Page Four BC WorKERS NEWS Published Weekly by THE PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION Room 10, 163 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: Trinity 2019 One: Year = $1.80 Half Year = $1.00 Three Months —_ -50 Single Copy —————— | -05 Make All Checks Payable to the B-C. WORKERS’ NEWS Send All Copy and Manuscript to the Chairman of the Edottorial Board. Advertising and Circulation to the Send All Monies and Letters Pertaining to Business Manager. BoC. WO Re ERS: NEWS March 5, 198TF |OPEN FORUM regular feature We reserve the CHINESE EXPLAIN THEIR POSITION Editor, BG Workers’ News. Vancouver, B.C., Friday, March 5, 1937 A Tribute WN THE untimely passing of Alderman L. D. McDonald, labor has lost one of its staunchest battlers on the city council, a council already woefully lacking in progressive members. Born of the working class, an ardent trade unionist, he was ever on his toes to take up the cause of the workers. Be it the loggers in their fight against the lumber barons, or the long shoremen against the monopolistic control of the Shipping Fed- eration, Lou was first to jump .in on the side of the workers. His fight on behalf of the relief recipients has won him lasting praise. The huge throngs that gathered to pay him last tribute, bear witness to the high esteem in which the workers of Vancouver held Vancouver’s labor alderman. The BC Workers’ News joins with his host of friends im expressing condolence to those he left behind. [a eo) ; Incipient Fascism LOSE on the heels of the provocative suggestion of Clive Planta, MLA, at a meeting of Cloverdale farmers, Febru- ary 22, a gang of vigilantes waylaid and brutally attacked a Chinese potato grower at the entrance to the Tulu Island (Eraser Ayenue) bridge, last Monday morning. The manipulations of the Coast Vegetable Marketing Board, which has virtually become a racket for the benefit of a select few at the expense of the yast majority of the growers and small farmers, and which has made potatoes a forbidden food to the masses of the people of BC, has raised an avalanche of protest from growers and consumers alike, an avalanche which threatens to wreck the domain of the inner circle, and expose their manoeuverings to publie gaze. What better way to divert the attention of the masses from the real issue than by pointing their finger at the Chinese growers. Planta offered no solution to the vexatious question which is agitating the people of BC. He did not suggest how people on relief could pay for potatoes at $64 per ton. That part is no concern of his, but he is apparently deeply concerndeed in the welfare of the racketeers. Potatoes have soared to a price out of the reach of people who need them most, not because of a shortage, but because of manipulation. Farmers throughout the Fraser Valley and Lulu Island have hundreds of tons of potatoes of the same grade as those being sold for $64 a ton, for which they would willinely take $20 to $40, but which they are unable to dispose of because of the manipulations of the board. The act must be made to suit all the potato growers, not a favored few. The Chinese have borne the brunt of launching this fizht to make the act, and the board which operates it, serve fn the interests of all the growers. For this they have been maligned by officials, and manhandled by vigilantes. The white growers, and the consuming public, must take up this fight too. The board cannot be allowed to hide its fleecing of the public and growers alike behind a wall of anti-Chinese hypocrisy. cre The Hedley Affair NCE again the manipulations of the stock market, and the thoroughness with which the manipulators and stock pro- moters fleece the public, is to get an airing. Hedley Mines is the cause. Usually, the public alone is the sufferer from stock manipula- tions. The gentlemen at the head generally manage to gather in all there is to eather from the public to launch their schemes, and then through jugglery divorce the public and proceed to gather the eggs. Tt appears, this time, the gentlemen, so used to double- erossing the public, overstepped and double-crossed themselves. That is bad. When thousands of people are robbed of their lifesavines by the vagaries of the ticker, they are chastised for being reckless. But this time, apparently, the inner group got pinched. There is to be an investigation. Tt is understood the first day of the investigation proceed- ings will be in camera. Why in camera ? Ts it to find out first whose toes are to be pinched, and to gee that nothing “not in the best interests” gets to the public 4 The public demands a full and thorough public inyestiga- tion. There is nothing in the Hedley episode that the public is not entitled to know: and the public demands to know all. The investigation should not stop at the Hedley Mines. Jas the public first to be skinned and the “skinners” fight over the | spoils before an investigation is held? It is in the interest of public welfare that the investigation be broad enough to take into its scope all mining “ventures.” a) Welcome CIO! HE entry of the CIO into the labor fields of the US has opened a new era for organized labor. When John L. Lewis — with his ten oreanizations—was suspended from the AT of L, Green and other henchmen of the financial interests hailed it as a victory for reaction. But they reckoned without J. L. Lewis. The recent automobile workers’ strike, which culminated im immense gain for the workers, including recognition of the union, set the financial interests on their ears. Faced with a strugele in the partly-organized steel industry, the steel magnates yolun- tarily granted its employees a substantial wage imerease. Won without a struge@le, this action of the employers reg- istered with the men just what it was, a union victory. So great was the immediate response to the unions’ organizing appeal that the GIO anticipates an early organizing of the entire steel industry. The GLO is needed in Canada. Several AF of lL groups are already organized in industrial form, and there is no reason why the AF of L should not lead the parade here to build the CIO within the AF of L. The vast bulk of Canadian workers are unorganized. The CIO has gone amongst the unorganized workers of the US and worked wonders. The time is ripe to brine the CIO acress the border into Dear sir-——Reports appearing in the newspapers of a mass meetine of registered potato srowers held at @loverdale on February 22, 1937, contained damaging and derogatory eriticisms of the Chinese farmers. The unjustifiable criticisms were emphasizzed by striking newspaper headlines and as we are jealous of eur 200d name in the land of our adoption, we respectfully ask that you permit us to correct some of the misstatements. While various unfavourable com- ments were made regarding the Chinese, the chief accusation was that they were obstructing the con- ¢rol of marketing under the existing Vegetable Board. : The attitude of the Chinese is as follows: FIRST: On economic grounds and principally from the point of view of the consumimeg pub- lic, they believe that the con- tro] has heen injurious to farmers and consumers. The Chinese submit that the in- crease in price of potatoes under Board control from $20.00 per ton two years ago te $51.00 per ton today, with the prospect of a further rise to $100.00 per ton, is proof that control has’ been upwisely exercised- Control which compelled the grower to leave a portion of his crop to rot was bound to lead to the scarcity which is now forcing prices up- ward. SECOND: From the legal aspect, the Chinese realize that no matter how unwise control may be, if the control is legally imposed it will become necessary for everyone to readjust them- selves regardless of the con- sequences to the farmer or con- sumer. The fact, however, is that the Chinese have always felt that the marketing legisla- tion was invalid. The Supreme Court of Canada and the Privy Council in declaring the Domin- jon Marketing Act unconstitu- tional have now shown the Chinese to be correct in this opinion. The marketing scheme founded on the Dominion Act was unlawful. The Board was illecal- The result is that the Ghinese for about tio years were illezally prevented from conducting their business in the customary manner and were compelled by inspectors and of- ficers employed by this illegal board to obey iUlegal orders and reculations under pain of un- authorized fines aNd seizures of their property. Accordingly, when Mr. E. D. Bar- Tow, MisA, and others suggested that the Chinese have been breaking the laws, the contrary is the case. The real lawbreakers were the mem- bers of the Board and their empoly- ees and not the Chinese farmers. The Chinese respect the Canadian Law Courts and so they desired to submit constitutionality of the Board and its actions to the decision of the Gourts. Now that the Courts have upheld their point of view they are surprised to find members of the Board and of the Legislature making comments such as the following: Gol. Mcielan (member of the Boara): “Because of our judicial system, it is difficult to stamp out Chinese bootlezging.”” A. D. Peterson (sec- retary of the Board): “The lesal and judiciary system in this country is a farce, judges are inconsistent re- versing each other's decisions:” E. D. Barrow, MLA: “‘We cannot per- mit any individual or any minority to upset laws put on the statute books of this country.”’ Having found that the Chinese were in the right, these gentle- men now attack the judicial system and at the same time continue to abuse the Chinese. The Board has obtained an act indemnifyine them against actions for damages for the illezal acts done by them dur- ing the two days of illegal opera- tions. The Chinese farmers, there- fore, have no remedy for the serious Letters intended for publication in the Open Forum, which will be a from now on, must be short, snappy and te the point. right to edit all letters in view of space limitations. so worded as to prevent voting the Ghinese farmers. May we assure the public that as soon as a scheme is validly in- augurated taking care of consumers and farmers “alike. and preferably haying representation of the con- sumers, it will be given the hearti- est Support of the Chinese farmers. Yours truly, Ghinese Farmers’ Association, LOWE CHONG (Chairman). 231 Wnion St., Vancouver, B.C. OPEN LETTER TO THE CCF Don Smith, Editor, The Federationist. DearComrade,— Your editorial en- titled “Unity,’’ which appeared in the last-issue of our paper, was read by myself with interest, but also With a feeling of deep regret. I Was not present at the meeting re- ferred to at which LT. Ewen and others of the Communist party spoke, so of course I am not in a position to discuss what took place there. * Jt cannot be denied however, that there are people in the CCE who, if not the disciples of Leon Trotsky, do most assuredly carry on a cam- paisn of organized disruption which is most harmful, clothing such tactics under a barrage or revolu- tionary sounding phrases Such ac- tions bear all the earmarks of what is known as Trotskyism. To label everything as Trotskyism which one does not agree with is, of course, most harmful and if the Communist party does this it de- esrves censure. It does appear, however, that the betrayal of the Gonnell splitters has had a tendency to make our executive adopt a more and more “pure” Socialist position and the difficulties we have had to face in this last period has made it susceptible to the arguments and actions of the Trotskyite groups. United Frott Your position on the question of unity, and I presume it is also the position of the provin- cial executive, has at least one outstanding recommendation. There is no ground for any mis- understandi¥e—you are against unity. Y will be equally explicit. I am in favor of adopting a united front policy. I am of the opin- ion that we should endeavour to Teach an agreement, not only with the Communist party, but also with other labor and pro- eressive groupings which may Tun candidates in the coming: elections: We snould do this in order that the people will not be confused with the medley of opinions and parties on the side of progress, while the forces of bie capital unite in a party of black reaction. As I understand it, the question is not basically one of unity with the Communist party. It is a question as to whether we, the CCF, are to demand a monopoly in the parlia- mentary field. At present this is our position and it will sooner or later become an untenable one. The three thousand-odd CCF mem- bers in BC cannot expect to be able to reflect the opinion of all organ- ized working and middle people of BC and maintain an attitude of ‘hands off when other groups enter the parliamentary field. Agreement with CP You predict dire consequences would follow any agreement with the Communists. “Tt would be a People’s Front minus the people.” This is pure assumption. No one ean say what the result would be in BC. hecause we have never had any such aggreements. In order to get an idea of the re- action of the people we have to 30 to other parts of the country and to other lands. It is interesting to note in this regard that Margaret Crans, running on a United Front ticket in Edmonton, polled Gf mem- ory serves correctly) four times as many wotes as the CCF candidate who rejected unity. 1937 is not 1933 and your argument that the position of the Communist party “has not losses suffered by them in the in- terference with their business, col- lection of levies, fines, and seizures of potatoes, Statements Untrue 1 Mr. Glive Planta, MLA, accusations to the effect that five six Chinese are in the entire control of vegetable growing and distributine. “John Chinaman,’ he stated, a peon by head srowers in Vancouver.” These statements are Chinese repeated or “Is bossed untrue. The free and in- dependent, each operating and man- farmers are agine his farm as he sees fit with- out contro) or dictation of any sort. His employ s are hired and work for wages just as white laborers do. The farmer has no power over his employees other than the power to direct his activities in the manner recognized by Canadian law. There is no financial or family control as sugeested by Mr. Planta. Col. Meclelan stated it was ‘‘im- possible to make the Chinese grow- ers co-operate’? The fact is the] Chinese are willing to co-operate in any scheme founded upon con- stitutional legislation. Since, havy- ever, the Board has for two years enforced schemes now held to he unlawful, we feel justified in Sub- | mittinge any further efforts of the | same Board to the Law Courts. Canada. Meantime, we suggest that co- operation by the Chinese would be fostered if a scheme were 50 for-| mulated as to permit Chinese frow- ers to vote in the election of the | Board. Tt is true that the present | Scheme does not extremely exclude | Chinese from voting, yet, by in- | J eenious draftmanship, the scheme ! improved with the temporary ‘lift’ of the depression’’ does not take any account of the tremendous interna- tional developments that have taken place even since the last federal election—the yictory of the People’s front in Mrance, the meeting of the seventh world congress of the Com- munist International and its new attitude, the strugeele in Spain, the development of the USSR. All these things will have their influence upon the people of the world and wili reflect themselves upon us in BC. We are not living in a vacuum. Even we BC people learn from the lessons of history. Red Bogey “The ‘Communist, las de- feated many of our candidates in the . with Communists running CORI inst us that cry could not be 2? (1) Oh. Mr. Isditor, what |; of reasoning& is this? We are to hope that the Communists will run against us because we can show what pureclean Socialists we are. How free from the taint of Bolshe- Vism! How purified with the holy water of Capitalist respectability! How safe and sane and wholesome! As if the Capitalist class is goine to conduct investigation before it charges us with being “‘Reds!’ As an if it matters to them what the facts are! If there were not a Communist party member within 500 miles of Vaneouyver, they would attack us just the same, if we resolutely em- barked upon a program of special justice. T remember listening to the radio nicht night to the attacks The Ruling Clawss By REDFIELD the board of directors. The board of directors votes double dividends for What Is A COMPILED By T. EWEN In The Vancouver Sun of Feb. 22, Comrade H. Gargrave, CCE provin- cial secretary, is quoted as saying: “The Communist party has been asked to define what a Trotskyist is. So far it has not done so.” Following quotations from (VolLxV Lenin, Collected Works) refer to the period of 1912-13 when ‘Trotsky colloborated with the extreme right wing of the Mensheviks (the “Tiquidators’?) to split the Bolshe- vik party. Quotations from (Vol. XVI) re- late to 1920-21 when Trotsky formed a “faction” of his own while yet a member of the Central Commit- tee of the CPSU in an unprincipled effort to disrupt and split the Rus- Sian party in its most difficult period. _ “Trotsky distorts Bolshevism, for Trotsky never has been able to get any definite views on the role of the proletariat in the Russian bourgeois revolution. Much worse, howover, is his distortion of the history of the revolution.” (V. I. Lenin, Col- lected Works, Russian edition, Vol- BV PE 15): Ls * = * “MTen like Trotsky, with his in- flated phrases about the MWussian Social-Democratic Labor Party and with his slavish crawling before the Liquidators who have nothing in common with the Russian Social- Democratic Labor party, are now the ‘affliction of our times’ ..- - They are preachers of CAPITULAT-— ING before the Liquidators who are building a Stolypin Labor party (Stolypin was the Czars Prime Minister.)’”’ (V. I. Lenin, Collected Works, Russian Edition, Vol. *V, 19795 “Tt is clear therefrom that Trot- sky, and “Erotskyites’ and concilia- tors similar to him, are more harm- ful than any Liquidators, for con- yvineed liquidators express their views directly, and the workers can easily find out their erroneousness, whereas the Messrs. Trotsky DE- CEIVE the workers, they COVER Up the evil, make it impossible to expose it and cure it. Everyone the dope of the Communist party; the agent of the CI in the USA; the man who was going to sovietize the United States, etc., etc. Tt is interesting to note that he was elected by an overwhelmins majority. How can we prevent these attacks? Only by complete capitulation and political extinetion. If we retreat before them they will become in- tensified a hundred fold. “Red bait- ing” is a tactic of the bourgeoisie. It will have to be met, but not hy 4 policy of retreat before the battle. T have an opinion that if Arnold Webster had carried the attack for- ward into the enemies’ camp more resolutely, instead of spending much time attempting to clear him- self of Charges which were made precisely for that purpose, he would have won Burrard. T agree with the convention will decide the of unity for the coming period. the delegates have and see the real iss so that the question Let a broad outlook and not be editor wes upon President Roosevelt. He was blinded by prejudice or swept by emotion. Whether the C€F is to be- come a political party or be- come a real federation; whether We are going to maintain that we (the CCF) have a monopoly in the parliamentary field or endeavor to reach agreement with others who are travelling in the same geMeral election while holding different views on how we are going to reach the goal; these are the main questions facing ime convention- The convention will decide, but it my firm conviction that if we refuse. if we ¢