Your subscription has expired if the number on your label below this number Renew it NOW. is B.C. Workers News Don’t forget to order your extras. for next week of the six-page issue on the Communist Conven— tion! FULL NO. 86 VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1936 Single Copies: 5 Cents ——— VOL. II., No. 34 Published Weekly PUBLIC Willie Gallacher, M.P., Gets Hearty Welcome On Coast Veteran Communist Calls for Unity of All Progressives “Unity of the workers’ political parties, as well as the progressive forces, is necessary if you have to Save this wonderful country from the clammy, dying hands of capital- ism.’’ This plain statement from Willie Gallacher, MP. for West Hife. was the keynote of his address to an audience which packed every available space in the Empress The- atre, Saturday night. : Large crowds waited outside the theatre until after 10 o’clock, when a second meeting was held. Galia- cher, a short, Stoekily-built Scot, toured Canada under Communist auspices. While in Alberta he was refused a visa by the Tinited States to visit his sister, who resides in Chicago, because he is a Commun- ist. Noisy applause greeted the vet... eran lJabor fighter’s appearance on the platform, and after the Singing or “The International” and his in_ troduction by Malcolm Bruce, cheers again greeted the Communist MP. His welcome made him feel he was in “Glesca.”’ Shortly after he started to speak he appeared to be uncomfortable and asked permission to take off his coat. With his sleeyes rolled up he launched inte praise for the Soviet System, where he sid they were solving the social problem, but in other countries capitalism makes the social probiem. Speaking of the miners, Gallacher bitterly flayed the Conservatives and the Baldwin Cabinet for the ap- propriations in the civil list which provides $70,000 for the Kine’s wife Should he marry, and $10,000 for each child, while the miners were paid only $2.00 per day if he was Single and six cents for a real wife. “T have heard it said, though 1& “can’t youch for its authority, that (Continued on page 2) Regina Civic Unions Merge City Formerly Refused Dealings with Two Organizations REGINA, Sask, Aue. 31.—(A LP)— With the merger of the two unions in the local street railway field the deor to a formal union agreement With the city has been unlocked. The System is city owned. The former two organizations, the Street Railwaymen’s union and the Street Railway Civic Hmployees’ Association, will be known in future at the Street Railwaymen’s Union, Division 588. Early this year agreements were Sought with the city and refused on the grounds that the Council would not deal with two organizations in the same department. Differences between the unions were then ironed out and jJast week a joint meeting Was held at which all officers re- Signed. New officers for the merged unions were then elected. The new union is affiliated to the Regina Trades and Labor Council and the American Federation of La- bor through the Dominion Trades Congress. {WHERE TO SEND SPANISH FUNDS Supporters of the Spanish peo- ple in their fight against the fascist rebels, send your funds to Sir Walter Citrine, Secretary of the British Trade Union Gon- gress, Transport House, London, England. Be sure and earmarix your donations thus: “NATIONAL LABOR FUND FOR SPAIN.” To facilitate matters and have Jess expense, organizations should centralize their donations. Trade unionists could do the same by. haying the question of aid for Spain raised in their meetings and using the Trades and Labor Council as the centralization point for the trade union move— ment. RUSH FUNDS TO SPAIN'S EMBATTLED PEOPLE! Real Trade Union Unity Williamsonte selled For Anti-Working Class Action At its meeting of Auzust 2, the Vancouver National Labor Council expelled Jack (Red) Williamson, business agent of the Amalgamated Building Workers and a member of the council, from its sessions until an investigating committee reports upon his actions in the Trocadero Cafe strike. Williamson went to the Striking girls on the picket line and attempt- ed to break their confidence in their union, the Hotel and Restau- rant Employees (A.F.of L.). ‘What's the idea of you girls belonging to an American Union?” argued this “union” man, “I can fix this up in no time.” The gsiris, who have put up a splendid fight for union wages and conditions, told Williamson they were Satisfied with their union and that they didn’t want him to “fix” anything. At this Williamson walk- ed arrogantly through the picket line into the empty cafe and osten- taciously consumed a large meal to demonstrate that he didn’t “recog- nize’ American unions! Deep indignation marked the meeting of the National Labor Coun- cil at this action of one of their members. Delegate after delegate condemned this Scabbery and de- clared that it was throu eh such disreputable actions that the pres- tage of the A.C.C.L. unions became discredited. The Council decided to end this open Scabbery by expelling Williamson from the council pend- ing an exhaustive investigation into his behavior. A fine discussion on the need of co-operation between unions of the AG.CL. and A-FiofL. when strike Struggles are going on indicate- a splendid attitude, an attitude that, if adopted in all sections of the trade union movement, will become the greatest aid to the unification and unionization of B.C. labor. The action of the National Labor Coun- cil in relation to Williamson will meet with wide approval among all ranks of the trade unions who are desirous of and working for greater unity B.C. Communist Convention Opens Saturday Morning Provincial Delegates ne eee will be greatly appreciated. Gather in First Open Session Since ’31 The annual convention of the B.C. District Communist Party of Can- ada will commence at 10 am. Sat- urday, September 5, at the Clintoy, Hall, 2605 Pender Street East, and will continue through Sunday and Monday. Although, since 1922 conyentions have been held regularly, this will be the first open convention of the Party in B.C., since the party was driven underground in 1931. Since the repeal of Section 98, conventions are being held openly in all districts throughout the Dominion. Im the neighborhood of 150 resu- larly credentialled delegsates from all parts of BC will be in attendance. Phe meetings will not be confined to credentialled delesates, however, as all party members are invited to attend, and can secure visitors per- Inits at Room 52, Flack Block, 163 West Hastings. Meals will be provided free at the convention headquarters for all cre- dentialled delegates. Billets. also will be provided, and in this con- nection, all comrades and friends who care to bed one or more of the out-of-town delesates are asked to report to Room 52, Flack Block, 163 Wrest Hastings. As many of the delesates will be from outside Van- Couver, any help towards proyiding 4A pre-conyention public meeting will be held in the Victory Hall, 500 Slock Homer Street, § p.m., Fri- day, September 4th. The public is cordially invited. Below is the proposed agenda for the three-day convention: i. Opening address, Bill Bennett. 2. FElection of cammittees: Cre- dentials; resolutions; constitution and bylaws; convention committee; nominations and elections commit- mittee; education, agitation and propaganda; agrarian. . 3. ‘‘How can the people of British Columbia be saved from ruin ?’’—Re- port by Malcolm Bruice. In the course of the discussion on this report the following co- reports to be submitted: (a) “Union- ize the Unorganized.’ by Tom Ewen; (b) “Unemployment in B.C.” by R. H, Lealess’”; (c) “The Problems of the B.C. Farmers,’ by a farmer from the Piraser Valley. 4. “What Dies Ahead of B.G’s Youth?’’—Report by W. Palmer. 5. “Build the Party of the Worlk- ing Class’’—Report by Provincial Orzanizer, Ff. A. McKean. 6. Reports of committees. 7. Blection of the proyincial com- miuttee_ 8. Election of the delegates to the national convention. 9. “Efty Years of Labor in B.C.’ —Report by Bill Bennett. 10. Closing address by Provincial President. McGEER TAKES A "RUN OUT’ PILL Bombastic Mayor Delib- erately Dodges Tel- ford Debate G. G McGeer, M.P., can’t take it, but likes to hand it out. Hiding him- self behind the microphone in the radio station of CGJOR Saturday night, he launched into an attack on the C.G.F. and its candidate for Burrard, Dr. Lyle Telford. Dr. Telford’s challenge to the mayor to debate with him on Cambie Street grounds on Sunday last was not accepted, the mayor Stating he had something more to do, then im- mediately announced that he would leave for the hills, where he could mot be reached by telephone, or mail. In throwing the gauntlet down the doctor offered to donate $100 to the Crippled Children’s Home as a Suarantee of his confidence and Sincerity to win on the issues pre- Sented. The challense was not taken up by the mayor, who contented him- Self to a virulent and scurrilous at- tack on the C.CG.F. and its candi- date in order to take the spotlizht off his own political record and that of the Pattullo government. MeGeer, and all the other Lib- erals and Conseryative speakers were united in the campaign against the CCE. by digging up the famous ‘red bogey,’ an issue which was twisted in such a fashion as to becloud and befuddle the electors in Burrard constituency. Communism was openly flaunted by both old line parties and injected into the campaign. All the dirt they could muster was thrown in with one single purpose, to defeat the C:G¥F., and to this Mayor McGeer eontributed his little piece for his masters. REVISION OF VOTERS’ LIST Acting City Clerk Fred Howlett announced Tuesday that his office at the City Hall will be open from 9 am. to 9 p.m. daily to receive yoters’ list applications. Property owners and tenants Who are British subjects are re- minded that the onus is on them to see that their names are on the yoters’ list, and tenants are urged to male sure that their names and addresses are correctly re- corded. Property owners who registered their holdings at the court house since November 20, 1935, will not be listed unless they make appli- cation. LAWSUITS TRAIL JUBILEE RACKET The aftermath of the three months’ Jubilee just concluded are now being reaped by the Jubilee Committee. Claims for wages, Parks Board reimbursements and lawsuits are becoming a regular feature. E: W. Levy of Levy Artists Bureau of San Francisco, filed suit in Supreme Court on Monday seek- ing to recover $3,000, which they state is due them according to a contract made with the Jubilee Gom- mittee on April 15. The Parks Board threatened to Salvage the buildings erected in Stanley Park to reimburse them for the damage done to the park and cost of restoring it to its former Status, unless the Jubilee Committee paid the amount agreed upon by both parties. Musicians are reported to be wait- ing on wages due them for playing at the various affairs. The First Veterans’ Battalion received $4.00 each for their summer’s activities. All this is understood to be a natural course of events as the Jubilee Committee were at one time in the hole to the extent of $150,000, letters of appeal were sent to all the business houses to assist in reducing the deficit. The Pattullo government came to their assistance with $50,000. C.C.F. Polls Large Vote In Burrard Liberal Elected to Fill Seat Vacated by McGeer John Howard Forester, Liberal, was clected to the Provincial legis- lature Wednesday night in the Bur- rard by-election by a plurality of 377 yotes’ to fulfill the unexpired term of Mayor McGeer, M.P. The vote for Forester was 7,449 and running a close second was Dr. Lyle Telford, €.C.F., with 7,072. Dr. Frank Patterson, Conservative, the third candidate, polled 5,650. The €.C.E&) candidate fell short of his party’s expectations, and the man in the street fully believed that Arnold Webster would have carried the day had he accepted nomination. Some others hold the opinion that the defeat of Dr. Telford was a per- sonal one rather than the defeat of the C.G.I". party. While some of this may have some bearing on the results, another angle is the Connell faction split, coming as it did prior to elections, Some sympathizers were swayed to vote the old line party ticket. With the elections decided in favor of the Liberals, a hope is raised in Conservative circles that T. D. Pat- tullo will call a provincial election within a year. The Liberal government’s outlook on things political has changed. Their discouragement has been re- placed by a new hope, that they will carry the next election. The Liberals are seen as wanting to call the elections before the G.C.F. can heal the breach caused by the Connell faction, or before any meas- ure of unity can be established. To Centralize Aid For Spain Trades and Labor Coun- cil Lends Support TORONTO, Aug. 28 (ALP)—Ten minutes after the “Toronto Com- mittee to Aid the Spanish People’s Front” had been formed, the newly- elected treasurer, David Goldstick, had $400. cash in hand. Organized on call of the Toronto Council of the Canadian League Against War and Fascism, the com- mittee, composed of leaders in the labor political movement, the trades unions and other bodies sympathe tic to the cause of the anti-fascist fight in Spain, is intended to co-ordi- nate the work of various organiza- tions which are now soliciting funds in aid of the Azana government. John Woble, president of the To- ronto Trades and Labor Council, was Named honorary chairman and the Rey. Ben H. Spence as acting chairman, D. Nesbitt of the Trades Council is vice-chairman, Norman Cowan of the Canadian League Against War and Fascism is secre- tary, David Goldstick, local attor- ney, treasurer, and these will func- tion with provisional committee of Six trustees until another larger meeting is held at the Labor Temple on Tuesday night. Approximately $2,000 has already been collected in Toronto for Spain, according to reports made at the meeting held yesterday afternoon in the Y.M.C.A., College Street. By tonight at least $1,000 of this will be on its way to the international Pederation of Trades Unions which has set up an international fund in Paris, France. The $400 immediately turned over to the committee’s treasurer, was money collected by the Communist Party in Toronto. SALESMEN, NOTE! A full report of the GCom- munist Party Convention will appear next week in a special Ssix-page edition. Salesmen, send in your orders now for extra copies. BY SHIPOWNERS Bosses Try Terrorizing Seamen on Eve of Negotiations SEATTLE, Sept. 3. — “Another Mooney case,’ is the way union labor here regards the recent in- dictment by a California Grand Jury of Earl King, secretary of the Marine Firemen, Oilers, Wipers and Water Tenders Association, and four others, for the “murder” of Chief Engineer George W. Alberts, of the S.S. Point Lobos. Alberts was killed on March 22, during a trip of the Point Lobos from Vancouver to Panama. Indieted along with King are E. H. Ramsay, a patrolman for the union, George Wallace, a union member, and Frank G. Gonnor of Seattle. Attempts to involve other members of the union failed. Testifying before the Grand Jury, Wallace stated that he and Ben Sackawitz had been paid $10 by Earl King to kill Alberts. A few days later, according to Seattle po- lice, Harold Carlson, a seaman, ap- parently intoxicated, ‘‘confessed”’ to a night clerk of a Seattle hotel that he had “stabbed’’ Alberts. Oakland police say they know nothing of Carlson. Harl King immediately denied all charges. “The whole thing is ridiculous,’’ he stated. “I had no part to play in the charges against me, and I do not believe that Al berts was murdered by. any mem- ber of our union. Certainly our union did not connive at his mur der. I want to enter a general de- nial against all allegations.” The whole thing is viewed as a frame-up, instigated by the ship- onwers. The powerful maritime un- ions are on the eve of entering ne- gotiations with the ship-owners, and the ship-owners are using this method to terrorize the union lead ers and weaken the morale of the union members, and to turn the Support of the public away from the maritime workers, should the Ship-owners lock out their e6m- ployees. FARM STRIKE IN WEST PROPOSED SASKATOON, Sask. Auge 31. — (ALP)—Proposals for a farm strike througheut the drought-ridden areas of Canada’s west have been an- nounced here by Frank BPliason, sec- retary of the JUnited Farmers of Canada, Saskatchewan section. The strike, if it materializes, would be against the Federal sovernment for its action in refusing to increase the minimum wheat prices from 87 1-2 cents a bushed. The price of wheat in the Winnipee market teday is 96 1-8 for October. The strike Proposal comes from the farmers of the Elfros district. COMPANY UNION IS NOW NO MORE CUMBERLAND, B.C., Sept. 1— The success of the great drive to- wards trade union unity through- out Canada was extended to Cum- berland where the miners are now one hundred per cent organized, and have become again a part of the United Mine Workers of America. The split of the miners and the ill-feeling it created has now been healed, and there is no doubt that the boys are in a better position to Sain better conditions. The check-off system of collect- ing dues has been established. COAL PRODUCTION NOW MUCH HIGHER OTTAWA, Aus 29.— Production of Canadian coal in July was 68,927 tons greater than in the Same Month Jast year, the Dominion bureau of statistics stated on Fri- day. Last month’s Production was 1.- 050,007 tons, compared with 981,080 in July, 1935. In June, 1,033,241 tons were produced. Gritish Columbia’s coal mines’ output amounted to 112,817 tons, as compared with 96,467 tons in July, 1935. OPENING SESSION of the Provincial Convention Communist Party BRITISH COLUMBIA DISTRICT Victory Hall, 535 Homer Street Friday, September 4th, 8 p.m. Prominent Communist Leaders Will Address This Gathering Open To The Public = Everybody Welcome! E. KING FRAMED | OYCOTTS UNFAIR TROCADERO CAFE of Pickets; prietor of the Trocadero Cafe, recognition, 15 employees took front of the cafe. dispute. Fish Packers Are Boycotted Independent Buyers Get Most of Sea Products OCEAN FALLS, B.C—The first move to cut prices on trolled fish in the Fitzhugh Sound area was in- Stigated by Morehouse of WNamu. The fisnermen were told that the cut would go into effect some two weeks ago, owing to the inability of the canners to maintain the exist- ing price levels. The trollers in question brought in independent buyers. This action has once again proved that the adamant Stand of the B.C. Packers is purely deceptive treachery aimed at the livelihood of the fishermen, and that they can well afford to pay the reasonable demands of the fisher_ men. At Lagoon Bay the independent buyers have almost 100 per cent of the rollers’ support, the Namu buyer getting little or no fish. The scabs who went into River's Inlet from points north are in many cases beginning to feel the effects of their dirty work. Boat loads of the salmon which the Namu canners were able to buy are being run through the reduction Plant there. Fifty cents, the price demanded by the fishermen was out of the question, but now Morehouse is reducing these salmon. which are reported to have been purchased at a higher price than that demanded by strikers. The fish are being re- duced to fish-meal and oil. VETERANS STRIKE AT, HASTINGS PK. After nearly 2 week of negotia-— tions with the officers of the First Vancouver Veterans Battalion for a fixed amount, $1.50 per man, to be paid immediately after each display at the Hastings Park Bx hibition grounds, the men con- cerned struck in a body on Wed- nesday at 7 p.m. with the result there was no so-called tattoo or ceremonial drill, much to the dis- gust of the brass-hats. Some more hectic business meetings are expected before the week is out, when several de- mands are to be made and ex Help Girls Win Strike Against Low Wages And Unfair Conditions Deserted Restaurant Is Public’s Answer to Appeal “‘A Union House or None at All,’’ Is Girls’ Forcibly ejected by police upon the request of T. 156 West Hastings Street, when they. Started a sit-down strike last Saturday for increased wages and union up their place on the picket line in Slogan Stamatis, pro- The employees, members of the Cooks and Waiters Local 28 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union had met with no results in their week of attempting to negotiate a satisfactory settlement of the Wages paid prior to the strike were between $9.50 and $10.00 and On some occasions were as low as $7.00 average per week. To account for this spread, the employees were charged double for all breakages, $10.50 for 56 Hours Work One girl now-on the picket line still carries her pay envelope ag evidence of 56 hours worked in one week at the rate of 8 hours per day, and for which she received $10.50: The spirit of the employees is Sood and they are determined to win out, evidence of this being that three girl pickets compose ditties as they pace up and down on the picket line. Up to the present, the police have not interferred with the pickets, but keep those who stand at the curb on the move. The pickets them— Selves try to keep sympathetic crowds on the move, in order not to give the police any excuse to stop peaceful picketing. Union Labor Supports The Empire Cafe, next to the Trocadero, is supplying the pickets with meals, while the Lotus and Blue & White taxis provide cars to take the strikers home. A feature of the strike {s that a number of police officers who used to patronize the cafe have gone elsewhere for their meals. The management of the cafe has placed large signs on the windows in-an attempt to lure people into the restaurant and break the strike, So far it has had no effect. “Union” Man Defies Pickets Last Saturday night, “Red” Wil- liamson, of the A.C.C.0fL., took upon himself. to slander the ALE. of L. to the pickets and asked them why they did not belong to the A-C.G.of L. Later he returned and defied the picket line by patronizing the cafe, He was later beaten up, but whether this was as a result of his defiance of the strike or a drunken brawl could not be learned. Several attempts have been made by various persons to provoke the Pickets, but have not met with any success, as the strikers main- tain a wonderful spirit ef self-con- trol and discipline. About four waitresses are at pres- ent strikebreaking. One of them, Grace Hensler, is believed by the pickets to be a professional at it, as she was a strikebreaker at the Deutschland Cafe when the employ- ees were on strike there a short time ago. Pplanations demanded of the busi- ness committee by the rebelling rank and file. Unions Protest Engineers Castigate Method of Conducting Council Meeting Protests from four local unions and one District Council were read out at the Trades and Labor Coun- cil Tuesday night, and demanded re- instatement of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers’ delezates who were unseated by the Council at their meeting on August 18 on the Srounds that representation was out of all proportion with their member- ship. The protests came from local 2172, 2783 and the BG Goast Dis_ trict Council of the umber and Sawmill Workers’ Union, local 452, Carpenters and local 882, Inter- national Union of Operating En- gineers_ Four points raised by the en- sinee in their letter were, illegal practice of reading correspondence When there is none, the couneil’s reference to the Lumber and Saw- mill Workers’ Unions as sub-locals, delesates were frefus the oppor- tunity of stating their case and Jast- Iy the undemocratic Manner in which the last council meeting was conduct the ehairman was char: acting like a dictator. Local 2772 raised the argument in their protest that of the 119 locals in Washington of the lumber worl- ers, all are allowed direct repre- sentation on the Central Labor Councils. Delegate Page of the Carpenters. ked that the former motion un- seating the delesates be rescinded Unseating Of Lumber Worker Delegates and they be given a seat on the Council. He took issue with the executive on the minutes wherein reference is made to the carpenters and their international representa— tive having decided previously that the delegates in question should be represented on the council from their district council. The council executive was sus-— tained in the diyision of votes. “A letter from the brewery work— ers in Toronto that their attempt= to renew agreement with Labatt's Brewery had failed, and asked sup— port of the council. The council de— cided to notify the Liquor Control Board that this brewery is unfair and ask them to remove the wet S00ds from their lists and shelves. The delegate from the Sheet Metal Workers informed the council that their float in the Exhibition parade had won first prize on August 26, and protested the “Proyince’s’ meth- od of publicity. Council reiterated its stand placing the Trocadero Cafe on unfair list where the employees on strike. De te Showler announced the circulation of a petition which asked the city couneil to renew their pres- f late delivery of milk. stated that accidents s had been lessened of the are considerably. Distribution of non-union election literature by the political parties campaigning in Burrard was re- ported by the Typoeraphical Union delegate, copies of same were asked to be left at their union office for investigation.