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-C Workers News

Spain is the battleground of the
world strugele between fascist.
barbarity and democracy. Sup-
port the heroic Spanish peoplef

FULL NO. 101

Single Copies:

5 Cents

—- VOL. I1., No. 49°

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1936

Published Weekly

Unemployed Leaders Out On Bail

Trades Council Endorses Longshoremen’s Strike

Waterfront Tie-up On

Local Docks Likely

I. L. A. Determined To
Organize Vancouver
Waterfront

With every evidence of an ap-
proachine bréak in the ranks of
the company unions now working
on the waterfront, the strike of
the Wancouver local of the Inter-
national Longshoremen’s Associa-
tion now in its fourth -week,- is
daily taking on a new sifnificance.

The Vancouver local TL.A., 38-
126, though chartered with juris-
- diction’ over ail loneshore work in
this port has, up to the time of
the strike, been unable to estab-
lish any of itS members on the
jobs under the control of the Ship-
Binge PMederation of B.C. Nearly six

hundred former deep sea em-
Ployees, out of the original 927,
are still blacklisted because of their
participation in last summer's
lockout.

During the B.C. strike last year,
the Shippin= Federation set up
two waterfront unions, one the
Vancouver Loengshoremen’s AS-

Sociation, the other the Canadian
Waterfront Workers’ Association.
To Unionize the Waterfront
When the local strike was called
four weeks ago an oreanizational
plan was launched, aimed at bring-
ing all waterfront workers under
the jurisdiction of the I.L.A.. and
thereby establishing the LI.A. with
all its benefits (six-hour day, union
hiring halls, ete.) with full juris-

diction over the port.

An invitation was extended to
all men working on the waterfront
to join the I.L.A. and take their
place on the picket line. Naturally,
the Shippine Federation put all
their forces to work to preyent this
Plan from being put into operation.

Halse newspaper reports, propa-
ganda and employers’ stoozes were
used to convince the men to stay

with the company unions, and’
Prevent the coast agreement now
beinge negotiated in Frisco, from
being put into effect in B.C. at

the’ termination of the strike.

However, the local 1i.A. has not
been asleep. A committee has been
working quietly and tirelessly
amone the men on the job, with the
result that a mass walkout from
the company unions into the LL.A.
is imminent.

Conditions of ilongshoremen in
B.C. ports are vasily different than
in U.S. coast cities. Here the hir-
ing halls are wholly under the
control of the employers, and the
emplsyees are subjected to all the
abuses that can be practiced to
bully the men into speedin= up
Production, and submitting without
protest There is no attempt to dis-
tribute work fairly *

On the U.S. Pacific Coast the
hiring halls are under joint control,
with the despatchers members of
the unions. Under that system,
discrimination and favoritism is
eliminated, and every man is as-
sured a2 square deal.

In B.C. ports the agreement be-
tween the Shipping Federation and
the company unions call for a ten-
hour day, with a two-hour exten-
Sion in rush periods. This rule,
however, is often broken to suit
the bosses.

Favored and submissive gangs
are worked excessive hours, while
other gangs get but a few hours’
werk weekly.

On the US: Pacific Coast men
Work on the basis of a six-hour
day, limited to 120 hours a month.
The only exception is during a
Tush of work in port, in which
emergency, men are allowed to
Work in excess of their limit, but
only providing every other member

(Continued on page 2)
See WATERFRONT

Police Override
Judge’s Decision
Favoring Dockers

MONTREAL, Que. — (EP)—Seiz-
ure of the books of the National
Independent Union of Tongshore-
men last spring by the high con.
Stablg has been declared inyalid
by Mr. Justice Curran, who ordered
the books returned to the union.
When the constable tefused, Jus-
tice Curran was asked in superior
eourt to order the officer's im-
prisonment for one year. So far
no action has been taken.

Police Dept.
Whitewashed

Council Stubbornly Re-
fused Tucker Counsel
to Prove Charges

©

Liberal gobs of whitewash were
applied to the WVaneouver Police
Department, by Commissioner W.
A. MacDonald, appointed by the
city council to investigate the
charges of maladministration of
that department, made by Wa. A.

Tucker, fired police clerk.

A salient feature of the investi-
gation was that the city council
stubbornly refused to provide

Tucker with legal counsel in order
to prove his charges.

Mr. Tucker was charsed with the
task of investigating the police ad—
ministration and found that mat-
ters were not on the Jevel. Pay-
offs from bootlessine and Samblinge
joints were charged to the police
department, and for doing the job

too well Tucker was summarily
dismissed y the police <ommis-
sion.

Sessions of the investigation
ended on December 8 after sitting
twelve days listening to each of-
ficial pay lip service to his col-
leagues, saying what a food, honest
fellow the other was.

Now the police department has

been “vindicated” they can do no

Praises Fallen Spanish Hero

President Luis Companys of Catalonia delivers a funeral oration
at the burial of Buenaventura Durruti, prominent Anorcho-Syndical-
ist, who fought in the anti-fascist forces in Barcelonaand Aragon, and
was fatally wounded while leading his column im the defense of
Madrid. He lived among his men and went into action in the most

dangerous sectors.

Spanish Youth

Arrive From

Firing Line For Extensive
Canadian-American Tour

wrone.

All the charges made by Tucker
in his report that a pay-off Sys-
tem exists, that bootlegging, samb-
ling, and other forms of vice are
Tampant in Wancouver have been
branded as’ unfounded.

Lawyer McLelan, associated with
the police commission, who recom-—
mended places for licensing, is
cleared of all wrone doing, he was
just actine “‘indiscretely.”

fhe whole affair turned out in
the manner in which it was ex-
pected. Tucker's charges have been
found false, and the whole set up
of the police department has been
whitewashed.

Labor Accepts

Affiliation

Of Vancouver Firefighters

Two Other Unions’ Af-|

filiations Granted Seats
on Council

Application of the International
Firefighters for affiliation to the
Trades and Labor Council Proved a
contentious point among the dele-
gates on Tuesday night, before
they were accepted on a split vote.

For nearly an hour delegates
argued back and forth on the
merits and demerits of admitting a
union of 15 which in their opinion
did not represent the 370 men or
the Fire Department.

Some delegates contended that if
the council accepted them, then
internal dissention now Zoing on
in the ranks of the firemen would
would be further aggravated and
tend to drive the Inajority of the
men towards a dual union.

Scribbens Drowned Out

W. J. Scribbens of the
Employees, unseated en August
18, injected himself into the dis-
cussion only to have his remarks

Civie

drowned out by Pres. McDonald
Who wielded the gavel like a trip
hammer. He finally subsided when

Convention Of Carpenters
Re-elects Wm. Hutcheson

“LAKELAND, Fla. — (FP)—wil

iam I. Hutcheson has been un-
animously renominated for pres-
ident of the Wnited Brotherhood
of Carpenters & Joiners by dele-
fates attending the first conven-
‘tion of the organization in eight
years. The nomination assures
election, though a referendum vote
is taken in January.

A series of opposition resolu-
tions presented to the convention
led to the passing of a motion by a
vote of 400 to 6 “that any member
who fixes his signature to any
Communist literature or resolution

FASCIST CULTURE

WARSAW, Poland. A priest
las been arrested in Kiczyniew for
selling seats in Heaven. “With 3
Map in hand he had sold choice
One to about 200 people before he
was stopped. Places near the
throne were sold at high prices.
Those near Gabriel brought some-
“what less, while ordinary ones
Were relatively cheap.

be expelled from the organization.”’

Before the yote was taken,
Hutcheson, in response to a ques-
tion from the floor about freedom
of political belief, said: “Commu-
nism is not a political belief.”

A yote on the demand of repre-
sentatives of 74,000 members of the
Federation of Wood Workers, and
56,000 other mnon-beneficial mem-
bers, for the right to vote were
invited to get out if dissatisfied.
The woodworkers, their strength
centered in the Pacific northvwest,
threaten to secede:

In the discussion, excerpts from
The Timber Workers’ Journal were
read by Gen. Sec. Frank Duffy of
the brotherhood. Shouted Duffy
after reading an editorial urging
Support of the People’s Front in
Spain, which mentioned the fact
that funds should be sent to David
Dubinsky: ‘Dubinsky! You know
who Dubinsky is? Dubinsky of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers

of America.

4 motion of confidence in the chair
was passed.

Local 18 of the Wirefighters lost
their rerepsentation on the council
nearly two months ago when the
letter from the International of-
fice was read out, informing: the
council of the revocation of the
charter. Since then a charter has
been re-issued to 15 members

Applications for affiliation were
accepted from the Domestic Sery-
ants’ Union and the Inland Boat-
men’s Union. Apparently some
doubt existed on the latter union
as a telegram from the Interna-
tional Seamen stated that the Inland
Boatmen’s Union was an A.F. of L.
unien and they saw no reason why

they should not be seated on the
council.
McDonald Actions Condemned
Condemnation of President Mc-
Donald’s actions at the previous

council meeting was contained in
protests from the Operating En-
Bineers, Railway Carmen, and the
Lumber Workers’ District Council.

Application of the Purse Seiners’
Union for affiliation was shelved.
P. R. Bengough stated that this
organization had only a branch
charter from a Washington locai,
and that he had advised the fish-
ermen months ago to seek mem-
bership in the United Fishermen
as it was the only fishing union
charter by the Trades and Labor
Coneress.

Contractors’ press reports of
shortage of mechanics raised the
ire of several delegates who wanted

the public to know that there is,
nor has been, any shortage of
skilled workmen providing union
wages are paid. f

The waterfront strike received
the endorsement of the council
after hearing the T.L.A. delegate
explain his union’s position and

letters from the BPvyerett and Ta-

coma Central Labor Councils had
asked for a stand in support of
the maritime strike.

Delegate Fordyce did not get to
first base when he attempted to
read a letter to the delegates from
W. A. Tucker in answer to Pres.

MecDonald’s statement of him made
at a previous meeting.

NEW YORK — (#P)—Running
on the Gold Standard ticket, can-
didates described as progressives
were swept into every office but
one in elections for officers of the
pewerful Truck Drivers’ Union
Local 807 in New York.

‘in command of 1,000 troops.

Weleeates ‘Speak Highly
of Soviet Union Ful-
filling Duty

NEW YORE — (@P). — Four
young people have arrived from
Spain to plead’ their country’s cause
with Americans and Ganadians,
young and old alike.

Im appearance they might be
young Americans. But they have
experienced what Americans do not
yet know—the offensive of an ugly
and brutal Fascism ‘which rains
bombs on civilians and brings in
hired mercenaries to masSacre com-
batants and non-combatants alike.

These young people speak with
first-hand knowledge of Fascism.

Bears Fascist Scar

Luis Simarro, 27 years old, bears
@ scar on the right side of his
mouth and heavy braces on his
teeth keep his jaws clamped to-
gether. He was wounded October
13 at Valdeiglesias, where he was
He
can’t fight at the present time, but
he can come to America and warn
other youth of what Fascism means,
and how beating it off in Spain
means keeping it out of other na-
tions too.

With Simarro is Maria, his bride

(Continued on page 2)
See SPANISH YOUTH

Case Wobbles
In King Trial

Murder Charge Against
Unionists: Weakened
By Evidence

OAKLAND, Gal.—(FP)—Further
holes were shot into the prosecu-
tion’s case against Parl King, EB.
H. Ramsay and Frank J. Conner,
Maritime unionists’ with the testi-

mony of Vernon Showell, who was
on the Pt. Lobos the day before
Chief Engineer George Alberts
was murdered.

Showell said he was present at
the conference between Ramsay
and Alberts regarding overtime
due a discharged worker and that
the conference was amicable. The
prosecution charges that a dispute
over this matter was the cause of
the death of Alberts. Showell also
testified that he did not see Wal-
lace on the dock, though Wallace's
repudiated “confession” states that
he waited with Ben Sakovitz on
the dock for Ramsay. Shown a pic-
ture of Sakovyitz, Showell said- Seas
never saw him at all.”

NOTICE!

Owing to Friday being
Christmas Day, next week’s
B.C. Workers’ News will be
issued a day earlier. Sales-
men and purchasers can
procure their copies on
Thursday morning.

CCF Nominate
Black To Run

For Alderman

Anderson Case Not De-
cided; Crone Status
Questioned

Displeased with the results of

the aldermanic election on Dec. 9
when three €.C.F. candidates were

elected, G. G. McGeer lost no time
in seeking ways and means of
disqualifying any or all of them.

A. M. Anderson was the victim
on whom the axe of discrimination
fell. Anderson, a part time em-
ployee of Civic Engineering Dept.,
is not eligible to take his seat on
the council because he is in receipt
of a salary as an employee of the
city, according to Corporation
Counsel D. E. McTaggart.

McGeer does not know yet
Whether he will declare Anderson
disqualified, or leaye it to Mayor-
elect Miller. However, the question
will likely be decided soon at a
special meeting. In the meantime
which has reached nation-wide pro-
portions, :

Whether or not Anderson is dis-
qualified, the C.C.F. have selected
William Black, who pulled over
9,000 in the last election be
their standard bearer.

Amother possibility that promises
to make the election more interest-
is the status of Fred Crone,

to

ing

who was elected to the council. —
Council members are not al-

lowed to have business relations

with the city directly or indirect-

yet Crone Storage was the ex-
elusive contractor in moving fur-
nishings to the new city hall and
for which the firm was paid over
$1200.

ly,

On Bonds Of
Trial Set For

Flying Fortresses
Scare Hitler Aids;
R. Franco Killed

MADRID, Dec. 14.—Major Ra- ~
mon Franco, brother of the fascist
butcher, Francisco Franco, was
lated when his plane was shot
down by loyalists as he tlew over
Madrid in a bombing expedition
against women and children.

Hitler's chiefs in Spain have
had a severe case of fright after
witnessing some flyimeg battleships
ot Soviet manufacture in action.

These veritable flying fortresses
have created such a profound im-
pression on the Nazi officials that
they have warned Hitler to go
easy with designs for the
conquest of Czecho-Slovakia as
the first step in his war plans

to seize Soviet Ukraine.

Alderman East Wants
Unemployed Workers
Back To The Farm

REGINA, Sask.|(#P)—Concur-
rence of the city council in the goy-
ernment’s plan to send young un-
employed men from the city back
to the farms where they worked
last summer, at wages of $5 a
month, was asked by Alderman
East, reporting for the council’s re—
lief committee. Alderman Hast
would send the men to work at
such hard labor for $5 a month “to
remove them from pool halls and
gambling dens.”

MADRID.—(E'P)—The editor of the
Brussels Social Democratic paper Le

Peuple was killed while leading a
machine division of.the Battalion
U.H.P. (Spanish initials of Unite,

Proletarian Brothers).

Bridges States Ryan’s Role
Borders On Strikebreaking

Reactionary I.L.A. Presi-
dent Fires Militant
W. Coast Leader

NEW YORK, Dec. 16.— Dismissal
of Harry Bridges, west coast I.L.A.

president as an organizer by the
reactionary Joseph Ryan, lons-
men’s president, threatens to open

up serious inter-orzanization trouble.

Ryan, who has been engaging in
Strikingebreakinge role has refused
to recognize the maritime strike
has reached nation-wide proportions.

Bridges, who has the confidence
of the Pacific Coast Iongshoremen,
will not be easily deposed.

YORK.—(FP)—In a

NEW hotel
room full of photesraphers and re-
porters, Harry Bridges, militant

west coast maritime leader who had
just arrived from San Francisco
by plane, attacked the role beins
Played by Pres. Joseph P. Ryan of

the International Tongshoremen’s
Association in the present strike
as “Strikebreaking’” and predicted
Sure victory for strikers on both

coasts and the establishment of a
National Maritime Federation.

Speaking in the cockney accent
of his native Australia, the. 36-
year-old longshoreman answered the
rapid fire of questions put to him
In a deliberate and confident man-
ner.

“Scab is a Scab”

Bridges explained that he had
been authorized to come east by
his followers on the west coast to

make an appeal for support. of
Jongshoremen here. Though he de-
clared that he would see Ryan,

Bridges indicated that an appeal
would be made direct to the men
regardless of Ryan’s action.

“A scab is a scab eyen though
he is given a union book by dis-
eredited officials,’ said Bridges. He
added that west coast strikers con-
Sidered it strikebreaking to work
ships so manned when rezular
crews were on strike. “The strike
is 90 per cent effective in the east,”
he said.

In response
the west coast,
that public opinon
hind the strike and added that
even the newspapers were being
forced to take an impartial posi-
tion. “Thousands of dollars are
coming into the strike treasury
voluntarily,’ he said.

Bridges declared that any attempt
on the part of west coast ship-
owners to resort to violence as in
1934 would undoubtedly result in a

Workers Won’t Stand
For Discrimination

NIAGARA FALLS,

to questions about
Bridges declared
was solidly be-

Ont._{FP)—

When the Dominion Chain O-
fired three workers who had as-
sisted the Steel Workers’ Organiz-

ing Committees; 90 per cent of the
employees walked out on a 4%4-
hour strike: The men returned to
work after management promised
to confer with workers’ representa-
tives and mot to practice discrimi-
nation against strikers.

| general strike, not only in Frisco
but up and down the entire coast.
The present tactics of the big
companies is to wait for the east
coast strike. fto be fbroken{ tum
public opinion against west coast
strikers and smash the Maritime
Federation of the Pacific once and
for all, he said.

When asked what he would do
In case of a west coast settlement
and a continuation of the east
strike, Bridges replied that a boy-

cott would be maintained against
ships with scab crews.
Delegates from 14 east ‘coast

ports have adopted resolutions re-
pudiatine officers of the Eastern &
Gulf Sailors’ Association and Marine
Cooks’: & Stewards’ Union. They
elected a board of trustees of three
for each group which claims the
rizht to conduct union affairs until
an election is held.

Election Wins
CheerLabor

Twelve Progressives Re-
place Reactionaries;
Buck Vote Large

TORONTO. Dee. 12:-—Labor is
jubilant over victories scored in
the election of twelve Labor-Pro-
Sressive candidates in the recent
municipal elections.

The most significant of all re-
turns Was the large vote piled up
for Tim Buck, candidate for the
Board of Control.

Returns showed that Buck was
a real contestant and his party's
program is a challenge and a threat
to the candidates of big business.
He received over 31,000 votes.

Heading the list of successfut

Grange And Molland Freed

$2,000; New
J anuary 16th

Canadian Labor Defence
League Successful in
Appeal

Granted a new trial which is set
for January 16, Fred Grange and
Harry Molland, who were sentenced
to two years in the penitentiary
on November 16 on charges of riot-
ing, were released
today on bail
bonds of $2,000 in
each case, which
were put up by
the Canadian La-
bor Defence
League.

Grange and
Molland were ar-
rested alone with
ten others at
Hamilton Hall on
Tuesday, Oct. 13,
when police at-
tacked, with clubs
and tear gas;
about 200 hungry
men who were demanding relief

Four men were siven suspended

H. MOLLAND

Sentences, while Grange and Mol-
land were sen- :
tenced by Mi.
Justice Manson to
two years’ with
hard labor. The
others were re-
leased.
A wide cam-
Paign has been

carried on by the
Single Unemploy-
ed Protective As-
sociation. The city

has been plast-

ered with stick- =

ers, Sidewalks AN

haye been chalix- ES GRANGE
ed with slogans demanding the

men’s release.

NEW WESTMINSTER, Dec. 16,
—Eight single unemployed men
arrested here Monday appeared. in
Police court this morming charged
with “obstructins.””

The men were selling artificial
flowers on the streets when they
were arrested.

At time of going to press no word
had ben received of the outcome of
the trial.

candidates Stewart Smith, Commu-
mist, who was elected alderman in
Toronto's ward five. John Weir,
Communist, was successful in be-
ing elected to the Board of Edu-
cation. Other progressives elected
in Toronto were Dr. Rose Hender-
son, and Margaret Mackenzie.
Ewart Humphreys, unemployed
Jeader, was elected Deputy Reeve

in York Township, where he was
arested for championing the wun-
employed residents and still hag

charges against him.
In Mimico three
were elected to fill
Reeve, Deputy Reeve
cilor.
Searboro voters made it a fame-
ily affair by electing J. Wilson and

PLrOsressives
positions of
and. Coune

wife, both progressives to the
council and School Board respec-~
tively.

Electors in Btobicoke Township,
Scene of recent unemployed strug—
gle, chose H. Smith as their rep-
resentative,

Defeats were suffered in East
York and Windsor. In the former
Place Reeve Arthur Williams lost
out to John Warren. John Bennett,
former mayor of Windsor, lost out
by 534 votes to the reactionary Col
Wigle.

Reg. Morris held his seat, but
Rayeraft was beaten in his try for
the Board of Control.

Other progressive candidates
piled up large votes in the yari-
ous municipalities, showing that

labor
and
unity

is definitely the march
with a greater measure of
will make greater strides.

on

ESSEN, Germany—(®P}—Before
1914, the Krupp munitions works
employed 10,000 men. Now it has
90,000 and is asking for more skilled
workers.

By H. MALYEA

Merger of the Fishermen and
Cannery Workers’ Industrial Union
with the Pacific Coast Fishermen’s
Union was effected by unanimous
vote of the delegates to the fifth
annual convention held in Yan-
couver last Saturday and Sunday.

In opening the convention J.
Gavin, secretary organizer, report-
ed on having followed out the in-
structions of the last convention to
take all necessary to affiliate with
the American Federation of
Labor.

Thirteen locals of the Fishermen
and Cannery Workers with 20
delegates were represented, and 14
fraternal delegates from nine other
unions were in attendance. Grant
MacNeil, MP. for Vancouver
Worth, held a watching brief on
the resolutions dealing with the
conservation of salmon.

J Glen Murdock, secretary of the

Fishermen’s Union Merges
With Salmon Purse Seiners

Pacific Coast Fishermen’s Union,.
Astoria, Wash., in company with
two other brother unionists, Hull
and Timmen, extended greetings on
behalf of their organization.

Formation of the Pacific Coast
Fishermen’s Hederation comprising
nine major fishing unions, which
will parallel the powerful Maritime
Federation of the Pacific, had 2
promising outlook, declared the
speaker.

Fish companies on the American
and Canadian sides of the border
are organized very effectively and
work together for protection of
their interests in profits, regard-
less of where the fish are caught,
stated Murdock,

Work of the joint committee of
fishing unions was praised by dele-
gates Pred Rolley, Upper Fraser

(Continued on page 2)
See FISHERMEN’S