Sly ried = yee) out re 3DS amd. . 6 1ers new L We: enly Saly Wen ks, ! nstill pens - the of Je ns | 1Itic wit] ing} al ss 5 art ICG sion! - na bbactey Page Six B.C. WORKERS’ NEWS B.C. WorkKERS NEWS Published Weekly by THE PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION Room 10, 163 West Hastings Street - Wancouver, BG. — Subscription Rates — @ne Wear 22 == $1380 Half Year —_____- - $1.00 Three Months —___ 50 Single Copy — S05: Make All Checks Payable to the B.C. WORKERS’ NEWS Send. All Copy and Manuscript to the Chatrman of the Edoitorial Board. Send All Monies and Letters Pertaining to Advertising and Circulation to the Business Manager. Vancouver, B.C., Friday, September 11, 1936 The Convention '& SSEMBLED in Vancouver last week-end, at the B.C. Dis- trict Convention of the Communist Party were delegates from the length and breadth of this province, from all its im- portant points, from lumber, logging, fishing, mining and rail- roading. The organized miners of Cumberland met their fellow comrades from the enslaved company town. ot Trail. Farmers from the fruit belt worked out solutions for their problems im unison with the workers, the women, the foreign-born and Ori- ental. Fraternal delegates from Australia, U.S.A. and Alberta brought their experiences and ereetings. All came together in a united Communist Party, for, despite the disunity that exists in many sectiops ¢f the labor movement, the Communist Party is tmited as never before. Contrary to the wild ravings -of Tom MeJnnes and his kind, the Convention established the fact that the great majority of the membership of the C.P. in B.C. is Canadian and British, that it is a native Party embodying in jtself all the best traditions and courage of the people of British Columbia. Meetng at a time when the whole world is facing decisive struggles, the strugele between democracy and fascism m Spain, when the imminence of imperialist war is not a phrase, but a grim. reality and when the Socialist society of the U.S.S.R. shows to the whole world how socialism and a true demoeracy can be built, the Convention, in the spirit of real Leninist self-criticism, analysed the main factors in the economic and political situation in B.C., the mistakes made by the Party (the main one beine still its sectarian approach on many problems) and emphasized that its basic task is the strengthening of all Party activity in order to create the widest unity of the people of this proyimece against reaction and war and for the amelioration of the conditions of the masses. This unity, it was clearly pointed ‘ont, must base itself on the ©.C.F., the trade unions and the Communist Party, which or anizations must be built wp and which will form the basis of a road farmerlabor party, that embraces all progressive elements in the country. The Convention declares to the people of B.C. that it must now mobilize all its forces for the defeat of the hunger and reac- tionary government of Pattullo, and to replace this government, ‘at the next elections, by a C.C.F. government pledged to fight for the immediate needs of the masses and to halt the forces ot reaction and fascism. To bring about this desired aim,- which it deems possible and vital for the interests of progress, it is essential that the breach within the O.C.F. be forthwith healed; that those sho have broken with the ©.C.F. return and pursue progressive policies, since this breach and action against the C.C.F. by Connell and company cgu consciously or aneonsciously only serve as a weakening of the C.C.F. and the betrayal of the people who put their trust in them, and an aid and strength to reaction. Further- more, the C.C.F. can become the government in the next elections if it will strengthen itself through greater unity with the Commun- ists, trade unionists and progressives, and will pursue such methods of action and agitation as shall make the suffering people naderstand that they will fight for and administer to their every- day needs. = The Convention planned to throw the weight of the Party be- hind the organization of the workers in the basic industries, the women workers, to aid the women in the home in the struggle against the high cost of living, ete., to help unite and organize the unemployed into a B.C. federation that can better fight for inereased relief and unemployed insurance. It dealt at length on how to organize the youth and children and save the young generation from the disasters that capitalism is bringing. Tt elected the best from its ranks to the National Party Congress which takes place in October in Toronto, and to the Proyincial Committee, and planned to double its membership and strengthen the Party, which is the leading force in the whole struggle against fascism and war and for socialism. The Convention declared that the fight for socialism is the fieht for the daily needs of the people of British Columbia. The By-Election HE capitalist press is triumphant over the election of the Liberal candidate in Vancouver Burrard. Party limes are almost wiped out. The poimt they are trying to bolster their propaganda around is Telford’s failure to secure the seat in the egislative Assembly. “Phere is a hidden fear and panic 1 their gleeful jubilation, It is not surprising, of course, that Mr. Priteh- ard and his Commonwealth have joined jn this reactionary chorus. That the C.C.F. campaign committee and Dr. Telford have allowed themselves to fall into the trap of raising issues that die not exist in Burrard (“Social evolution—ever; bloody revolu- tion—never’) and that Dr. Telford’s eulogies of Mx. Aberhart, did not help much in the campaign is beyond doubt. But as this journal stated, in spite of these obvious weaknesses of the cam- paign, Telford, the C.C.F. and their supporters are to be con- eratulated on the splendid fight they put up. The capitalist press has succeeded in instilling a feeling of despair and demoralization is some quarters over the election yesults in Burrard. That the movement of the progressive forces of the province would have been stronger with Dr. Telford im the House is quite clear. But there is no reason for despair and a feeling of helplessness. The issues that existed prior to the election are still here. Unemployment is still with us. Pattullo still travels on the boule vard of broken promises, Inefficiency and faithful service to the lumber and beer barons, the Shipping Federation and mining operators at the expense of the people. The desires and needs ot the people still remain unsatisfied and will remaim so as lone as Mr. Pattullo occupies the government oftices. The by-election must be the signal, the starting poimt of the most vigorous campaign in defense of the interests of the people that this province has seen. Sober judgment must replace the bittemess expressed im some circles. Progressive leaders and parties have a big responsibility to fulfill. The election results are hy no means a repudiation of the policies adopted at the last convention. The road to victory over the plunderers of the people is to speedily implement the major decisions of the last convention. Particularly the decisions that svill result in the mobilization of a mass movement in defense of the most immediate needs and wants of the people. This is the only road that will lead to the defeat of Pattullo, that will cement and consolidate the erowing numbers of people desiring socialism. The regrettable actions of Mr. Connell and his group were exposed in this election and constituted the major contributing factor in the election of Mr. Forester. This group still consti- tutes a serious danger in the development of a united people in British Columbia, solidly organized in defense of its interests. The World This Week By F. B. The capture of Irun by Spanish fascists is the most Serious reverse the sovernment forces have yet met with, as it cuts off communication with France and endangers the safety of San Sebastien. Irun was captured by Moorish troops, 35,000 of which are said to save been brought over from Africa to do the murderous work of the fascists. That the fascists have had to import Moors shows beyond all question fhat the egsreat majority of the Spanish people were back of the fovernment they had democratically elected to office. As the civil war continues with- out prospect of an early victory for the government, and as the need for a more vigorous offensive against the fascists becomes more urgent, there is taking place a decided swine to the lJeft. Im the former cablnet there were no Socialists or Com- munists, although these parties as component parts of the People’s Front gave it full support and formed the spearhead of the anti- ‘fascist forces. But the old govern- ment lacked in organizing ability and in determination to stamp out all fascist elements behind the Zov- ernment lines. A new cabinet has been formed headed by Largo Calal- Jero, Left Socialist leader, and in- eluding in its membership six So- Cialist and two Communist minis- ters. The change makes the govern- ment more of a People’s Front gov- ernment than it was before, and should mark the great turning point that will bring defeat to the fascists provided there is not an imcrease in foreign intervention. But unfor- tunately foreign jntervention is in- ereasing; it looks very much as if Mussolini and Hitler have no inten- tion of letting Spanish fascism be wiped out if they can help it. Mus- solini has despatched three more eruisers to Spanish waters bringing the total of his vessels there up to 29. As a step towards regaining Germany’s lost colonial empire in Africa Hitler supplies the Spanish fascists with war materials expect- ing to get a foothold in- North Africa. He is also trying to build up friendly relations with Portugal, Spain’s neighbor, and is negotiating the purchase from her of the Island of Goa which is off the coast of India, 250 miles from Bombay. With this island in his possession he would be in position to stir up anti-British feeling in India, Portugal has been for generations to all intents and purposes a Brit- ish dominion, and it is through Portugal that the Spanish fascists have been getting a large portion of their war supplies. Both the mili- tary and political centers of the fas- cists are said to be in Lisbon where a brother of General Franco, fascist commander, is in charge of fascist affairs. 4 London paper has this to say: “Byerybody knows that arms and mercenaries continue to pour over the Portuguese frontier. The general impression is that Portugal's prom- ise to adhere to the non-intervention agreement is a pure farce. Portu- gal automatically considers herself in a state of war with the legal Spanish eovernment.” Tt is becoming clearer every day that the Spanish civil war is bound up with supremacy OF defeat of fascism in Hurope, and that a de- feat of the People’s Front govern- ment would mark the outbreak of another world war. = = % * The reyolt of the Arabs against British Imperialism 12 Palestine and pordering Arab states is increasing, and the 17,000 British soldiers there are to be reinforced with 10,000 more. Minor engagements are of almost daily occurences. To strengthen her hand in the Mediterranean SGritain has just signed a “treaty” with Egypt giving that country some concessions to offset the anti-British nationalist feeling that has been growing. AS in China, foreigners who broke the law in Egypt were not allowed to be tried in Egyptian courts, they were always tried by courts of their own nationality. Britain has now conceded that such cases be tried in Egyptian courts. She has further agreed to withdraw her troops from some parts of Egypt, but will main- tain a large military and airforce about the Suez Ganal. British air- planes are to have the right to fly all over egyptian territory, and Begyptian soldiers are to be trained by British instructors. In face of these things the Workers in a Soviet textile factory, ] People’s Front gcvernment against the Fas Spanish workers gets under way in Moscow. UNIONISTS AID ie isten to a speaker praise the fight of the Spanish cist rebels, as collection of funds to aid the SPAIN SO 4 ug By OL’ BILL : | - aa : [ have often heare 4] What Is from public plat- 4 Patriotism? forms and read im oh articles at different times the best known contribution of Dr. Johnson to English litera- ture—' Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. I used to “think © imnew what Dr. Johnson meant, but I didn’t, until a few days ago when some comrade sent me a copy of = the fascist Lord Rothermere’s rn ‘Daily Mail’ published in London. In this‘' Daily Mail’ the murder— if ers and assassins, the nationalist t| eronies of Tom McInnis who are pillaging Spain, are hailed as “the patriot government.” Nothing could as ROTEL ew cos elt Myukes By JOSE EFERNANDE (Barcelona) * It is our duty to warn our friends abroad against the assertions being spread by a certain press. It is stated that the Dloody events 12 Spain are the result of the struggle for the dictatorship of the prole- tariat by the Communists. It is stated that Spanish democracy is dead in any case, whatever the is- sue of this strugsle- All this is false, completely false! We proclaim this loudly, and we hope that we shall be heard. We know perfectly well why the press in league with the rebels presents events in this leght, entirely con- trary to the truth. This press is en- deavyoring to isolate the struggle of our people from the international struggle of the forces of democracy against the horrors of fascism. Wo. The civil war tearing our un- happy land asunder has not arisen out of the desire of the masses to establish the dictatorship of the pro- jJetariat. It has been instigated by the reactionaries anxious to force the Spanish people under the yoke of a fascist dictatorship. The traitor Franco, agent in the pay of Hitler and Mussolini, led shamelessly when he declared that the struggle is one between Marxism and the euardians of order, The struggle is between the democratic Republic and fascism. The admitted inter- vention by Germany and Italy even imparts to it the character of a struggle between international fas- cism and international democracy. The fascists following Gil Robles, Primo de Rivers, and Sanjurjo, did not submit to the judgment pro- nounced by the people on Webruary 46. They did not abandon the idea of vengeance, even a dearly bought vengeance. In order to vent their hatred against the people, they did not shrink from devastating Spain with fire and death. They are re- sponsible for the situation. They have sworn death to the Republic, and to attain this object they betray their country and sell themselves to international fascism. The Spanish workers and peas- ants, having fought for years for somewhat better conditions of living and more freedom, haye no wish to destroy their victory of February before they have even enjoyed all its fruits. They want to complete the bourgeois-democratic revolution for which they huve already shed so much blood. With shouts of “Long live the Republic’ the columns otf militia leave Barcelona, to take the field agsainst the murderers of freedom. Men and women, often armed only with hunting rifles, sacrifice their lives heroically for the Republic. The Communists, absolutely faith- ful to their ideals, stand in the foremost ranks of the defenders of democratic Spain. With their ut- most powers they support the Re- publican 2overnment, and their jeaders are everywhere where dan- ger threatens. The great masses of the Catholic population too are amons the de- fenders of the Republic. For it is a base slander to represent the Re- “treaty” is little more than an agreement between an imperialist power and a subject nation, a sort of take it or leave it affair. This group must not be allowed to go its own destructive way. As this paper stated some two weeks ago, Mr. Connell and his eroup can now realize the enormity of their offense against the people and cease to damage further the C.C.F. s The tasks ahead are clear. ployment, open wide the doors for co-operation and inclusion otf the trade unions in this movement, assist the working people in their effort to establish powerful united trade unions. tion with all progressive groups and parties including the Com- munist Party, giving impetus and expression to a_ large mass movement will assure victory. No time must be lost. The adoption of these measures will ium the Liberal election victory into a smashine boomerang. Youth : OUTH is definitely on the agenda of Canadian lite. The Federal government has appointed a Youth Unemployment ational Unemployment Commission. This is a step in the right direction, and we can give eredit to the National Youth Congress, which has aroused so much atten- tion to the conditions of Canadian youth. The youth movement is one that deserves our fullest attention and unstinted support. The youth of today are the builders of the Committee to act under the N future. The Advance. a national progressive youth magazine, jointly edited by Socialist, Communist and Progressive youth, is appeal- ing for-support in their drive for maintenance funds. “Give until it hurts!” Build the conferences on unem- Co-opera- Lying Slanders Of Fascists Answered By Spanish People publican troops as incendiaries and robbers of churchés. The real truth is this: In some cases fascist priests parricaded themselves in their churches, which they made into store houses for arms, and fired on the population from them. For- eisners too, for imstance the Italian educational expert Madame Montes- sori, have been eyewitnesses of cases where priests haye attacked the Republic with arms in their hands, in spite of the repeated ap- peals made to them by the govern- ment forees to abandon their shame- ful action. In these tragic hours throush which Spain is passing, all Com- mumists, Socialists, Anarehists, Catholics, Republicans; all workers, peasants, members of the middle wlasses; all from the head of th government to the last of the fight- ers, are inspired by one single thought: To defeat the fascist rebel- lion against the Republic. This unity of the people, this rise of the whole nation, will secure the victory over fascism. No. Democracy is not at an end in Spain, It will be victorious- Of this we assure our democratic friends all over the world. The battle which we are fighting here for freedom represents an inseparable part of the struggle between democracy and the fascist dictatorship all over the world. This community of in- terests gives us the certainty of the final victory, for we know that we can reckon upon the active soli- darity of the masses of the people of all countries. We see as symbol of this solidar- ity the arrival of many foreign workers, come to join our workers’ militia as volunteers. Their pres- ence shows us that the great inter national working class is on the side of the Spanish people. With the aid of the democrats of all countries, we shall defeat fascism, and thus forward the cause of peace and freedom. MRS. PADGHAM, petter explain the meaning of Dr. Johnson’s piquant expression. This. ésroup of “patriots,” practised in all the bestial, sadistic atrocities that ~ they ascribe to the loyal, brave Spanish people, are using backward Moslem Moors, not as highly eivi- lized as the Abyssinians that their fellow-fascist Mussolini was “Civiu = lizing’ a few months ago, to save 4) the Gatholic Church. 45) WE SALUTE YOU! Wear the close of the B.C. Com- munist Gonvention it was made kmown that one of the oldest and most loyal woman comrade of B.C. was in the hall, Comrade Mrs. Padgham. Qn an introduction by Mrs. ee she was given a great Franco. ice the aristocratic | and bourgeois refugees if Mrs. Padgham is an old veteran : — eae 3 1a aa Sno shee Geil eawlisis of every criminal jurisdiction i= — Pa UE ain EE RER CLIPS Hurope and America, the riff-raff 3 5 i of every prison, forgers embezzlers in the party since its formation in ; - : < Vancovex. thieves, murderers and sex perverts, i the Spanish Forei Legion, bought She was stricken by a paralytic | for hire to auc nter fee Tower oe strike in 1932, but as soon as she | i}6 Spanish people. was able to be around again she 2 pe was again in action, resuming The brutally relentless, ruthless: literature sales, etc. class hatreds not being shown in STiiaise ies eam dp | ses Gente oe for the: her door, they were only given first time, but is a matter of record patronage if they in turn patron- to any one who has followed the ized labor papers and the working history of Spain since 1931. It is class movement. only needful to go back to the last In the most serious days of horrors of Asturias in 1934 when police terror her home was ever they smashed the legs and ribs of at the disposal of the party, so their miner prisoners with sledge ~ much so that one could hardly hammers so that they would never ~ tell whether it belonged to hier be able to take part in a revolution or the Vancouver workers. again. They appeal to their friends: — hough crippled in body, her not to refer to them as “rebels.” spirit today, as in the past, is with I agree to this; gangsters are not — the movement and the party, and rebels, they are ordinary criminals. even now she makes it her duty to Tom McInnes does well to iden= sell ten copies of each issue of tify himself and his Nationalist — ‘women Today.”’ Party of Vancouver with this gang” Hier life serves as an inspiration of bloody thugs in Spain. Dr. Jsohn— to thousands of men and women | 5°" knew his “patriots.” of British Columbia~ Greetings, Gomrade! PROGRESSIVE ARTS CLUB INFORMAL EVENING The P.A.GC. will open their 1936-37 seaon with an informal evening in the clubrooms at 326 West Hastings Street on Wednesday, September 16 They have in their ser Another “patriot,” Mos= ley, is attempting to stiffen his “paid patri- ots” Union of British Fascists by lining up officers of the army, navy | and air forces. He engaged a bat- tery of legal talent to find a way to get over the barrier that pre- vents a member of the active armed forces from belonging to a political ‘jue Siaidadiss Moyley. at 8 p-m. party. When photos of the sinister Dancing, refreshments, a first-] documents in the case were pub- | class floor show, featuring the girls’ | jished in the Daily Herald and Daily z choir, male quartette, Beatrice | yorker, Mosley made no denial but Bernardi, mezzo-soprano, light | sued the papers for breach of his opera selections, Genevieve and | copyright. ee Gordon, comedy sketch directed by Wal Griffen of the writers’ group, and many other special features are included. Mosley is banking on his influ- ence on army and navy officers for a treasonable move like the fascists made in Spain. Just as Dr. Johnson 4 - Imperialist Rivalry Creates War Danger l:new the patriots, so Engels knew : the officer rabble. After a Ye : among them he wrote in an artich quoted by Mebring, that they are possessed of “an incredibly dirty caste spirit. They hate each other worse than poison, envy each other has closed a two weeks’ conference 4 in Yosemite, California. The Insti- jute, composed of representatives from countries bordering on the Pacific and from nations in other parts of the world that haye Pacific possessions, met to discuss what eould be done to ensure peace in the Pacific, but did not succeed im laying down any programme that would brine about the desired end. The reports of the conference dis- cussions all brought out one thing strongly—that every other nation interested in the Pacific is very fear- ful that the growth of Japanese trade, backed by Japan's military power, would eventually drive them out of the Pacifie altogether. Every nation that is, except the Soviet Union, whose international trade relations are very different from that of all other nations. No Profit Motive The Soviet representatives stated that with their country foreign trade expansion was not the aim of production but was complementary and subordinate to domestic ueeds, and that when the Soviet Union ex- ported anything it was that it might be enabled to purchase needed in3- ports. The foreign trade was just as much a part of the planned econ- omy as the domestic. Unlike eapital- ist countries the profit motive be- hind foreign frade was altogether lacking in the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union had reached the point where it did not need a great for- eign trade, it was rapidiy becoming self-sufficient, Therefore, there was absolutely no danger of the Soviet Union doing anything that would in any way disturb the peace of the Pacific: it had mo desire to own foreign sources of raw material, and had no intention of capturing the foreign markets for any of its products as it could not as yet man- ufacture quickly enough to satisfy the ever-increasing internal de- mands. The Soviet Union would conduct friendly trade relations with any nation, as its agreement to accept Japanese goods in payment for the Chinese Bastern Railway proved. The Soviet delegates protested against the alliance between Japan and Germany as those two nations separated by half the world had nothing in common. Such an alliance could not be termed a regional peace The Institute of Pacific Relations PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1 lilke schoolboys at the slightest mark of distinction, but they show & © united front against civilians.” : The British people have already | had recent experience of their love | of ‘“‘constitutionalism”™ in Treland in 1913 when Gen. Gough and his officer clique at Curragh defied the Government to pass the Iirise Home Rule Bill. i E France is ta be De la Roque- treated to the same blood-bath 45 Spain soon, according to 4 state— ment of one of de la Roque’s faS-_— cist followers in the Chamber of © Deputies, Dignac. According to this e fascist patriot in the Chamber of Deputies on Aug. 7th, 4 movement ~ of the masses is planned to preak out ‘after the holidays.” The masses” are the hireling hooligans of French © jmperialism who will probably ~ amend their plans to see how their | fellow criminals in Spain make out. Tf Blum is not fully alive to the situation the courageous Spanish people may have to come to the aid of the French People’s Government, when they have wiped out the ver= min that infest them now- They will not be deterred by any false: ideas of neutrality. WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST will not recognize the American Newspaper Guild. His Seattle P.-1. plant is still closed. this the aggressive purposes only. In yiew they were supported by American and British delezates. Imperialist Rivalry Leading to War While the conference was of an informal nature it is obyious that the capitalist nations are very much Another ‘“constitution= Hitler. alist,’ Hitler, the Beast of the Book of Revela~ tion, the abomination of abomina= tions, a historical anachronism worried about the flood of cheap that represents Savagery 10 the commodities that is being poured out midst of civilization, protests ee = against the “barbarism” of the from Japan to all parts of the world, there being hardly a country whose products are not being under- forces loyal to the government of Spain in quelling the treason of the fascists—and Ernst Thaelmann has sold by tI 2 S : : = = aa ae SE NOEIE SESS eas _ Soul been rotting in a Nazi dungeon for America they are very active, and < ut : - See “|three and a half years without in the Philipines and Siam they trial, thousan ¢ liberals social- are steadily driving British and |i” seve 2 ists, and communists have been tor- tured and murdered and the light of human progress almost extin- guished in Germany- In the mind of a human being this protest inspires riothing bul disgust. American interests from the market. These things, coupled with the per- sistent Japanese drives to control all of China, is at the basis of the war danger in the Pacific. More than half of all British trade with China has been swallowed up by Japan, and the British capitalists fear that their domination of trade in India and other colonial possessions in the East will go the same way- Japanese delegates to the confer- ence would not entertain any pro- posal than an international board be set up to control Chinese mar kets. Japan looks upon China as her own particular pie and has no intention of sharing it with any The reference t¢ Tom McInnes. all these ‘‘constt tutionalists, Gen Franco, De la Roque, Mosley, Hit ler, is a prelude to the latest addi tion. Tom McInnes has just an nounced that his Nationalist Part may change its name to “‘Gonstitu tionalist’” Party and the fascist radi orator himself is taking 2 three weeks’ lay-off. Maybe he is goin pact; instead it appeared to be for other imperialist power. to the Hot Springs to boil out.