_ Here’s a sketch ef SBritain’s pro- posed new de- fence against an aerial invasion. “Aprons” of steel cables, suspended irom balloons floating 4000 to 3000 above cities are designed to attacking planes in a steel mesh which, it is claimed, will be invisible at night. Defending planes would Know the trap location of these “aprons” which would be shifted constantly. PA Players Presenting ‘Bury the Dead’ Here Specially Written Musical Background is Unique Feature of Irwin Shaw’s Powerful Anti-War Play Unique feature of “Bury the Dead,” spectacular anti-war play to be presented at the Little Theatre Friday and Saturday this week, is the musical setting specially written by Professor Geo. F. McKay, Wash- ington University. Professor McKay will personally supervise orchestral accompaniment at Friday’s performance. Provision of a musical background for a play of this type is believed te be an innovation in Vancouver ama- teur productions. Interest in “Bury the Dead,” Which won its 28-year-old author, irwin Shaw, national fame, is great. Tickets, 75 and 50 cents reserved and a limited number unreserved at 25 cents, are selling fast and those anxious to see this Play are advised to make reservations at MM. A. Iselly Piano Company, Granville Street, without delay. Expressing all the futility of war- fare, “Bury the Dead” is a play to be remembered. No one, baying seen it, can fail to understand the determination of today’s youth not to participate in any new imperialis- tic war. Monday, April 5, a special benefit pemormance for the Canadian League Against War and Fascism will be given, for which tickets are available at 615 West Hastings Street. People’s Front Will Stop _ Fascism, States Dr. Strong Padlock Law May Go To Courts MONTREAL, Que., April 1.—Un- deterred by the hysterical attack Taunched against it by the sovern- ment, press and reactionary or- Sanizations in Quebee City, such 4s the Knights of Columbus, the Communist Party of Quebec has boldly come formyard calling upon the people to unite around the slo- fan, “Save Democracy in Quebec!” In a statement given to the Clar- jon today by Stanley Ryerson, sec- retary of the Provincial Committee of the Quebec Communist party States: “The passage of Duplessis’ anti- Communist law,’’ the statement be- gins, “is part of a general attack all along the line against the labor and progressive movement in Que- bec, in order to stifle all opposition to the Tory regime of Duplessis. Save Democracy in Quebec. “This offensive faces us with the task of building the broadest possible movement under the slo- gan “Save Democracy in Quebec!’ In this, support must be won from the rest of Canada, which is threatened with a growth of re- actionary forces led by the Con- servative party, taking as its base the Union Nationale in Quebec. “While demanding that the law must not be applied, at the same time pressure must be put upon Ottawa to have the law vetoed by the federal government. If it should be applied preparations are being made to contest the case and carry it to the supreme court and privy council. “While taking all the necessary precautions to* Safesuard our Party apparatus, it must be clear- ly understood that this law does mot make our party illegal, nor Can it do so; and further, that the main emphasis must be plac- ed on the central, political ques- tion: that of strengthening the labor movement and primarily the trade-union movement, ag the only fuarantee that democratic liberty Shall be preserved.” Invite Cripps To Toronto May Day TORONTO, Ont., April 1—There is a possibility that Sir Stafford Cripps, MP, Socialist League leader, will speak at May Day celebrations here. John Ll. Lewis, CIO head, has de- Clined the May Day committee’s in- yitation, due to pressure of business, 4nd the committee is expected to cable an invitation to Sir Stafford €ripps. : -® Unity of Spanish People Will Brings Them Final Victory “Formation of People’s Fronts in the major countries of the world would stop war in Spain to- morrow,” Dr. Anna Louise Strong told an audience of more than one thousand at the Auditorium last Friday night. Directing sharp criticism against Britain as being mainly responsible for present boldness of Mussolini and Hitler, Dr. Strong declared that the ruling class in Emgland were more afraid of the People’s Front in Spain than of losing Gibralter. “It is common knowledge in Eur- ope,”” she said, “that reaction in Britain hopes fervently for a Franco victory, knowing that he can be ibeught out later, when he goes broke.’” A graphic picture of the Interna- tional Brigade, was drawn by the speaker. Here all languages can be heard and the finest of the world’s anti-Pascist fighters are together in this famous unit. Dr. Strong met the late Ralph Fox eight days be- fore he was killed. Dr. Strong showed there were yet immense difficulties to be over- come. “Only a People’s Front. could make it possible for Catalonians to fight in the trenches side by side with those from Madrid. “Only a People’s Front could unite the General Labor unions and the Syndicalist unions against the common enemy. “Only a People’s Front could make it possible to secure protec- tion and rights for the small busi- ness men who would otherwise be antagonistic to the common cause. This latter struggle was especially difficult because of that section of anarehists who fail to understand the various stages in Spain which must be undergone.’’ Irreconcilable elements such as the POUM, dominated by Trotsky- ists, were firmly dealt with by the (Continued on page 2) See FRONT Floating Canneries Offer Threat To BC Fisheries The Peoples Formerly B.C. Workers’ News dvocate FULL No. 116 Published Weekly. VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1937 SS Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. III. No. 12 . Bus Service Being Sought By Van. East Improved Transporta- tion Demand Led By Communists Led by Vancouver Bast Section of the Communist party, a popular movement is now under way to se- cure improvement in present inade- quate transportation services. Branches of the party have con- ducted an intensive canvass in their areas and have mobilized the whole community behind them on this question. Local existing organizations are now behind the campaign, including most religious denominations, Army and Navy Veterans, CCE, Liberal John L. Lewis Association, P-TA and a meeting sponsored by them is set for Thurs- day, April 8} 8 pm. Helena Gut- teridse, Vancouver's first woman al derman, will be the speaker with Rey. R. N. Matheson in the chair. Attractive folders are being cir- culated throughout the community, urging everyone to support the campaign and outlining demands on the BC Plectric. Briefly, the central demand is for service that will connect Hast VWan- couver with other parts of the city. For residents of this area to get to Kerrisdale, South Main and Fraser, Cedar Cottage and Hastings East they are compelled to so downtown (Broadway) to get connections and then travel in a hairpin turn to their destination. Mundreds of gar- deners, painters, domestics, ex- servicemen, ete., have to travel in a circle to Shaughnessy Heights, a trip that takes about 45 minutes to One hour, when a service could be installed that would reach the same place in 20 or 30 minutes. A more frequent service is greatly needed on all lines, there is an in- sistent demand for school tickets at 10 for 25 cents and for amore street cars with two-men operators during rush hours, also a bus ser- wice from Stanley Park and English Bay terminals to Second and Third beaches. ».. in every hour such as this there lurks another Hitler or an- Seamen Win Pact After Tugs Tied Up Agreement To Employ Union Crews Is Reached Supported by mill workers of the Puget Sound and Columbia Rivea areas, the Inland Boatmen’s Union has been successful in gain- ing union recognition from several towing companies engaged in tow- ing logs from BC€ to US ports. The Vancouver tug Kingsway, with a raft of piling in tow, after being tied up behind union picket lines for several days, was released Friday when the company agreed te hire a union erew. Pickettine of unfair BE logs has been general in northwest ports, in all cases logs being released only after the com- panies have agreed to employ union Crews. other Mussolini,” said he replying to reactionary threats. Railwaymen Win Demands MONTREAL, Que., April 1—Set- tlement of the wage-cut dispute which threatened to tie-up Canadian railroads as employees voted over wWhelmingly> to strike if cuts were not restored, is regsarded as a na- tional victory to organized labor. Terms of the agreement provide for restoration by CN and CP rail- Way companies of the 10 per cent wage cut by April, 1938. Furst victory of railroad workers in several years, successful outcome of negotiations is expected to fur- ther unite the various rail organi- zations in future struggles. Declared one prominent WVancou- ver railroader, Thursday: “‘Closer co- operation and unity of all railroad workers can successfully prevent any hold-back or threatened amal- Samation and lay-offs.’ Two of the largest the northwest, the Corbett Mill Co. of Anacortes and the Jamieson Corporation of Everett, Signed agreements to accept only logs de- livered under union conditions. Indication of co-operation between loggers, millworkers and maritime workers of the northwest is a con- ference call issued by the joint com- mittee of the Federation of Wood- workers and the Washington Dis- trict Council of the Martime Fed- eration of the Pacific The conference, to open in Seattle, April 11, will brine together Co- jumbia River and Puget Sound locals of the Federation of Wood- workers ,Columbia River and Wash- ington District Councils of the Maritime Federation of Pacific, and set Sound and Columbia River sub-executives, ILA. Calls have been received by BC locals of longshoremen, seamen And lumber workers. Among union matters to be discussed will be the question of the GIO. x The annual convention of District 38, ILA, will be held in Seattle first week in May. At this convention the unorganized state of BC’s water- fronts will come in for much atten- tion. iu importers in Fifteen Is Plan May Day Celebrations May Day, 1937, in Vancouver promises to be even more success- ful than last year, judging by the strength of the initial conference held Saturday, in O’Brien Hall. Action committee of 17 elected Will be enlarged at the next confer- ence set for April 17, O’Brien Hall, to which all interested are invited to send delegates. A committee was elected to con- tact the Trades and Labor Council, city council, Parent-Teachers’ Fed- eration conference and the Teachers’ annual convention. Criticism was lack of a genuine union the conference call and the com- mittee was instructed to get all printing done over an Allied Print- ing Trades label in future. All groups planning to parade on May Day are asked to supply infor- mation regarding banners, floats and decorated cars to the secretary. May Day ommittee, Room 40, 539 West Pender Street. forthcomings of label om FORECASTS RECOGNITION WASHINGTON. (EXP) — Byen- tual recognition of the sit-down Strike as a legal weapon of work. ers was foreshadowed here by James M. lLandis, dean-elect of Harvard Law School. City Taximen Will Onl Say Bylaw Aid Monopoly Vancouver Taxicab Owners’ asso- ciation, fighting against the menace to taxi-drivers’ livelihood contained in proposed curtailing of licenses, this week, presented its arguments before a committee headed by Police Inspector Mortimer. Excerpts from a verbatim report given by the association spokesman read: “The association suspects that the isSue to curtail licenses is a measure to Sive protection to large corpora- tions, should rea] competition appear from a monied source, to be able to prohibit any large company enterin= the field with a fleet or cars or sightseeing buses. We feel the small owner is being used as a tool to get this bylaw put through. “We are awake to the fact that the thin edge of the wedge of mono- poly has been driven well home in the matter of concessions at public wharfs and depots and have suffi- cient reason to mistrust the anxiety Of our Opposition in desiring to fos- and CCF North Island Conference Sends Resolution To Executive NANAIMO, B.C., April 1.—A sharp rebuke to the C@F provyin- cial executive which recently sus- pended A. M. Stephen is contain- ed in the resolution passed by an overwhelming majority at a con- ference of 15 north Island CCF clubs here Sunday. Immediate reinstatement of Ste- Phen was called for in the resolu- tion. Despite the fact that members of the CCF provincial executive spoke against Stephen’s reinstatement, the conference was emphatic in its de- mand. A resolution asking unity of all progressive groups with the CCF was defeated through adoption of an amendment submitted by Matt Glenday, Parksville, that unity could be effected through all eroups aligning themselves with the CCR, either by joining it as individuals or as clubs; thus givine the federa- tion basis of organization a new in- terpretation. ter ideas of restriction.” Plan to hold an all-Island confer- ence has definitely been dropped. While many Island clubs favor a unity policy, suspension of Stephen and splitting and disruptive tactics of a section of the CCE leadership which prevent steady progress, have made them hesitant. Nanaimo CCF club has nominated Stephen as candidate for Nanaimo- Alberni in the provincial elections. Cut Juice In Jobless’ Homes NEW WESTMINSTER, BCs April 1—City council here has dis- connected electric light in 40 homes of unemployed because accounts are three months in arrears. One unemployed man has report- ed that $5 was taken off his relict before the council would reconnect lights, while another man must pay $10 beeause he was reported to have bridged the metre. Actually, he has been using a lantern. Unemployed pay § Watt for electricity council] one cent. kilo- the cents a costing Clubs Would Reinstate Stephen Two Projects Rap Sentence HARRISON MILLS, B.G., April 1. —From the Relief Project Workers’ Union local in Gamp 226 here the following .message has been sent to Harry Molland and Fred Grange, serving two-year sentences in New Westminster penitentiary for their Part in an unemployed demonstra- tion at Hamilton Hall. “We, members of the Project Workers’ Union, send warmest working-class greetings, pledging our solidarity and fullest support in the campaign for your release. “Although the capitalist class has succeeded in condemninez you, they will never be able to stop the work for which you gave your freedom. “We, on the outside, pledge to carry on the fight until the relief projects are one hundred per cent organized and at the same time Pledge ourselves to do all in our power to build a mighty mass de- fense movement for your release.” Spencers Bridge project workers have also protested the sentences. you our New Japanese Proposal Will Ruin BC Fish Run Labor Acts As Japanese F ishing Interests Lay Plan To Establish Floating Canneries Before Conference Japanese capitalists controlling the fishing industry in that country, where the fish supply has been greatly de- pleted, have taken initial steps, and later, Canadian interests, canneries off the North American Pacific coast. Such action would offset fish conservation by Canadian and American governments during the past few together with American, toward placing of floating: years. FIVE CANNERY OWNERS SEEK NEGOTIATIONS Five cannery operators, it is understood, have signified their willingness to open nezotiations with a joint conference represent- Ing six fishermen’s organizations which met Iast week to discuss fish prices for the coming season. Conference decided to invite all parties interested in the fishing in- dustry to a further conference im- mediately, including cannery opera- tors, federal and provincial depart- ments of fisheries, Japanese fisher men’s association. = Main buSiness of this proposed meet is to inquire into information obtained ftom Pacific Goast News that Japanese and American inter- ests plan floatins canneries off the coasts of North America, which would cause serious depletion of Salmon runs. Protests from, the conference were Sent to the press regarding tele- €Tams to Chairman of the fisheries committee from United Fishermen’s Union and Fishing Vessel Owners’ Association requestine that no change in fear or methods of sal- mon fishing be made until the In- ternational Treaty Commission meets. The commission, they urged, should meet immediately. The conference had previously Sponsored two delegates to Ottawa, to protest any further issuins of licenses in BC, but the daily press Ghose to ignore -these accredited delegates, featuring instead the above mentioned misleading tele- srams,. Victoria Youth Discuss Housing VICTORIA, B.C., April 1.—Follow- ing a detailed report on housing presented by Miss Hilda Marshall, Victoria and District Youth Council at its last meeting struck off a committee to survey the district and report back to the council with a view to outlinine a plan of action to deal with the pressing problem. Neon Grants Pay Demand Demands for higher wages to cope With rising living costs were con- ceded to employees here Jast week by Wictor David Neon Signs. New scales became effective March 27. On a 44-hour week basis, elass- blowers will receive 65 cents an hour; sheet metal workers, 50 cents: Sign Painters, 55 cents on sign painting, 45 cents on other work; servicemen, 50 cents. All time spent in shop will be paid as straight time. Previously, no time was allowed unless a man was actually working, a hardship be- cause of the seasonable nature of the work. Part-time employees will receive a Suarantee of a minimum of $15 ; weekly. General Francisco Franco, rebel leader, seen here at Salamanca chatting with General Wilhelm Faupel, Nazi ambassador to the Burgos. “provisional government,” isn’t, feeling so confident since the The bait of cheap labor is being: dangled before American canning capitalists by proposing that the. business be financed jointly with American and Japanese capital. but Nippon labor only will be used, the highest wage for Chief engineer being 300 yen a month With a mini- mum wage of 27 yen a month. Prominent Japanese cannery Owners declared quite frankly at a Seattle conference last week that the Japanese intention was to es- tablish floatine- factories off the Alaskan coast this coming: season. Present at this conference were a number of Americans. Takasaki, heavily interested in the Japanese canning industry, as Well as in the steel and tin plate industries, was fully authorized to discuss matters on behalf of Japa- nese Operators and officials. Reads Memorandum “On Destiny”’ Mr. Takasaki read a memoran- dum, printed in full in the March isSue of the Pacific Risherman, tenor of which may be suaged by the opening paragraph which reads: “In compensation for the scar-- City of natural resources in Japan, God has endowed her with. an Unique gift of excellent fish_ ing talent to tale care of her Population. Their destiny is,. therefore,to develop that art fur: ther and further, and to exploit the fisheries products even from the open sea where the interna- tional} layy gives them absolute freedom and protection for such operation. In other words, they may operate floating fisheries on the open sea, and prepare the products on board the mother Ship. This is the only way for them to obtain the chance of m0re employment by means of Which they will take Care of their over-population.”’ Continuing, Takasaki Says: ‘We sheuld forbid the river fishery first; the coastal] fishery next, and the open sea fishery last for more efficient conservation of the sal- mon.” The next part of the meéemoran- dum is Particularly revealing in the added afterthought: “Tn spite of the efforts of business men and conservatives of Japan, it may not be possible to prevent the govern- ment from granting permits with- out further delay for floating can- nery operations in Bristol Bay— particularly in view of the pres- ent militaristic tendency.” Would Invade Bristol Bay This proposed invasion of Bristol Bay, American extra-territorial water, may not appear important to Canadian fishermen but at the (Continued on page 2) See FISHERIES Spy System At Maillardville MAILLARDVILLE, B.C., April 1. —Charges that a company spy sys- smashing defeat of ‘his Italian troops this weel. tem has been instituted in Fraser Mills here are made by the BC Lumber Worker, official organ, Lumber and Sawmill Workers’ Union, this week. “Prowler cars,” equipped with powertu] Spotlights, have been brought into play by the company Within the past week or two, and these travel al] Over the village flashing their lights in the windows of workers’ homes. Apparently this is done in the hope of surprising workers in union meetings. Indiseriminate dismissals is an- other scheme put into operation by the company as a means of prevent- ing organization. Two Communists Win Council Seats LONDON, Engs., April 1.—Indica- tion of the rapidly developing poli- tical consciousness of British worl €rs is the recent return of two Communists in Glamorgan county council elections. These victories were achieved despite a viforous anti-Labor campaign waged by Con- seryatives. Two Labor Sains were also regis- tered in Monmouthshire council elec- tions. ‘ :