Demand that the riot and as-
Sault charges against the 22
camp boys in Regina be
a withdrawn!
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VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1936
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FULL NO. 60
VOL. II, No. 8 =
| Charges Under Sec.
_ Ninety-eight Against —
; Trekkers Are Quashed
CIVIC EMPLOYEES
SEEK WAGE RATE
VICTORIA, Feb. 29.—Oak Bay
municipal employees have applied to
the council of that municipality to
have their wages restored to the
Seale in operation in 1928 and for
two weeks’ holidays each year with
full pay.
The question was referred by the
council to the estimates committee
for report.
CAMP TREKKERS’
DEFENCE SWEEPS
OVER PROVINCE
Tag Days: Powell River,
North Vancouver,
Nanaimo
VANCOUVER, March 3.—Permis-
Sien to hold a Tae Day on Friday,
in the company town of Powell
River, has been secured by the
MacKenzie District Council C.C.F.,
from the Attorney-General, by the
assistance of Ernest Bakewell,
CC.r., M.i.A., for that constitu-
ency.
Provincial police stationed there
stated that the matter was out of
their jurisdiction, when asked for
permission. Commissioner Mc Mul-
len of the provincial police was re-
quested to grant a Tac Day, but as
he had no authority, Ernest Bake-
well's aid was enlisted with the de-
sired result.
‘Other towns to hold tae days are
North Vancouver and Nanaimo.
They will hold theirs on Saturday,
March 7. All funds from these tag
days will ¢o towards the defence of
the 22 camp trekkers, who face
charges of ‘rioting when they come
up for trial on Wednesday, March
ii, in Regina.
MINER-KIELED BY
FALLING ROCKS
BRALORNE, Feb. 28—Struck by
a falling rock which had been
jarred Ioose from the roof of the
Stope in the Bralorne (Gold) mine,
where he was working, A. L. Tag-
fart, “miner, was instantly killed
this afternoon.
Tazeart had only recently return-
ed to work havine been absent from
the valley owing to idleness. His
body was taken to Vancouver for
burial.
Victory Will be Followed
up with Demand for
' Withdrawal of all
_ Riot Charges
TRIALS POSTPONED
REGINA, Feb. 28.—(ALP)— All
Section 98 charges in connection
with the police-inspired Dominion
Day riots here on Dominion Day,
1935, have been withdrawn by the
Saskatchewan government.
It has also been agreed by the
attorney-general’s department that
all rioting charges, held against 22
members of the “On to Ottawa’’
trek, will be put over for trial until
April 14th.
Four trek leaders are freed from
the threat of 20-year prison sen-
tences—the maximum under Sec-
tion 98 — by the dropping of
charges under that law. They are:
George Black, Matt Shaw, John C.
Cosgrove and Arthur Evans.
The 22 charged with rioting are
scheduled to appear in court here
on Mareh 11, the date originaly set
for the mass trials of the 26 trek-
Kers, to have their bail renewed and
thet mials formally postponed.
Arrangements are being made to
follow up this defence victory by a
series of mass meetings and demon-
Strations from coast to coast, de-
manding that all charges be with-
drawn. ;
“The shame of Regina must be
wiped out,” George Black, one of
the trek leaders, declared tonight.
“This must become a major slogan
for the whole of Canada’s progres-
Sive forces.”’
A United Front Victory.
Defence leaders received the
news of the government’s decision
with unrestrained jubilation. The de-
cision was characterized as a tre-
mendous victory for the defence and
for ail the liberal, progressive and
radical forces in the country who
have -been demanding that all
charges be dropped, that Section 958
be repealed, and that—in the event
the trials be postponed so as to al-
low for the preparation of an ade-
quate defence.
Camps Must Go .
Abolition of the relief camps,
coupled with the government's work
and wages program announced at
Ottawa, was the first phase of the
victory.
The attitude of the trekkers who
are now in Regina is that the trek
Was victorious in spite of the fact
that its “physical progress” owas
halted by police action in Regina on
Dominion Day.
Japan's
Fascist Military Coup
Would Endanger
World Peace
MOSCOW, Feb. 27.—(ALP)—So-
wiet eyes are anxiously turned to-
wards Japan today following the
attempted coup in Tokyo yester-
day morning which took the lives
of the more conservative govern-
Ment leaders.
Unofficial observors say that vic-
tory for the young army hot heads
would have meant war against the
Soviet Union possibly by spring.
Tonight direct despatches from
the Japanese capital began coming
in to the Soviet foreign office where
high government officials studied
every scrap of information. For
thirty hours the wires between the
two countries were ‘‘dead.”’
Foreign office officials, pressed
for a statement, clung to their re-
fusal to comment, saying:
“We continue our policy of not
interfering in the internal affairs
of other countries. Any comment
might be interpreted as passive
interference.”
However, the French language
mewspaper here, Le Journal de
Moscou, reported that “The Soviet
Union has taken all necessary
measures for defence and is not to
be caught by surprise even sup-
REVOLTS SHAKE
JAPANESE ARMY
SHANGHAT, Feb. 27.—(ALP)—
Reports reaching here, but later
denied in subsequent despatcnes
from Tokyo, that the mutiny of the
Third Japanese Army division was
in protest against the Japanese
penetration in North China were re-
ceived with enthusiasm by progres-
Sive circles here.
Tt had been reported that the
soldiers, who were about to embark
for North China and Manchuria, re-
volted on their way to the railway
station.
There is a strong revulsion of
feeling among great masses of the
Japanese people, particularly the
workers, against the policy of ccn-
=quest being followed in China and
against Outer Mongolia.
Soviet Officials Watch
Internal Strife
(b¥
posing adventuristic steps
Japan) should be decided upon.”
ie Journal de Moscou points out
that, although the assassinated
leaders, Finance = Minister Taka-
hashi, Viscount Saito and Admiral
Watanobe, were in agreement with
the “positive policy” of conquest
against China and with the ultimate
aim of war against the Soviet
Union, they wished to proceed
cautiously, step by step. This was
not fast enough for the young army
leaders who moved in the swift at-
tempt at a coup d'etat to remove
the men who stood in the way.
With the army, in full control and
the whole state geared for the bene-
fit of the ruling clique, led by the
military Fascist Seiyvuaki Party, the
imperialist policy of Japan would be
Biven free rein. This would mean,
in the opinion of unofficial obsery-
ors, that war would materialize
much speédier than with the more
conservative elements in the govyv-
ernment acting as a brake.
People Against Military Fascists
The repudiation at the polls on
election day of the Seiyukai military
party, the holder of the old “Samu-
rai’ tradition, and the great
Strength shown by the working
Class parties and the comparatively
liberal Minseito Party proved a de-
cided swing of public opinion
against Fascism and the adventures
in China.
It is feli by some observors
here that the army officers at-
tempted in the coup to win by
force of arms what they could
not win at the polls. The senti-
ment of the people is obviously
overwhelmingly against them.
Qne thing is certain here, and
that is the effect the assassinations
will have abroad.
“The world will look on the Tokyo
murders as another 30th of June,”
one observor said. “June 30,” refers
to the Hitler blood purge in June,
1934.
Sentenced To Die
BERLIN, Germany, March
(ALP)—Five Communists were sen-
tenced to death and ii to prison
terms today, convicted of partici-
pating on October 15, 1931, in a
fight before a suburban restaurant
when the owner was killed and three
Wazi storm troopers injured.
2 —
SUNNY SMILES IN SUNNY SPAIN
With the semi-fascist regime of Gil Robles booted out of office by the huge vote of the United
People’s Front in Sp2in, workers and peasants are finding life more cheerful. Here’s a happy crowd
ef United Fronters at a Madrid pre-election rally who look as though they had foreseen the outcome.
that. charges were retained — that |
Six Longshoremen
Released
Campaign to be Intensi-
fied to Free Remaining
Nine Men
On receipt of a letter from the
Secretary of State to the effect that
Alfred Bright, Einar Carison, James
Nice, William Kemp, Dan &icLeod
and Charles Smith had been granted
their freedom by the Governor Gen-
eral on ticket of leave, Tom Nelson
of the Canadian Labor Defense
League and Ivan Emery of the
Longshoremen’s Union immediately
went to Oakalla Jail in cars to grect
the released men.
Their release is the result of an
intensive campaign carried on by the
Canadian Labor Defense League,
assisted by many organizations and
trade unions and individuals who
flooded the Department of Justice
With telegrams, letters and resolu-
tions, demanding that the water-
front workers who were sentenced
for activity in the recent strike, be
released.
Wife of Gne Died.
The campaign is still on, as nine
longshoremen are still rotting in
Oakalla Jail, serving sentences
year, It is necessary that all organ-
ranging from six months to one
izations, unions and individuals re-
double their efforts, now that a
precedent has been set in releasing
a number of the men.
The wife of one of the men, Alfred
Bright, died a few hours before he
was released. Under heavy esuara
Bright had been allowed to visit his
wife as she lay on her deathbed, but
as she had fallen into a state of
coma, she did not recognize him.
Those remaining in Oakalla Jail
are: ©. Brown, serving six months;
Albert Stock, D. Lyall, H. Maides,
Tony Morelli and William Sneddon,
serving nine months; W. Pearson,
serving ten months, and Alex. Mc-
Leod and Jack Hughes, serving one
year. They are scheduled to remain
in prison a long time yet if the
workers and supporters do not rally
to their assistance.
These men rely on this aid and
the Canadian Labor Defense League
is appealing to all to rush tele-
grams, letters and resolutions to the
Remissions Service; Department of
Justice, Ottawa, Ont., as soon as
possible.
Relief Camp
Boy Ends Life
Police Make Three Trips
to Camp
SAVONNA, B.C., Feb. 27—John
Thomas, aged 30, one of the On-to-
Ottawa trekkers, who had just en-
tered camp the day previously, was
foundd dead today, hanging by a
rope in one of the bunkhouses at
Relief Camp No. 318, Wallachin,
near here.
Thomas had been quite artive in
the Relief Camp strike, which start-
ed April 4 last year and ended on
Dominion Day in Regina, where the
RCMP. attacked a meeting of
eitizens and camp strikers.
When the camp workers formed
their divisions in Vancouver,
Thomas was elected a leader of
Division 2, and in that capacity car-
ried on until after his return from
Regina.
Provincial Police made three trips
to this particular camp today, once
to remove a2 man to the insane
asylum who was driven crazy by
the monotony of camp life and iso-
lation, another to arrest a man for
Stealing, and the third to cut down
the body of young Thomas.
On Parole
lea Factories
Have talin
Assassinated
But Gonnmunict Leader
Is in Excellent
Health
MOSCOW, Feb. 28.—{ALP Cable)
—Professor Herbert Olivecrona, fam-
ous Swedish brain“surgeon, has ar-
rived in Moscow for consultation on
treatment of I. A. Akuloy, secretary
of the Central Committee of the
Soviet Government.
Announcement of Professor Olive-
erona’s arrival was made by the
Commissariat of Health, which ar
ranged to bring the surgeons here.
+ Akulovy has suffered a fractured
skull, the Commissariat further said,
but examination by the Swedish spe-
Cialist, together with Soviet doctors,
showed that his condition is not as
eritical as at first thought. An
operation may not be necessary.
Rumors that Joseph Stalin, gen-
eral secretary of the Communist
Party of the Soviet Union, had been
Shot in the head by an assassin
are set at rest by the announce-
ment. The rumors were given wide
eredence in capitalist countries, bul
are now revealed to have been
Simply another product of the anti-
Soviet lie factories.
Assurance has been given by Sta-
lin’s personal secretary that the
Communist leader is in good health.
CUSTOMS BANS
SWEDISH PAPER
VANCOUVER, March, — Notice
has been received by the Swedisn-
Finnish Workers’ Club from the
Customs Dept., that the ‘Ny Tid’
published in New York, weekly or-
gan of the Scandinavian Workers’
Club has been prohibited from en-
tering Canada.
No reason for banning the pub-
lication was given by the Customs
Dept.
Spain Desires
No Expansion
Soviet Relations To Be
Resumed
MADRID, Spain, March 2.—(ALP)
—Spain will soon resume diplomatic
relations with the Soviet Union,
stated Foreign Minister Agusto
Barcia today.
“Since this country has no desire
for colonial expansion,” said the
Foreign Minister, Spain was com-
mitted to unequivocal adherence to
the League of Nations. In further
Support of this stand of the foreign
policy of Spain, Barcia pointed out
that the republican constitution had
outlawed war as an instrument of
national policy.
Diplomatic relations with the So-
Viet Union had been allowed to
lapse after the triumph of reaction
in the 1933 general election.
The decree fully reinstating the
Catalan autonomy statute and ab-
solving the regicnal government
from all responsibility for proclaim-
ing a Catalan independent republic
on October 6. 1934, was drafted by
the Azana Cabinet today.
Official election returns an-
nounced today gave the Left United
Front 243 seats in the new Parlia-
ment composed of 473 deputies, and
the Center-Right coalition 195.
Italian orchestra,
Scotch artists.
Vancouver Women Will
Celebrate Intern’! Day
On Sunday, March 8th, the women of Vancouver will
meet to show their willingness and determination to or-
ganize and struggle for economic betterment and in de-
fence of civil rights and liberties. The rights gained for
women were won only after years of effort, and it is ne-
cessary to hold on to them and to press forward for full
equality and fina] emancipation.
A famous writer said that women can never be free
by having the right to vote unless they are free eco-
nomically. In the press we read that men teachers receive
twice as much as women for doing the same work, and this
condition prevails in nearly every line of work.
Since 1908, when ‘Women’s Day was first established
for the purpose of securing equal suffrage, year by year
different problems arose which bound women together
with the ties of struggle. There have been difficulties,
wage cuts, low wages, relief doles and rising prices to con-
tend with and which millions face in Canada today. While
these do not effect every woman, the growing shadow of
war hangs over the majority of the population, and women
have tremendous power in preventing that shadow from
becoming a reality, if it is organized and properly directed.
The Women’s Labor League, a progressive organiza-
tion, embracing women of every race, color, creed or po-
litical view, is sponsoring a rally at the Colonial Theatre,
Granville Street, on March 8th at 8 p.m., with the follow-
ing speakers: Mrs. D. Steeves, C.C.F. M.I.A.; Mrs. W.
Wilson, of the Canadian League Against War and Fascism,
and Mrs. C. Stewart, of the Women’s Labor League.
An international program of musical items has been ar-
ranged including selections by the Scandinavian choir,
Ukrainian dancers, and French and
Every woman who is interested in the problems facing
women today and in the future should attend and help to
make the celebration a success.
Women’s Labor League.
CCF Members Score
Pattullo Liberals In
Throne Speech Debate
Ss
PATTULLO GOWT
SPENT HUGE SUM
TO BREAK STRIKES
(By \Vire)
VICTORIA, March. — Harold
Winch, €.¢-F., in the House to-
day exposed police brutality
against camp boys and longshore-
men last year.
He quoted figures showing
Pattullo government spent $23)-
000 during last year on special
police and more than $5,000 on
stool pigeons to break the strikes.
Winch demanded an amend-
ment to the Eriendly Societies
Act to prevent scabs being in-
corporated into company unions
under protection of the Act dur-
ing strikes. i
CORBIN MINERS
Price Condemns Police
Brutalities Against
Corbin Miners
WINCH IN ACTION
Mrs. Steeves Battles for
More Nourishment
for Children
VICTORIA, March 4.—Jack Price,
C.C.. member for Vancouver East,
today called for a government in-
vestigation into the miners’ dispute
at Corbin and into the activities of
the Provincial Police in the Grows
West Pass. Describing the conditions
at Corbin-last April when he went
there with Tom Uphill and other
members of a delegation, Price
placed the blame fer the riot and
the maiming of men and women
Squarely on the shoulders of the
department of the Attomey General
APPEAL FOR AID
On Sirike 13 Months
and Subjected to Un-
told Hardship
CALGARY, Alta., Feb. 26—ir-
Sent appeals for aid for the striking
Corbin miners haye been sent out
today by the Mine Workers’ Union
of Canada.
During the 13 months since the
Strike was called the miners have
fought valiantly against all at-—
tempts to break their ranks and
have been assisted by the miners
throughout the district, and
throughout the Dominion. All mem-
bers of the Mine Workers’ Union of
Canada have been Paying a special
assessment up to $2.00 per month,
and other miners, members of in-
dependent unions and of the United
Mine Workers of America have also
been giving donations from time lo
time for the Corbin Strike Relief.
The miners of the Grows Nest,
who have been the heaviest con-
tributors, are now working only
one or two days a week and are un-
able to continue contributing.
All donations and collections
Should be sent directly to . George
Taylor, Secretary, Corbin Relief
Committee, Box 5, Blairmore, Alta.
of the government. He told of the
unbearable conditions the miners
had to put up with an@ when the
police arrested 17 miners they were
herded into two cells that were built
to house two: or three prisoners.
B C--Alberta Frontier
Relating to the police actions at
the border of B.C. and Alberta,
Price told of how he himself had
been interrogated by the police an@
how an organizer had been taker
from a meetin of miners and ques-
tioned, the police notifying the haik
owner that if he allowed that or-
Sanizer to speak again in his hal?
his license would be cancelled. The
C:C-F. member told the government
that it was easier to go into the
U.S.A. that it was to come into BG.
from Alberta.
Provincial Police Stop Organizers
Other instances were also related
_by Price showing that if the Muinis=
ter of Labor was sincere in his dec—
laration some time ago to the Van-
couver Trades and Dabor Council
regarding the necessity of organiz—
ing the unorganized workers of B.C.
there was plenty of room for remoy-
ing barriers which are created and
maintained by the present govern-
ment. He told of how organizers of
the loggers were stopped at the
camp of Merril Ring Go., at Squam-
(Continued on Page Three)
Opposition Leader Asks
Recall Of
LABCR PARTY IN
MOVE FOR UNITY
LONDON, §Bng-—(ALP)—In ad-
dition to the Leeds Central Division
and the Potternewton Labor Parties,
who have declared themselves in
favor of the Communist Party’s ap-
plication for affiliation to the Labor
Party, the Leeds North Ward Labor
Party has passed a resolution to the
Executive Committee, asking them
that the question of affiliation be on
the agenda of the next Labor Party
conference.
The Hucknall Labor Party women
have sent a resolution for the Labor
Women’s annual conference, ask-
ing the Labor Party executive to re-
consider their decision on the: af-
filiation of the Communist Party to
the Labor Party.
A resolution supporting affiliation
Was also passed by -the “Hucknall
Branch of the National Union of
General and Muncipal Workers.
POVERTY STALKS
THROUGH CANADA
OTTAWA, Feb. 28,—(ALP)—The
number of persons in Canada re-
ceiving relief at the end of Decem-
Italian Consul
Second Offender Asked
Not To Repeat Such
Speeches
LEAGUE PROTESTS
OTTAWA, March 2 -— gj. S
Woodsworth, national leader of the :
C.C.F., this afternoon in the House
of Commons vigorously protested a
most improper speech made by Pet-
rucci, Italian Consul to Canada to
the Italian Chamber of Commerce
in Montreal, yesterday, and demand-
ed that Italy be requested to with-
draw the offending official.
Petrucci, who came in to public
disfavor last year for extolling
Italian fascism, said that sanctions
would not stop the Italian enter:
prise in East Africa.
He also levelled criticism at the
League of Nations, of which Can_
ada is a member, and said “the
League was taking steps against
Italy to save the last Stronghold of
Slavery in Africa,’’
Mr. Woodsworth stated on the
floor of the House that a fascist or=
Sanization was being built up in
Canada aided and connived by the
Italian envoy, and that Canadians
ber, 1935, was 1,206,429, a returm
tabled in the House of Commons
disclosed. Throughout the year the
figure remained approximately at
the 1,200,000 mark, although in
September and October it dropped
down to 969,745 and 988,604 re-
spectively.
The return showed an average of
9,300 war pensioners also were re-
ceiving ‘relief from the pensions de-
partment. With their dependents
the total approximated 30,000 every
month.
The number of single, homeless
unemployed men in relief camps
varied widely from 8,236 in May,
1933, to 27,078 in December of that
year. In December last the number
was 19,382, according to a prelimi-
nary survey of the labor depart-
ment,
ORGANIZATIONS OF
FARMERS UNITE
REGINA, Sask., Feb. 25—(ALP)
—Declaring that the overwhelming
majority of its locals have heartily
endorsed the proposals for fusion
with the United Farmers of Canada,
the Farmers’ Unity League provin-
cial executive has informed the
U-F.C. that it is authorized to pro-
ceed as rapidly as possible to bring
about the merger of the two farm
bodies.
were being intimidated by this body
known as the Nationalist Organi—
Zation.
Members of the organization are
made to take the following oath:
“In the name of God and Italy, £
Swear to execute the orders of I
Duce and to serve, with all my
streneth and if necessary my
Dlood, the cause of the Fascist
Revolution.”
Prime Minister Mackenzie Kine
Promised the House that he would
immediately make application to
Rome for Petrucci’s withdrawal if
Such a speech were repeated.
VANCOUVER, March 2. — Im-
mediately upon learning of the re-
marks made in a speech by Luigi
Petrucci, Italy’s representative to
Canada, and the demand of Mr.
Woodsworth for his recall, the Brit-
ish Columbia Council of the Gan-—
adian League Against War and
Fascism despatched the following
telegram:
Prime Minister W. I. Mackenzie
Kang, House of Parliament, Ottawa.
Leasue Against War and Fasc-
ism endorse stand of Woodsworth
re attack by Italian Consul on
League of Nations and demand
that your governnient request re-
moval of Italian Consul.
K. W. Clark, Sec’y.
peice
OS ER MS NTR Ta 8S La th
i
ie
Sige
oinineaatas