Strengthen the organization the Slave Camps and put them out of existence. in B.C. WoRKERS NEWS Your subscription has expired if the number on your label is below this number. Renew it NOW! VOL. II, No. 4 Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1936 Single Copies: 5 Cents LS FULL NO. 56 Oil Sanctions Against ltaly May Be Scrapped Lloyd George Urges Re- turn of Germany’s Former Colonies U.S. MINERS’ DEMAND GENEVA, Feb. 5—League of Na- tions observers consider that the proposed oil Sanctions against Italy will be completely abandoned. With- out the partial support in the orig- inal “neutrality bill” of the United “States of America which limits the export of oil to belligerents to peace time quantities, the League author- ties believe that the last hope of ap- plying an effective oil embargo against Italy will entirely disap- pear. it is estimated that an oi] em- bargo against Italy would exhaust Ttaly’s supply of oil in six or seven months. The United States has been one of the largest exporters of oil to italy. WASHINGTON, D.-C., Jan. 29.— (AGLP)—That no union man dig an- other ton of coal destined for Mus- solini in the Italo-Ethiopian war is demanded in a resolution placed be- fore the United Mine Workers of America convention here. Three thousand separate resolu- tions were presented to the conven- tion for action but a third of these Were whittled out by the Resolu- tions Committee. Among the resolutions remaining is One asking for the freedom of the Scottsboro boys. Another seeks to keep the United States out of the Wazi Olympics. LONDON, Feb. 5—Geo. Lansbury, Laborite, moved a resolution in the House of Commons urging a world conference to deal with the causes of war. Lioyd George spoke in support of the resolution, pleading for former colonies to be restored to Germany, and for negotiations that would lead to giving greater tropical terri- tory to Tialy. Lansbury spoke aiong similar lines, but the House rejected the proposal, passing instead a motion of confidence in the National Goy- ernment. Manchurian Soldiers Interned in Soviet Union MOSCOW, Jan. 30.—(By Cable tr AiGP)—According to telegraphic ad- vices through the Tass News Agency from Kharbarovsk this morning, a company of Manchurian soldiers, fully armed, crossed over into Soviet territory at Grodskov and asked asylum. Eieutenant Hoyu Din Sha, com- mander of the company and a Man- churian by nationality, stated that on January 29, his company, pro- testing against the Japanese occu- pancy, revolted against the local Japanese authorities: In the clashes which followed in the barracks four Japanese officers were killed. The company was at once dis— armed and interned on Soviet termi- tory. im all, 104 Manchurian soldiers and four non-commissioned officers, under Lieut. Hoyu Din Sha, crossed the border. The company had two machine uns, 111 rifles, two mausers and two brownings ana a quantity o: ammunition, besides nine horses The arms were taken from the soldiers. TO ORGANIZE FOR CLOTHING ISSUE LASQUETI ISLAND, B.G., Feb. 6—Considerable hardship is worked on the relief recipients on the Is- land owing to refusal of the re- lief investigator from Sechelt to grant any clothing. There is no unemployed organization and those on relief, numbering twenty-two, receive neither rent, fuel nor cloth- ing allowance. Steps are being taken to set up an organization to take up the fight for the full scale of relief. MINERS SEEK A NEW AGREEMENT CUMBERLAND, B.C—At the last union meeting, which was fairly well attended, the consensus of opin- ion was that the vote on striking fer reinstatement of the discrimi- nated miners was very good, and anything but a victory for the boss. Tt was decided at the meeting to elect a grievance committee by pit- head ballot. Hive nominees put for- ward by the union were elected to the committee by a large majority, Signifyine that the miners of Gum- berland are still solid with their union. The committee is awaiting the re- turn of Colonel Villiers in order to draw up a new agreement. The Miners have been working with- out an agreement Since the dispute in August last. a Three bulletins, attacking the Mine Workers’ Union of Canada have been circulated by the few members of the Independent Mine Wrerkers’ Union of Cumberland (the new company union) and they have also been distributing free copies of “Communism in Canada” issued by the Citizens’ League of Canada. Anti-War League Set Up At Courtenay A. M. Stephen, president of the Canadian League Against War and Fascism, visited Courtenay, Vancou- ver Island, last week-end, where 2 branch of the league was organ- ized. The Cumberland Local Coun- cil of the League was also contact- ed by Mr. Stephen with a view to linking up the activities of the movement between the two towns. A group of interested people in Wictoria are making preparations to call a mass meeeting with the in- tention of setting up a branch and Jater a local council in that city. Emquiries from a number of towns in B.C. are arriving at the district office, 615 West Hastings Street, regarding the possibility of getting speakers and organization on the vital subjects of war and fascism. These questions will be taken up al the meeting of the enlarged Van- couver Council of the League, which meets tonight Friday, Feb- ruary 7, at 8 p.m., in Victory Hall. Harold Winch, M.l.A., who is a member of the National Council of the League, will contribute to the discussion. Build “Young Worker’ Into Mass Youth Paper vos oe ome] ATE VANCOUVER Im recent weeks the Worker,” paper, and champion of the inter ests of the masses of young work- ers, students and farming youth, las undergone sweeping changes. its interesting and educational con- tent makes it one of the most de- cisive weapons in the struggle against the encroachments of cap- italism. A nation-wide drive for a $2,000 sustaining fund and for many new subscriptions is now being con- ducted in order to insure its future publication, and to develop it into a popular mass youth paper, which will exert an ever growing influ- ence over large sections of youth and mobilize them on the side of labor and peace. Three hundred dollars is the quota for B-C. The drive is to conclude officially on February 24. Thus far, after two weeks of the drive, very little has been raised in comparison With the quota. Various affairs are being sponsored by the “Young Worker” District Press Committee. with headquarters at Room 33, 142 West Hastings Street. Afrangements have been made for all money collected at the Bill Kashton meeting in the Moose Hall on Friday, February 7, over and above the expenses, to go in aid of the drive. All progressive people desirous of winning young Canada for the cause of labor, for peace and free- dom, should support the present drive in aid of the “Young Worker.” GERRY HAS GONE We All Wish Him a ““Sol- dier’s F arewell”” “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Mayor Gerry McGeer was granied leave of absence for one month by Vancouver City Council to go and take his seat at Ottawa and took with him their good wishes as he went. There may be more truth than poetry in that! The council has tolerated his use of the big stick for Over a year now, and most of the aldermen haye experienced his bull- dozing, brow-beating methods of de- bate and conduct of “Investigations” in the Council_ McGeer, the mountebank politician is not giving up his position as Mayor, even thougch he may be away from Vancouver much longer than one month. How can he represent the people of Vancouver in the May- ors chair and represent the people of Burrard constituency at Ottawa at the same time? Hivery progressive organization of people in Vancouver should demand that he now resign as Mayor and attend to the work at Ottawa. It is our opinion that he is incapable of filling either one of the jobs, but it’s a cinch he can’t fill two. Apart from that, however, Van- couver should consider herself for- tunate to be rid of him eyen for a while. The longer he stays away GOV'T WHITEWASHES MAPLE RIDGE INCREASE RELIEF Organization Scoresa Partial Victory PORT HANEY, B.C., Feb. 5.—Del- egates from the Maple Ridge Citi- zens’ Protective Association scored a partial victory here at the first meeting of the Municipal Council when the council acceded to their request for increased relief and granted $3.20 relief increase per fam- ily of two and an additional 70 cents for each dependent during HPebruary and March. If the Provincial Government con- tinues to contribute 80 per cent of the relief, leaving only 20 per cent which the municipality has ‘to pro- vide, then this standard of relief will continue. Even at that, the rejief scale is far from adequate for a family to maintain their health upon. The meeve tried to frown down tne de- mands of the delegation, telling them that there waS just so much money in their treasury, and when they fot to the bottom then there would be no more. He doesn’t seem to realize that we've heard that one before, just as every delegation of unemployed people in every muni- cipality has. It’s an old, old story, but whn they want money to enter- tain some dignitary or another, or when they want to send a deputa- SPECIALIST AND CREATOR OF RIOTS Inspector Mortimer of the R.C. M_P. is the man who gave the or- der to blow the whistle, the signal for the police to attack the peace- ful citizens at the memorable meeting on July ist at Regina. It was this same man, then De- tective Sergeant, who blew the whistle, the signal for the police to attack the miners who were hold- ing a peaceful parade in Estevan on Sept. 29th, 1931, when three miners were killed in cold blood and several people wounded. Crown Prosecutor Sampson, who is prosecuting the trekkers and their leaders mow at Regina is the same man who prosecuted the miners and their leaders, includ- ing Annie Buller, at Estevan. Everything indicates that these men are specialists in and creators of riots. tion of Council officials to inspect some road work in Washington or some other place, they can always find the money! The present relicf allowance (the new scale) will be five days work a month for a family of two, making sixteen dollars a month and $3.20 for each additional dependent. Anyone can see that it is only a Subsistence level of relief, but with stronger organization and greater united efforts we may be able to compel the municipality to grant more. We must try!—Reliefer. —— q Mine Workers Union Set Wage Scale Conference For March 2 CALGARY, Alta., Jan. 31.—Calls have gone out from the Mine Work- ers’ Union of Canada for a wage scale conference here on March 2nd and 3rd, it is announced by the Union. Agreements are about to expire in a number of mining camps, in- cluding Cadomin, Mountain Parl, Lusear, Nordege, Saunders’ Greek, Canmore, Lethbridge, Corbin, Coal- hurst Shaughnessy, Blairmore, Belleview, and Mohawk. Representation will be open to all unions, it is stated here, on the basis of one delegate for each 100 mem- bers or less and one for each addi- tional hundred or major fraction. The convention will discuss and make decisions on the following questions: 1. The need for th epresentation of uniform demands im order to se- cure the best possible agree- ments with guarantees for a de- cent standard of living for the miners and their families. -Discussing ways and méans whereby the miners of Alberta and Briitsh Columbia can be or- t) Call For One Union Of All B.C. And Alberta Miners SQUIRES APPEAL SET OVER FEB. 10 VIiCTORTA,. Feb. 4.— When the appeal of Wm. Squires, D.C.M., M_M., longshoremen, came up in the Appeal Court here today, Gor- don S. Wismer, M.A., counsel for Squires, asked leave to introduce two affidavits bearing new evi- dence. Squires was convicted in Burnaby Police Court by-Magistrate Gillis on October 20, and’ sentenced to three years and five lashes for alleged robbery with violence. Through the efforts of the Ca- nadian Labor Defence League and other organizations Squires was re- leased on November 8 on bail of $3,000. Hearing of the case was ad- journed until Monday, February 10. ANOTHER RCMP CROOK EXPOSED Member Political Stool- pigeon Organization Sent to Can John Harold Birks, 48, sergeant and paymaster with R.C.M.P., plead- ed guilty before Police Magistrate HE. S. Wood to stealing $7351 of po- lice moneys, and was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary. Birks had taken the moneys from accounts in his charge between April 1, 1935, and December 1, 1935. A confession, written by Birks and handed to the officer command- ing the local detachment of the R.C.M.P., was entered as an exhibit in court. Howard Coulter, counsel] for Birks, declared that “temptation” had been placed in the former officer’s way. He admitted the man had lived be- yond his means and had attempted to make money by speculating on the stock market. He made a plea for leniency and cited the conyicted man’s record of fifteen years with Canada’s political police force and whined about his wife and four children. Mothers To Aid Campboys Vancouver Mothers’ Council are playing the role of real working class mothers in their defense of the campboys who are to face trial at Regina. : Qn Tuesday, February 11, at 2 p.m., they will open their bazaar at the O’Brien Hall, corner of Pen- der and Hastings Strets. They are asking for donations to the bazaar to be delivered to that address any time on Tuesday after 10 a.m. Anyone visiting the bazaar will be assured of a good choice of goods. Refreshments will be served. A feature of the affair will be the old- fashioned teacup reading. You will not only get a kick out of buying the geods at the bazaar, but you~ will have the satisfaction of know_ ing you are helping to defend the campboys. CLIFFORD ODETS WNeted progressive playwright and 2uthor of the winning play in the Drama Festival at the Em- press Theatre, “Waiting for Lefty.” : HOPE, B.C., ELECTS A PROGRESSIVE HOPE, B.C., Feb. 1.—T. A. Cath- carte was elected town commission- er here defeating Mr. Woods, a local reactionary. Woods is local Secretary of the Liberal Party and one of the dispensers of party pat- tonage. He was responsible, alone with others, for preventing Cath- carte getting a provincial job (road foreman) and also a Federal Zov- ernment job as truck driver. Woods was one amonge the few businessmen in Hope who refused -to sign__the_ betition_for increased relief to workers in this district. It was this fact that contributed chiefly to his defeat. Moose Hall, 638 Burrard St., (Doors open 7 P.M.) ganized into one powerful union- PUBLIC MEETING Monday, Feb. 10th, at 8 P.M. Speakers; Gerald V. Pelton, K.C., A. M. Stephen, Arthur H. Evans, and Other Prominent Citizens. Chairman, Col, H. BE. Lyons SAVE CANADA’S YOUTH! Auspices: Vancouver Citizens’ Defence Committee Room 828, Vancouver Block Blames Citizens and Strikers for Riots on July 1st SACRED STOOLS “They couldn't be angels and be- long to an organization of that kind. I’m quite sure of that.”’ Thus spoke Chief Justice Brown, Chairman of the Regina Riot In- quiry Commission, on Thursday, January: 23, in referring to the Re- lief Camp Trekkers. When we con- sider that the Commission is (in theory) essentially a fact-finding agency without prejudice on any Side, that it cannot affix responsibil- ity but can only find and report upon exactly what did happen, this statement falls with ill grace from the lips of a gentleman who occupies @ position demanding complete im- | partiality and lack of bias. Wor is this the only interjection which would convince the layman of the Commission’s favoritism towards the police and prejudice against the strikers. When a witness was des- cribing a police car speeding through the streets and spitting bullets, the chairman made it quite clear that he was not open to belief, saying: “The police would not do that unless they were crazy.” Commissioner Martin has not hesi- tated to second the opinions express- ed by his judicial colleague. ‘With teference to the spcedine police car, he remarked that the evidenc was of little value because of its ‘“vVagzue- ness.”” Indeed Commissioner Martin clear- ly demonstrated his position when he remarked: “Tf the strikers and some so- called citizens had behaved theim- selves that night, there would have been no riot.’’ the happier we'll de! Yet over 100 witnesses, represent- ie Regina Commission Prepares To Exonerate Gov’t, RCMP ing a wide variety of trades and pro- fessions had told of unprovoked vio- Jence on the part of the police. Eye Witnesses Tell of Police Terror The Commissioners themselves had to admit that the police charged a peaceful meeting on the Market Square for no apparent reason and dispersed the startled audience in a riotous manner with clubs and tear gas bombs. One wonders how citizens (or so-called citizens) are expected to behave? Scores of people have re- cited eye witness stories of clubbing, Shooting and promiscuous horse- back riding when the police con- tinued their terroristic behaviour in the down-town section. Citizens have been sworn in shortly after being released from hospitals where they have recovered from wounds made by the bullets which the authorities at one time claimed had never been fired. The fact that the Commission in- tends to allow one Commissioner to assemble evidence in Vancouver and Calgary and accept his report with- out question, is unprecedented in the history of commissions. The very commissioners who ex- SCHOOL EXAMS IN 3 GRADES SCRAPPED VICTORIA, Jan. 15.—Final exam- inations of school children will be eliminated in Grades 9, 10 and 11 of British Columbia public cshools, the department of education has announced. Promotions at the end of the term in these grades will be made by the principals. The grades affected are in high and superior schools. Hon. G. M. Weir, minister of edu- eation, said the cost of preparing Papers and providing examiners would be saved by dispensing with the tests. pressed doubt of the intentions of the strikers do not hesitate to pemnit “Waiting For Lefty’? Wins Regional Drama Contest lEnclish Dramatic Critic Praises Work of Pro- gressive Arts Club WILL GO TO OTTAWA Excitement was ereat as the audi- ence awaited the decisions of the adjudicator of the Dominion Drama Festival region coniests at the Em- press Theatre Saturday evening. Clifford Odets’ dynamic labor play “Waiting For Lefty,” presented by the Progressive Arts Club, won first honors, and the right to represent British Columbia in the finals to be held in Ottawa during, the week of April 20th against eleven eontestine Sroups of amateur players. The Vancouver Little Theatre As- sociation entry, “Lazarus Laughed”’ by Hugene O'Neill, was placed sec- Commissioner S. T. Wood, of the R.C.MP., to raise the red bogey to new heights. He is allowed to recite unproven tales about the Gommun- ist direction of the trek; about plans to capture the city; wreck and loot homes and public institutions. When asked in cross examination to sub- Stantiate these statements by having his seeret ‘agents’ (the source of his information) appear before the Com- mission, he replies that it is not in the public interest that methods of Police observation of doings in re- lief camps and secret sources of in- formation within last summer’s On- to-Ottawa Trek be divulged to the public. He was backed up by the chairman with: “You've got to real- ize that the R.C.M.P. have important work. Such regulations are a sacred thing and are not to be looked into, eriticized and examined by the pub- lic generally.” -Thus do the Com- missioners clearly establish the true character of what is supposed to be a PUBLIC investigation. May Influence Trial of Campboys The gross injustice of the whole proceedings. becomes still more ob- vious when we consider that the evidence and the attitude of the Commission will have a tremendous | bearing upon the trials which are to begin on March 11. The police, under cross examination, in the Commission haye admitted that the leaders could haye been arrested on the street before the meeting with- out any clubbing of heads. Arthur Eyans, Matt Shaw, George Black and John Cosgrove are arrest- ed under Section 98, charzed with being members of an illezal oreani- gation. As a result of the riot, 28 more are to be tried on rioting charges. It is vital that the class importance of the Commission and the trials which are to follow should ond by the adjudicator Allan Wade, noted British actor-dramatist. ‘The Strolling Players were awarded third place with ‘‘The Valiant,” a tragedy by Holdworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass. Allan Wade was excetionally high in his praise of the presentation of “Waiting for Lefty.” “It was the nearest approach to professional Standard I haye ever witnessed by a group of amateurs,”’ he stated. The adjudicator touched the key- note ef the play when he said: “There was reality, sincerity, and power, and [I don’t think it could have been done better.” Ben Sochasky, Ed Lauk, Stevi Semkovich and Guy Glover (the lat- ter also starring in “Lazarus Laughed”) gaye triple star perform- ances. The play was directed by Garfield A. King and Guy Glover. Mr. Wade was amazed at the high standard maintained, and more so When he learned that this city has no permanent home of the drama. He expressed the hope that the citi-_ zens would rectify this and would soon have an auditorium or civic theatre. not be underestimated. The whole behaviour of the Commission, the impression which it is endeayoring to leaye in the minds of the people, is an unveiled and bare-faced blow to the civil rights and democratic liberties of the producers and work- ers of Canada. It is but a step from the illegality of the relief camp workers’ union to the universal des- truction of all organized Popular pro- test. This is a test case by which the authorities will measure the de- gree of repression which they can exert. We must remember that these boys alone are not on trial. The democratic rights of the people of Canada are at stake. SLAVE CAMPS ‘Close Relief Camps ln Best Interests Of The State”-Rigg Commission Commend National De- fence for Efficient Handling RAISE RED BOGEY Recommending the closing of the relief camps, not in the interests of the men but in “the best interests of the State,” the Rige= Commission appointed by Minister of Labor Rog— ers in presenting their report pro- pose certain measures which ‘will make for the continuance of the camp system. After “visiting” fifty camps throughout the Dominion, during which time they attempted to smash the strike of fifteen hundred camp workers in Dunburn, Sask., who were fighting against discrimination, this Commission completely white- washes the whole system of forced labor camps, commends the National Defence for their “competent hand- ling,” and makes special mention of the good, wholesome food, washing, recreational and educational facili- ties. Just What Was Expected The manner in which they con- dueted their investization in the camps has been described in news items from time to time in the B.C. Workers’ News—their refusal to lis- ten to representatives and demands of the workers, spending the ma- jority of the time of the visit with the officials, and further, their re_ fusal when in Vancouver to meet the officials of the Relief Camp Workers’ Union as representatives of the men in the camps, Save early indication of the nature of the re- pert which would be presented upoR their return to Ottawa. oe fo Maintain Camps The report, with its contradictions, urging the abolition of the camps, recognizing that they must be kept open for a limited time, and bring- ing- in proposals-on how to continues for another number of years, at thse Same time gives full justification for the contentions of the camp. werkers who last year staged the heroic strike and the “Qn-to-Otta wa” trek. of youth with thwarted ambitions, of the unnatural environment of the camps, their feeling of nezlect and the sinking morale caused by the drab life of thé camps. A Rose by Any Other Name It is proposed that the name “emergency relief camp” be substi- tuted for “relief camp,” as the lat- ter has a bad “psychological effect” on the men. The ayerage individual with the average amount of common sense will agree with the camp workers, whom the report states are of average intelligence, that even if they were called “Palaces” they would~still be the same Places ag when they were called “relief camps” and the youth of Canada would still object to being forced into them = Proposed Goolie Wage i Adoption of a work and wages pol- icy 1S recommended, while no men- tion of the amouni of wages which Should be paid is made they do men- tion that in the forced labor camps in the U-S. unskilled labor is paid $13 4 month, semi-skilled $20, and skilled: $25, together with food and clothing, In addition they recommend that the men purchase their own elothing, (Continued on Page 2) WOODSWORTH TO RAISE QUESTION Will Lead Campaign For Free Press in Com- pany Towns TORONTO, Jan. 29 (ALP)—j, & Wroodsworth, M.P., leader of the Cas operative Commonwealth Federation is to lead a campaign from the floor of Parliament, it became known to= day, against the banning of work= ing-class papers by the Interna- tional Nickel Company. i Herbert Orloff, at the Ontario pro- vincial council of the CGE in- formed the Canadian Labor Defencs League, which is championing the cause of the working class press in the Northern Ontario mining areas, that the provincial council is form- ally requesting the CCF. leader to raise the question on the floor of the House. Six Toronto C.C.F. clubs, in addi- tion to many trade unions, Commu- nist Party units, Canadian Labor Defence League branches, and other sroups, have passed resolutions against the dictatorshp of the Inter- natonal Nickel Company in the North in banning certain papers, such as Borba, The Worker, etc. from the minine= towns and cities. It is as much as a man’s job is worth to be caught reading one of these papers by a company stool pigeon. ee he SC ea nt ee ibe are ee ep aage a a tt ak Mention is made in Various places | iecipuictoniiemmteare: