in which the yadio was relied upon as the greatest medium for campaigning. : The Communist Election Committee was unable because of this handicap to properly explain to decisive numbers of the electors, just why a Communist candidate was run- ning, and how Bruce would represent the workers far better than Angus MacInnis could on the basis of their labor records and programs. : Enthusiastic meetings were held during the campaign; nearly one-third of the con- stituency was canvassed, but such painstak- ing methods require much more time than is permitted by capitalist election methods. Qne other reason, and one which was very important, was the continuous efforts of the Communist Election Committee in Vancou- ver East to bring about a united front with the G.C_F. right up to the last. : The Gommunists saw the necessity for unity very clearly. They exhausted every channel to procure this unity—and time was assing. - ae : A soe campaign from the beginning for Bruce would have told a different story. The arguments of the Communists would have convinced decisive sections as to their sincerity and the dire necessity for Bruce to get to Ottawa with the other C.C.F. mem- bers. : : Communists are swimming against the stream of capitalist ideology which is so sedulously inculeated by the state apparatus and its organs. ‘The election program of the Communists was framed to fit the needs of the common people and was quite realizable under capitalist conditions. _ The necessity for the election of Com- munists to the Ottawa House to fight along with the C.C.F. members for the actual needs of the workers was not made clear to the mass of electors and unless the thou- sands of C.C.F. voters bring pressure tO bear on their leaders and M.P.’s, to 1mme- diately work out a program which will bene- fit the Canadian people now, there can only be an uninterrupted continuation of capital- ist exploitation. Communists will react quickly to all pro- gressive legislation put forward |by_ the C.C.F. members in Ottawa. That the inter- ests of the toiling people hold first place in their efforts has been proven a thousand times during the last five years. REAL SANCTIONS The imperialists of Italy are going ahead with the rape and pillage of Ethiopia despite world opinion. The League of Nations which has had teeth put into it by the entry of the Soviet Union, is preparing to use sanctions against the aggressor nation, which is Italy. The Communist International, with a wider influence than even the League of Na- tions, is definitely against war, as it always has been. Its Executive Committee has 1s- sued a call to the transport workers of the world to refuse to handle or transport any though there are commercial vultures in Canada who are willing to coil blood into money through the sale of war materials to goods to Italy in an effort to foree that power to stop the war. These are real anti-war measures, and al- Italy, there are people who oppose them. The waterfront workers and seamen of Vancouver and all other ports should refuse to handle or transport war materials for use by Italy in her imperialist depredations. ‘The Citizens’ League and their profit- hungry ilk will decry this as “Red” agita- tion.” But let them howl. No cargo destined for use by the Italian brigands against the people of Ethiopia should be handled or moved in or out from Vancouver or any other port. THE CORBIN MINERS’ SAD PLIGHT No greater indictment of Capitalism and the inhuman policies of Capitalist govern- ments could be found than-in the deplorable situation existing at Corbin, B.C., among the miners and their families. To say that the policies of the new King Liberal Government are one whit better than the Iron Heel policies of the Bennett regime is so much deceit and capitalist demagogy. The proof of this is to be found in the treat- ment meted out to the Corbin miners and their families by the Libera] Pattullo gov- ernment as exposed on the front page of this paper in a news item from Corbin. The Bennett government, assisted by the Provincial Liberal government has concen- trated its attacks on the Mine Workers’ Union of Canada in B.C., and in Princeton has declared the union illegal. It is only by united efforts of trade union- ists, C-.C.F., Communists and all advocates of the right of freedom of expression, as- sembly, and organization that the King Lib- eral government will be compelled to allow militant trade unions to organize the terrif- ically exploited miners of the province. : Support and unity in strike struggles is needed as much as ever to stem the capitalist attacks, inevitable under the capitalist re- sime of MacKenzie King. THE ELECTIONS The hatred of the Canadian people for the Bennett regime was amply demonstrated at the polls on October 14th. The working people of the Dominion at the same time demonstrated their political immaturity: when they gave Mackenzie King a mandate for the next five years. Habits die hard. The swing from Tory to Liberal was once again demonstrated in the seventeenth Federal election since Con- federation. The capitalist politicians canalized 500.- 000 votes into ““Reconstruction” and “Social Credit” channels. These votes undoubtedly represent a wave of discontent with the old line parties and the blantant promises and demagogy seemed to be the way out for these 500,000. And this is the warning for the C.C.F. Tneffectual bleatings about “Socialism” and “distribution of wealth,’ whilst passing up the immediate needs of the common people, will bring disaster to the C.C.F. party. Alberta is a demonstration; where the So- cial Credit group, under the leadership of Aberhart, deceived the people at the ex- pense of the U.F.A. Government, with the promises of a monthly dividend. The absence of an immediate program to better the lives of the common people of Canada, on the part of the C.C.F., wall bring disillusionment to millions, will pave the way for fascist demagogues and will betray the trust of a splendid rank and file movement. : Life itself is proving the necessity for the building of an anti-capitalist front. The instructive urge of the people is for unity and those who consistently fight for and abide by the united front, the party that champions and builds this unity will win ‘NIAGARA’ TIED UP IN AUSTRALIA; CREW REFUSES 10 SIGN ON UNTIL ASSURED UNION LABOR A Sample of Solidarity Which Will Bring Strike To Successful Finish The daily papers of Friday, Oct. 4ith carried reports that the “Nia- gara’’ was tied up in Australia be- cause the crew refused to sign on unless assured that the cargo would be discharged by union jabor in B.C. ports. It was reported also that Mr. Irons, Manager of -the U.S.S. of New Zealand had assured the crew that only union labor developments. On Monday the was received from Mitchell, and recognized by your commit- tee stop Will cable later any fresh Herbert, Secretary. the Australian union: Sydney, Australia. 633 East Hastings, Vancouver, the mass and lead them to a better life— to Socialism. solid here stop Reply urgent clarify your position for our members benefit. Herbert, Secretary. In answer the following reply was despatched: IN B.C. Vancouver. Herbert, 52 Day St., Sydney, N.S.W- Strike still progressing 10 settlement in sight will advise de- velopments. Mitchell, Central Strike Com. As we go to press the “Niagara” is still tied up in Australia. following wire the secretary of $100 DONATION FROM EVERETT Everett Local No. 38-76 Inter- national Longshoremens Associa- would be used. Realizing that the crew would not understand that the qynion labor referred to by Mr. Trons was the “scab” union, the Strike Committee wired the crew explaining the situation here. The following reply was received: Sydney, Australia. L. C. Mitchell, 633 Bast Hastings, Vancouver, Wiembers Seamenus Union here @gefer signing on Niagara until guarantee is given stop The only labor to be utilized loading aud discharging vessel at Victoria and Wancouver shall be determined Press and owners inform us strike settlement imminent stop Terms not disclosed stop Niagara tion sends along another $100.00 for the relief fund. > Mcndelssohn Upright Piano will be given away In Aid of Longshoremen’s Relief Fund DONATIONS 25c OR OVER Drawing will take place November 30th, 8 p.m. Get Your Tickets at 633 East Hastings Street ——J, Preliminary Analysis Of Election A BASIS FOR DISCUSSION. By REL. The election of a Liberal Govern- ment in Canada by one of the largest majorities ever recorded by any gSov- ermment Since Confederation tempor- arily gives the capitalist class a feel- ine of security to continue their rob- bery of the people unmolested- The Conservative party elected the second largest number of candidates, the Social Credit party coming third and the @.C.F. fourth with an in- Significant number of members. A comparison of the number of wotes cast for the Liberal, Conserva— tives and Social Credit parties on the side, and the number of votes cast for the CGEr. and Communist parties on the other, clearly reveals that the capitalist parties undoubted- ly still maintain a sreat influence and power over the minds of the CS CGanasian masses. The rapid rise of the Social Credit) party and the failure of the eer. | to strengthen their parliamentary ! position nationally has come as an unexpected surprise to many. It took the combined efforts of the ‘Conservatives and the C.CF. in Winnipes to defeat Tim Bucki there. Although the votes cast for the Communist party are the largest in its history, the election results show , very Clearly the narrow influence of} the Communist party on the electoral field. B.C. Showing, No Accident. What are the lessons to be learned from the results of the election? It is necessary to recognize that the breakaway from the old eapital-| ist parties does not come of itself automatically, and that this deser- tion is not following an even or uni- form development. Where the old partics have been discredited the most, is precisely where strugeles on immediate ques- tions have been organized best and where unity of action in support of these needs has been applied most correctly. Im such places where these strug- gles have been developed and where the masses of workers have partici- pated in these struggles the C€.C.i and Communists can record the greatest gains. The great lesson to be learned by all is that the correctness of the prin- ciple of the united front of struggle has again been vindicated and proved correct. Lhe clearest proof of this is to be found in the province of B.C. In this province four C.C.F. candi- dates have been elected, and perhaps two more will yet be elected. Almost all of the C€.C.I*. candidates only lost by small margins: The number of votes cast for the €.C.F. is the largest amount polled for any one party, being about 90,000 votes. British Columbia can also record the greatest number of struggles in which the C.C.F. and Communists participated jointly. The struggles of the loggers, miners, longshoremen and the campboys gained wide sup- port from the workers. McGeer Defeat, Sharpest Lesson. What better example is needed than the defeat of “Riot Act” Mc- Geer by Arnold Webster in Burrard. When it is remembered that Mc- Geer enjoyed enormous popularity as recorded in his mayorality vic- tery, and when we remember the mass reséniment and hatred that was shown to him only a few months later, we can only conclude that this was mainly the result of the strug- gle against the slave camps. This struggle of the people and the correct application of the united front of struggle was able to accomp- lish in a few months what would have taken years of education and propazanda alone to accomplish; the conerete exposure of the demazgogy of McGeer. Thousands of people, on the basis of their own experience, were ably assisted by this great strike to break with the old parties and to come over to the side of the workers’ struggle. This lesson must be carefully re- flected upon and learned well by all workers and especially by the C.C.F. supporters when they honestly at- tempt to answer the question, “Why did the C.C.I*. not do so well nation- ally as they did in B.C.2?” The eontention of some reaction- ary C.C.F. leaders that Communist support would lose votes to the CCG. has now been shattered into a thousand pieces. C.C.F. Leaders Were Weal. The second great lesson to lear is that in those places where the Communists were strongest and had previously participated in joint struggles with the C.G.F., the C.-C. received the Jargest number of votes. B.C. remains to date the outstand- ing example of the correctness of this on a Jarge and general scale. | But when we consider the great fights that were put up in Flin Flon, | Halifax, Toronto, Windsor, Verdun, ete., etc., we can definitely conclude, that Communist support does not weaken, but strengthens the CCF. What a different picture the Canadian people would have to their eredit had the national leadership of the C.C.F. accepted the Commun- ist call for electoral unity? Such unity of action would have tremen- dously strengthened the anti-capital- ist vote and would have won over thousands who were wavering and undecided in their desire to vote against the old line parties. If the Communists are not to blame for the poor national showings of the C.C.F., who then is to blame? The blame must rest upon the leadership of the C.C_.F. itself and upon the insufficient influence of the Communists among the people to. establish the united front of struggles in the elections. Why Social Credit Won Out. It is no accident that the new group which goes ahead of the C.C.F. in parliament are all Social Creditors from Alberta. In Alberta the United Farmers’ government ruled for years and could not be distinguished by the people as being any different from any other capitalist govern- ment. Tbe United Farmers of Al- berta (U.F.A.) are a foundation or- fanization of the C.C.F. Qut of such a condition of betrayai how could the people of Alberta have any confid— ence in the €.C.F.? The Communist party in Alberta had not sufiiciently grown in influ- ence among the people, the only thing then left was Social Credit with all its illusions and Gangers and bright promises. The C.C.F. Federal parliamentary group in the last parliament carried through a policy of class co-opera- tion with Bennett, failine to expose his rectionary legislation and to arouse the people to united action against it. A militant policy of exposure and struggle would haye helped and as- sisted tens of thousands to break away from the old parties and would have considerably helped in building up the C.C:F. on a national seale, Let the followers of the C.C.I". and all the people learn the lesson of Al- berta and the C.C.F. leaders, and let them ask themselyes what would have been the result of the election if these leaders had, instead of carry- ing on a policy of class peace and eo-operation, carried on a policy of elass struggle and unity of the peo- ple against their exploiters. Resonsibilities Rest in C.C.2. We have in the B.C. Provincial House the €.C.F. in the opposition and they will strengthen themselves in the coming bye-elections. What are they going to do to assist the people, in their everyday struggle and in helping them to unite their ranks around these needs? What is the present Federal group going to 0? Are we going to continue along the same old line and learn nothing from this election and from Alberta? and from the policy of these leaders? Upon the answer to this question will decide the rise and fall of the Ox GRO - On the other-hand thousands o workers are learning the value and power of the united front of strusg- sle. This powerful weapon will be used more than eyer before because the King Government will carry on and intensify the same policy of rob- bery and oppression of the capitalist class. : Great tasks confront the workers. The King Government will find that the second cycle of wars and revo- lutions that we have entered will have a profound effect upon his policies and his party. The fight for unity of struggle against poverty, fascism and wan will continue on a greater scalé than before. Unity corresponds to the feelings of millions of people in Ganada in spite of the manner in which they east their vote. The election has proved the cor- reectness of this policy and has more than proved to the progressive forces of the people the urgent necessity of redoubling their efforts in order to widen and extend the united front of struggle and win new thousands for the struggle against the ‘Kins Government and against capitalism. HOW 70 WRITE FOR CUR PAPER Start Class fer ‘Worker Correspondents’ In Your District By Worker Correspondents. Below are other examples of correspondence sent by a _ brick- layer to the worlsers’ press, which shows how a conference should be reported, and a report of a mem- orial meeting. (Continued from last weelx.) Write and Distribute This is the concluding article on the subject of “‘How to write for our paper.’ Readers of this column have now completed a course in the essentials of working class journalism, It is worth studying by all interested in writing to the workers’ press. Throughout B.C. there are many small towns completely isolated from the workers’ press. Not only is there little or no circulation in these places but there is no write-up of local news and events concerning the common people, and consequent- ly the daily poison press has full sway in these places. Im these very towns there are elass-conscious individuals who can rectify this situation. They can be- come regular reporters for our paper and they can begin in a small way, to sell it. The following are the words of Bill Dunne, leading reyo- lutionary journalist, on the building ef a powerful workers’ press: Purpose in Our News “News of the workers’ struggles is of no value unless it is read by the workers. “Our is not, in the liberal fashion, conducting a laboratory ex- periment to determine the extent of tyranny and the amount of it the workers can stand. It is not inter- ested in the srieyances of the work- merely for humanitarian rea- press ers “Tt publishes the news of the op- pressions practiced by the eapital- ists. not to create a Sensation, but for other workers to read and un- derstand so they will hate the sys- tem th: produces such tyranny. Our press trying to arouse the people to fight against tyranny. Contents Help to Sell “Of equal importance then to the eatheringe of news is the distribu- tion of it. A worker correspondent must not only be an observer of news and a chronicler, but a medi- ym through which flows back to Lt is the workers, whose strugsles he Te- DIMITROFF REPORT ON EDUCATION “Communists of course cannot and must not for a mo- ment abandon their own independent work of Communist education, organization and However, for the purpose of ensuring that the workers find the road to unity of action, it is necessary to strive at the same time for short-term and for long-term agreements providing for joint action with Social-Democratic Parties, | reformist trade unions and other organizations of the eoilers against the class enemies of the proletariat. The chief stress in all this must be laid on developing mass action locally, to be carried out by the local organizations through local agree- ments. “While loyally carrying out the conditions of all agree- mients made with them, we shall mercilessly expose all sabo- tage of joint action on the part of persons and organizations participating in the united front. To any attempt to wreck the agreements—and such attempts may possibly be made— we shall reply by appealing to the masses while continuing untiringly to struggle for the restoration of the broken unity of action.” —Dimitroff—Report, to VII World Congress, C.I. mobilization of the masses. “Waiting For Lefty’ A WORKING What is this about WAITING FOR LEPTY? are they waiting for him? 805 Pender Street Hast, Vancouver, present, for the first time in Canada, has brought fame to that young dramatist. During the last year the theatre new phenomenon. into existence in numerous dramatic critic of the New York play is the For Lefty,’ have a significant to be a toy for the rich These questions will all be answered on Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26, at § p.m., at the Labor Theatre, This is the working-class theatre, which has sprung American and Canadian cities. theatre organizations aren't universally liked, they are at least respected. ou can pick up no theatre journal wthout readine about them. “Times” “most obvious recent development.” For this occasion, the stage and auditorium of the Ukrainian Labor Temple will be converted into a Labor, Theatre. and the audiences which are expected to see this exciting play, ‘‘Waitine identification. CLASS PLAY, Who is Lefty? Why when the Progressive Arts Club will the play of Clifford OQdets which on this continent has awakened to a If these new The states that the revolutionary The setting, the play, The theatre is ceasing Jates, the story and the tation of those struggles. “To read about themselves new experience for interpre- is a most workers. To read about themselves as the actors in the great drama of the class struggle, as soldiers in the class war, is an experience they can only get from the workers’ press. “They may notshow any startling proofs of gratitude at first, but worker correspondents will find that with a press which tells them of actual everyday events in the mines and factories, building cireu- lation for it will not be a difficult task. “whenever there is a story about & particular shop, or of the activi- ties or gnievances of a particular group of persons, the worker ¢or- respondents must see to it that these workers get the paper. “They will read it and when they find out that it is really what it claims to be, the fighting organ of the workers, they will give it their confidence and support. Worker Correspondents Decisive “This is the only way that our press can be deeply rooted in the masses, reoted so deeply that it can fight the battles of the workers no matter what suppressive measures the capitalist state invokes to si- lence it. “The worker correspondents must teach other workers to write for the worker press. There can never be too many worker correspondents, never too many letters and news stories of the workers and their battles, pouring into our papers from every spot where men and women toil. “One of tests of ability with which the worker correspondent carries out his task, will be the number of his fellow workers he persuades to write. “The worker correspondents form the most important line of commu- nication for our press and the work- ers’ movement generally.” SHORT JABS. | By OP Bill It is alieged in same places (J those who are believed to be ¥ informed that they have good r¥ son to know that the silver-topy. microphone artist of the CCF. y ip really working for the return of 7/§ fascist, riot-readins, machine-2 7 yellow Liberal candidate in Burra © that every word he uttered in © delirious outpourings drove a supporters of the C.C.F. and pi jf up votes for the monomaniscal 34) Geer. I wonder, I wonder, can t @ be true2 I challenge him to prody his boks. But in spite of everythi Telford did to elect McGeer, Webs is apparently elected as I write t1%— elected by Communist votes. If thi |! is any overturn at the final cor the members of the C.C.&. will kn” that the anties of Telford are sponsible for their defeat. = Es = = An American congressman said — cently that politics makes straz ; bedfellows — especially since fem 4 suffrage. “We would like to ame © the latter part of this statement — “since the threat of fascism,” ff just as surely as Webster was él . ed by Communist votes, Heaps ¥ | elected by Tory votes. * * = = Qne of the hack journalists of j | “Sun” waxes eloquent, as eliqui: as a penny-a-line scribbler can wij! about a book that has just been pj ¥ lished in Toronto. The book is © legedly a history of the G.P.R. FT three-word title would thrill you you were the sort of bird that sj himself to Hearst or Crombie, “Si. of Empire!” Don't you feel the i } perialistic tremor in your spine? } | just like that other three-we thriller, “‘Searlet and Gold!” Pers: ally, I think either the author or? lettered illiterate booster on “Sun” must have made a mista in spelling th# first word, “Ste | should be “Steal,” if it is to be ¢ -scriptive of the development of t C.P.R. with anything like verisim, itude. The “Sun’’ reyiewer thin we cannot gainsay the place of t C.P-R. in the growth of Cana since everything we touch is link in some way with it. True in pa _ To put it in a more correct for the C.P-R., the most grasping « poration octopus in Canada has suckers drawing the life-enerey fr every worker, every farmer, eve useful individual in the count What it has actually®gouged out the Canadian people will probal | neyer be known, but the follow: figures from Hansard are enligi ening. They were tabled by # Minister of Railways in answer question of P. J. Venoit. Sinee is the Dominion has spent $100,000, on the ©. P.R. in some form or othi together with land grants of 25,05) 462 acres. Previous to the transi of the undertakings go the CP, the Dominion had spent $37,7914 on it. The railway was then give! Cash subsidy of $25,000,000 and cash payment of $10,189,521 for lar relinquished. On top of these sw the Dominion has given to lines nj operated by the G.P.R. cash 3} Sidies amounting to $27,885,089. @ CPR. has reciprocated by slashi Wages and intensified exploitation the railroaders, 40,000 of whom. now. proposes to throw on ¢t scrapheap through amailgamati and by taking all the traffic wot bear in the way of passenger a freight rates. ‘Steel of Empire? right, or as Teddy Roosevelt used. Say, “the public bedamned.” - co = = While the masses in Britain F: being drilled and goose-stepped anti-poison gas practices and all lo authorities haying their pow taken over by army officers, we he Seen here the injection of religi into politics in a measure uupre dented in the minds of all old-tim in the West, men whose experiél goes back to the days before pa sSovernment in B.C. The hypocr of this manoeuyer is apparent if only take a glance at the sharehi ers list of the leading firms enga! in the manufacture and product of the death-dealine parapharn: of war, the guns, shells, poison that are presently decimating’ — practically defenceless Abyssiniz The shareholders of Vickers, st of Whose agents were convicted attempting to wreck the Soviet £ ernment two years ago, inelw amongst a list of capitalists, 2 erals, admirals, politicians, 6 dukes and other riff-raff— twer four clergymen. Among the na: on lists of other murder-bunds to be found the Bishops of St. drews, of Bath and Wells, the D of Kensington, Arthur Mee, ed of “The Words of Jesus,” the Sa tion Army, several well kn Quakers, Cadburys and Fry. ‘Th not surprising when we read of of the followers of the meek lowly Galilean, the Venerable A deacon Cunningham. fiving ven [the following atrocity, “ibe Socialists and Pacifists are w than Jews... ‘Nominee compar allow many others to dodge pu ity and siill collect their shar the blod-money. None of these = enemies of humanity belong to wealth producing class but like G they all sing “Onward Chri Soldiers’ (armed with Wickers fe Beardmore battleships, Haw planes and Imperial Chemicals pr gas). There is only one cure fo! Al Capone gangster psychology o capitalist class including its self claimed religious element—ahbo! of the profit system, and only method of dealing with them, mass resistance of the victims ligious as well as irreligious in League Against War and Pascis Fisherman Fined NEW WESTMINSTER —A lingham fisherman, Anton Marae was fined $50 and costs for op ing a purse seine net in Gan: watérs off Point Roberts with license. His boat, the Chinook equipment, yalued at $15,000, erdered confiscated. (Conclusion)