sig nbn = A PYM EL PPE Helena Gutterid Elected ge, CCF, To City Council B.C. Workers NEws FULL No. 115 Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1937 ESP. Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. III, No. 11 Receives 358 Majority Over H. Corey CCF Elects First Woman Alderman to City Council POLL WAS LIGHT Helena Gutteridge carried the CCF flag to victory at the miuni- cipal polis Thursday, increasine Jabor’s representation on the city council to three and becomime Vancouver’s first woman alder- man. Twice before Miss Gutteridge has sought council honors. Nomi- mated in December civie elections she was disqualified on technical greunds and in the January by-elec- tion the late Alderman LL. D. Mc- Donald took many labor votes which would otherwise have gone to Miss Gutteridece. The vote Wednesday was very light, totalling only 13,289 hallots Out of 79,000 on the roll, less than if per cent. Miss Gutteridge ob- tained 5017 votes: H. I. Corey, 4659: Charies Jones, 2713: ex-Ald. W. W. Smith, 900. 3 Miss Gutteridge will take her seat at the refsular council meeting Tues- day and will be appointed chairman of building, civic plannin® and parks committees. CCF Vote Increased In Hamilton John O’Hanley, CCF candidate in Hamilton West federal by-election, Monday gained 50 per cent over the ©CGE vote in the same riding in the 1935 federal election. O'’Hanley had the endorsement -of the South- em Ontario Communist party. Metal Miners Organized By CIO WASHINGTON, March 24.— (ONS)—An intensive membership drive among lead and zine miners in the tri-state area of Missouri, Oklahema, and Kansas, has been announced by Reid Robinson, pres- ident, and John M. Sherwood, sec- retary-treasurer of the Interma- tional Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, following a meet- ing in Washington of the Commit- tee for Industria] Organization. in Utah an increase of 25¢ a day Was won by the recent metal miners’ strike and another 25c¢ a day raise has been negotiated since the settlement. Union has also re- cently secured state Jesislation pro- widinge for an eight-hour day ‘‘from collar to collar’ and a modified check-off through voluntary as- Signment of union dues. At a recent CIO meeting it was decided to set up an advisory com- mittee to aid the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers in organizine work. John LL. Lewis, declared that members of this committee would be announced Jater. Idaho Miners Organize WALLACE, Idaho, (GNS)—One hundred Sanization of metal miners in Coeur d’Alenes the aim of the Intemational Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, whose or- fanizer, Thomas F. McGuire, has recently sent letters to four mining eompanies on behalf of local unions for a $1 a day inerease for men working in all mines, mills; smelter and zinc plants. 24.— March per cent or- is “Black Legion’’ Is f Orpheum Feature Hailed by progressive newspapers as an excellent anti-Fascist picture, “Black Legion,”’ starring Humphrey Bogart, will be shown at a special midnight preview Sunday next, March 28, at the Orpheum theatre. “Black Iegion” is based on acti- Wities of the American Fascist ter- Tromist organization of that name, ringleaders of which were sentenced at Detroit recently on murder and other counts. APPEALS FOR SPAIN VALENCIA, Spain.—(®P)—Julius Deutsch, former Social-Democratic minister of war of Austria, has is- Sued an appeal to American Social- ists and trade unionists to unite in the defense of Spain. Sithough defeat ui Italian rorces in the northern sector (see story below) has lessened the Fascist threat to beleagured Madrid, every effort is being made to evacuate the civilian population. Here is a sign warning civilians to leave in colorful Puerta del Sol. Bethune and Sorenson Have Narrow Escape From Death VALENCIA, Spain, — By Cable)—Canadian volun- teers fighting with the Inter- national columm in defense of Madrid were in the forefront of the Spanish gsovernment forces which this week hurled Il Duce’s Italian Fascist “volunteers” back in disorder in the Guadalajara mountains. Dr. Norman Bethune and Henry Serenson of the Canadian medi- cal unit, in charge of the govern- ment’s blood transfusion service, narrowly escaped- death when the Ford ambulance in which they Were transporting wounded from the front to a dressing hospital a quarter-mile behind the lines was the target of machine-cun fire. Several bullets struck the ambulance but the Canadian doc- tors nuraculously escaped injury. Italians Routed At Guadalajara March 24. MADRID, Spain, Mareh 24.— This beleaguered city is jubilant Over the smashing defeat of the Italian army under General Emilio Mola. This week Madrid’s defenders (Continued on page 2) See VICTORY Taximen Fight Monopolies People on Vancouver this week turned, stared, what it was all about, went by carrying printed “Break the Monopoly.” This is the novel way by City taximen to draw attention to the threat to their livelihood of monopolistic interests now seek- ing to limit taxi service to one taxi for every 2,000 of population. Such action would cut the number of city taxis from 210 to 127. Complaint of taximen is that pro- posed amendments to safety by- laws only strength stranglehold of Such dominant taxi interesis as Be Electric-controlled Yellow Taxi and Packard Services which already have a monopoly on the most luc- Yrative runs. Transcript of the case for the Taxi-drivers’ association is being prepared for presentation to streets wonde taxis notices, as adopted Greater Vancouver Safety council. Canadians Participate In Defeat Of Italian Army Plan Meetings To Arrange For May Day Parade Under the slogan, “Male May Day, 1937, the greatest in Vancou- ver’s history” the May Day com- mittee, organized last year, has sent out conference calls to trade unions and all progressive organ- izations asking them to send dele- gates to attend forthcoming con- ferences. First of these confer- ences, Saturday, March 27, 8 pm, will be of a preliminary nature. Full arrangements for May Day will be made at the second con- ference set for Saturday, April 17, 8 pm. Venue for both meet- Ings is O’Brien hall. Moland=Grange Fight Continues Vancouver Bast Social Justice comnunittee, the Youth Defense committee “and other organizations engaged in defense of Harry Mol- land and Fred Grange, unemployed leaders whose renewed appeal against two year sentences imposed for their part in a demonstration at Hamilton hall was recently dis- missed, will continue to fisht for ise Of these two men, it was learned this week. Organizational worl will Mied on until such time felt opportune to open a wide campaign for parole. At a meeting Monday Youth fense committee representatives stated that the Project Workers would never rest their efforts until Molland and Grange had freed. be car- as it proyince- is De- been Seek Federation Of BC Jobless Formation of a federation of un- employment organizations is new objective of the CCF Industria] and Employment Conference, it was agreed Sunday. Conference call will be sent to other Industrial and Employment Conferences in Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island areas. Brief on unemployment which had been prepared by the unemploy- ment committee was read, and will be submitted to the Federal Hm- ployment Commission when that body reaches Vancouver. CCF Clubs Protesting Suspension Communists to Press for Joint People’s Candidates > [Resolutions | Are Sent To Executive Successful Communist United Front Adopied Convention Held In City Electoral unity to secure elec- tien of people’s candidates and defeat reaction Was the keynote of the Communist party conven- tion held last Saturday and Sun- day at ©linton hall. Most successful in the party’s 15 years history’ in BC, the con- vention made many important decisions, unanimously adopted draft of a new realistic provincial prosram. a Delegates from all parts of the province this week returned to their districts with new enthusiasm for the tasks of putting convention decisions into practice. “Will Not Split Vote” Following openine of the conven- tion by veteran Communist Bill Bennett, Maleolm Bruce, provincial chairman and Central committee member, save 8 comprehensive political report on British Colum- Dia, concentrating upon an analysis of the forees and potential forces of progress and reaction. Coming to Srips with the Gomine provincial elections, Bruce stressed the need for unity of the people against reac- tion and stated that immediate steps to be worked for are electoral unity, joint election machinery and joint people’s candidates. “Communists will not split the presressive wote Jeutoavilll scork sin- titingly for joint action,” he said. Deseribing the CGF as the largest section of the progressive people in the province, Bruce showed the logic of the fight for unity which must be redoubled, at the same time drawing in those considerable elements who follow Sociel Credit and Social Reconstructive thoucht and left-wing Liberals who are po- tential allies. An ovation greeted the conclu- sion of a masterly report and many hours of discussion followed from delegates who related their prob- lems to the report. Break Down Barriers Leslie Morris, member of the Political Bureau of the party and editor of the Daily Clarion, reported on the recently held sessions of the Central committee, Criticisine the main weakness of the BC party as being yet sectarian and narrow he stressed in vigorous speech the need for breaking through the barriers which sep- erates it to a large extent from the people. “We must be in the stream of life around us and not stand aside We must be practical politicians to whom the peopie will naturally turn for leadership,” Morris said. Besides bringing to the conven- tion greetings from the Central committee, Teslie Morris brought the sreetines of the Cuban party delegates whe recently visited Canada. A moving story of heroism under the sharpest Wascist terror Was told and amid applause the BG party agreed to raise its part of the $1000 dollars pledged to the Cuban people. Trade Union Worl Tom wen, veteran trades union- ist and member also of the (Cen- tral committee, reported progress on the “Unionize Be” campaign. Stressing the need for Communists being good trade unionists, Ewen Save many examples of and bad work in the fight to build the unions. 2500 Party Members District QOrzeanizer Fereus Mce- Kean gave facts and figures on the 200d &rowth of the party and the new forms and methods to strenethen party branches. There are 2500 Party Members in BC showine= an increase of §00 in the last seven months. Bill Kashton, national secreta ry (Continued on page 2) See CONVENTION ‘People’s Advocate’ Appears Next Week Next week the BC Workers’ News Officially goes out of pub- licstion and the new six-page People’s Advocate tales its place. Watch for the new People’s Advocate. In addition to increased news service it will carry feat- ures of interest to everyone—a women’s column, sports, articles of topical interest written by some of BO’s leading writers, and many others. | | By Many CCF Groups Repercussions of the recent suspenSion by the CCE provyin- cia] executive of A. M. Stephen, executive member and radio cont- mittee chaimnnan, began to be felt this wWeelk as protests poured in from clubs in all paris of the province. Widely commented upon by CCP club. members in the Okanagan is &ction of Grindrod CCF elub in re- fusing to participate in the next Provincial elections unless the CCir forms a united front with other prosressive sroups. Resolution to this effect has been forwarded to the CGF provincial executive. It was for his advocacy of the people’s front policy at Nanaimo Jast weelk that A. M. Stephen was Suspended for one year. Popular Robert Wood, North Okanagan GCF district council see- retary. and member of the CCE provincial council, has circulated a letter to all CCF clubs in the district advising them that the couneil has fully endorsed the Plnciple of a united front embrac- ing the Communist party, Social Gonstmuctives and any other pro- 2Sressive 2reups and informing them that Wood himself intends tu offer his resignation if majority of the clubs fail to back the council's: Stand: ° Kelowna CCE has alread y €h- dorsed the cGouncil’s action, and Vernon CCE, while rejectine the Stand taken by Grindrod CCE as “negative,” has also approved the resolution. Protest Suspension. Action is also said to have been taken by Chilliwack CCF district council following suspension of A. M. Stephen. The council has pro. tested the suspension to the execu- five, informing the soverning body that Stephen is second CCF choice in the constituency for candidate in the provincial elections: Protest is also said to have been Sent to the executive from Abbots- ford CCE club. From clubs in Alberni-Nanaimo riding, where A. M. Stephen has re- ceived the CCE nomination, protest is also expected to follow. In Vancouver two district coun- ceils, Vancouver East and Burrard. have asked for reinstatement of Stephen while Advance CCE elub has forwarded resolutions in support of a united front to the executive. WASHINGTON. —(SP)—America Stands on the brink of another economic disaster if industry con- tines to raise prices as it raises wages and causes living costs to rise out of proportion to wages, the American Pederation of Labor warns in its monthly survey of business. General Douglas McArthur, former US army chief of staff, has got boys as young as ten drilling in the Philippines. Here is am infantry regiment marching through the streets of Manila, Philippine capital larion-Advocate Drive For $2,800 Launched Well, cate drive has officially opened and were willing to bet there won't be a man, woman or child in the proy- ince of Gritish Columbia who won’t imow all about it within tivo weeks. Our office, which at all times re- sembles Hastings Street on $5-cent day, has incorperated the elements of the speed-up, particularly since dynamic Arthur Evans, drive com- mittee chairman, established his headquarters at the corner desk. from whieh, for the next six weeks, he will conduct his campaign. Yesterday Evans confided to us with customary enthusiasm that this was soins to be the biggest drive on the western front and in our humble opinion there’s no doubt that a general offensive has been launched. 20,000 Trial Subs. thousand trial subserip- tions the goal set for the new six-page People’s Advocate, which en April 2 will replace the BC Work- ers’ News. This goal was set Mon- day at a press conference in Clinton Hall, attended by some 120 delegates Twenty is representative of many oreaniza- tions. Malcolm Bruce, editor of the People’s Advocate (you might as well get used to the new name now). spoke briefly of the great opportun- the Clarion-People’s Advo-,. press which would fearlessly cham- pion the people’s needs. Guest speaker at the conference was Leslie Morris, editor-in-chief of the Daily Clarion and Clarion Weel ly, who stressed the need for sys- tematic circulation building, which alone would sive the progressive press the great influence enjoyed by the people’s press in Burope. “Not the big dailies, but the pro- gressive newspapers, are the real spokesmen for the people,” he de- clared. “‘When we print a story, we print the truth. We don’t lie, or twist. or damn with faint praise.” Representative. Present were delegates from Prince Rupert to Victoria, Salmon Arm to Prince George, from the Iraser Walley, from the Okanagan and from the city itself, One and all they were enrolle@ by Cireulation Manager Phil Gib- bons to assist in attaining the 20,000 he told them that “promptness in marx, With the air of a school master, delivery is the first law’ and ad- vised a check-up on residents in each locality to ensure that the People’s Adyocate reached a maxi- mum number of homes. (Continued on page 2) See DRIVE ities before a virile, progressive HAS SUPPORT OF CCF CLUBS SAYS STEPHEN To the CCE provincial executive Which last week suspended him be- cause he advocated unity of all progressive elements, A. M. Stephen this week replied in no uncertain terms. Said he: “It is evident that the little ruling clique in the CCE ex- ecutive will stop at nothing—and certainly not at deliberate distor- tions and maiisrepresentations—in or- der to protect their official positions from the just wrath of the rank and file who are tired of their stupid and short-sighted policies. The attempt to hane the ‘Red bozey’ to my coat-tail is the sort Gf smoke sereen used by Fascists and is altogether unworthy of peo- Ple who call themselves Socialists.” “TIT have been ousted from the CCI because of my lovaliy to the CCF and to its declared policies. Tf the little clique that is control- linge the executive choose to call me a Communist because Y stand for progress, they will only identity (Continued on page 2) See STEPHEN ‘Bury The Dead’ Will Be New Dramatic Sensation The other night, in passing, we dropped into the Progressive Arts Players’ headquarters on Hastings street and right into what quite pardonably we at first mistook for a mob scene from “Riot.” By a free use of elbows we finally made our way to the centre of the floor where erudite, youthful Director Harry Lewis stood trying to answer half a dozen questions at once. It was, he assured us in betyeen questions, only a full east rehearsal of “Bury the Dead.” If we would stick around, we would be able to see for ourselves just how well the play was being licked into shape. Regarding the solid wall of bud- ding dramatic talent between us and the door, we stuck around. Director Lewis ealled for silence, and a sudden -. hush fell upon RAE Oy the cast... Ihe Fourth Corpse ceased repeating his lines in a deep sepuichral voice in the corner. The Second General regretiully laid down the wooden machine gun on which he had been demonstrating what he would like to do to the Fascists in Spain and the Sergeant told the Third Private “he thought he would do. When finally we left, there was no doubt in our minds that when the Progressive Arts Players pre- sent “Bury The Dead” at the Little Theatre Friday, Saturday, and Monday, April 2, 3 and 5, it will be an even greater dramatic sensation than “Waiting For Lefty.” We know now why it ran for six months on Broad- way; why every Wew Theatre group from Montreal to Galgary has presented it to en- thusiastic audiences. Irwin Shaw, the youthful playwright, has cap- tured the inarticulate opposition to war of the masses, given it a voice and presented it with a dramatic force that is unforgettable. Included in the cast of thirty are: Bill Turner, Bill Palmer, Harry Hoshowsky, Malcolm Finlayson, George Ossipoff, Max Osovsky, Jerry Delaney, Phil Schaffer, Sophie Schaffer, David MRanlin, Ellen Wikula, Rosie Prokopchuk, Edna Braverman, Valerie Woodside. Ethel Smith, Dave Braverman, Nor- man Pelman, Verne Sanvidge, Mike Kunka, Isa Rothstein and Cliff H. Lewis Hunter. [BU ToTieUp Two Local Lines “All vessels of the Frank Water- house and Border Navigation com- Panies’ lines will be tied up im- mediately they touch an American port,” officials of the Inland Boat- men’s union here told a BC Work- ers’ News reporter this week fol- lowing unsuccessful attempts of the union to negotiate agreements With operators named_ Ultimatum to this effect has been issued to the shipping opera- tors. } Last week SS Eastholme and Southolme were tied up in Seattle behind IBU picket lines and were released only when company of- ficials agreed to meet union repre- Sentatives in Vancouver, despite threats of shipowners to wipe out the coast agreement won after the recent 99-day strike. - Only result of this meeting Mon- day between company and union representatives was notification to the union” that under no condition would the operators agree to rec- ognize the IBU.” ILA representatives of the Van- couver local received similar noti- fiention at a meeting here Tues- day. Eyidence of the loca] operators are goine in order to prevent organization of lons- shoremen and seamen here is seen in the recent refusal of Ballantyne bier officials to allow SS Bevin, a Canadian vessel, to dock at the pier so long as she carried an IBU crew, Mather Quits Federationist extent to which Following clesely upon