Page Four

B.C. WORKERS’ NEWS

B.C. WorkKERS NEWS

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Vancouver, B.C., Friday, December 11, 1936

The Civic Elections

HE results of the Vancouver civic elections are, on the whole,
highly encouraging. Although the bankers, big industrial-
ists and commercial interests were again successful in securing the
election of their agent, this time Alderman Miller, as mayor,
they failed to elect a full council to yes-man him as the last coun-
eil, with the exception of McDonald, jumped through the hoop
for McGeer. For out of the eight seats on the council three are

filled by candidates of the C.C.F.

The usual political tricks were resorted to by the supporters
of Miller. Fully aware of the opposition to the MeGeer regime
—and Miller was his right hand man and of the same reactionary
stable—they put up two stooges to split the anti-Miller vote, a
trick that proved successful in diverting votes from McDonald.

Only two ont of the old council of twelve were elected as
against three C.C.F. candidates on a full slate of eight. The
C.C.F. also élected one on the School] Board of five, and one—
its only candidate—on the Parks Board of four.

Tlic election of five out of thirteen starts is an achievement
of note. The Connell deserters tested their strength by placing
Jack Price in the field as an aldermanic candidate. He failed to
secure half as many votes as the average C.C.I. candidate, but
ereated sufficient confusion and splitting by his candidature to
prevent more C.C.I. candidates being elected.

The success of the C.C.F. can be attributed mainly to two
factors: absence of red-baiting in the campaign, and placing be-
fore the electors a practical program to meet pressing immedi-
ate necds of the suffering people, a program that is realizable and
one that appeals to the electors instead of one that tries to make
them believe that a majority in a legislative body will begin
the building of socialism within the framework of capitalism
while indifferent to the struggles of today.

While it is gratifying to know that there will be a group ot
progressive aldermen on the council, albeit a minority, progres-
sive people cannot be satisfied until a majority and control of
administration is won. The great vote received by McDonald for
mayor is of great significance. He was, in reality, a candidate
of all progressive people. Had there been an organized People’s
Front and he its official candidate, he would undoubtedly have
been elected. And had the C.C.F. candidates been im the same
position every one on the C.C.F. slate would have been elected.

The results of the election point unmistakably to the need for
a progressive People’s Front in which the C.C.F. would wield
far greater influence and power than it can possibly exercise
otherwise. The question is: Unity and success, or division and
interminable minority opposition.

The Kings Abdication

HE “constitutional crisis”? in London has pushed news of

the struggle in Spain between the forces of world fascist reac-

tion and world democracy—a matter of far greater importance to

mankind—oft the front pages of the capitalist press, until one

has to look over the inside pages among the advertisements to
find any.

In the struggle between ex-King Edward and Baldwin there
was no constitutional question involved, for there is no law on
the statute books which could be invoked to prevent his marriage
to the Simpson woman. Neither is there any ehureh law which
could prevent it; Baldwin’s whole case rested on usage, custom
and tradition. And yet, silly and petty as the whole sordid busi-
ness may appear on the surtace, and, although the capitalist press
¢reats it romantically, not to say pornographically and in the
most superficial manner, there is, nevertheless, much of moment
in the spectacular London struggle.

Progressive and liberal people, much less the revolutionary

workers, can not afford to be indifferent to it, for there is much
of momentous importance behind what appears on the surtace:
Were it a question of a struggle between monarchy and democratic
parliament on a question of lawsnaking or supremacy, all
“progressive support would be given as a matter of course to par-
liament. But it is no such an issue. Behind the struggle lies
differences of great political significance; and it may be that,
sf all the facts were known, Edward would appear as having been
the progressive and Baldwin the reactionary.

One can be opposed to monarchy, constitutional as well as
absolute, and yet defend the right of the king to personal liberty
in his private life and his right to marry anyone to whom he takes
a fancy. Moreover, while monarchy exists it is not a matter of
indifference what type of individual sits on the throne. The
question arises: Does the overthrow of Edward—for that clearly
is what it amounts to—and his substitution by someone else rep-
resent a progressive step ?

Tt is, and has been, common knowledge that Edward is
democratically inclined, a breaker of precedents, and preters the
company of commoners to that of either the aristocracy or the
snobocracy. It is recalled that his condemnation of the terrible
poverty of the working masses of Britain has caused him to speak
bluntly in condemnation, with the plain inference that the Bald-
win government is largely at fault. It will be remembered that
a leading Tory member of the House of Commons angrily de-
clared: “Every time the King visits distressed areas or calls for
slum clearance the seats of thirty Conservative members are en-
dangered.” Nor do the aristocracy and imperialists of Britain
forget that only a few months ago, during Edward s visit to
Vienna. he insisted upon visiting the ruins of the Karl Marx
apartments, and the comments he made thereon. That he had little
use for the church and its boresome mummeries is also well
known. =

Great Britain under the leadership of those tools of imperial-
ism, Baldwin and his reactionary government, 1s steadily moving
toward fascism. (The mouthings of the fascist Moseely is n0-
thine more than sheer and shameless demagogy ot the land em-
ployed by Hitler who purloined the name ‘Socialist’ for his
fascist party). With Edward not beimg willing to “stay put,
his removal, and the enthronement of a more pliable lung, or,
worste still, the establishment of a regency, would constitute a
long step on the road to fascism.

The development of parliamentary democracy 10 England
was peculiar in that the aristocracy not only retained their heads
_svhich their counterparts in France failed to do—but they
also retained their privileges, their high social caste, and at the
same time held, though a constitutionally restricted monarchy,
the maintenance of the um100. of Church and State and their
occupation of strategic positions im the state apparatus, a strong |
political position. Democracy has not triumphed in the vietory of
Baldwin over the king, for Baldwin is not a democrat, but a

Book Review

ART AND SOCIETY—By George V.
Piekhanov.

This is a very penetrating analy-
sis of the question of art and is writ-
In it the author
guide the profound

ten by a Marxist.

takes as his

statement of Karl Marx: “It is not
man’s consciousness that determines
his existence; it is his existence that
determines his consciousness.” He
emphasizes that in all forms of art
the division of society into classes,
and the antagonism between those
classes, leave their imprint, on the
artist and his art.

Fiarly in the book Plekhanoy asks
the question: “Under what social
conditions does the tendency toward
art for art’s sake arise and find ex-
pression among artists and those
concerned with art?” and after much
and convincing evidence he con-
eludes that: “The tendency toward
art for art’s sake arises when dis-
eord exists between the artist and
his social environment.

The arts of painting, draiga and
literature are dealt with. Among
the literary works analyzed are the
writings of the Russians Pushkin
and Chernishevsky, and the Prench-
men MPlaubert and Gautier. Flaubert
and Gautier in strong disagreement
with bourgeois manners and morals
became exponents of art for art’s
sake. Yet they remained great up-
holders of the bourgeois system and
despised and looked with contempt
upon the proletariat.

The book proves that there is no
artistic form without idea, and that
when the artist tries to express “his
own ego” he is simply reflecting
reactionary bourgeois ideas. The
author says: “Art for art’s sake has
become art for money’s sake, and
under socialism it would not exist.”

This short work is indispensable
for the student, and will enable him
or her to consider all forms of art
with greater understanding and dis-
erimination.

(Qn sale at the New Age Book
Store, 350 W. Pender. Price 45 cents).

—T.M.

HITLER MURDERED THEM

Only the supreme need that the world shall know the fill horror and ruthlessness of international
fascism justifies the publication of these photographs. They show a few of the victims of November 6.
when the fascist air forces flying low over Madrid in full daylight, deliberately dz=opped bombs over A
Square where many children were playing. Note also the unexploded bomb, which bore the trade mark of

a fascist country, and the year of manufacture: 1936.
throughout the world to “let all levers of freedom and justice judge.’

The Catalonian

government sent these pictures

B. T. A. EWEN

It is now almost two months since
the Ali-Ganadian Congress of Labor
concluded its sixth convention. Two
months, during which, the general
membership of the affiliated unions
have been taking careful stock of
their leadership; of those working
for progress and working class unity,
and those working for unprinciplea
disruption and division in the ranks
of organized labor. One of the out-
standing achievements of the sixth
congress of the A.C.C. of L. was to
throw these two forces into sharp
relief before the whole membership
and emerge victorious on the side of
unity.

Messrs. Burford-McKinley-Meikle-
McCollum-Russell, ignoring the con-
vention call for September 28, abro-
gated the authority of the execu-
tive board of the A.C.C_L. to them-
selyes; set aside the constitution of
the A.G.C.L.; and on September 25,
three days before the convention
was scheduled, ‘‘decided’’ upon its
postponement. This in spite of the
fact that they well knew that the
majority of the delegate body
throughout Canada were then en
route to Toronto where the conven-
tion was billed. By so doing they
hoped to spread consternation
among the ranks of the 4.C.C.L. in
order to further their own ends of
disruption wholesale.

The reason for this action Was
pecause the progressive forces of
the executive board of the A.C.C.L.
would not permit the executive
board report to the sixth convention
to become a vehicle for anti-work-
ing class disruptive propaganda. Be-
cause the progressive forces on the
executive board refused to permit
unprincipled red-baiting, and red-
hysteria to stand in the way of
trade union unity and organization.
Because the progressive forces ou
the executive board refused to per-
mit Burford-McKinley-Russell & Co.,
the pleasure of splitting the AL.
GC... convention wtih a reactionary
report.

A Progressive Report

fascist wolf draped in a tattered mantle of democracy.

The sixth convention was held as
scheduled, and in spite of all that
the Burford-McKinley-Russell group
dia to sabotage it—from seizing
the congress finances, office and
technical apparatus, to giving mis-
leading, distorted and slanderous
statements to the press, impugn-
ing the integrity of President
Mosher and other members of the
executive board, and members of
the Canadian Brotherhood of Rail-
way Employees (CBRE), was an un-
qualified success. Now these split-

ters declare that the convention
was unconstitutional? The reply to
this can be found in the constitution

of the A @Gi.« itself. By and
through an injunction granted which
prevented Burford making use of
the finances and property, their ac-
tions were blocked. These splitters
were later compelled to relinquish
these funds and property to the
executive board of the A.C:CL.,
pending the hearing of the injunec-
tion on November 9, with Senator
J. A. McDonald in the capacity of
referee to harmonize the opposing’
factions under the 12 points of a
court order. The Trade Union Com-
mission of B.C. has little use for
Senators and less for injunctions,
but the combination of the two in-
jected into the affairs of the A.C.

CL. have served to show the real
motives of the Burford-McKinley-
Russell group. They evaded the

meetings sponsored by Senator Mc-
Donald, and began to work openly
for the creation of an alleged ‘‘Ca-
nadian Federation of Labor.”

The report of President Mosher to

Oppose Any And All Splits In The ACCL

the sixth conyention is a progres-
Sive report; it makes UNITY and
organization the cardinal points up-
on which a living and realistic Ca-
nadian Trade Union Movement can
be built. It endorses the C.3.0.; it
condemns the splitting tactics fol-
lowed by such as Green and his
satelites; it demands, and rightly so,

a, greater measure of autonomy for
Canadian unions; it speaks for the
hardships and suffering of the un-
employed and makes their problem
the problem of organized labor gen-
erally. It issues a genuine appeal to

organized labor to fight fascism “‘in
whatever form it may appear;’ it
places coneretely the question of

wages, hours, and conditions of labor
in the forefront, and recognizes some
of the unfortunate occurences hap-
pening in Toronto and elsewhere,
that have brought just approbium
upon the A.C.C. of L. It is a report
that, translated into life can become
a mighty instrument for the build-
ing of the A.C.C.L. Lo recognize the
right of a worker to belong to a
union of his choice, and to promote
unity and cooperation between his
union and the unions of his fellow
men is the warp and woof of a uni-
fied Canadian trade union move-
ment. There is much in the report
left unsaid that might have been
said. There may be disagreement on
interpretation and emphasis. There
can be none, howeyer, on its appeal

for unity, and unity is the burning
need the moment.
What the Splitters Wanted

The splitters would have liked it.
to contain all the vicious slanders
innuendos, calummies, ete., against
Communism, that flow so easily
from the pen of Burford and his
supporters. They would have liked
it to continue a distortion of the
A.G.G.L. policy as has been done
for months past in the editorial
columns of the “Canadian Union-
ist.’ When every frailroader and
every railway union, CBRE and
AF. of I. alike were condemning
railway amalgamation and the
divorcing of tens of thousands of
railway workers from their means
of livelihood, ‘Brother’ Meikle was
writing in the “Canadian Unionist,”
with the assistance of Burford in
favor of amalgamation. When every
sane and progressive trade union-
ist throughout Canada was getting
wise to the capitalist ‘‘red-herring,”
Russell of the defunct O.B.U. was
joining with Green, Citrine and
Co. in a ‘‘red” hunt, accompanied
by universal condemnation of
everything progressive, on the
grounds that such progress was
“Communism.” When Protestants,
Gatholics and Atheists were fight-
ing side by side against fascism in
Germany, Austria . and today
in Spain, David of Quebec was util-
izing the anti-Communist propa-
ganda of Cardinal Villeneauve to
hook the Catholic unions up to the

GOOD BYE TO ALL THAT!

By F. BIGGS

The abdication of King Edward
VIII from the Throne of David
will be a big blow to British busi-
ness. Although the official corona-
tion was not to have taken place
until April of next year, already
the business interests have been
preparing to exploit the loyalty of
Millions by selling huge quantities
of bunting, flags and decorations,
pictures of the King, medallions
and buttons of various sorts, and
so on. The coronation was to have
been a golden harvest. Although
the crowning of Edward’s successor
will probably go ahead in due
time, there will be nothing like the
enthusiasm and hysteria that would
have occurred throughout the Em-
pire if Edward had gone through
with it.

But it is perfectly obvious that
the late Edward VIL is no conserva-
tive. His abdication, presumably
to marry the woman of his choice,
removes the glamour from British
monarchy, so carefully and assidu-
ously fostered by the British Im-
perialists, for ever. Hereafter, no
matter who occupies the throne,
there will be a feeling of doubt re-
garding the sacred institution of
monarchy. Edward has shown his
supreme lack of respect for the
throne when in spite of the terrific
opposition he received he renounced
it to marry one the British capi-
talists disapproved of. His disre-
gard for tradition was demonstrat-
ed recently in another way- When
he visited Balmoral Castle ni Scot
jand the royal pipers were ordered
to play “The St. Louis Blues.”

The British Israelites are already
squirming about trying to explain
the abdication in the light of bibli-
cal prophesy. Ever since the death
of George V they have consistently
stated that the ascension of Ead-
ward to the throne was the last step
jn the culmination of the Divine
Plan for the British people. They
proved it, or thought they did, by

the Bible and by the pyramid meas-
urements.
names is David, was the direct des-
cendant of King David of Israel,
and when he became King a new
era of prosperity and world power
was to begin for the British people.

Of course, when the British Is-
raelites talk about the British peo-
ple what they really mean is the
British capitalist class. They are
saying now that it would have been
alright if Mrs. Simpson had not
been a divorcea woman, but they
have to say something. They imply
that the King, the chosen of God,
can do no wrong, but that the wo-
man with whom he mates must be
a virgin, she must be what they call
“pure.’ No doubt six months from
now they will come forward, with
some new discoveries in the way of
biblical prophesy to show that Ed-
ward's abdication and his succes-
sor’s crowning were all part of
their wonderful, amazing and mys-
tifying Divine Plan, a plan which
has only- one objective—the British
imperialists ruling over a fascist
world.

The British throne is the symbol
of British Imperialism. What ef-
fect will the abdication have on
the colonies and the dominions?
This, above all else, has been the
perplexing problem facing the Bald-
win Government. When the people
of British possessions in Africa,
India and Asia, learn that the God-
appointed “Great White King from
across the seas’ has chucked the
throne to marry a woman without
the approval of his government,
will not a lot of the reverence for
the throne, and also for the British
Empire, go up in smoke?

In effect, King Edward’s abdica-
tion says: “Good-bye To All Thats
One is reminded of the closing
words of Robert Burns’ poem, “The
Gowden Locks of Anna”:

“The Kirk and State can go to

hell,

And I'll go to my Anna!”

Edward, one of whose”

Burford chariot. JINow that these
splitters met decisive defeat in the
sixth convention of the A.©.G1u.,
they are turning their attention to
the nefarious work of splitting the
affiliated unions of the congress.
Every affiliated union of the A.C.
Gi. must condemn the actions of
these splitters and remoye them
from ail positions where their of-
fice is used for such unprincipled
and traitorous activities. :

Every affilated union of the A.C.
G.L. must forward resolutions of
approval of the sixth convention
and its work, and full confidence in
the A.C.C.L. executive board to fur-
ther aims and objects of the con-
gress. Every affiliated union and
central labor body of the A.C.@.iL.
must strengthen its affiliation to
the A.G.G.L. .. . by rooting out the
splitters and consolidating its mem-

What is
News?

By
OL’ BILL

While “the foundation=
of the world were crumb=—
ling’’ in England, last
week, over the issue of whether the
king should or should not, one of the
local papers carried a news item
that showed a great deal of indig-
nation because the Soviet press was
full of the new Soviet constitution
that guarantees the greatest meas-
ure of democracy of any such in-
strument yet framed by man, and
events in the Spanish war arena,
but did not carry one word of news
or comment on the “constitutional”
erisis in England.

The question arises in our mind
when we read such a squawk:
“What is news?” The newshawks-
of the capitalist poison press and
those whom they serve, undoubtedly
have a different answer from that
of the Soviet journalists and the
people they speak for, the masses
of the Soviet workers. To the men
and women who own the factories
and the JjJand in the U.S.S-R., the ab-
dieation of all the kings in Hurope
and Asia is of less consequence than
the murder, at the hands of degen-
erate fascist Sadists and morons, of
one brave Spanish trade unionist or
helpless innocent kiddie,

= * = =

A Spate of The lickspittle drivel

that has been spread
Snobbery. over the columns of
the capitalist press of the part of
the world they dominate may be
used in a future rational social sys-
tem to demonstrate the meaning of
“svycophant,’ at least such of it as
attributable to the news-hacks,
for snobbery has reached a new high
peak in these last few days, if that
is possible.

Those who hire the ink-coolies,
however, are interested in fooling
the masses from other motives than
their hirelings. The issues involved
in the ‘crisis’ are not purely
matrimonial, but political and re-
ligious. Who Edward Windsor mar-
ries should be the business of Ed-
ward Windsor and the woman, and
nobody else. But comments about
the condition of the people in the
“distressed’”’ or derelict areas create
discontent among the owners of ‘the
mines and shipyards, and failure to
participate in religious buffooneries
earn the hatred of the bishops who
consider it a bad influence on the
“lower orders.’ To the class in power
this “crisis” has presented an op-
portunity of tightening-up on the
“constitution,” giving the demo-
eratie paint a coat of fascist var-
nish.

is

>= = * *

Two To earn their

is pieces of silver, the
Loyalties. scribes of capitalism
have to color their “news’’ to suit
the politicians, the mine and ship-
yard owners and the bishops, and in
this case seem at the same time to
bubble over with loyalty—like the

Judas

bership in the spirit of the con-
vention ... through unity and or-
ganization.

A Foul Fascist Act

The sixth convention marks a
turning point in the history of the
A.C.G.L. Having discarded the tools
of reaction, the A.C.C.L. must never
again permit them to dishonor its
ranks. It must not temporize with
splitters and disrupters who are
only capable of seeing a caricature
of unity through red-tinted glasses.
The possibilities of organization
are unlimited. With unity and co-
operation as the watchword, the
goal of a unified trade union move-
ment in Canada is assured. Towards
this goal the sixth convention of
the A.G.G.L. will be an historic
milestone for organized labor, and
a fitting tombstone for the “Cana-
dian Federation of Labor’ com-
posed of Burford-McKinley-McCol-
lum-Meikle-Russell and Co.

Their most recent letter appeal-
ing to members of the A.C.C.L. to
“Join the Canadian Federation” is
correctly castigated and classified
by President Mosher as a “fascist
act.” It is the very essence of fas-
cism in the trade unions to snare
men into splitting their own ranks;
and their Own organizations; to
spread a poisonous Nationalism; to
make red-baiting and Communist
heresy hunting the fundamentals
of patrictism; to follow the line of
Burford and Go. The whole trade
union movement of Canada is
against fascism and with President
Mosher on this issue.

Suggestion For
A Holiday Gift

If you are in a quandry as to
what to give your friends for
Nmas or New Year's, why not
send them a subscription to The
B.C. Workers’ News?

Your friends will be reminded
throughout the year of your
thoughtfulness, and with our re-
duced rates you effect a real say-
ing.

But whether you are in a quan-
dry or nof, a subseription to this
paper makes a very acceptable
gift.

CORRECTION

In the poem “From 2 Letter”
which appeared in the B.C. Work
ers’ News last week there was 2
line omitted.

Following the line: “The work-
ers strike against. And then he
praised,” there should be the
line: “The patriots who had kept
our flag upraised.”’

Also in the third last line the
word “slave” appears. This should

read “salve.”

Jesuit who makes the sign of the
eross with one hand and stabs. his
victim in the back with the other,

Soviet pressmen have no need to
be sycophantic. Recognizing them-
selves to be part of the class that
owns the country, the working-class,
at present they are taking part in
the celebrations, general through-
out the whole Soviet Union, of the
adoption of their new constitution,
the culmination of 19 years of strug-
gle, in which there is nothing that
tells a king who he must marry,
I listened to two news broadcasts
on Saturday last. One was from Mos-
cow and told of the great rejoicings
throughout the country. The streets
were thronged with happy workers
who greeted their Soviet Govern-
ment and acclaimed them for guid-
ing them through the apprentice-
ship years of their great Republic's
existence.
* > = =
Song of The other broadcast was
from Berlin, from where
Hate. one of Der Fuhrers
bullies scattered worse lies than
even the Hearst venom sheets dare
publish. Amongst others—that 25,000
Frenchmen haye gone over to fight
for the Spanish Bolsheviks, of atro-
cities ‘still’ being inflicted on priests
and that every villaze in Catalonia
is a madhouse. Every word was 2
fetid breath of hatred, of destruction,
of war.

Like the other ‘‘news’’ these two
items are definitely the expression
of two warring classes; the Soviet
items, the “good” news, of a class
that is aiming at the building of 2
new world, and the capitalist Nazis
will, the vaporing of the hordes of
barbarism that would condemn the
race to extinction rather than lose
its stolen privileges.

* * * =

Solid Who says we are not
P making progress? Fred

TOLTess. Hume, Mayor of New
Westminster, told a concert audi-

ence in that city last Sunday that
“90 years ago the Elks distributed
only 12 Christmas hampers to the
needy, and last year gave away
500.” This year they will undoubt-
edly have to give away more. Solid
Progress! Glorious System!
* = = =

MeGeer, the worst
Another jumping -jack that
Hate-Song. ever sat in the
mayor’s chair in Vancouver, fin-
ished up the election radio cam-
paign in his usual “sportsmanlike”
fashion. Taking the last chance on
the radio, he spewed his venom on
the air when none of the candi-
dates had a chance to reply to him-
This is consistent with his hypo-
critical, day-of-prayer antics dur-
ing the past two years. When he
was elected, he promised to make
a clean-up. Many citizens are ask-
ing if he has.

PE TTA ATH ng NT