13 4 YS Page Four B.C. WORKERS’ NEWS June 12, 1936 B.C. Workers NEWS Cc Published Weekly by THE PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASS’N Room 10, 163 West Hastungs Street - Vancouver, BC. — Subscription Rates — Half Year Single Copy —-— Make All Ghecks Payable to the B.C. WORKERS’ NEWS Send All Copy and Manuscript to’ the Chairman of the Editorial Board —- Send AH Monies and Letters Per- faining to Advertising and Circulation to the Business One Year —___ $1.80 Three’ Months.-$ .50 Manager. of which they He blames 1.00 :05 Vancouver, B.C., June 12, 1936 A GOOD RUN HE Conservative Party received a severe shock when the result of the voting last Monday in the Victoria bye-election was known. Tn this traditional Tory riding the Conservative eandidate, Dr. Tolmic, the most popular ecandi- date his party could find—eyen if popular in Victoria only—was elected by less than one hun- dred of a majority over his nearest rival, Prof. Kine Gordon, C.C.F. candidate, with the Lib- eral running third. The C.C.F. candidate cut the majority re- ceived by the Tory candidate last October from approximately 1000 votes. With the advantage of haying their party in power at Ottawa, the Liberals did not do so well, which shows that already the King government is not satishyine the suffering population of Canada, and the peo- disillusioned as election promises are conveniently forgotten. With a more conerete immediate program for the relief of the people and less vague idealism abont a hazy and distant Utopia, Gordon might ple are becoming have been elected. As it was, he made an excellent showing and should be successful next time out in the same riding. HOLDING UP THE YOUTH HE shifty King government, compelled to abolish the slave compounds set up by the Bennett government for single mnemployed men, is dealing with these unfortunate youth im a man- ner which in some respects is meaner and more despicable than that embodied in the Bennett scheme. For these young workers to be rid of the greasy colonels and other military brass hats 1m semi- militarized concentration camps is undoubtedly apreat gain. But with the eains there are losses. Bennett, when he set the miserable wage of 20 cents a day, at least gave it. King does not do this. He sets the wage at 25 cents an hour, but doesn’t promise that it be who earn it. Part of what they from them to be doled out in dribblets when they are out of work. This in practice means that the wage is not 95 cents an hour at all. Or if it is, there is a high words, the worker is robbed of a large part of his pay betore he ever given to the men earn is held back tax placed on it. Im other gets it. This contemptible method of holding up em- ployed workers to proyide for themselves in future periods of unemployment is goine Ben- nett one better: and if not put an end to will be extended throughout industry. Through organization and militant strikes and demonstrations the inmates of the Slave hold the camps up to uni- and bring about their aboli- tion. By the same means they can now compel the payment in full of the wages set for their Camps were able to versal detestation, labor. B.C.. whether HOW GENEROUS! OMMENTS by the Citizens’ League radio mouthpiece on the strikes in France would be amusing were it not for the fascist demagory reek. the strikers on the ereed of the French emplovers. Had they, quoth he, granted the *“reasonable¥ étrikes would not have taken place. Now, that is very nice of the fascist Citizens’ League, hire ling. But is it so nice? France is far from B.C. and he can afford to befake a generosity toward the workers there in order to be of greater damage to the workers here. Whilst he says this about the France, he always viciously attacks demands of the workers the workers of strikers in Slave Camp, longshore or lumber workers, and does the bidding of the employers in every industrial dispute. Tt is characteristic fascist demasogy to pose as beime oppesed to “ereedy’ and “unreason- able’ employers and to labor “agitators”? and “professional strike promoters.” incipient fascism tries to turn over the great mass of the people which does not fit into either In this way category. This was the method of Hitler and the ceptive appeal. Nazi brand of fascism. Fascism, whilst making its demagogie appeal to the great middle class, the white-collared work- ers and other despairing sections of the people: is all the time the agent of the most reactionary section of finance capital and the deadly enemy of those very sections to which it makes its de- The Vancouver fascist nit is true to type: it is the spawn of the Shipping Federations (which includes. the C. sociation, and must be fought relentlessly by all who abhor and wish to prevent the srowth of fascism in this country and proyince. P.R.) and the boss Loggers’ As- = NO MORE SANCTIONS HE diehard section of the National govern- ment of Great Britain has won out on the question of the continuation of the application of sanctions against Italy. Ever since Mussolini invaded Abyssinia, the eroup headed by Baldwin only half-heartedly applied limited sanctions against the fascist ag- eressor, and that only because of the pressure exerted upon them by the people at home and by those members of the League of Nations, headed by the Soviet Union, which desired peace. Now that Italy has about conquered the al- most helpless and defenceless Ethiopians, all Soviet Union. “Socialists” seale. sanctions are to be dropped, which means a con- tinuation of the British government’s policy of encouraging Hitler in carrying through his war program which is primarily directed against the Surely Sir Stafford Cripps and the other who lined up Chamberlain and Churchill against Abyssinia, the Soviet Union and the peace-desiring small nations are satisfied now. Mussolini is to be free to consolidate his gains and Hitler is encour aged to follow the lead of Mussolini, only on a far larger, more ambitious and more murderous with Mussolini, In spite of the stupidity and confusion of Sir Stafford Cripps, the people of Great Britain and the rest of the world will have more to say on the sanctions question, even to the application of sanctions against their own governments in the event of their drageing the people into an- other imperialist war. Leon Blum A awers Eacmies Of People’s Popular Front Government Will Act Quickly and Decisively for Workers PARIS, France, June 6.—{ALP)— Speaking to the people of France who elected the Popular Front to power, Premier Leon Blum, over a mation-wide radio hook-up, yester- day assured Freneh militant labor that the government would not fail to implement its promises to the working people, warned the capital- fst class of his eountry to accept the will of the common people and criticized severely the reactionary interpretaion of events in France by th capitalist press of the world. ‘The government of the Popular Front,” he declared, “has been con- stituted ana tomorrow it will g0 before parliament. Tis program 1S the program of the Popular Bromt. Among the measures which it will immediately lay pefore parliament and which it will ask the two houses to vote before their vacations Bore forty-hour week, collective contract, paid vacations; that is, the principal reforms demanded by the working world. Will Act for Workers “Tt is resolved to act with deci- sion and swiftly for the workers on the land as well as for the work- ers in the factories. It will do its whole duty. It will not fail in any engagement it has taken. But its strength lies above all in the con- fidence which the people of Hrance put in it and it in turn asks the confidence of those millions of voters who palced it in power. “To be effective the government must have public security. It would be paralyzed by any infringement of order, by 2ny interruption | in the vital services of the nation. Any panic, any confusion “would serve to» obscure the designs of ad- yersaries of the Popular front, amone whom some are already pre- paring their revenge. The sovernment demands, there- fore, that the workers submit ta Jaw in so far as their claims can be settled by law and that they pursue their other claims with calm, dignity and discipline. “Tt demands from the employers an examination of these claims in 2 large spirit of justice. It regrets that the intransigent attitude of the employers coincide with its coming to power, “Jt demands that all the country keep cool, that it protect itself against exaggerations and evil rumors and face with compiete selr- mastery a situation which is already dramatized by ill-intentioned ob- servers but which the effort of the common will should be sufficient to regulate. “The victory of April 26 and May 8 received its full consecration. A great future is opening for the French democracy. I entreat it as the head of the government to enter it with that quiet strength which is a guarantee of further victories.” British Imperialists Arrest Calcutta Mayor CALCUTTA, India, June 6.—{ALP) —Subhas Bose, mayor of Caleutta, who was arrested upon his return from Europe, has been moved from the Yervada jail to Hurseong due to ill health. He is to be detained as a state prisoner, the report states. He is a member of the working cominittee of the All-India Congress. International Unity Proposed OSLO, Norway, June 6.—_{ALP)— The secretariat of the Norwegian Trade Union Federation has placed the following resolution for the In- ternational Trade Union HMederation Congress to be held in July: “We eall upon the congress to begin negotiations for trade union unity with the Red International of Labor Unions.” Professionals, Business Men and Trade Union Leaders are Trustees The Children’s Summer Camp Committee announces that the fol- lowing trustees have been appointed for the newly purchased camp site at Coombe, near SBalearra: Mrs. Dorothy Steeves, MLA, Mr. J. Steveson for Local 452, A.P.L., Dr. ]. Murphy, Mr. H. Peterson for the Lumber and Sawmill Union of the AFL. Mr. Wallace, proprietor Wallace Groceterias; Mr. J. Hender- son, president Local 882, president Hastings Community Centre, mem- ber of the Vancouver Jubilee Com- mittee and of the Boxing Commis- sion, and the Firefighters’ Union. trustee to be named. Generous contributions haye come forward-from union locals, business men and-professional people. Capitol Hill Community Hall Association and the Burnaby Workers’ Associa-— tion haye donated proceeds of af- fairs to the Summer Camp, A con- cert in aid of the camp is being held by the Camp Committee on Friday evening, June 12, 805 Pender Street East. Applications for the camp are being considered by the Camp Com- Children’s Summer Camp Real Public Institution mittee. Three dollars pays all the expenses of a week’s vacation for one child, and individuals and organ- izations who can help in this hu- manitarian cause are asked to spon- sor vacations for as many ehildren as money can be raised for. All help in connection with the camp is vol- untary and every penny raised and contributed is spent for the camp and the children. Experienced camp leaders wishing to volunteer for work with children are asked to see or write the secretary, Room 20, Burns Block, 18 Hastings Street West. Five hundred children can be ac- comodated this year. Will you and your organization help make some fallant lad or lassie happy and healthy this summer? FLASH! ...A permit has been granted by the City Council for 2 tag day for the Summer Camp, for Saturday, June 27th. FOR MOSCOW CHILDREN MOSCOW, June 3. (ALP)—With- in the next three years, 800 new dairy kitchens will be built in Soviet cities for feeding 1,500,000 children. The existing number of kindergartens in factory settle- ments and cities will be tripled. GOD IS STILL “ON OUR SIDE” Soldiers from every country were told durim i i Zs Ec : sountry g the World War that “God is on our side’—and this picture from Japan indicates that the sons of the island empire are still hearing the same story. After attending peace services at the S=2noji shrine, these priests, garbed in gas masks are leaving the temple to attend a military review. : : The World This Week By F. B. The People’s Front in France has chalked up its first great victory. The great wave of strikes that swept the country has ended with the strikers Winning all their chief demands, such recognition of unions, wage inecréases, and the forty hour week: The strikes were evidently timed to take place a day or two before the Blum cabinet was to take over the feins of sovern- ment. In a number of cases the workers stayed in the factories, sit- tinge down and refusing to work, a very effective way of preventing the employers trying to use scabs, and also a gentle reminder to them that the workers could, if their demands were not agreed to, take over the factories and run them. The People’s Front was bullt up through fear of fascism and war, and also through struggles to better the conditions of the ‘workers, struggles that taught that only through wide unity could their aims be achieved, and the fact that there was a People’s Front government by no means did away with the necessity to struggle. Quite the con- trary, the time to intensify the struggles against the employers was exactly when a People’s Front gov- ernment had power to prevent tne employers using state forces to break the strikes. The common people of france have no doubt learned much from the failures of the Labor goveérn- ments in England of 1923 and 1929 to weaken the strangle-hold the British capitalists had on the Brit- ish ‘workers. The Labor govern- ments advocated industrial peace, collaboration witnm the capitalists, under the plea that they did not have an absolute majority in the House of Commons, and that therefore eco- nomic struggles would weaken their position. This line was a surrender to the capitalists. If the British Labor governments had taken a bold stand and called on the workers to back them up with strikes there could be no danger of fascism in Britain to- day, and the common people would not be groaning under the burden of taxation that the Baldwin govern- ment’s armament program has laid across their backs. The Labor gov- ernments might have been forced to resign, but another election woul. have returned them with a sweep- ing majority. Although the People’s Front has an absolute majority in the Chumber of Deputies, a majority represent- ing the common people as against the financiers and industrial mag- nates, the French workers did not wait to be called to action by Pre- mier Blum. It speaks volumes for their political understanding that they knew exactly when to strike. They recognized }that. a People’s Front government was their serv- ant, an instrument fashioned by them to better their conditions. The French strike movement Was a political movement of the first water. It was a great example of co-operative action by the political and industrial organizations of the common people: It was not against the People’s Front government but in support of it. But the People’s Front cannot and will not rest upon the laurels al- ready won. Its work has only begun. There remains te be tackled the ereat question of abolishing anem- ployment, of dissolving and disarm- ing the fascist’ organizations in France, and in the international field of promoting peace and of re- organizing and» building up the League of Nations, and wito the confidence of victory in their first crossing of Swords with lrench Capitalism there is every reason to expect the French workers to reg- as ister greater achievements in the future. ; The workers of every capitalist country can learn from: the French People’s Front ‘show it should be done.’ ABYSSINIANS STILL CONTINUE BATFLE NEW YORK, “June 8—{ALP)— Edward J. Neil,» Associated Press correspondent who accompanied the Northern Italian armies into Addis Ababa, has cabled his news seryice from* Djibouti that there are at Jeast 11,500 Ethiopian soldiers uuder arms within 50 miles of Addis Ababa, The 1936 Convention Of C.C.F. --- Pressing Issues C (Continued from last issue) The main thing of importance is that the C.C.F. should carry on a more active fight against capital- ism and should work with those working in this field. When the @€G.E does this, it is stronger and extends its influence. Can it be denied that the ©. CE. was stronger in this province when it actively took up the cause of the relief camp workers than it has ever been be- fore or since? Are no lessons to be learned from Regina and Winnipes? Where did labor get a majority in the council chambers? In those cities where it did mot isolate itself from the rest of organized labor. It seems that the experience of the movement is teaching very clearly the road to take if power is to be won. The Question of Power The question of power is a very important one. Many of the mem- bers of the C.C.F. rather elude the question of power. They are afraid the C.C.E. will “lose face” if it takes power on a program of “re- forms.’ This is an honest feeling in many cases and should be res- pected as such. ‘““We will have social- ism or nothing,” is the watchword used. The idea of supporting a program that is not a socialist pro- gram; but a progressive program, does not appeal to our friends who think along this line. Is it not clear that a concrete, definite, realisable program which, if enacted, would improve the economic position of the workers and act as a check to fascism would bring us nearer to the goal? We have to face the possibility of the movement, or the leaders, being discredited, of course. But what causes a party to become dis- eredited? Is it not a fact that the real reason is this: Going into office with rosy promises to the people of what they are going to do ,and when in office carrying out the policy of capitalism in the interest of the capitalists and against the workers? ( A party cannot take over the Provincial Government, or any gov- ernment, and administer it in the interest of the capitalists and at the same time expect to retain the support of the workers. Such a2 policy leads to disaster. The ones who try such methods fall between two stools; they lose the respect of the workers, eventually they incur their active hatred, they are used as tools by the capitalists until their usefulness is passed, nen they are discarded like an old glove. Witness the careers of Mac- Donald and Thomas. The Platform Mr. Connell put forward a plat- form in the house at Victoria. This platform was vague and very indef- inite in a great many instances; but it contained a number of good points. Can anyone quarrel with the extension of health services? The abolition of company towns? Freedom of speech and assembly, etc.2 Gould one oppose such meas- ures merely because they happened to be suggested by one whose policy we did not agree with? Surely this is not a correct attitude? There will be a great number of planks for a platform presented at the convention. The deregates should aim at a concrete program, as we said before. A program which is definitely aimed at improving the economic position of the great majority; at a more equitable dis- tribution of the tax burden. One which will put the burden of taxa- tion upon those most able te pay. This program should contain measures Which if enacted would definitely put a stop to any toler- ance of such organizations as the Citizens’ League or any such fascist groups which threaten violenve and ploodshed. We must not forge. That the position of the workers can be definitely improved even under capitalism. The C.C.F. is composed of people with many divergent views and occupations. It is not possible to eet everybody to think alike on a 2 !mean that one should refrain from ganization of this nature. The num- ber of points upon which unanimity is demanded should be smalls just those points upon which no dis- agreement can be allowed. Some people talk about splits and expulsions in a yery light-hearted fashion. A split in the ©CE. at this time would not be a thing to be light-hearted about. Roughly 90,000 people voted for the @.C.&. in the last federal election. Could the movement retain the support of these voters if it was torn by dis- Sention within its ranks? The dele- gates should oppose with every fibre of their being the policy of those who by their “‘red baiting” or any other splitting tactic, are causing suspicion and distrust. This does not criticism; far from it. AJjl actions that appear to be harmful to the movement should be subjected to ruthless criticism; not in the inter- ests of splitting but in the interest of preventing: a split. If the 90,000 people who voted for the C.C.F.; for a new social order, are let down, where will their votes go? Most of these voters are mot yet ready for a revoluntionary struggle against capitalism. They would vote for some new capitalist demagosue who would pose as a “man of action’? as contraposed to the inactivity of the organization Which they formerly supported. Winning the Middle Class “We must win the middle class,” say the right wing leaders. We agree. This point is not controver- sial. The middle class are decisive in Canada. The question that is con- troversial, however, is—HOW? Will the middle class be won by a policy of purely parliamentary actions; by a policy of inactivity? We think not, The history of other countries proves that the middle class is wou in the course of big movements against reaction and oppression. Lo follow 2 course of capitultion be- fore tht waverings and vacilations of this section of the population would be to lose the working class support. The middle class would not be won; they would resume their former loyality to the parties of capitalism. Seeking to ride two horses, one would fall into the stream. The delegates to the con- yention are faced with big respon- sibilities. When people with so many divergent views are gathered to- gether it is not easy to get agrec- ment. Let the delegates go to the con- vention with their minds cleared of pettiness and malice, determined that this movement of the people will take the correct road, an all- sided strugele against capitalism. Not to become a small isolated sect of radio propagandists; but a big broad movement of the people for a new and better life. Not leaders who spend useful time in harmful prac- tices of a splitting character; but leaders who are determined to work with all people who are in agree- ment on common issues of im- mediate importance. Let this convention be a mile- stone on the road to the unity of the people against oppression, and a big step forward in the fight for the abilition of capitalism. K. J. iL. The foregoing article, a econtinu- ation of the article which ap- peared in last week’s issue, was written by a member of the C.C.F. For obvious reasons he requested that his name be withheld.—Ed. Students Contest Election SOFIA, Bulgaria, June 8—(ALP) —Bulgarian anti-fascist students are conducting a vigorous campaign within the governmentsponsored student organization, Boteff, for the election of the executive committee. The platform of the anti-fascists demand the independence of student organizations and the re-establish- ment of academic liberties. They are reported to have a good chance of sreat number of subjects In an of Se SS ee ee Bia oa enn Doors Open at 7:30PM. : 2 Te BPM Pa Poa a Tate ae “THE NEW FRENCH GOVERNMERT . .- - ITS POSSBILITIES AND TASKS” — WH e e su ject o an a ress ta i= MALCOLM BRUCE COLONIAL THEATRE, Cor. Dunsmuir and Granville on SUNDAY, JUNE 14th, at 8 P.M. __ }xcellent Musical Programme — winning. See eee a a a eee given by. Collection at the Door COS “ar aeBy = : OL’ BIEL: Z On opening the daily I Make a paper the other day Mistake I almost thought I : had at last found & point on which I could agree with the Iron Heel, ruthless ex-premier, R. B. Bennett. “Judges Unfit For Bench,” read the headline. In a speech in the House, Bennett as— serted that “many Canadian judges are physically and mentally unfit’” for their jobs. Some are so deaf that they are unable to hear the evidence of prisoners brought before them. a! presume he was referring to those judges who remain awake during- the trials at which they preside. On second thought. however, I recog— nized that I was mis— taken. Seeing what R. B. Bennett is and what Tf am, it is almost impossible for us to nave the same viewpoint on any subject. whatsoever, particularly one of such a definite class character as this, Criminal judges, from the police eadi to the political failures whe decorate the Appeal Gourt Bench, do not perform a social function, but a class function; they serve only the interests of one class—the ruling— class. No matter how deaf they are, and if on top of that they are af— flicted with cerebral paralysis, have the heaves, the botts, a bone-spayin on all four legs and are in an ad— vanced stage of octogenarian senil— ity, as many of them are, they can still qualify as judges so long as they can send militant workers to the pen. : Soon Corrected Evidence plays no part Blind in their decisions, as Justice! anyone who has taken an interest in the hun— dreds, nay, thousands of cases in Canada since the end of the War, and before, where members of the working class, for fighting against starvation and political extinction, were supposed to be getting a “fair trial.” We need go no further back than the judicial farce in Regina, that sent nine of the trekkers to jail, and the sycophantic commis- sion that whitewashed the pang of plug-uglies, from R. B. Bennett down, that was responsible for the Dominion Day blood festival on the Market Square. Since Bennett is not Wage-Boost dealing with work Coming: ers or unemployed, d _ he thinks Canadian judges are underpaid. If a poll of the people of Ganada were taken, Bennett would find that there are a goodly number of Canadians who do not endorse this claim. In the minds of people who do not belong to the millionaire class of which he is a member, there are many who would say these judicial vampires were overpaid if they “worked’” for nothing. In the same paper there is a news item to the effect that the sheriff had offers from the job hunters back Mast undertaking to come here and hang five men who are slated for the gallows, at $200 a head. Why should a hanging cost $2007. Why not let the judges do their own dirty work and finish what they begin? There is no dif- ference anyway, between the judge who imposes the death sentence and the hangman who executes it, ex- cept that the hangman is scorned and cold-shouldered by his fellows and the judge is a highly respected member of society. Why. Not? This respect also i These Be a Glass Shipborets Your Gods! ae Sir William ulock was no mor worthy of working class respect e 1932 when he turned down the ap- peal of the communist leaders than he was in 1931, before the arrests when he delivered a prejudiced speech in Toronto denouncing the communists in the most ferocious and blood-thirsty language. Re- spect! T have seen a judge picked up out of the gutter, so drunk he didn’t know whether he was in Vancouver or the Yukon Territory; and yet that same individual sat on the Bench, with the simulated Solemnity of an undertaker and sent workers to jail for six months for fighting for free speech. And these sages and How We Wisea eee from Are Ruled whom wisdom sup- : posedly gushes more plentifully than from the lips of the Delphian oracle, make our laws. We are not governed as we imagine by parliament, not by statute or by the common law of our Anglo-Saxon forebears, but by laws made by judges and lawyers, by “case” law- A Manis accused accordine to sta- tute, but he is found guilty, not by references to statutes, but to “cases’” previously decided by judges and lawyers—like the drinken hoodlum, the dishonest politician, the yvenom- ous anti-communist Mulock — and like the judge who, when trying striking fishermen after the Fraser River strike of 1901 called them “thieves and scoundrels’ (and to which a Vancouver jury replied by finding them not guilty!). CONSIDERED SOCIALLY, the headline is correet—“Judges Unfit for Bench”—all of them. = = x Reading =the circular xo00od sent to all ratepayers by Business - the City to inspire the citizens with a proper sense of civic pride, leads us to the conclusion that the only municipal activity that pays is the cemetery. If you don’t subseribe to this paper, send in a : sub now. bere phipibenresabeiliie mars joe 4 eG eek ke