Heh Page Four B.C. WORKERS’? NEWS June 5, i836 B.C WorkKeERS NEWS Published Weekly by THE PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASS’N Rocm 10, 163 West Hastings Street - Vancouver, BC. a — Subscription Rates — Qne Year __ $1.80 Half Year 1.60 Three Months _$ .50 Single Copy —— .05 Make All Checks Payable to the B.C. WORKERS’ NEWS Send All Copy and Manuscript to the Chairnzan of the Editorial Board — Send All Monies and Letters Per- feining to Advertising and Circulation to the Business Manager. Vancouver, B.C., June 5, 1936 IT’S UP TO BLUM HE NEW government of the People’s Front in France will soon be put to the test. Great strike waves are sweeping over the country as the workers, flushed with victory in the general elections, are depending upon the new govern- ment to assist them in raising their living stan- dards and improving: their conditions generally. Premier slum can regard the sigantie strikes as an “embarrassment” to his government, or he can welcome the powerful mass moyement throughout the country as of tremendous assist- ance to him. The great strike movement will be an embarrassment to the government if Blum and lis fellow ministers desire to carry on in the same old social-democratie way of the Ram- say MacDonald labor governments and the social-democratic governments of Germany and Vienna. If he desires to alleyiate the burdens of the people he will welcome the great strike movement, tor 1t shows him that he has powerful support in the country. The attainment of a majorty im parliament and the government of the country does not mean that the struggles of the Popular Front are oyer, mor does it mean that the Popular Front is needed only in parliament, or that outside of parliament there is no need for it. Quite the contrary. The Popular Front and the United Front of Socialists and Communists and the trade unions which brought victory m the elections is needed today more than ever be- fore. The Communist Party, the organizer and leader of the Popular Front, realizes that its maintenance and growth is more necessary than the securing of ministerial posts in the govern- ment. The Communist Party while declining to par- ticipate in the government, will support it as long as it loyally and resolutely puts into effect the program upon which it was elected, and wall use its power and influence to compel it to do so. The Communists Inow that the fascists will strive for power regardless of parliament, and are determined to preyent them from gaining their ends. The masses outside the Chamber of Deputies are demandine more wages and better condi- tions and are looking to the Blum government to protect them in the struggle against the fascists and police which are beimg mobilized and sent against them by the 200 families which rule industry.. The issue is being clearly defined for the government—either for and with the workers in their struggle for higher wages and better conditions, or against them. THE HISS OF FASCISM ANCOUYVER’S fascists are becoming bolder as the war danger grows and the workers are pniting against growing oppression. From the ravings of their hireling, McInnes, over the radio they are planning another attack against or- ganized labor. Wednesday night McInnes expressed fear that transport workers, of sea, railroad, hishway and air, might organize and “prevent the movement of troops.” The Citizens’ League must have been tipped off that Canada is preparing for war to a greater extent than appears on the surface. The malodorous fascist radio ranter is also predicting another major strike in Vancouver, planned by Reds, of course, and for the purpose of interfering with “our” prosperity and the Jubilee. : Since no labor man, Red or otherwise, sees any major strike in the immediate future, we ean take it that the Citizens’ League and other labor-hating organizations, through the mouth of their tool, is preparing the public for another major attack on organized labor through a lock out, in the same way that they smashed the longshoremen’s uni0n. : There are ample grounds for believing that their next attack will be on the Street Railway- men’s Union. Already they have been trying to corrupt and undermine the union. by planting scabs, stools and rats they used in the watertront attack into jobs on the street railway. Only the vigilance of the Union prevented these social lice from becoming entrenched and able to carry on their disruptive and prvoocative work. The Union was able to smell these rats out and kick them out of their jobs. And still ereater yieilance will be needed in the future. "The voice of the McInneses, the Edgetts and. the anonymous labor-hating radio spouters 1s the hissing of the hydra-headed fascist reptile that as raised its ugly and venomous head jin Canada. Tf the people of this country wish to be spared the horrors of a Hitler Germany, they must unite as they did in France and Spain, and crush the rising monster before it 1s too late. THE VICTORIA BYE-ELECTION HE EFFRONTERY of the Tories knows no - pounds. In spite of the mess that Tolmie made as premier of B.C., svith his sorry exhibi- tion of incompetence, extravagance and con- tempt for the common people ot the province, the party of Bennett is again putting him up as sts candidate in the Victoria pbye-election. Once a bourgeois politician eets a taste of the political swill-barrel he deyelops an ineurable itch for oftice. Booted out of office by the people at the last provincial election, he is trying to un jnto the House of Commons through the bac ia: election. Bee ae Bennett needs another er ber to add to his shrunken gang of diortes in the House. The Liberals, with a top-heavy a S ity, are not worried very much about the ictoria seat, although they svould like to ye: ee The Pattullo liberal government mes : g = eredited the Liberal Party in B.C. almost 10 the extent that the YLolmie government dis- eredited the Tories. This makes the goine touch for the Liberals, and the death of Mr. Nicholas removed the only candidate of any strength or popularity they could find. The C.G.F. has nominated Prof. hinge Gordon who made such an excellent showing in the same riding in the last federal election. All progress- ive people should rally to the support of Gordon. Tolmic and the Liberal aspirant, whoever he may be, must be turned back. There are already too many of their reactionary stripe in parliament and the small progressive group there need, and should be given, the reinforcement that the election of Prof. Gordon would bring. & FROM BAD TO WORSE! T MUST have been with a shock and a feel- ing of shame that workers and all other haters of fascism read in the May 29th issue of the Commonwealth a news story boosting: the Olym- pic Games being sponsored in Germany by Hitler. The pro-Hitler story tells of the elaborate precautions bems taken by the fascist butcher to ‘prevent profiteering” in the housing and feed- ine of the athletes and visitors, of the beautitul woodland parks that are being used as sites for buildings to accommodate the contestants, of the “House of Comradeship” erected at the orders of Hitler for the women competitors. Comradeship! The “comradeship” of Hitler! The comradeship of the blood-bespattered muzr- derer of tens of thousands of the workers of Ger- many, the comradeship ot the fend who tortured uncounted thousands of the flower of the German working class, progressive people and intellec- tuals, Jew and Gentile, Catholic and Protestant, Communist, Socialst and Liberal. : The Commonwealth boosts the Hitler Olympic games and members of the C.C.F. conduct trials for them at their sport meet, knowing that all over the world there has arisen a mighty wave of protest and boycott movement against them. Not only revolutionary and socialist workers, but trades unions, workers’ sport organizations, mass organizations, anti-tascist members of the intelligentsia, student bodies and mnumerable other organizations haye registered those pro- tests and have called for the boyeott—and for very good reasons. The Berlin Olympiad is, first of all, a broad propaganda measure for the spreading of poison- ous ideas and doctrines of German fascism in capitalist countries. It is an attempt to breals the rine of isolation in which oficial Germany finds itself as a result of Nazi terror. The prep- arations, includine the trials conducted on Em- pire Day at Hastings Park which the Common- wealth praised so highly, are being used by re- actionary elements im all capitalist countries for strenethenine the militarization and fascization of sport. And it is all this that the Commonwealth, in line with the Hearst press, supports in its news columns. What would the thousands of Social- Democratic workers tortured in Hitler’s concen- tration camps think of such support? What would the thousands of exiled workers from the Nazi terror think of it? And what do the anti- fascist members of the C.C.F. think of it? Tt is unfortunate that with so few papers and periodicals being published by and in the name of the working class, the enemy class is still able to procure support in such quarters. The B.C. Workers’ News welcomes all labor papers which appear in the field of the class strugele as fiehters for the workers and as opponents of war and fascism, and up until quite recently it was glad that the Commonwealth, in spite of its many shortcomings, was being published. But we can- not remain mute when such glaring anti-working: class material as diseraced its columns in its last few issues has been printed. Again we would point out that opposition to the United Anti-capitalist Front, if persisted in, leads inevitably to a united front with the bosses of the Loggers’ Association type, thence to a united front with fascism, and even with the warmongers as in 1914. SUPPORT THE SHINGLE WEAVERS! HE WORKERS in the Capilano shingle mill are still out on strike against discrimination and a wage reduction. The company wants to put through an “adjustment” of the wage rates, which means that, if effected, a few men would Teeceive a slight increase whilst many would re- ceive substantial wage cuts. The men are organized 100 percent in the Shingle Weavers Section of the United Brother- hood of Carpenters and Joiners (A.F-of L.) and are holding out solidly for their demands. The whole power of the organized trade union move- ment should be mobilized in support of the em- battled workers who are fighting for the funda- mental rights of trade unionism. All workers and sympathizers, and prticu- larly trades unions, should contribute generously towards the upkeep of the men on strike, for such assistance is not only necessary but decisive. FACTORIES TO BE PUT ON WAR BASIS EFENCE Minister Ian MacKenzie dis- elosed in the House of Commons recently that a survey of manufacturing establishments in Canada was being carried on with a view to ascertaining: their efficiency for the production of arms and munitions in time of war. Tn Eneland, with the connivance and eo-opera- tion of the reactionary type of reformist trade union leaders who betrayed the workers in 1914 by supporting the imperialist war, the unions are being led into the signing of a three-year truce with the employers. Such a diseraceful truce was signed during the last world war, but this time they are taking time by.the forelock and shackling the workers to the war-preparation machine before the war actually breaks out. : The statement by the Defence Minister again shows the established connection hetween the Kine government and the national wovernment of British imperialism. The people of Canada must not permit themselves to be deceived by declarations of a desire for peace by the govern- ment. The warmongers, including the federal sovernment, are getting ready for war now, and it will require vigilance and united mass action of the people to thwart them in their murderous almis. The World This Week By F. B. Japanese Imperialism has pulled on its seven-leasue boots again, this time to take a sSiant stride into North China where it is evidently about to finish the conquest of five Chinese provinces begun ijast fall. Large numbers of troops equipped with tanks and artillery have been transported to this area, and the Peiping railroad has already been seized. When Japan carved out the pup- pet state of Manchukuo a few years ago she used the excuse that she had to have colonies io relieve the over-population at home, but the subjugation of Manchukuo with its great possibilities for colonization has apparently not been used as an outlet for the so-called surplus population of the Japanese Islands. So there must be a deeper reason for the newer plan of expansion. The Japanese government say that they want to crush Communism in China, another excuse that is ex- pected to win the approval of the capitalist world. Japan’s purpose in invading North China is that of all imperialist ex- pansion, to secure sources of raw materials lacking at home and to find a market for the output of home industries. Briefly, the Japan- ese capitalists want to increase their profits at the expense of a weaker people, in the same manner as Mus- solini did in Ethiopia, Britain and France in Africa and other parts of the world. The five provinces aimed to be eonquered are Shansi, Chahar, Hopei, Shantunge and Szechwan. They have a population of one hun- dred millions, potentially an enor- mous market for Japanese products, and they are rich in mineral de- posits. Shansi is said to have more than half of the coal supply of all Ghina; Chahar has very rich iron deposits, and Hopei and Shantuns are eminently suitable for the pro- duction on a large scale of wheat and cotton. Japan has not been able to get cotton and iron from Man- chukuo, she has had to buy both abroad. Her cotton was purchased mainly from British possessions, taken home, manufactured and then disposed of in the world’s markets, textiles being one of her main in- dustries. Japan, like all other capi- talist nations, aims to be as far as possible self-sufficient in order that she may not have to share profits with any other power, and if she can get all the cotton she wants from Worth China, British and American eotton interests will suffer heavily, increasing the antagonism that al- ready exists over Japan’s menace to their Pacific possessions. In China as a whole there have been two views towards Japanese ageression. One adyanced by Chiang Kai Shek and the capitalist govern- ment of co-operating with Japan, of refraining from doing anything that would provoke her. This policy is one of betrayal of the Chinese peo- ple to Japanese exploitation and is just what Japan wants as the less opposition she encounters the cheaper and easier will be her oc- cupation of the country. But Japan will not have in North China the walk-over she had in Manchukuo, for in the five provinces are Soviet territories the government of which has been for some time appealing to all sections of the Chinese people to unite in armed resistance to Japan- ese troops before it is too late. This appeal is having effect, judging by the fact that Chinese Sarrisons in the North have been strengthened and attempts haye been made to destroy bridges and damage vrail- roads so as to interfere with trans- port of Japanese troops. Encouraged and supported by the Red Army of the Soviet territories, it is almost a eertainty that the troops of the Nanking government will, even in spite of their pro-Japanese com- mangers, offer a stiff resistance to the Japanese, and there is an even chance of their repelling the in- waders. There will be heavy fight- ing there in the near future. Keady for a trip to Al-Bulak visible only in the U.S.S.R. = Siberia, is this 14-foot Carers to recon the total eclipse of the sun June 19 for the National Geographic Society and the National Bureau of Standards. The Soviet Union’s government is making elaborate plans to study the phenomenon, The 1936 Convention Of C.C.F. --- Pressing Issues To Organize and Lead the People in Fight Against Injustice and Oppression Should be the Issue The coming convention of the C.C.F. in the provinee of B.C. will be the most momentous in the his- tory of the movement in this prov- inee, This convention will decide the road that the C.C.F. will take for Some time to come. The matters that will be decided are not small issues. Underlying the personal at- tacks and animosities of certain leaders lies the real issue. The C.C.F. is seemingly divided into followers of Winch, Connell, Telford or Prit- chard; in reality this is not the real division. The real issue is that of POLICY. Which Road? Will the ©.C.E. carry on an ener- getice all-sided fight against capital- ism? Will it organize the people and teach them to fight against in- justice? Will it carry on agitation and propaganda amongst all the op- pressed, helping them to organize and fight against oppression? Or will it restrict itself to a purely par- liamentary, a purely passive, policy of standing aloof and discouraging any participation in the real issues which life places before us, restrict- ing every struggle in the interests of retaining the respect of the ruling class? THIS IS THE CENTRAL POINT ON WHICH THE CON- VENTION WiLL HAVE TO DE- CIDE. The C.C.F. is not an homogeneous organization. It is well that it is not. If the C.C.E. ever becomes such, —i.e., a narrow organization of peo- ple who hold exactly the same views, then its great possibilities will be lost. The power and importance of the movement is that it draws into its ranks people from every walk of life; all those who are tired of capi- talism and its tyranny, injustice and oppression, and who wish for a new social order. There may be a thousand different views as to how this new social or- der will be brought about; but the real significance of the great growth of the movement is to be found in the desire of the people for social- ism. Tf the C.C.F. is restricted in its program; if a right wing or a leit wing is cut off, nothing will be gained. There still will be a right wing and a left wing, only the or- ganization will be smaller; that is all. No expulsions either from the right or the left. We must not do anything that will narrow the C.C-F. —restrict its influence or its power, providing that power is (and this is the important point) directed to- wards the improvement of the eco- Co-ordination of Efforts Will Herald Progress For Canada Youth By MAURICE RUSH Provincial Secretary, Young Communist League On Monday, June §, at § p.m., rep- resentatives of numerous working elass youth organizations, amongst them €.G.F. youth clubs, branches of the Young Socialist League and Youn= Communist League, etc, meet at the Cedar Cottage C.CP- Club at 3691 Commercial Drive to form a federation of socialist youth organizations from Vancouver and surrounding vicinity. Jn response to a call issued by the committee for a Socialist Youth Council, representing the ¥.S.L. and ¥.C.L., numerous youth clubs haye responded and elected delegates. The fact that the proposal is so enthusiastically accepted and acted upon is an indication of the political awakening of the youth and ex- presses an unmistakable desire for co-operation, a desire which can best be expresed at this time through the formation of a Council of Secialist Youth. Such a federated group will bring the working class youth organiza- tions into closer contact with each other and will co-ordinate their activities for the betterment of the conditions of the young people and for 2 new social order. Such mutual relationships will ultimately raise before the whole youth movement Socialist Youth Bodies In Conference Here June 8 © the question of organic unity and the building of one United Youth League. The importance of such unity, to- wards which the youth are heading, is of extreme importance at this time with the attacks upon the working people become sharper as the powers that be strive to make the impoverished people carry the weight of the economic erisis. The Socialist Youth Council will undoubtedly strengthen the fight for jobs for youth, for more educa- tional and sports facilities, ete. In general, it will-strengthen the ef- forts of our people for a better life. The struggle against war and grow- ing reaction will likewise, take on added impetus as the movement gains ground. Not only will the existence of such a federation unite the presently or- eanized youth, but will act as 4a stimulus to the whole socialist youth movement. It will attract large numbers of youth who have re- mained unorganized till this day, in many cases because of the division which existed in the working class youth movement. This Federation will be able to carry on a campaign for the organ- ization of the youth in industry, who, due to lack of organization, work under terrible conditions and are bitterly exploited. Not only will the effects of this growing unity amongst the youth of British Columbia be felt in this province, but will likewise have its repercussions on the entire youtn nomic and political position of the masses of the people and the aboli- tion of capitalism. If the C.G&. fol- lows this road we must not narrow it; we must widen it. Unity in the Struggle The question of unity in the ranks of the working class organizations will *undoubtedly come up at the convention. In order to prevent fas- cism, to defeat reaction, and to win power, we must have unity. This is an axiom that will not require dis- cussion with any but political in- fants. Formal unity, however, will not decide any great problems. Some people are ready to sacrifice every principle on the altar of unity. Sure- ly this is not correct. Why do we need unity? Is it not clear that we need unity in order to Carry on a broad mass fight against capitalism? We do not desire that people who are oppressed should re- frain from fighting against oppres- sion in order to preserve, unity. This would be wrong; this would widen the channels of passivity and would in reality be worse than no unity at all. We desire unity in or- der that we can better conduct a de- termined struggle against capital- ism, not merely because we like the look of the word in print. The conventon should not waste its time with academic and contro- versial discussions of formal unity with other political parties which would be meaningless unless put into life by a policy of active par- ticipation in the issues of everyday existence. The questions of relief, of wages, of evictions—these are the problems that must be met and dealt with. The convention should aim at hay- ing the movement take a more ac- tive part in these everyday ques- tions and work for unity with all those who are working in the same field no matter who they may be, whether Christians or Communists. Must Stop Red-baiting The convention should call a halt once and for all to the despicable policy of “red-baiting.” Is it not enough that every reactionary ruling elass periodical does this? Is it not enough that every fascist or semi- fascist organization follows this pol- icy? Is it not enough that the whole of capitalism devotes pages and pages to attacks upon communism, the name which they give to any- thing that they do not like? We now have the parliamentary leader of the G.G.F. raising his voice along with this pack of hyenas. Surely Mr. Connell could devote his time to some more worthy object. Mr. Gonnell is not the real leader of the C.C.F. He is the leader of the parliamentary Opposition, and there is a distinction. The real leader of the movement is, or should be, the provincial president, who is duly elected by the membership in the convention. It would appear that Mr. Gonnell is assuming a role which he does not fill as an elected person. This would not be so bad; but when in doing this, 2 policy is carried on that is resulting in a split, then it is time to sound a warning. Mr. Connell manifesto.”” Good! “The stands tutional versus revolutionary action is not the issue facing the conven- tion. The issues facing the conven- tion do not lie outside of the mani- festo but within its bounds. To organize the people to fight oppression is not unconstitutional. To assist and promote unions is not unconsttiutional. To carry on 2 fight for the everyday needs of the people is not against the law. Tt is all very well to say, “We stand for the manifesto and constitu-tional action.” This places those who Op- pose the policy of “red-baiting”’ and isolation as being AGATNST eonsti- tutional action and AGADNST the manifesto. This is not so! The delegates to the convention who favor a broader moyement should not allow themselves to be manoceu- vered into any such position. (Continued in Next Issue) ARE YOU LUCKY? Ticket number 576 won the two Ash Hall, 19th Ave. and The draw was in aid of the 5B es ‘| could well do without. comes in this-category is the budget § || Mr. Connell says, “I stand by the C.C.F. for constitutional action.” What of it? The question of consti- oil paintings drawn May 30 at the Fraser. OL’ BILL Although May as gone, it is not too late yet to do © your bit for the Press Drive. We have so far fallen a long way short of the quota we set out to get for this column. We can- pot do without the working-class press, but there are numerous papers, magazines and organs we One that © B.C. Collectric Once More of bad news we get for nothing every Friday morning on the local torture-wagons that help to keep @ full house at Hssondale. It is im- possible to avoid returning to this subject of the B.C. Gollectric at this ~ time after reading the last issue of the “Buzzer.”’ : The agreement, re- The Public cently signed, be-— Be Damned! tween the street- car monopoly and dinginess, called for an extension of | the Grandview bus line from 29th Ayenue to Kingsway. Now comes the propaganda organ of the snatch- penny corporation to inform us that the Grandview Highway bus is, running to Kingsway and that the bus that ran to Slocan and Kings- way will only run to Grandview - Highway in future. The people in the Slocan area may go plumb to hell as far as the B.C. Collectrie is concerned, for you know the “Buzzer” tells us consistently that “service” is the great objective of Murrain and his money-grubbing as- sociates; not profit—“service.” [I would suggest to Mr. Murrain that the near future, not to snitch on the passengers or the streetcar-men’s wages but to cut out the “Buzzer.” If anybody loses it won’t be the streetcar riders. At this distance it Leg- looks as if there has: Rolling been some log-rolling. done around the City Hall. You know what log-rolline is? “You scratch my back and Ill scratch yours,” in politics, city or Dominion, parish pump or prov— ince. It accounts for the avidity shown by the Dogberry type wher their names are méntioned as can- didates. @f course, they all want te “serve.’ Just like the Toonervyille Trolley company we are saddled with. I have been in 25 different eountries and have forgotten how many cities and towns, but I have only been in one town that did not have a better streetcar system than Vancouver. That was Venice, Italy, where they have no streets and do their travelling in canal boats or gondolas (pardon me, I had for- gotten Victoria and Westminster)- Until we get a workers’ city council the Murrain gang will go on in im- perturable serenity and we will con-. tinue to be gypped. ‘Waiting For Lefty’ A “Lefty” still makes news. Ac— Protest cording to an item in the “Sun” of Fri- day last, Guy Glover, who had so much to do with the success of “Lefty,” is at a loss to understand the reception their production met with in Sudbury before an audience of “toughened miners.’ Wot alt these “toughened miners” but “cer- tain persons in the audience” ap- pealed against the language used in “Lefty.” Personally, IT am not sur- prised that “certain persons” pro- tested in Sudbury. In fact, that is just the kind of place to expect protest. The hard-rock min- ing industry of this country is organized on a company town basis, as to a large extent coal-min- ing is also. Sudbury, Coppercliffe, Timmins, Flin Flon, Noranda, Trail, Anyox and Britannia—these are all company-dominated camps, and as S. G Blaylock, manager of Trail, once stated, they “will not be dic- tated to by any organization or muckpile oratars.” If “Lefty” went into Trail it would get the same re- ception as it did at Sudbury, the centre of the International Nickel Company, because it is propaganda, and would be considered “muck-pile oratory.’ The mining corporations to whom these towns belong are without exception anti-union, and the “objectors” at Sudbury were not “toughened miners’ but company heels, and the real objection was not to “vulgarity” but to the final inspiring appeal that climaxes the play, “Strike! Strike! Strike!” Aberhart, wonder- Social worker by the grace of Credit God and the galaxy of great whales of finance gathered around him is due fora rude awakening. It seesm to be coming sooner too, than some people think. The show-case piety dis- played by Aberhart since taking power into his hands has not done one jot towards feeding the hungry unemployed workers and farmers of Alberta. It is not surprising then to hear of a hunger march being organized in Drumheller to put de- mands before the Social Credit demagogue at Edmonton. Company Towns Forty workers and Hunger farmers will leave / Drumheller, and their “BEER numbers will be added to at every place on the way. Their demands are for 15 per cent increass in relief and the firing of the local relief official and others of the Al- pberta Relief Commission. I hope Premier Aberhart will be pleased to meet the leader of this hunger mahch, Gharles Adams, member of the Social Credit group in Drum- Workers’ News and Clarion drive. movement in Canada. heller. our bunch of experts in municipal rt if he has to do any “economizinge” im x | | : 4 j i |