: | days. » sardine | working class prisoners. The juds= - costs, Sihe stand today Every step of real movement is more important than a dozen programs.—Marx. B.C Wor ERS NEWS All together to put The Worker- B.C. Workers’ News Drive over the top! VOL. I Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1935 Single Copies: 5 Cents S= No. 47 DOCKERS TO CALL OFF 6-MONTH STRUGGLE Evans Rouses Ire of Judge; Exposes Class Nature of Will Come to Vancouver To Seek Witnesses Of Police Attack On Camp Boys FLAYS R.C.M. POLICE ——__ Matt Shaw Tells of Evic- tions of Workers From B.C. Camps REGINA, Dec. 4.—Arthur Evans, militant leader of the campboys’ trek to Qttawa last sumimer, and chief spokesman for the campboys at the probe being conducted here, told the commission today that he would leave for Vancouver to gather up witnesses who would sive eyi- dence regarding the police attack on the camp strikers in Vancouver ang of other treatment the camp- » boys got at the hands of the capi- | talist authorities. yans asked for transportation to y Vancouver for this purpose, but * stated that if this was not forth- _comine he would “take a freight.” Evans was on the stand for six Yesterday, the judge, who is chairman of the commission, took exception to remarks of Eyans re- “sympathy” of judges for maintained that court judges can 7 be and are sympathetic to working class defendants. Qut of Touch With Workers. Hyans informed the chairman that “no udge can possibly put himself in the position of a worker ” who is fighting for a livine.”’ He said, “You are out of touch ) with the situation.” The R.CMP. were denounced by - Evans, who stated that the force had desenerated from the fine body | - of men they once were, to an armed » torece which today is used by the * Sovernment to smash workine class ) organizations. Byans knows of what he speaks "in this regard, as well as the class | uature of capitalist court judzes. >-Ge is assured of obtaining moun- tains of evidence from all over GCan- ada to substantiate this charge. Five Hundred Dollars a Day. The cost of the probeis estimated at $500 a day, which estimate is " based on former commissions of a sinular nature. This cost applies Sonly to the governments’ share in connection with the probe. The inclusive of lawyers’ fees of both sides, witnesses’ expenses, etc., will reach many thousands of dol- lars. : Matt Shaw on Stand. Matt Shaw, well known camp- boys’ leader of Vancouver, was on and told of the walk-out of 1,000 camp workers ‘from the camps last December. Shaw blamed the sovernment auth- )orities for the strikes in the camps, especially the G.C government which had built up hopes in the minds of the campboys with their ‘slogan of “Work and Wages.” When work and wages did not ma- bterialize, the camp workers decided to demand better conditions and to organize and strike to make them better for themselves, instead of waiting; indfinitely for the ‘alse promises of the government to be fulfilled: Shaw explained how the camp- ;boys went on a two-day strike in the camps as a means of effective- ly backine= up a delegation they had isent to Victoria with their demands for better conditions in the camps. The workers were eyicted by the police for conducting a strike of two days in the camps. : BURNABY ASKS DOUBLE RELIEF FOR CHRISTMAS At a meeting of the Burnaby Workers’ Association, Dec. 2nd, a committee was elected to interview Commissioner Fraser, to urge double relief script for CGhristmas. Other organizations are also asked [oO Send delegates along with this sommmittee. An open meeting will be called for Dec. 9. to hear the reports of the delesates and to formulate salans for future action. The statistics of the Social Ser- vice Council show there’ has been L reduction of salaries by the muni- aipality of Burnaby of $78,000 in he past four years. The peak cost i relief, in the year 1934, amount— cd to $74,000. These two figures lisprove the statements that the Commission [PATTULLO’S POLICE RAIDS AT NELSON NELSON. Continuing the raids on the homes of militant workers in this district, provincial ‘police seized a quantity of literature and personal correspondence at the home of J. Stefuik recently. “If a concerted effort were made fo harry Communists in all parts of the Dominion, similar to the Campaign being staged by the pro- yincial police in Nelsen, Gom- munism would find a lean calf up- on which to feed in Canada,” be- lieves Sergeant Barber, in charge of the Nelson detachment. RELIEF WORKERS PLAN TO REGAIN ALLOWANCE CUT Reorganize to Secure Extra Supplies For Xmas Season An extra allowance, in cash, for the Christmas season, to be worked for if necessary and replacement of worn-out clothing, bedding, cooking utensils, etc, are among the demands of the New Westmin- ster Relief Workers Union which was recently reorganized. Relief Allowance Gut Lack of activity by the union during the summer and intense ac- tivity of the City Gouncil and relief administration resulted in the Various schemes. Relief recipients have been forced to pay their elec- tric light account out of their re lief allowance and this has caused considerable hardship. HOME BUILDING BYLAW REJECTED Only Ratepayers, Prop- erty Owners Eligible to Vote in Winnipeg WINNIPEG, Nov. 23—Winnipes ratepayers defeated the housing by- law submitted to them at Friday's Civic elections, voting against the labor proposal to spend $500,000 to build cheap rent homes. The number voting for the by- law totalled 4,459, compared with 11,312 against. There were 1,154 re- jected ballots, making the total of those who voted on the by-law, 16,- 925. i Only ratepayers and property owners could vote on the by-law. Those most vitally interested in its passage were debarred from voting. This is reflected in the fact that of the 53,083 who voted in the mayor- alty contest, 36,158 were not quali- fied to express their opinion on the housing project. Such is present civic democracy. ‘cutting of relief allowances by | Final Results In Winnipeg Labor Majority on Coun- cil; Minority of One on School Board By CARL HICHIN WINNIPEG, Man., Nov. 26— Final civic election results an- nounced this morning put an end to eager expectations that labor would increase its majority on eity coun- cil by the election of H. B. Smith, Li.P. candidate for the one year aldermanic seat for Ward 2. Although the 1.L.P. candidate was 300 ahead of ©. R. Smith, anti-labor, on the first count, the latter crept 36 votes ahead on the third trans- fer end finally ended up six hundred ahead. The final figures, computed under a highly complicated method of counting under a proportional repre- sentation system, show no other major changes from those given in these columns, Friday Jast. City council will retain its labor majority of one, as last year, and the labor representation on the school board will be increased by the seat gained by C. Brown, I.L.-P., in Ward One. Representation on city council will now be, an I1.L.P. mayor, seven Li.P. and two Communist aldermen, against nine anti-labor aldermen. On the school board six J.l.P. and one Communist, school trustees will face eight anti-labor candidates. Mrs. McLennan, although having the endorsement of the O.B.U., is no longer counted as being in the labor =roup. Pickets Get Thirty Days Judse Interprets Picket- ting at Criminal Appearing before Judge HFEllis, in County Court, Vancouver, Dee. 3, ik. Smith, R.sMoffat; RB. Daniels, A. "Snooks and B. Olsen pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful assembly on Oct. 25, and were sentenced to thirty days less the time already spent in jail. Gordon Grant, for the defence, stated that the scabs on the water- front after holding a meeting deli- berately drove up through the pic- ket line. Crown counsel submitted that this was a serious case, the pickets had attempted to stop workers who were going on their “legitimate business.’’ Im passing sentence Judge Bilis remarked that these cases affect society much more than very many criminal cases. He stated that the accused were youns men who apparently believe in taking the law into their own hands, but taking into consideration that the water- front strike appeared almost over he would pass a lighter sentence than he otherwise would have done. $125,000 To. Smash Strike “Extra police costs to the City of Vancouver during the waterfront dispute amounted to $125,000,” Stated Alderman Tisdall, address- ing members of the civic bureau of the Board of Trade, this week. “The City of Vancouver had no part in the waterfront trouble. It was a case of keeping law and order,’ he said. One and Half Billion Dol- lar Bond Issue Over- subscribed ARMY — NAVY — AIR Will Attempt To Move Towards Mobilization of Man Power Great Britain is feverishly prepar- ing for war. Headlines of the capi- talist press have screened, for all to see, of the huge bond issue of $1,500,000,000 which has been over- subscribed and which is to be used for national “defence.” It is antici- pated that this is only the first of whole succession of bond issues. Immediately after being re-elected the National Government launched its war plans. Army, navy and air forees are all to be built up to new strength. In addition, a certain amount of this money will be given to finance reconstruction in the war industries. A still lesser amount will go to road building and the modernizing of the railroads. a uxpayers bear the cost of relief. The next step in war preparations New British Government Speeds War Preparations = be the introduction of compul- sory military service for all able- bodied working men and women. Even prior to the election the Brit- ish government worked out com- pulsory egas-drill proposals, and Duff-Cooper produced his notorious “Royal Defence Corps’’ scheme, which was immediately covered up when the public revolted against it. Since then things have moved rapidly. Conscription Is Next Step. It is realized by the government —and admitted by such experts as Air Marshal Sir John Salmond— that the huge armament machine they are building up will be use- less unless accompanied by the par- allel organization of the man power of the country. Every important factory in the country has been surveyed by War Office experts. A system has been worked out whereby within a few short hours of notice these factories can be turned over to war produc- tion. They find now that it is necessary to haye in operation a system whereby the workers can also be quickly mobilized. The plan for this has already been worked out and will take the form of com- pulsory war service. Reserve Mine Opens Again Boys Hired to Replace Former Miners NANAIMO, B:C., Dec. 2—The Ga- nadian Collieries! (Dunsmuir) Ltd. Reserve Mine is open once again. The vicious wage cutting and dis- crimination policy of this company has almost surpassed itself in this instance. Rationalization is ram- pant, and to quote the general man- ager, Mr. Hunt, “Reserve Mine has opened with an efficiency crew.” Boys have been put on men’s jobs at only half the wages, and it is notorious on the Island what this company regards as boys. Some are even legally termed as men, but when it comes te cutting wages from $3.50 down to $2.50 and in some cases $1.75, legal technicali- ties hardly matter at all. Men on the haulage have been reduced from $4.30 down to $4.01 and in some cases lower than this. The coal diggers have supposedly got some kind of contract but from the wages of two of them who, though partners, received, one $5.00 and the other $4.51. We would ad- vise the diggers to get something in writing with a signature at the bottom. | Longshore Strike To Terminate Monday; Committee Presents Conditions To Shipping Bosses DIRECT RELIEF TO BE CONTINUED OTTAWA, Dec. 5.—The system of direct relief of unemployment will continue this winter despite any method which may eventuate from the coming conference with the provinces. A series of committees repre- senting the Dominion and the provinces will be constituted to follow up and deal with various subjects which come before the conference. The conference will pass upon the merits of the proposed com- mission on unemployment. The idea as stated is to have a body very much like the administration of the Patriotic Fund in war time, with an administrative executive at Ottawa and co-operating com- mittees in different parts of the country, PROGRAM FOR PARLIAMENT IS DISCUSSED BY CCF NAT. COUNCIL Communists Send Letter of Unity Appeal; Call for All in Anti-Capi- talist Movement WINNIPEG, -Dec, 3.—On Satur- day, November 30, the National Council of the G-C.E. convened here at offices of the Chamber of Com- merce. About forty members (men and women) were in atendance. J. S. Woodsworth occupied the chair. All provinces, except the Maritimes, were represented.” ~~ Fee ; Two main questions discussed Were the preparations for a na- tional convention in Toronto in the summer of 19386 und a tentative program for the next session of parliament. The following letter was delivered to the council in session on the first day: “Dear Comrade— “We deside, in the name of the Ceneral Committee and Manitoba District Committee of the Commun- ist Party, to take this opportunity to present to your conference our opinion on a question which we eonsider to be of mutual Interest and pressing; need to the labor and farmer movement. az In spite of the fact that the Lib- eral party succeeded in securing a large majority in parliament, the election results show the rapidly srowing disillusionment of great numbers of workers and farmers, professionals and small business people in the two old parties. A million Canadian people voted against these parties. The vote as a whole must be regarded as a vote against the Conservative party and a vote of warning to the Liberal Party. Those who voted against both the old parties, but not for the parties of labor, were at the same time expressing their extreme dis- content and seeking a solution to their every day economic and poli- tical problems. “The facts of life itself are im- posing upon the labor movement of today the task of guiding this dis- content away from fascist channels into the channels where the people will have the opportunity to give fullest expression to their discon- tent and their demands. It is our opinion that this can be accomp- lished through the building of a Wide people’s party, embracing the workers and farmers and the dis- illusioned professional and small business people. We believe that the €.C.F. provides the basis for such a party; could indeed become such ai party. The Communist Party in stating such a position wishes to point out that it is deeply interested in the building of such a party and desires to be part of the Sreat movement against capitalism that such a party would represent. “In presenting this position we are of the opinion that there is a basis for valuable discussion be- Mounties Quit Guarding Scabs for Movies Chests thrown out, a happy smile on their faces, a far-away look in their eyes, they rode through Van- couver last Saturday. What had happened? Had they been escorting scabs? Geen smash- ing a picket line? No! Clad in scar- let tunics, splendidly mounted, carbines by their sides, they had spent a week in Capilano Canyon Playing in the movies. Now the Mounties were returning to bar- racks, wistfully dreaming of strong, silent men in Hollywood. tween the Communist Party and the C.C.F., and a real understandine on these questions. It is for this rea- son that we take this opportunity to present these views to your na- tional council and to request the opportunity to addresS your con- ference. Gomradely yours, “Central Committee, Communist Party of Canada, “Manitoba District Committee, Communist Party of Canada.’’ No Money __ For Schools Wancouver Sehool Board applied to the City Council last week fora bond issue for a quarter of a mil- lion dollars with which to construct new high school accommadation next year. *The City Council have decided to put this proposed by-law before the ratepayers, however, because the ap- plication was not made early enough to make the necessary legal form re- quirements. Instead, Mayor McGeer passed the buck by saying he would support the Board, if they applied to the Provincial Government for financial aid, ete. TRADES COUNCIL SCORES RELIEF WORK PROJECTS Favors Elimination Of Ward System; Would Cut City Council VANCOUVER, Dec. 4.—Vancou- ver Trades and Labor Council at their regular meeting Jast night went on record as favoring aboli- tion of the “‘ward system’’ in the city and the cutting down of the city council from 12 members to 2 council of eight aldermen. Delegates to the Trades Council scored the relief report of the City Council and condenined the exploita- tion of relief workers by the city- A special committee assigned to re- port on this question brought in | their findings as follows: “Your committee finds there is ample evidence that the bad ex- ample set by cities and municipali- ties and other semi-public bodies of compelling the unfortunate per- sons on relief to work for their re- lief aJowance and additional amounts varying from $10 to $20 is now being followed by unscrupulous Private emp’oyers with disastrous consequences “9 wage rate, busi- ness conditions-2and standards of living. ~ No Adequate Allowanve for Clothes, Shoes and Household Re- quirements. : “In explanation of the term ‘compelling the unfortunate person on relief to work,’ your committe= find that no allowance, or at -best,. totally imadequate allowance, is made for the following: Clothing, Shoes, household furniture of all Kinds, such as bedding, dishes, cooking utensils, stoves, ete., all of which haye in many cases become worn out, leaving persons on relief only two ways of renewing same, namely, to accept work on various relief work schemes or become victims of the unscrupulous private employer. “Your committee also finds that this practice compels those of us who are working, also our em- ployers, to pay taxes in various forms, the monies from which are used to break down our living Standards and to subsidize unfair competition in business.’’ Provincial Conference Rehef Camp Workers Want Camps Abolished Demand King Implement Promises; Will Defend Regina Boys DISCUSS ONE-DAY STRIKE “Ve must defend Comrade Evans and our fellow worlers in Regina.” me This was the keynote of the Relief Camp Workers’ Union povincial conference held in Kamloops, Nov. 23 and 24. The defence of the arrested Re- gina workers will be given ‘“preced- ence’ over all other activities ana joint campaign with the B.C. Joint Defence Committee will be initiated. Camp workers will be asked to do- nate a day’s pay to the defence fund, No decision was made on the ad- visability of a one-day strike on the day of the trials in Regina, but after discussion in the camps the buro will probably send out a call for a strike vote to be taken. Demand Dropping of Charges The report of the inter-provincial conference showed that oreaniza- tion work was increasing in the four western provinces. A. good dis- cussion took place on the Workers’ Unity League report, particularly around the issues of Trade Union Unity, war, and unemployment. Resolutions were sent to Premier Ising and Premier Aberhart demand- ing that they carry out their elec- tion promises of abolition of the re- lief camp and the dropping of charges against those arrested in Re- gina. Greetings of solidarity were sent to Comrades Evans. Black, Cossrave and all the other arrested Regina workers. | Poor Children Unable to Buy School Milk Walf pint bottles of milk or coco- milk will be supplied to school children of this city, during the morning recess, by a local dairy for fifteen cents per week, payable in advance. Milk is very necessary for the children but children whose parents are on relief are unable to pay the fifteen cents and are thus dis- criminated against. In Beaconsfield and Norquay Schools, we are informed, only about 13 out of 45 pupils in a class are able to afford this milk. _the Central Body Officially Ends Conflict After Six Months Stubborn Struggle TEN LOCALS Unions Will Continue To Retain Identity After Re-employment VANCOUVER, Dec, 5. — After six months of stubborn struggle, which began on June 4th when. longshore gangs refused to load Powell River paper aboard the: S.S. “Anten,” because of 3 lock-out of the Powell River longshoremen, the Central Strike Committee of the Longshoremen and Water Transport Workers of Canada have decided to end the strike. The dispute, which at first’ in- volved the Vancouver and District Waterfront Workers’ ASSnN., Soon spread to other B.C. ports until ten locals, affecting 2300 members, were out in sympathy strike. Since that time the powerful Shipping Hederation has used every Means at its disposal to break the ranks. of the men: The statement of the Central Strike Committee to the press fol— lows: Statement In view of the persistent rumors: about the B.C. waterfront strike terminating momentarily, it is felt that an authentic statement should. be issued to clear the atmosphere. The various local unions involved have decided to satnd by their or— Sanizations and are at present re- organizing themselves for the pur- pose of again taking their place in raunity.— They have no intention. of losing; their identity or usefulness, and when they again place their ser vices at the disposal of their emi- ployers shall do so Only as or— fanized union men. It will require several days to complete re-organization, and af ter taking everything into consider- ation it has been decided to of- ficially end the strike on Monday, December 9th, at & a.m. Uniform conditions for the re- employment of the men, consisting only of the actual recognition of the unions of the men’s choice, are being presented to all the interested employers, who are not expected to taise any barriers to the re-absorp- tion of the present strikers. Gentral Strike Committee, W. Mitchell. Longshoremen and Water Transport Workers of Canada. WILL REPEAT “LEFTY”? PLAY - So many requests have been made for the play “Waiting for Lefty” to be presented again that the Progressive Arts Club has ar- ranged to give the play two more performances, on Friday and Sat- urday next week, December 13 and id, at the spacious Kitsilano High School Auditorium, corner Trafal_ Sar and Tenth Avenue West. Ineluded in the bill will be the popular one-act comedy. “The Bear,” by Tchekoff. Reserved seats, at 50 cents, may be Secured at the J.W. Kelly Piano Co. Ltd., 659 Granville St. Commencing Monday, Dec. 9, general admission will be 35 cents. Squires Issues Statement On B.C. Defence Movement ¢ G | Statement from him, which we are Grateful for Efforts and For Work Done on Be- haif of Longshore Victims William Squires, striking lonz- Shoreman sentenced to three years and five lashes, issued a statement a month ago which was published in the daily press to the effect that his cas€é was no longer in the hands ef the Canadian Tabor Defence League or the Workers’ Ex-Service- men’s League, and that no orzani- zation Was authorized to raise funds for his defence’ Since this state- ment was issued, the efforts of the B.C. Joint Defence Committee to raise defence funds for the other arrested waterfront workers and for the Relief Camp trekkers, have been seriously handicapped. The B.C. Joint Defence Committee ap- proached Brother Squires, and we have now received the following pleased to brine to the attention of the public: W. Squires’ Statement. In November a Statement ap- peared in the press to the effect that my case was in the hands of a committee of returned men rep- resenting the British Empire Ser- vice League, Army and Navy Veterans’ Association, Disabled Veterans’ Association, Amputa— tions Association, and that no Organization was authorized to collect funds for my defence. i undertand that this state- ment has been so misinterpreted as to seriously interfere with the raising of funds in the defense of others involved in cases arising out of the waterfront dispute. This was not my intention as T am very grateful to the Canadian Labor Defence League for their efforts on my behalf particularly as they have defended the sreat- er majority of these cases. (Signed) William Squires. industrial life of the com- abe