Union. men, support the Cow- ichan Lake leggers, who are fighting for Trade Union Unity! B.C Wo ERS NEWS Your subscription has expired? if the number on your label is ‘below this number. Renew it NOW! 5 Cents SS FULL NO. 63. VOL. Ii, No. 11 Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1936 Single Copies: War Plans Maturing; Malta Being Fortified; Japs Fire On Soviets Anthony Eden Considers Situation as Most Critical TURKS FEAR ITALY LONDON, Eng., March 26—An- thony Eden, foreign secretary in the British Government, is reported to have said that he “believes we are beginning a period which must at best, be one of the most critical in International negotiations” adding that he “does not view the future with a light heart.”’ Mr. J. H. Thomas, well-known former labor leader~and now sec- retary for the Colonies, told the peo- ple of Derby in a speech there that “the sovernment is working to Keep the country out of war.’ Hitler has rejected proposals for Intermational policing of the Rhine- land zone which he recently oc- cupied by Nazi troops, and Eden stands by Locarno obligations. He told the House of Commons during a resume of the negotiations which led up to the Locarno pact beings Signed, that “it was Germany's idea in the first place to have the Rhine- Jand zone demilitarized.” In the meantime war plans are moving ahead rapidly in many parts of the world. Britain is now fortifying Malta, making it more impreenable, with men working three shifts a day. Italy is reported to have refused to accept the Lo- earno proposal to negotiate a new European peace. _ italy’s Srowine military power is scarins Turkey and now well in- formed authorities report that Tur- key is plannine to fortify the Dar- Genelles. It is stated that Turkey’s foreign minister who attended the League Council meeting in London recently took advantage of the op- portunity toe have a private con- versation with officials of the Brit- ish Foreign Ministry. Japanese Leave Dead on Soviet Soil The most recent overt act re- ported has been committed by Jap- anese troops when a number of them attacked a border post of Seviet Red Army men southwest of Wiadivestok Qn Wednesday seven Japanese soldiers including one of- ficer fired on five Soviet soldiers on Soviet territory. The fire was re- plied to by the Red Army Men and the Japanese retired leaving one officer and a soldier dead on Soviet soil. Later in the day the boundary line was crossed by 50 to 60 Jap- anese soliders who took up a posi- tion well inside Soviet territory and opened fire with machine suns on the Soviet border patrol. The en- fagement lasted four hours and both sides suffered losses, before the Japanese were driven back over the border. Strong protests-have been made to the Japanese government by the Soviets through their representa- tive at Tokyo. FOR RELEASE OF CORBIN MINERS Five Still Being Held in Nelson Jail In a letter addressed to ail Trade unions, political and mass organiza- tions, church and religious bodies, the Corbin Central Defence Com- mittee seek support for the release of five Corbin miners incarcerated in Nelson Jail. Two of the miners, Corlett and QOlafson, are kept in close confine- ment in the basement of the jail, on the pretext that they are dan- ferous characters, yet Police In- spector McDonald, who acts as warden admits that the men have eared and are entitled to a remis- sion of their sentence. The health of the men is failing rapidly. At the inquest of David Lockhart, the sixth striker who died in jail March 6, Inspector McDonald was asked by D. M. Mitchell of the firm ef Herchmer and Mitchell, defence counsel, how he could reconcile his two statements. No satisfactory answer was given by the inspector. The letter of the miners states that “‘the jail is of wooden construc- tion and in the event of a fire gain- ing any headway the prisoners would never get out, as each cell door has to be opened separately.” Two prominent men, Dr. Hugh Wodson, Wnited Church secretary of social service, and Rev. Mr. Donnell, Welson Trinity Church pastor, have lent their voice to the demand for an investigation into the whole Cor- bin affair, and with the 32 M.l.A.’s who recently signed a petition for the release cf the mine _ strikers, some momentum has been given the campaizn for their release, and for an investigation into the “origin, conduct and handline” of the Corbin strike. An investigation is also asked regarding the conditions in Nelson Jail. DR. STRONG BANNED AT BELLINGHAM SEATTLE, March 26-—Dr. Anna Louise Strong who has made an extensive speaking tour through- out the North American con- tinent and who recently spoke at the Hotel Vancouver was denied a hearing at Bellingham. She was to have spoken at a church there but the preacher got cold feet. The Fishermen’s Association also refused to allow her to speak in their hall. At last she was to haye spoken in the Labor Temple, but word came that 200 ‘“patriotic’’ citizens planned to march to the hall and wreck it if she spoke. The boys in the “Land of the Free—” are being convinced daily that Sinclair Lewis is haywire when he says “It can’t happen here.”’ LOGGERS’ STRIKE REMAINS SOLID Harold Winch To Raise Question in House VANCOUVER, March 26—The entire crew of Camp §& having joined the loggers of Camp 10, Cowichan Lake, in ‘Strike action for the reinstatement of two men who were discharged for their union activities, committees have been established at Victoria, and at Lady- smith, to direct picketing of all roads leading into the struck camps. Strikers’ representatives are visit- ing nearby logging camps making appeals fon funds. Loggers at Camp 3, Youbou, responded with a day's pay amountine to $500, while the crew of Camp 6, Youbou, also do- nated a day’s pay to the strike fund. Harold Winch, C.C.F. member of the provincial legislature addressed the strikers at Cowichan Lake. and | promised the men that he would take their gricvance to the floor of the house. Strike bulletins are being pub- lished here to keep the public in- formed of the progress of the strike. Meetings of the strikers are held three days a week for those who are in town. Radic broadcasts are being util- ized by the strikers and the union to give further publicity to and solicit aid for the men on sirike. ASK PROTECTION FOR FISHERMEN Union President Inter- views Committee of B.C. Govt. WICTORIA, March 23. — Mr. George Miller, president of the Fishermen and Cannery Workers’ Industrial Union interviewed the Fisheries Committee of the Provin- cial Government here today on questions affecting fishermen and others in the industry. In stating the viewpoint of fish- ermen Mr. Miller told the commit- tee that all fishermen should be classed as wage-earners in order for the compensation and semi-monthly. Wage acts to cover these primary workers in the fishing industry. The committee agreed that gill metters should be covered by the acts inasmuch as they were in real- ity placed in this category by virtue of the fact that they were tied to the canneries through the rental of gear. Mr. Miller was also informed by the committee that the Board of Industrial Relations is now consid- ering bringing down a measure dealing with minimum wages for cannery workers. Considerable discussion arose on the question of health and the dila- pidated state of some of the can- neries. Rotten walks and floats to the canneries are a constant men- SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF Sloan’s Infamous Uni- formed ‘Investigators’ (Stools) All outside investigation work in connection with operation of the single unemployment relief office at Hamilton Hall has been taken over by the provincial police. The investigation work was for- merly performed by six or seven civilian employees of the office. This system became unsatisfactory, how- ever, due to the; fact that the in- vestigators became known to those endeavoring to ®vade regulations and their usefulness became limited. Under the new policy inaugurated by the Provincial Government, it is thought that such wealnesses in the investigation system will be eliminated. The police investigators will be changed from time to time. Investigation work by the depart- ment consists of making check-ups on apartments, rooming houses and restaurants and investigating appli- eations for relief. ace to fishermen: Nothing tangent was arrived at regarding this aspect. The committee agreed to recom- mend to the Dominion Government that careful consideration should be given to the closing nine commer- cial hatcheries as proposed, and in any case they should not all be closed at once. © Roy W. Howard. Howard Arrives For Stalin Interview Roy W. Howard, head of the Seripps-Howard newspaper chain, was greeted by Soviet press leaders when he arrived in Moscow for his widely-publicized interview with Josef Stalin. From left to right are: Norman Deuel, Moscow correspondent of the United Press; Ben Foster, Howard's secretary; I. E. Chernov, head of the foreign information service of the Telegraph Agency of the U.S.S.R.; and Court Decides Against C Regina’s Labor Alderman Will Contest New Elec- tion If Appeal Fails REGINA, Sask... March 23.— (ALP)—T. G. McManus and P. Mik- kelson, Labor aldermen, will appeal the court decision registered against them and designed by reactionary forces to oust them from their seats on Regina’s labor city coun- eil. They were fined $1.00 and costs on a charge of having made u false declaration on their nomina- tion acceptance. It was alleged that they had stated that they were not in debt to the city and that relief does not constitute a debt. Under the law the council must declare their seats vacated and order a new election. If the appeal fails both aldermen state that they will run again. M. J. Coldwell, C.C.F. member of parliament for Rosetown and former Regina alderman, has stated that he will take part in the civie elec- tion fight if a new election is made necessary. In the event that McManus and Mikkelson are not allowed to be candidates, the Civic Labor League will see that each seat is contested by a labor man. Meanwhile the city council has re- fused to oust the two aldermen and will not act until the result of the appeal becomes known, possibly in two weeks time. DOCKERS REFUTE BOSSES’ FIGURES VANCOUVER, March 24.—Excep- tion is taken by the Vancouver and District Waterfront Workers’ Asso- ciation to a letter appearing in the capitalist press, reported to have been sent to the Harbor and Utility Gommittee of the City Council by the Shipping Federation, wherein it claims that 340 strikers are now reinstated on the waterfront. Longshoremen state in their reply to the press report that in February only 100 strikers had been able to ain re-employment on the water- front and since a meeting was held on Webruary 29 between the Shipping Hederation and the Harbor and Utility Committee, only ten more men have been reinstated. In this letter to the press, the longshoremen ‘wish the public to know that 500 of their members are on relief at the present time, and that the report in the press today is misleading. Of the 340 men who are reported reinstated, only 110 are strikers, these having remained on strike until it was called off De- cember 9. ANNOUNCEMENT Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lechet want to thank the G.C EF. and the Burn- aby Workers’ Association and the kind people of Highland Park who sent flowers and helped them in their sad bereavement when their little girl was drowned last week. Know Your Friends Workers who have a dime to buy'a glass of beer should spend it in those hotels that do not put any barriers in the way of carrying on working class activities. Two lumber workers who were having a drink in the Metropole Hotel had occa- Sion to protest against the acticn of the management of that place objecting to the distribution of the Strike Bulletin of the strik- ers from Camp 10, last Sat- urday evening. : A word to the wise should be sufficient! SPINALISTS OPPOSE B. C. HEALTH BILL Chiropractors’ Association of B.C. has gone on resolution as unani- mously opposed to the exclusion of chiropractors in the Health Bill and opposing the passing of the Bill itself unless a plebiscite is first sub- mitted to the people. 5 Campboys Are Arrested Organized Street Collec- tions in Order to Eat VANCOUVER, March 26—Three of the rejected camp boys appeared in City police court here this morn- ing charged with collecting money for relief for the 175 camp boys now in Vancouver who 2re not al- lowed to re-enter relief camps and who are denied relief by all govern- ment authorities. City authorities say they can do nothing for them and pass the buck to Provincial and Dominion authori- ties. The Provincial Goyernment Say it is up to the Dominion to do something, and the Dominion authorities pass the buck back again. The magistrate considered the boys guilty but said that he didn’t want to send them to jail. The prosecuting attormey suggested that “the question of sentence should lay over for a week,” as “he expected there may be more such cases.” He wasn’t dissappointed: two more were arrested later in the day. The rejected camp boys are deter- mined that they are not gecine to Starve, and have organized street collections with boys displaying sigsms and carrying collection cans standing at all busy downtown cor- ners. Resentment is manifest by hun- dreds of citizens who are putting their nickels and dimes in the cans in Sympathy with the plight of the boys. As one citizen remarked, “If the authorities don’t soon take action and treat the boys decently, this thine will gain in momentum unl we have a situation worse than Jast year when the camp boys were on strike in Vancouver.’ Premier Pattullo Is That Health Insurance Shall Become Law In B.C. This Year PLANS FOR MAY DAY PARADE IN CITY BEING LAID All in Conference April 4 at O’Brien Hall Vancouver may witness the great- est May Day Parade in its history this year if plans are carried out as intended by labor organizations sponsoring this years May Day activities. Jubilee celebrations which are be- ing promoted by the City open the road for presenting the history of the working class in their struggles for a living wage in this province during the past 50 years. Calling for attendance of dele- gates from every organization sym- pPathetie to iabor, the May Day Com- mittee of the C.C.&. Conference on Unemployment have sent out let- ters of invitation to attend a dele gate conference which will make the necessary arrangements for a monster parade and demonstration on International Workers’ Day, May ist. The CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN THE O'BRIEN HALL ON APRIL 4th at 3 PM. The committee feel that with Jubilee celebrations now under way; with the threat of war overshadow- ing the world, and with prospects of increased suffering due to relief cuts among the million Canadians now on relief, that a powerful as- semblage of working people will be mustered for the May Day parade. Appeals are being made to scores of organizations including churches and social bodies to participate. GENERAL BUTLER iS COMING HERE General Smedley Butler, former head of U.S. Marines, will speak in Vancouver, April 15 er 16, under the = |.auspices 6f the Canadian League. Against War and Fascism. Details as to time and place will be pub- lished in the near future, as also the highlights in the career of this dis- tinguished U.S. opponent of war and fascism. “REV. EAST COMING TO AUDITORIUM Rev. S. B. East, prominent Re- gina minister who has associated himself with the trek of the camp boys and later for the defence of the twenty-two trekkers facing trial next month, will address a public meeting in the Auditorium on Friday, April 3. The meeting is sponsored by the Vancouver Citizens Defence Com- mittee. The Rey. Sam East has tfear- lessly condemned the actions of the R.C.M.P .on the night of July 1 in Regina. Mr. East was arrested on his first attempt to get the boys out of Regina, and has since addressed meetings throughout the Do- miinion. SPECIALS MOLEST OUR DAUGHTERS McGeer’s ‘‘Law and Or- der Men’’ Prove Morons VANCOUVER, March 23.—Three City police officers have been ‘on the mat’ this week at Police Head- quarters. Special Constable Beall, formerly of the Alberta Provincial Police and taken on the force here during the Relief Camp strike of last spring was robbed of $20 last Friday night. according to the story told police, he was shadowing two men, and in order to watch his quarry better took up a position in a lane, whilst another thus who was shadowing him, peked a gun in his back and made off with $20. He was fired. Two other officers faced an in- vestigation into their-conduet, one of whom wus suspended temporar- iy. Two youns girls, missing from their homes last week identified the police officers and laid charges against them. It is understood that the charges are of a statutory character. Had Two Copies of Anti- Fascist Newspaper in His Pocket SWEDEN AROUSED PARIS, March 5.—(By Mail)—The fascist “‘people’s” court in Stade near Hamburg sentenced the Swea- ish seaman, Erik Jansson, to five years hard labor on February 26. Nazis allege that he possessed two copies of a Swiss anti-fascist weekly Paper, the “Rundchau,” and _ this the Nazis regard as a crime because of the “highly treasonable’ con- tents of that paper. Although Jans- son proved that he had the copies for his own use and although the Nazis could not prove that Jansson had any intention of passing these papers on to Germans he was sen- tenced to five years. The verdict states that it was handed down for the “intention’”’ and not for an ac- complished crime. The court added that they had been lenient, and that, if it had been proved that Jansson was a Communist agitator, death sentence would have been passed. Whole Swedish Nation for Jansson’s Liberation « As soon as the outrageous verdict became known in Sweden a nation- Wide protest movement flamed up: All classes of the population and all political parties have joined this movement. The official organ of the Swedish Goyernment, “‘Social-Demo- kraten,” calls the verdict legal mur- der and adds that “tthe whole Swed- ish nation stands behind the de- mand for release of the sentenced Swedish seaman.” The organ of the People’s Party condemns the verdict, pledges support to the demand for EHrnik Jansson’s release and closed as follows: ‘Sweden may not remain calm in face of this mad verdict in an unjustified trial.’’ Soyechs h Gasper Sap iancan To 15 Years By Nazi Court 2Sth Anniversary Of Finnish Organization Finnish Organization of Canada will hold its 25th anniversary cele- brations throughout the Dominion on March 28 and 29, marking the completion of 25 years of success- ful organizing of thousands of Finnish nationals in Canada and splendid work in the educational field. On Sunday, March 29 (second day of the celebrations), after 1 p.m., the Vancouver local of the Organi- zation will hold a banquet at Clinton Hall, corner Pender and Glinton Streets, featuring a varied program of talent presented by various language mass organizations. Dur- ing this event, greetings will be de- livered by the representatives of other working class organizations, rendering a spirit of international solidarity. Claim Huge Nickel Plot Fake Shipments to Italy and Phoney Billing Claimed TORONTO, Ont., March i19.— Wholesale racketeering in war materials in Canada and the U.S, with directing headquarters in To- ronto, is claimed by the Toronto Mail and Empire this morning. Customs officials, aided by private detectives, have been working for weeks probing the ramifications and methods of the group. Holding of a cargo of supposed nickel at Halifax and a search by (Continued on page 4) 18,525 was shown in net profits of 2,972 by Canadian Pacific Rail- way Company for January. Wet profits of $612,572 compared with $204,313 for the corresponding month last year. Gross earnings were shown at $9,323,822 compared with $8,266,643, an increase of $1,- 057,178 over a year ago. Increase in earnings and improve- MONTREAL, Que.—TIncrease of $40 5 C.P.R. Huge Profits ment in the balance sheet position is shown in the financial statement of the Canadian Wire & Cable Gom- pany Ltd. for the year ending De- cember 31, 1935. The report shows net operating profit of $532,747 for 1935, against $197,395 for 1934. Wet working capital is shown at $2137,384, against $2,120,259 at the end of the preceding year. etermined C.C.F. Want Better Bill, But Will Vote for It on Principle 27 AMENDMENTS VICTORIA, Mar. 25.—It looks like the Health Insurance Bill as pro- posed by Dr. Wier, Minister of Health, is going to have a rough passage. To date 27 amendments have been fired at it. All of the members seem to be in favor of the. principle of health insurance, but there are so many different views on what kind of a Bill should be brought down that it is expected there will be many more amend- ments sent in yet. Gordon Wismer, Liberal member for Vancouver Centre, led the at— tack on the Bill for the industrialists. and monied interests when he asked: for a six months’ hoist in order ta Zive employers time to formulate: a “scheme”’ and then a vote could be taken. Whilst he didn’t exactly Say so, it could be interpreted from his argument that he was opposed to limiting it to salaried people under $1800 a year. He is in favor” of people with higher salaries con— tributing, but not in favor of in- creasing the contribution of em- ployers. In fact, he is opposed to employers contributing even the one per cent as proposed. Qn the other hand, Premier Pat— tullo is determined to put through the Bill this ses— sion. He told the House that he “is willing to Stay “till July if necessary to put it through.’ CCF. To Vote In Favor Mrs. Steeves thought that Dr Weir had insti-— tuted a progres— Sive reform in bringing down the Bill. She pointed out that the greatest shortcoming in regard to it was that the Bill made no provision for poor people without a job. The CCF. members alt agree that the Bill is not what they want, but it is a step in the right direction. Mr. Connell) leader of the official Opposition took thie stand when the Bill was introduced in the House, arguing that it can be expanded and revised later to make everyone contribute to it ex- cept those whose wages are so low that it would be a hardship to do so, Whilst voicing opposition to it and suggesting amendments to make it less of a burden on workers with comparatively low wages, the C.C.F. members have stated in Ad_ vance that it should be passed. More Exemptions Added The most important changes made in the original proposals for a Bill by the Government upon sugges- tions of bodies who have protested during the past few weeks, includ- ing Christian Scientists, Industria]- ists, Medican Assn., and others, are: Agricultural workers are not included. aS Ee Christian Scientists are exempt upon application. Private industrial medical Schemes will be exempt if they give doctors’ service for ordinary sickness and the workers vote to be excluded. The minimum contributions of Hen. Pattullo (Continued on page 4) INCREASE TAX RATE OPPOSED Property Owners Dislike ' Restoration of Wage-cuts VANCOUVER, March 24.— Op Position to any further increase in. the taxrate this year, to help cover the deficit of $1,740,000 in the city’= budget, came in a letter to the City Council from the Associated Prop— erty Owners. . Alderman Miller, finance commit— tee chairman, has proposed an in-— crease of two mills in the taxrate- for this year. The letter from the association states that controllable expenses should be kept to the 1935 level be— fore any higher taxation is proposed, as there is almost $500,000 more in the estimates than was expended in 1935. Pay Restoration Opposed The property owners are opposed te an item in the estimates of $272;— 000, which would restore a part of the wage-cut imposed on civic em- ployees. While they regard this item as worthy of merit, they claim that this should be subordinated to the “more vital issue of the taxpayers’ ability to pay such increased costs.’ According to the letter published in the press the association is not opposing the huge police expendi-— ture increase.