Page Six

The Peoples Advocate
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Vancouver, B.C., Friday, May 14, 1937

Trotskyism in Barcelona

HE treacherous counter-revolutionary putsch

of Fascists, Trotskyites and pro /Fascist,
irresponsible anarchist leaders in Barcelona has
been crushed by the People’s Front which has
the support of the anarchist masses.

The events in Barcelona furnish added proot
of what Trotskyism is—the deadliest enemy of
democracy. The ally and advance agent of fas-
eism, the enemy of the united people’s front in
Spain and every country where it exists. Trots-
kyism does the dirty work that openly pro-
elaimed fascism cannot do; and it does it in the
name of proletarian revolution, its vile disrup-
tive propaganda clothed in deceptive, ultra-revo-
Jutionary pbraseclogy.

In Canada, in Britain and other countries
svhere fascism has not yet advanced to armed at-
tack, Trotskyism, by its opposition to unity of
progressive forces aids fascism in its efforts to
prepare the conditions for the advance of fas-
cism. Of course, it denies this, but in Spain,
where the people are fighting against faseist 1D-
yasion, the Trotskyites are forced to show their
true colors. In collaboration with Franco, Hitler
and Mussolini, they strive by all means, inelud-
jng assassination, to disrupt the armies of the
people fighting at the front; and while doing so
they call for “revolution in the rear.”

The Bareelona uprising was timed to suit
Butcher Franco. The brave Basque people were
fichting heroically im defence of Bilbao against

_#he advance of the fascist hordes. Their women
and children were being mowed down in hun-
dreds by German bombs and machine gun fire.
And this was the moment chosen.

Action by the People’s Front government was
swift, and the uprising was exushed. The peo-
ple’s front will grow stronger and, with aid from
democratic people of all lands, will defeat the
forces of Franco and his Trotskyist supporters.

a ae)

The Hedley Swindle

' &A FTER insistent demands made by the pub-

lic, the provincial government has been
compelled to give to the press the reports which
reveal the fleecing of the public by salting cores
and “ore” samples from the Hedley Amalga-
mated Gold Manes.

That such a colossal swindle was allowed to
go on for such a long period can be laid squarely
at the door of the provincial government, for as
early as April, 1936, the government had been
told in the Richmond report that the company s
estimate of available ore was grossly exaggerat-
ed, that there was “salting” to make the ore
seem of commercial value and that in its state-
ments to the public the company omitted 1m
portant information reported to them by en-
pineers.

Under one pretext or another, the Richmond
yeport was withheld from the public for more
than a year, and the game of wildeat stock selling
gent merrily on. And now, to appease the pub-
lic, the government have arrested, not the big
shots behind expensive desks who manipulated
the steal, but two men who worked at or in the
mine. This is expected to show that the govern-
ment—asleep, or worse, for more than a year—
fs horrified and about to punish the eouilty.

The minister of mines, who is supposed to pro-
tect the public from wildcat mining promotors,
stock eamblers and other crooks in the mining
business, is Hon. George Pearson, also minister
of labor. And he has the effrontry to again offer
himself as a candidate for re-election in Alberni-
Wanaimo, and against a man of irreproachable
@haracter such as A. M. Stephen. But the people
of Alberni-Nanaimo will give him the answer
he deserves when polling day comes around.

a >)

Tory “Economy”

HAT the Pattullo government has increased
the provincial debt by many millions of
dollars and increased the burdens upon the peo-
ple no one can deny. Neither ean it be denied
that it has been wasteful and extravagant. The
ultra-reactionary Tory party led by Dr. Patter
son is taking advantage of these things to re-
vive its fortunes and advance reaction.

Employing the demagoguery which is char-
acteristic of reaction everywhere ,the Tory party
is promising economy if enough of their can-
didates are elected to form the next government.
One of the “economy” baits held out to the
electors is drastic reduction 1m the number of
members of the legislature. :

At first glance the average voter may think
this a good thing. But is this the direction in
which economy should be effected ? Certainly,
the total cost of salaries of members would be

reduced: but that would be a coniparatively
small saving as compared with the money squan-
dered through the iniquitous party patronage
system, for instance.

The proposal to reduce drastically the number
of MLA’s is certainly not in the interest of the
people. Under the present social, economie and
political order it would serve only to strengthen
the hand of finanee capital, for instead of the
provincial legislature beimg a wide representa
tive body it would be a committee form of goy-
emment more easily controlled by finance
capital, a form of government which would not
mark a step forward, even toward economy, but
would be a backward step, a reactionary step,
a step toward fascism.

Under the guise of economy, with the hope of
reducing taxation held out, the Tories hope to
appeal to the electorate and secure a toe-hold at
Victoria either as a step toward again forming
a Tory government or having enough members
to force a coalition with the reactionary elements
of the Liberals.

Tolmie and his gang were bad enough in their
day. In the present situation 11 which reaction
is desperately trying to advance, the Tory party
must be turned back. Not a single candidate ot
the Patterson-Bennett party should be permitted
to get his head into the legislative tent.

The alternative to Pattullo is not Patterson,
but a people’s progressive bloe that will defend
the interests of the people against reaction in
whatever form it may appear.

a e)

The Event Wont Come

66g NOMING events east their shadows before.”

Likewise, what could or would happen in
a given situation, whether or not such a situation
would eventuate, is often indicated in advance
and serves or should serve as a warning.

One of those indications was the statement
made recently by one Howard Clegg, Tory can-
didate for Burnaby, before a Burnaby Women’s
Conservative meeting. The Patterson Tory can-
didate, compelled to take note of the imprison-
ment of 50 young men who, denied reliet or work
in relief camps, were compelled to solicit funds
in organized fashion openly in the streets of
Vaneouver.

He slandered them by calling them pan-
handlers. Their degradation, inflicted on them
by the government, he attributed to those who
organized them to save them from starvation.
These organizers, he declared, are the “‘most
dangerous enemies of society,” and not the peo-
ple who starve them and imprison them if they
try to live. He also regrets that the unpleasant
incident is used for political purposes.

All this will give the voters of Burnaby an
idea of what a Patterson Tory government
would do to the unemployed youths and those
who assist them. The voters of Burnaby, how-
ever, will not send Mr. Clege to Victoria. In
the CCF candidate, E. E. Wineh, they have one
who represented them 1n the last legislature, and
they will re-elect him to fight in their interest

in the next one.
La eS)

Forces Divided

ERUSAL of the list of names of candidates
in the 48 constituencies of the province
shows an exceedingly regrettable situation {nso-
far as effective opposition to the eapitalist
parties is concerned. In some ridings as many as
four candidates of progressive parties and 2roup-
ings are in the field ,as a consequence of which
the vote in these ridings will be split four ways.
Tt ean be admitted that to bring about unity
and agreement upon a minimum program to At
and mect the needs of exploited and taxidden
people of the province is not an easy task. Most
of the difficulties would be overcome, however,
if the two major working-class parties, the CCE
and the Communist Party, would come to an
understanding and agreement and work united-
ly. Such a powerful eombination for progress
would attract other groupings and bring about
an all-inclusive people’s front.

It is unfortunate that the provincial execu-
tive of the CCF has so blindly and stubbornly
rejected each and every proposal made by the
Communist Party to bring such unity about,
even going to the extent of placing a candidate
against Baker in New Westminster when it was
elear that, given full progressive support, Baker
could easily win the election thereby adding to
and strengthening the progressive forces in the
next legislature.

How different, how much more progressive,
is the Alberta CCF which has declared publicly
for unity ef all progressive forces against re-
action. Lhe Alberta CCE has the political acu-
men to know that no political party alone can
defeat the parties of capitalism and, knowing
this. it stands willing to co-operate with all other
anti-capitalist parties, trade unions and progres-
sive groups to resist reaction and set up a pro-
eressive government.

The Alberta CCF has taken a great stride
forward, the effect of which will be renewed
hope and enthusiasm of the people of the proy-
snec, and added strength in the ereat struggles
of the present and the greater strugeles to come.

An APPEAL for

UNITY

Room 50, so
163 W. Hastings St.,
April 30, 1937.

Tt must be obvious to all think-
ing men and women that should the
progressive people of BC enter this
election with their forces divided

moment is not only 2 question be-
tween our respective executives but
one that affects the future welfare
of the great mass of British Col-

Tall buildings will soon be no nov
in the Diraine showing Dzerzhinsky
ing in Europe.

Mav 14, 1937

plaza and the palace of state

elty in the USSR to judge from this air view of Kharkov

industry—ilargest office build-

Fs

By HOWARD COSTIGAN

The eyes of progressives in
the State of Washington are
turned anxiously upon the
coming provincial elections in
British Columbia. There is
nothing surprising in this —
the working people of Wash-
ington are Selfishly concerned
about the political decisions
which are made in British Cojumbia.
We know from experience that what
happens to British Columbia work-
ers has an immediate effect upon
Weashington’s workers.

The recent and unnecessarily
prolonged maritime lockout taught
American workers a2 lesson—that
disorganization of maritime wor x-
ers in British Columbia and op-
position to the objectives of Cana-
dian maritime workers by the
political government of the prov-
ince caused American workers to
suffer unnecessary hardships and
made more difficult the struggle for
better hours, wages and working
conditions on this side of the
border. :

Had British Columbia ports been
closed as effectively as the U-S.
Pacific Coast ports, the chancess
are that the shipping interests
would have capitulated without a
strike.

The difference between the work-
ers’ strength on the Canadian and
American side of the border was
due chiefly to the fact that politi-
eal government was more sym-
sympathetic to labor’s program on
this side than on your Side.

Due to the joint political activity
of progressives and trade unionists
in the state of Washington, not only
were local and state governments
restrained from using the police
power as a strike-breaking forces,
but also political government was
forced to defend the right of trade
unions to organize, to expand and
to bargain collectively.

The Role of Police

In the final analysis it is the
police power as an instrument of
the state which either protects or
preaks the living standards of work-
ers in a democracy. if picketing
is to be successful, if strixes are
to be won, if mass purchasing
power is to be increased throuh a
better distribution of income to the
working classes, the state must
cease to be an instrument for the
destruction of these democratic
objectives. This can be accom-
plished only through united politi-

ashington CF Loo

ks to B.C.

‘cal action by a progressive move-

ment which includes the labor
unions.

This is true not merely in the
state of Washington where the W.
CG. F. (Washington Commonwealth
Federation) has had some success
in uniting the progressive move-
ment on a minimum platform for
the protéction of democratic civil
rights and the defeat of reaction,
put it is true in British Columbia.

The interests of the workers and
progressives in Washington coin-
cide with those of workers and pro-
gressives in British Golumbia in
the lumber industry as well as in
the marine.

Unless terrorism and intimida-
tion through the police power of
the government is defeated on both
sides of the border, workers on
neither side can be guaranteed the
higher standard of living to which
they are both entitled.

Deplores Confusion in B.C.

The world today is witnessing 2
titajiic struggle between the forces
of democracy and the forces of
fascism. While that struggle is most
immediately obvious in Spain,
where it is likewise most erucial,
there is no neutral zone in that
struggle, either in the state of
Washington nor the province of
British Columbia.

In both Washington and British
Golumbia our share in the fight
for democracy means the organiza-
tion of all progressive forces to
conduct united political campaigns
for the defeat of reaction in gov-
ernment and for the election of pro-
gressives, irrespective of political
party labels or the ultimate objec-
tives for which those labels stand.

In view of the need for unity to-
day, it is with some consternation
that we view the present confusion
among the progressive forces of
British Columbia as the elections
approach. A defeat of progressives
by united reaction would mean an
intensified drive against unionism
and progress, manifested in in-
ereased strike-breaking activities
by the police, and by anti-union
drives fostered by the moguls of
transportation, shipping and lum-
ber, done in collusion with the
state.

Disunity Leads to Disaster

The Washington Commonwealth
Federation has learned that dis-
unity in the progressive movement
in any nation in the world is 2
signal for an attempt by the re-
actionaries and Fascists to gain
complete control, whether it be
Germany, Washington state, or
British Columbia.

progressive forces, whether under
the title of a popular front or a
federation, if it has a minimum
platform upon which all progres-
sives Can agree, can defeat re—
action, improve democracy and can
raise the standard of living of the
working class.

In British Columbia today the
outlook for such unity is not bright,
and unless something is done to
bring about such unity, not only
will the Pattullo government be re-
turned but its majority will be in-
creased to the point where the yic-
tory will be considered a mandate
for further destruction of the
people's rights in the province.

Gonditions fer Unity Exist

This tragic condition need not
exist. My experience in British Col-
umbia leads me to believe that the
soil for united progressive political
action is more fertile than in my
own. state.

Among the political and economic
organizations, including the CCF,
the Social Comnstructives, Social
Crediters, the British Columbia la-
bor unions, farm organizations and
the Communist Party, there is suf-
ficient mass vote strength to defeat
any reactionary alignment which is
presented to the people in the com-
ing election.

Through unity on a minimum pro-
gram the progressives could defeat
the Pattullo government, elect a
majority of progressives, thus guar-
anteeing progress through demon-
racy. Not only would incipient
fascism be defeated but the ground-
work would be laid for ultimate
socialism.

Responsibility—And Opportunity

Such a victory would increase the
strength and power of the working
class not alone in British Columbia
put in Washington as well. And in
behalf of the Washington C€om-
monwealth Pederation, as well as
the forces of international democ-
racy, L call upon the progressive
forces in British Columbia to unite
to stave off the disaster of a vic-
tory of reaction.

Remember, socialism can not be
made effective in British Columbia
tomorrow, but, as Quebec proves,
Fascism, let in through the dis-
unity of progressives, can be.

The progressives of British Col-
umbia have a heavy responsibility
upon their shoulders—and a great
opportunity. Tsolationism, dis-
unity and sectarianism on their
part will mean the extension of
Fascism in Canada and in the
world; unity on a minimum pro-
gram will mean a crushing blow to
reaction and an extension of de-

On the other hand, unity of the

mocracy and progress.

election of CCF candidates, and
work for the elimination of other
progressive candidates where there
are more than one in 4 given con-
stituency.

We will strive to win each candi-
date and his following to insure
the election of the CCF candidate.
Ta do this, however, it is mecessary
to have a minimum ef assurance
that the CCF is prepared to work
in the same direction.

Jointly our parties can win the
people of a constituency to the idea
of a single progressive candidate
against reaction. Such a policy
would be more in keeping with the
needs of the hour than any ‘‘tests
of strength.” Such “tests” can only
have one outcome—a consolidation
of reaction.

At one of our last meetings of the
Co-ordinating Committee we stated
the position of our party towards
the Trotskyites. The nomination of
Messrs. Glenday and Roberts in
Vancouver Centre compels to

Provincial Council, CCF.
Dear Comrades:

T have the letters of Secre-
tary Gargrave of the 12th and
25th inst. relative to the elec-
tion and other matters sub=
mitted to the CCF Prov. Exec.
by the CP of BC. Needless to
say, we regret extremely the
position stated in the April
26th letter that “relationship
between your party (the CP
of BC) and the CCF” have
been abruptly terminated.

into four or more distinct groups,
that hopeless defeat for them is al-
most certain, and that such a situ-
ation can only pave the way for a
return of reactionary Tory S0ov-
ernment or of a coalition of Tory
and Liberal reaction after the elec-
tion that would be even worse.

Our party is of the opinion that
only the unity of all progressive
forces can defeat reaction at the
polls, and that the responsibility of
achieving this unity vests largely
with the two major working class |
parties, the CCF and the CP.

Moreover, it should be patent to
the GCE that such unity at the c

umbia people.

At the moment this unity need
only be of a temporary nature—
electoral unity to cope with the
issues of the present time—to work
out a temporary policy and a4
minimum platform that will enable
the working and middle class people
of BC to enter this election united
in political battle against the forces
of reaction. :

Without needless reiteration of
our policy towards the CCF becom-
ing a mass federation of workers,
farmers and middle class people,
which is well known to your coun-
il, the CP of BC will support the

state again our position towards
these elements, with the expressed
hope that such shall not be con-
strued as an attack upon, Or jnter-
ferin gwith the internal affairs of
the CCE. On no account can any
working class party appeal for
support of such disreputable and
disruptive elements and we are of
the opinion that this applies equally
to the CCF membership generally
as it does to our own.

We express the sincere hope that
your Provincial Council will take
the necessary steps to eliminate
such elements as standard bearers
of the CCF and put forward men
and women who will bring added
prestige and rsepect to the CCE
and consequently to the whole labor
movement. We earnestly hope your
Council will give this unbiased con-
sideration and accept our criticism
in the spirit of a desire to Co-
operate for the good of the CCF and
the movement as a whole.

We regret to note that in the
New Westminster riding the CCF
has seen fit to enter a candidate in
the field against Edwin Baker.
Qur party feels that Baker has
every right to this seat and to be
the standard bearer, not only of our
party as such, but of the progres-
sive people generally throughout the
riding.

As the CCF candidate in the last
Federal election, Baker polled a
large vote in New Westminster.
Tt is certainly not in the interests
of the people of New Westminster,
nor of the CGF to put forward a
candidate in this riding in the
present situation.

There is here no question of the
right of the CCE to do so. Such
rights on the part of the CCF are
definitely recognized. But unity
at the polls is a matter of expedi-
ency and necessity rather than
rights. We therefore place before
your Provincial Council meeting a
request that you give the nomina-
tion of Blake and its possible con-
sequence your serious consideration
and, to insure a united progressive
vote in favor of Edwin Baker,
withdraw the nomination of Blake.

We place these matters before
your Council with the confidence
that you will see the necessity of

oOo
By
OL’ BILL
More and more the
Of Two fundamental differ—
Systems. ences between Com~

munism and Fascism
are being made plain to those who
do not desire to blind themselves
to ving reality.

Whereas Communism inspires its
adherents to the mightiest efforts
in the accomplishment of almost
impossible tasks, earning for then>
the deserved description ‘“super-
human,’ Fascism utterly fails to
awaken any response in its deluded
cohorts towards overcoming the
slightest obstacles.

In Spain today, stark and miser—
able failure greets the Nazi and
Fascist general staffs in every Sec—
tor of the operations for which
they are responsible — except the
bombing and machine-gunning of
defenceless civilians, mostly women
and children.

The Butcher Franco, supposedly
in command of the international
gangsters and bandits who have in—-
vaded Spain with the purpose of
destroying the democratic govern—
ment of the country, is only @
stooge. The real generalissimo di—
-recting the murder-fest is Maj.-
Gen. Wilhelm Faupel, allegedly
Hitler’s ambassador to the so-
called Franco government, the
junta of thieves and garroters at
Burgos.

This hireling blood-letter dis—
guised as an ambassador has a long
list of crimes against humanity
charged to him on the debit side
of the recording angel’s ledger—
the massacre of Chinese during the
Boxer rising, of Hottentots in S.-W-
Africa, of South American people
in Peru and German workers in
1918-9—crimes committted for pay
by this mercenery soldier of for-
tune just as the gangsters, Little
Augie and Tony the Wop mur-
dered New York union men on in-
struction of the clothing factory
owners for a few measly dollars.

The lack of sub-
Incompetents stance in the
And Bullies. ody of Fascisnz
is being demon-
strated on the fields of Spain to-
day. The fascist bullies are brave
only. so long as their opponents are
unarmed and helpless; only so long
as they have all the arms, the
army, the navy, the police and the
corrupt courts on their side.

The failure of Mussolini’s tanks
and Hitler’s bombing planes to
measure up to the tanks and planes
developed in the Soviet Union and
supplied to the brave Spanish
militia is only partially responsible
for the consternation created in
Berlin and Rome. The failure of
the brains of the Nazi war mach
ine, of Hitler’s major-general, Fau—
pel, to develop a campaign with the
only forces Fascism is capable of
providing, that can defeat a
people’s army inspired by a desire
for freedom is a greater factor in
smothering the flood of boasting”
that the Sadistocracy indulged in
until a few weeks ago.

“Good comes out of eveil,” says
the philosopher and out of the
mental and physical rottenness of
imperialism has grown in Spain @
new type of army, a people’s army,
drawn from all the ends of the
earth, of all people who Xnow and
suffer the ruthless oppression of
capitalist rule; such an army as the
world has never known, inspired
by an ideal that makes every
militiaman competent to take his
(or her) place on the general staff;
superior in every way to the putty—
like, goose-stepping automatons of
decadent Imperialism.

reversing your stated position on
matters pertaining to electoral
unity. We believe that on such
matters where friendly and mutual
agreement will produce results
beneficial to the CCF, to our party
and to the people of BC generally,
every effort should be made to
foster this spirit and desire.

We are prepared at any time to
meet with your Executive and dis-
cuss these matters. We believe
that only through such co-ordina-
tion and personal contact can the
spirit of a much-needed unity be
developed, one in keeping with the
needs of the whole labor movement.

Wishing your Council every suc-
cess in its deliberations, I remain,

Sincerely yours,
TOM EWEN,
Acting Secretary,
Communist Party (BC Section).

“Ballots may put the planners
in; only bullets can put them
out.”’—Law observance as velwed
by former Secretary of the
Treasury Ogden L. Mills.

“Byen politicians are becom-
ing aware of the labor move-
ment. It is time for the labor
movement to become aware of
politicians.” — George Powers,
Pennsylvania textile organizer.

Just as Fascism

Froth and produces on the
Venom. field of battle only
military incompe-

tence and the cowardice of the
bully, so, too, it fails economically.

In January, 1936, when the Nazis
imposed themselves on the Ger-
man people by murder and arson,
the Reichsbank had  §821,900,00
marks worth of gold and 100,600,000
marks in foreign exchange. In
January this year these items had
shrunk to 67,200,000 and 5,600,00,
respectively. The gold coverage of
the Reichsmark today is below 15
per cent, almost a straight paper
currency, and foreign trade is paid
for with a Nazi invention, “‘block
mars,” which can only be spent in
Germany.

Institutions of the Middle Ages
have been revived and serfdom im-
posed on the workxers and peas-
antry. The wages of the working
class are lower today than they
were at the lowest depth of the
depression in 1932, while the cost of
living has risen, foodstuffs being
50 per cent higher since Hitler
seized power. The German worker
under Fascism is forced to live om
bread, potatoes, cabbages, margar-
jne made from whale oil, and horse-
meat. The working day has been
lengthened by four hours without
extra pay and in these four years
the death rate has gone up by 10
per cent.

Only in the production of war

ORANG

Admission - =
SIX-PLECE UNI

MEET TIM BUCK!

SUPPER and DANCE

Gore Avenue and Hastings Street

SATURDAY, MAY 15th - 7:30 P.M.

Proceeds in aid of Communist Party Blection Campaign

E HALL

35 Cents

ON ORCHESTRA

materials is there any shortage of
skilled labor.

To political criticism from out-
side their own stamping grounds or
military defeat these fascist morons
can only froth at the mouth and
spit venom like the snakes they
are, till they look ridiculous in the
eyes of thinking people.

But this is all right for us for
we are reminded of a letter written
by Voltaire to one of his friends in
which he says, “i have always made
ene prayer to God, a very short
one. Here it is: ‘My God, make our
enemies very Yidiculous.’ God has

granted it to me.”