A. Page Four ¢ B.C. WORKERS’ NEWS - May 22, 1986 B.C. WorKERS NEWS Published Weekly by THE PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASS’N Room 10, 163 West SEDATE Street - Vancouver, B.C. — Subscription Rates — One Year —____ $1.80 Half Year —______ 1.00 Three Months __$ .50 Single Copy —_—--05 Make All Checks Payable to the B.C. WORKERS’ NEWS Send All Copy and Manuscript to the Chairman of the Editorial Board —- Send Al Monies and Letters Per- feining to Advertising and Circulation to the Business Manager. Vancouver, B.C., May 22, 1936 HITLER DRIVES TO WAR RESS reports inform us that Hitler has told the British government that in no circum- stances will he include the Soviet Union in an Eastern European non-aggression pact such as he put forward to allay the fears aroused by his military occupation of the Rhineland. The excuse he gives is that the mutual assist- ance and non-ageression pacts between Czecho- Slovakia and the Soviet Union and between France and the Soviet Union are warlike moves on the past of those nations. These lies of Hitler, the chief war meendiary of Europe, are as transparent as the lies of Mus- solini about his civilizing mission in Abyssinia. The pacts between the Soviet Union and Czecho- Slovakia and France are not imperialist military alliances ; they were not arrived at secretly, and Germany as well as all other powers was in- yited to join them. The policy of Hitler is the policy set forward in his book, ‘fy Struggle,” which remains the Bible of Naziism. That policy is a policy of German expansion by military conquest at the expense of the Soviet Union. It is to facilitate the rape of Soviet Ukraine that he came to a ten-year agreement with Germany's traditional enemy, Poland. Tt is not fear of Communism being imposed on Germany from without, 2.e. by the Soviet Union by force of arms that motivates Hitler; it is the fear of a proletarian revolution by the German people who under Nazi barbaric rule have been reduced to semi-starvation. And he is striving, with direct British imperialist sup- port, to avert it by means of military adventure as Mussolini did in Abyssinia. The success of Mussolini, made possible by the irresolution and treachery: of the imperialist mémbers of the League of Nations, aided and abetted by the muddle-headed labor anti-sanc- tionists, has emboldened Hitler in his war-mak- ing. The dilly-dallying of the same imperialist nations on the question of continuing the ap- plication of what sanctions were imposed upon Ttaly, as well as their agreement to permit Japan to overrun North China and prepare the attack against the Soyiet Union, gives assurances to Hitler that he will have a free hand, if not direct assistance, in predatory war against the Soviet Union. That there is danger of an attack on the Soyiet Union by world imperialism, led by Germany on the West and Japan on the East, should be apparent to all. The 170 million liberated people of the Socialist country, with their powerful Red Army, can be depended upon to defend, to their last breath if need be, their socialist father- Jand. The task of all who would preserve world peace is to organize and present to the war-moneg- ers a solid united front of opposition to war. ANOTHER WHITEWASH HE Royal Commission appointed to white- wash the police for their murderous attack on the Relief Camp trekkers and citizens of Re- -gina last Dominion Day has handed in its re- port. It is the most shameless exoneration of the police and a mean and slanderous attack upon the people at the meeting which the police at- tacked. : According to the Commission report, the way to arrest workers is first of all to mobilize police, issue thousands of rounds of ammunition and tear gas bombs to them, and then, after the ar- rests are made, attack the people who were at the meeting. The excuse given by the Commis- _ sion for the attack is that whilst the meeting was peaceful there might have ben a riot after the people learned of the arrests. Thus they justity the murderous assault by the police. The report brings up the possession of elubs by the Camp trekkers in the Regina stadium as evidence of the bad character of the boys. But the Commission knew full well that the clubs were improvised for defence two days after the trouble on Market Square, when the police had surrounded the stadium and the boys feared another attack. The Commission admitted that the police signals for the starting of the riot were eonfused, but whether clearness regarding the signals would have meant a stronger and more effective attack by the police it does not say. The report also states that the action of the boys in defending themselves in the streets after the police had scattered the people, when the police, mounted and on foot, pursued them, beat- ing them with clubs, riding them down and shoot- ing them—this defensive action of the boys is pointed out as evidence of their criminal char- acter and justification for the police brutalities. One thing the report, in its work of exonerat- ing the police, was compelled to admit, and that was that the police were acting directly under the instruction from the Federal government. The new government of Mackenzie King, once secure in office, used its power and influence to protect not only the reputation of the Bennett government, but the R.C.M.P. as well. The Lib- eral governments of King and Gardiner-Patter- son of Saskatchewan bent all their efforts to- wards placing the blame for the police riot on the Camp trekkers, and most despicable ot all, are sending many of them to prison on trmmped- up charges backed by police perjury, in order to give further legal justification for their work. The fact remains that even if there were a hundred Royal Commission whitewashes and a thousand convictions of Camp trekkers in the capitalist courts, the people of Canada have al- ready assessed the blame for the riot. They have placed the blame where it belongs: on the police, acting under instruction from Ottawa. And despite the sophistries of the Royal Commission’s report with its crooked reasoning, its perversions and distortions, the abolition of the Slave Camps was effected by the magnificent struggle put up by the Camp inmates, supported by wide sec- tions of organized labor and the people of Canada as a whole. That the report of the whitewashing Com- mission is the miserable thing that it is is no sur- prise to the people of Canada who are, in im- creasing numbers, learning that such commis- sions are tools of the master class, and never fail to carry out the instructions of the gang that appoints them, just as faithfully as the police carried out the instructions they received from the government to make their Hitlerist attack on the Market Square meeting in Regina. SCRAPS OF PAPER HE people have heard much pious cant from the British and other allied governments about the sacredness of imperialist treaties— Germany made “‘seraps of paper” out of treaties which its statesmen had solemnly signed; Mus- solini tore up the Versailles and Locarno treaties when he invaded Abyssinia; Hitler did likewise by his military occupation and fortifi- cation of the Rhineland. All this is true and reprehensible. But what about Britain herself? Did she not directly assist Hitler in rearmament in yiola- tion of the Versailles treaty? And did she not also violate existing treaties by her naval agree- ment with Germany ? Just recently the British government notified the United States and Japan that they would no longer abide by the provisions of the London treaty of 1930 regarding naval limitations; in other words, that they regarded it as a scrap of paper and were about to tear it up. The U.S. government has agreed to help tear up the treaty because they had already violated it and wanted a more powerful navy anyway. The answer of Japan will likely be the launch- ing of a campaign for the building of the world’s greatest fleet of submarines. The outcome will be a naval armament race on a seale larger than the Anglo-German navy-build- ing competition during the years preceeding 1914. ; Treaties between robber imperialist powers in deadly rivalry one with the other, and group against group, are but manoeuvres in the malang of alliances, and for the purpose of giving to the people a false feeling of security against war. They are no guarantee against war; only the organization and unification of all bodies and individuals opposed to imperialist war can stay the hands of the war-mongers, or that failing, will bring about their downfall and with it the abolition of capitalism, the cause of all war. THERE AND HERE N MOSCOW there has been on trial recently a government official, named Semenchuk, who was charged with cruelty against Esquimos on Wrangell Island in the Arctic region. If the charges are proved, it is likely he will be shot, as were officials who used to graft and steal; for the workers’ government deals ruthlessly with and is determined to root out these leftoyer rem- nants of capitalist characteristics, habits and practices. Im England honors and wealth are piled on official oppressors of the native peoples of India and Africa. How different was the treatment meted out to Sir Roger Casement, who exposed the horrible brutalities practiced against the en- slayed natives of Kenya Colony and other Afri- can colonial possessions—he was hanged! Of course, he made the added mistake of trying to liberate the Irish people from the yoke of British imperialism, which furnished a ready excuse for wreaking vengeance on him. Were Semenechuk a Canadian and practiced his brutalities against not only primitive people, but against Canadians, there would be a Royal Commission apponted to whitewash his acts, whilst those whom he abused and tortured would be dragged into a capitalist court, solemnly con- victed on perjured police evidence, and sen- teneed to prison for long terms, while Semen- chuk himself would have a few more stripes on his uniform and praise heaped on him for his maintenance of “law and order.” The Pattullo government is furnishing another proof that the beginning and development of So- Cialism ean take place within the eapitalist system... The beginning of the abolition of the profit system has been decreed at Victoria, Representatives of foreign capitalist governments, that is, Consuls-gen- erals liying in British Columbia, will be able to pro- cure their liquor without paying any duties or govern- ment profits. Formerly they were exempt from duty payment on their hootch, but the government charged its regular profit. The new ruling should make it easier for the agents of Hitler to corrupt the people in the course of their Berlin-directed propaganda for The World This Week By F. B. The governments of Great Britain and the United States are express- ing worry as to Japan’s intentions in North China. Large numbers of Japanese troops have been sent to that area, where, according to the Western Powers, they are not needed. If Japan were strengthen- ing her forces along the Soviet border the Powers would raise no objection, but as Japan takes an- other step forward in her plan to subjugate all China, they feel great Concern because their own conces- sions and investments are endan- gered with every fresh Japanese ad- vance. * * a* * A change of Dictators has taken place in Austria, pro-Mussolini Count Starhemberg having been re- placed by Chancellor Schussnigg. At first it looked as if Schussnigg was supported in this exchange by Hit- ler, and he may have had Hitler’s approval, but the main power back of the change has been British dip- lomacy. Sir Austen Chamberlain, the press states, recently paid a visit to Central Europe where, among other things, he advised Schussnigg how to oust Starhembere. Britain has acted in this case not so much to bolster the Nazi position in Austria as through a desire to do everything that will weaken and iso- Jate Mussolini, who threatens Brit- ish conirol of the Mediterranean. Schussnigge was said to be about to bring back democracy to Austria, but this is the usual eyewash that politicians in an uncertain position dish up. Any measure of Democracy that comes to Austria will come through the pressure exerted by the masses of the people on the fascist government, not by a change in the dominant figures of that govern- ment. There will soon take place in the United States a very important event. A Pan-American peace con- ference is to be held. Pan-Americanism is a movement for the amalgamation of all the American countries into one body. In such a movement the United States. of course, becomes tne driving force. As the war danger in Hurope becomes more menacing this question of Pan-Americanism has been coming more and more to the front, because an Huropean war will end in the abolition of capitalism there, and with the workers in soy- ernments there will be no opening for exploitation by American or any other imperialism. The Ameri- can capitalists are preparing for this time, and their isolation policy towards Huropean war is largely based upon this view. There already exists a Pan-Amer- ican Union, established in 1890 and originally known as the Inter- national Bureau of the American Republics. The Wnion is composed of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Domin- ican Republic, Ecuador, EI Salva- dor, Gautemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Para- euay, Peru, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela. Its purpose is said to be to promote peace, friendly in- tercourse, trade, financial and cul- tural relations between its members, but in reality it is to extend the in- fluence of American Imperialism, headquarters in Wall Street, throughout the whole of the West- ern hemisphere. The Union pub- lished a monthly bulletin in Eng- lish, Spanish and Portuguese, and the national representatives meet annually every April in Washing- ton, D.C. Barly last January the President made a speech to Congress in which he very noticeably represented the United States as being the guardian of all North and South American countries including Canada. Whither Canada? Will the Canadian people stay with the British Empire, or go with the American Empire, or decide on complete independence? The out- break of another world war will render a decision necessary. *"FRISCO PAPER SUED BY UNION AND OFFICIAL SAN FRANCISCO.— Libel suit for $100,000 on behalf of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, and for $50,000 on behalf of Harry Lundberg, its secretary-treasurer, has been brought against the Chronicle Pub- lishing Co., publishers of the San Francisco “Chronicle.” The suits are based upon a front page editorial in the Chronicle of April 13, in which, according to Lundberg’s complaint, the union was libellously charged with engaging in practices designed to destroy the U.S. government, and its institutions, by force and vyio- lence, and with inciting sailors to meeting and thereby to a violation of the laws of the U-S. Following the publication of the editorial, the union made a written demand that the Chronicle retract and withdraw its statement. The Chronicle failed to do so. AN ALBERTA TREK DRUMHELLER, Alta, May 15— (ALP)—Charles Adams, unemployed leader here, announced he would head a large number of unemployed from here on a march to the legis- lative buildings at Edmonton. He said the march would start either Thursday or Friday. In Edmonton, the army will place two demands before the government, Adams said. First, a 15 per cent in- erease in the Drumbeller city rates of unemployed relief, and second, dismissal af A. A. Mackenzie, chair- man of the Aiberta unemployment relief commission and other relief chiefs. Adams announced that 41 recruits have already joined and that mem- bers of other unemployed associa- tions in the district had been asked the spreading of Naziism in Canada. to swell the ranks. England’s great colony. By OL’ BILL About twenty-five years 450, when the Vancouver boom burst when the town was initiated into unemployed parades and the City cops got their baptism in the art of clubbing demonstrating workers, it was agreed among the Reds that if you met another plug on the British officers in teeming India watched with imterest when native women, delegates to the recent sessions of the Indian National Congress, marched by the thousands through the streets of Lucknow, India. Strong demands for liberty have long featured politics in Rev. Robt. Connell, leader of the opposition (C-C.F.) in the provincial jJegisJature, is again gleefully quoted at length in the capitalist press. This time it is another speech which he made in a meeting held by No. 1 Branch of the Kitsilano Branch, CGF, on Monday night that is quoted from so approvingly. The capitalist press report is headed “Beware Red Menace.” And that about describes the content of the reverend gentleman’s speech. One of his pronouncements was that there must be no Gollective jeadership of the G.C.F., that no elected committee of the party cai be permitted to lead it; the leader- ship must be vested in 2 Fuehrer— with Mr. Connell as the fuehrer. Of course he disclaimed any aspiration for the job. Unlike Caesar he did not thrice refuse the crown, but took it pecause of his fitness for it. Or like Cincinnatus, who left the plough to euide the ship of state, he left» the pulpit—part time—to lead “his majesty’s loyal opposition.” Sectarian United Frent. Me wants a united front, but it is a united front of the Right Wing of the G.C.F. and its supporters against ‘Communist influence,’ a sectarian united front against a real united front of all anti-capital- ist forces. And once again he an- nounces his child-like faith in the possibility of bringing Socialism into existence without transgressing against the rules (the constitution) provided by a robber class to pre- vent its own overthrow. He dis- avowed adherence to any policy that would lead to unconstitutional action. His abysmal ignorance of social change was displayed when he de- clared that the Soviet Union (he still calls the country of the Soviets “Russia”) was a long way from socialism. He does not seem to know that socialism has been victor- jous in the Soviet Union. It is true that in the Soviet Union Commun- ism is still some distance off, but they are unmistakably approaching: its consummation. Whilst foreed to admit that there are economic classes in present day capitalist society, he does not admit that in the fields of science, art and literature there should be abolition of classes. In his opinion these fields are immune from capitalist influences and are not exploited for class ends. Bankers’ Interests Safe That Mr. Connell shrinks from the responsibility of government, or, if forced to accept Such a responsibil- ity, will carry on capitalist Sovern- ment in the traditional capitalist manner was clearly indicated when he disavowed any intention of de- priving the bond holders of their tribute. ‘‘Would anyone expect that we are going to destroy the puble eredit if we attain power?” he asked indignantly. But what is the “‘pub- lic credit’ that he is so desirous of maintaining? It is the certainty of the bankers that no matter how many of the population suffer, they will receive the full-interest on the public debt. This means that Mr. Connell is assuring the bankers in advance that their interests will be safe in his hands. He will have nothing to do with a policy of con- fiseation of their stolen privileges, and will not embarrass them by re- pudiating the provincial debt, that millstone that hangs around the necks of the impoverished people of the province. _Leyal Opposition Further proof of his policy of re- maining “his Majesty’s loyal op- position’’ is gathered from his dec- laration that it is the duty of the opposition (C-C.F.) to assist in legis- lation (Pattullo’s legislation) not to hold it up. Perhaps he had the same thing in mind when no effective op- position was offered by him to Pat- tullo’s fascist Special Powers Act a few years ago. It was not the gathering forces of reaction that Mr. Connell saw as a danger to the @:.C.F. and the people of British Columbia; it was the Communists. He fears, as much as Ebert and Schneidemann of the Social-Democratic Party of Germany Connell Raises Red Bogey Against Lefts feared in 1918-1919, the influence of the Communists. And like these reformists who made fascism possible, he is prepared to go to any lengths to disassociate his party from them. We said that if Communist influ- ence on and in the C.C.F. is per- mitted to grow, there will not be a single €.C.F. club left in the prov— ince. Permit us to tell Mr. Connell that if his reactionary ideas and policies and petty bourgeois yiews gain the ascendency, the C-C.&. wall =o the way of the German and Austrian Social-Democratie parties —to extinction. Consider People’s Rights The C.C.F. represents the protest of a large number of the people who are disgusted with the old capitalist parties, people who do not want a ‘new, a “better’’ capitalist party such as Connell seems to stand for, but who want a party that will break definitely with capitalism, a party that will fight for the imter- ests of the people without regard for the “rights” of the bankers and bond holders, rights and privileges which were granted by thieving capitalist governments, and rights whieh any labor party should re- pudiate and cancel at the first op- portunity. The C.C.F. has a great opportun- ity to gain governmental control of this province, and when in control do a great deal to ameliorate the terrible plight of the people, crush out rising fascism, democratise the police force and mobilize the people against the war danger. But with the policies advocated by Connell, with his stiflme of united front struggle, none of these things can or will be accomplished, for the reaching of such a goal means a united front of labor outside of the provincial legislature, and this is what Connell has stubbornly set his face against. Mr. Connell cannot expect the Communists to ignore his party. Communists represent the yanguard of the forces arrayed and about to be drawn into struggle against capitalism. Communists have the right to claim and assume the Jead- ership of these masses for the cor- reciness of the policies of the Com- munist parties has already been proved by victory over capitalism in the Soviet Union, whereas all that Social-Democracy, the policy advocated by Mr. Connell, has to show is the results in Germany and Austria. Communists Seek Unity Gommunists will therefore try to influence the members of the C.C.F. towards class struggle and away from the suicidal class-collaboration policies of Connell and his fellow Right Wing opportunists. This does not mean, however, that Commun- ists seek mechanical control of the C.C.F. as Mr. Connell seems to fear. Connell and his followers are bent on keeping the working class divided, thereby weakening it and making possible further encroach- ments on the standards of living of the workers, paving the way for ereeping fascism and paralyzing the workers in the face of the growing War danger. —M. B. NAZI OLYMPIC HATE WIDENS PARIS, France, May 19.—(ALP) —Opposition to the Olympic games in Berlin this summer is growing in democratic countries throughout Europe. With the election of the People’s Front government to power in France, chances that a French team will be present in Berlin when the Wazis start their athletic and prop- aganda festival went down rapidly. French government funds, it thus appears, will not be appropriated for sending athletes across the re- cently militarized Rhine. The move- ment towards a workers’ games fes- tival in Barcelona, Spain, is now spreading rapidly through the country and it is widely believed that the cabinet will appropriate the 1,800,000 francs to have gone to the Berlin Olympics, and send worker Sometimes all three in succession. strvet, he would ask you, immedi- ately, one of three questions and These salutes were: “Did you eat yet?” “Are you working?” or “Have- you got the makin’s?” Of course you won't find any confirmation of this in the talks of Judge Howay to the Wancouver Historical Soci- ety. But just ask any old-timer who had to work for a living? Times and conditions have changed. These are not the greet— ings of the Reds any more, al though we still have with us the: inveterate propounder of that last question, who no doubt will stay with us till we have all become Stakhanovites. Today the greeting is not couched in the above terms but: “Will you buy a ticket?” or ‘Will you put your name on My list?” I ean hear you all shout “You're telling me!’ There is a very natural reasom for this change. Twenty-five years ago socialist activity was very limited in character. We did not en-| gage in much agitation; we took no steps whatever, towards organ- izing the workers; we were going to educate the workers and if they would not come to be educated, then to hell with them—the boss would educate them. Naturally for that kind of program we did not nee@ very much money and our greetings purely of a personal character. The ast social changes of the last twenty years; the seizure of © power by the workers of Russia; the © revolutionary awakening of the workers in all capitalist countries? the throwing off of the fetters of Social Democratic reformist leader= ship by them and the fascist Te- action of this change have impose& new sand great responsibilities on those of us who are in the van of the movement. The revolution if not three or four hundred years i the future as some of us used to imagine. It is partially accomplished already and the further tasks for its success, in the way of agitation, propaganda, education and organ- ization, have to be carried through with feverish haste. This is the reason for all this ‘bDumming’ as some comrades wrongly call it. We haye no power corporations, pulp mill companies or wholesale grocers behind us so those who are going to benefit by the change must pay the score, must provide the necessary funds to carry this work on. The B.C. WORKERS’ NEWS and the DAILY CLARION are two of the main weapons in this work of agitation, propaganda, education and organization. If you have not already seen the need for your help there is yet time to do something in this Drive. If you cam do nothing more you can at least send in a donation to help this column to make its self-imposed quota of $150. = * * = As the Twig is Bent Here is another bit of real life history; mot from MacHadden’s “True Lies” but from the writings of Wancouver’s maniacal fascist radiorator, Tom Macinnes; not the grog-inspired ravings of a couple of Sundays ago nor the Jurid rumble~- bumble of his more sober micro- phonie efforts but the fruit of the balmy serenity of ten years ago be- fore penury had attached him to the tail of the Timber Pirates of B.C. or the “Cissiszens’” League, must thank Missourian for this beautifully descriptive spelling), The following illuminating ex- cerpt is taken from a story by Mac- Innes entitled ‘‘Lezgend of Wa Wa Rock”? (Probably the same rock where he got the gift of the lying gab). When he was a boy living in Westminster, he was, with threes other youngsters taken for ‘a trip to Harrison Lake and he relates this incident, apparently without shame. He says “Mat Phillips and 1 went for a paddle up river in the little canoe. After ten minutes or so we came abreast of a flat rock near shore, and to our surprise, a big salmon lay stretched out on it. Evidently it had {ust been caught by someone who laid it there, thinking it would be safe until his return. So we took it and paddled back to camp as fast as we could!” The fisherman who thought “it would be safe’ didn’t know Tom Macinhnes was close by or he would undoubtedly have been more careful. The sages tell us “As the twig is bent the tree will grow,” and we are quite justified in believing, apart from the lack of sportsmanship shown in such a dirty trick, that the fourteen or fifteen year old boy who would steal a salmon that was prob- ably someone’s breakfast, will not be trusted with salmon or anything else, when he grows old enough to join the Citizens’ League. The lack of principle displayed in the steal- ing of that fish, seem to have be- come a principle with this pot- house ranter and no amount of bibu- lous Sarrulity at the mike will wipe out that impression from the minds of honest people. Had Tom MaciInnes lived in Edin- burgh in the time of the Merry Monarch he might have been a member of the Drunken Parliament; he has all the qualifications. (ALP)—Durine 1936 alone the Soyiet Union is introducing more new electric power than was produced by all the power stations of Czarist Russia in 1913. athletes to Spain. from one individual to another were — AL