Page Two

A DVO GAALLT ES

Peace River Farmer Has

Story of

By MICHAEL O'MARA
Into the Advocate office one day this week there came a
farmer from the Peace River country with a story of rank
injustice for which it would be hard to find an equal.

Crippled, deprived of his
sessions, he has

been left to get along as best he can on relief
after serving a prison term on a trapping charge he claims
was framed against him, the while he vainly endeavors to
obtain a hearing from government authorities.

Jobless Gain
Hearing In
Burnaby

BURNABY, May 20. — Unem-
ployed workers packed the muni-
eipal council chamber here Wednes-
day, and in face of three carloads
of police imported for intimidatory
purposes, won a proper hearing for
their delegation, which included
four provincial candidates, and ob-
¢jained a promise from Commiis-
sioner Fraser that demands would
be considered.

At request of the Workers’ Al-
liauce, local unemployed organiza-
tion, H. Clegg, Gonservative; Reeve
R. G McDonald, BC Gonstructive;
L. Walker, Independent, and E- Bh
Winch, CCF, accompanied the dele-
gation which gained admission to
the office of Fraser to present de-
mands of the unemployed for in-
creased relief.

Every candidate pressed Fraser
to endorse the demands which were
to be forwarded to the provincial
government. Fraser refused to en-
dorse and lost his temper, retiring:
to his office to which the delegation
later gained admission.

Meanwhile police appeared and
ordered the council chamber clear-
ed. Spokesman Sandberg informed
fhem that the unemployed would
remain to hear their delegation,
whereupon police retired.

Delegation spent an hour with
Fraser who, after some quibbling,
finally agreed to refer the demands
to his relief committee for recom-
tendations which he would later
consider with the advice of his
treasurer.

Wednesday morning next will see
the unemployed en masse at the
eouncil chamber awaiting the com-
missioner’s reply.

Relief Cut
At Kelowna

KELOWNA, BC, May 20.—Wtih
the clothing allowance for unem—
ployed here cut off since May 1,
¢here are rumors that further cuts
are contemplated by relief authori-
ties and the need for 2 strong un-
employed organization is beginning
to be realized.

Qnly those who are heavy Share-
holders in the canneries and pack-
ing plants in the district can be
considered prosperous she rest of
the population are wholly depend-
ent on the short seasonable employ-
ment available which condemns
them to a low living standard.

Local authorities plan to make
Kelowna a rich man’s paradise
with a resultant tendency to raise
eost of living as compared with
adjacent Vernon and Penticton.

Edmonton Relief
More Than City

-Despite the fact that Vancouver
is the dearest place to live in the
Dominion, according to the Labor
Gazette, which also states that $9.45
is required for food alone for one
week, a comparison of relief al.
lowances between Vancouver and
Edmonton shows that the latter
city is more considerate of its un-
employed, allowing $50.90 monthly
for a family of five for all necessi-
ties against $36.25 monthly in Van-
eouver for the same number of
persons.

For eight months of the year, Ed-
monton issues two tons of coal per
month to each unemployed family,
affording further justification for
the demand throughout BC for 54
per cent. increase in relief.

| JOHN E. LINDER

Passenger Agent for Scandinavian
Seeds Lines. - Passports AT-
jTanged. Representing—
The Swedish American Line
The Norwegian Lines
The C.P.R., Cunard and
other lines.

Doug. 5215-R

44 W. Cordova St.

HASTINGS
BAKERY

High. 3244

716 Kast Hastings Street

4068 East Hastings Street
@

Quality Products at
Rioderate Prices
We Deliver ae East End

and Grandview Homes
ce

“Thrifty Housewives
Shop at ie
Hastings Bakery!

UNIONIZED

Rank Injustice

muskrat farm and other pos-

® or years politicians of both Lib-
eral and Conservative parties have
agreed that the Peace River coun-
try must be opened up, although
they have been content to let the
matter rest at that. And a sure
sign of an election is their stressing
of the Peace River's case. Those
men and women ,the real pioneers
who are opening the country up,
must, however, shift for them-
selves. Capitalist politicians ure
not interested in their plight as
individuals.
A Reaj Pioneer.

At 54, Henry Fox found himself
unable to make a living at his own
calling of machine salesman, a eall-

Maurice

Dff to the Youth Congress at Montreal.
Anderson, John Jopson. In front—Eric Martin, Vera Cornish,

At back—John Stanton, Lois

Rush.

ing he had followed for 15 years.

This was in 1931 when the crisis
swept away the security of
millions.

We determined to turn his hand
to muskrat farming and chose a
spot some 35 miles from Fort St.

ELECTIONS

(Continued from page 1)

so bold a bid for power.” he decl
Connell Says
Little Hope.

John, where he took up a home-
stead.

The land he took up was value-
jJess—until he had drained and
ditched it, erected cabins and
stocked it with muskrats.

For four years Hox, who is mar-
ried and has five children, all
porn in Canada, managed to get by.

His first trouble occurred when
he was fined $20 and costs for pos-
session of a .22 rifle without having
first obtained a local permit, al-
though he had previously been in-
formed that the miner’s license he
held entitled him also to possess a
rifle.

coming election.

when he attempted to speak at
ard, sole remaining member of
defunct Commonwealth, took

“Would All Want Rifles.”

At the hearing Constable Peter
Smith remarxed that if Fox were
allowed to carry a rifle, every for-
eigner in the country would want
one, according to a sworn state-
ment submitted by Fox

Fox appealed the fine to the At-
torney-General’s department and
finally his rifle was returned, his
fine rebated and compensation
given him.

A year later he had a dispute
with some neighbors named Robin-
son over an exchange of goods. The
Robinsons are influential farmers
in the district, Fox states.

In December, 1935, he was ar-
rested for trapping on land he had
made application to lease, but on
which he had pot yet paid the fees.
The government agent at Fort St.
John had previously ‘“‘guessed” it
would be all right to trap on this
land, but denied this statement at
the trial.

He was found guilty and sentenc-
ed to three months’ hard labor:

Previously, while being taken
under arrest to Fort St. John, he
had fallen off the sleigh and in-
jured his back. Im jail he alleges
he was ill-treated by Constable
Smith. On one occasion when he
was too stiff to arise the bed
clothes were torn off him, windows
and doors opened wide and he was
left shivering in a thin suit of
underwear in 20 below zero weath-
er, according to his statement. De-
spite the injury to his back, he
was made to work on the woodpile.

electors.

Guthrie in Cowichan-Newcastle

the next legislature.

Meetings have been arran
week-end as follows:

Friday, 8:30 pm,
King, A. M. Stephen. Saturday,
Garfield King and Sam Guthrie
Hilliers. Speakers: James Cox
2:30 pm, Northfield. A. M.
3 pm, Wellington. Speakers
Sunday, 8:30 pm,
A. M. Stephen, Rev.

Unions Rally
Behind Baker.

ster where Rev. Edwin Baker,

popular candidate, he has the

talist party candidates.

Lease Cancexed.

Released from jail some three
or four weeks, he was again ar-
rested for infringements of trap-
ping regulations. Although he de-
nied the charges brought against
him, he was sentenced, this time to
six months’ hard labor in Oakalla.
In June, 1936, he was released under
habeas corpus proceedings.

We came out of jail only to find
his homestead lease cancelled on
the grounds that necessary im-
provements had not been made.
When he indignantly replied that
he had effected $1600 improvements
he was told that “ten outstanding
farmers’’ in the district had pe-
titioned against his being allowed
to return because he was a “public
nuisance.” His reply to this is that
of the “ten outstanding farmers”
only three were farmers, five were
dependents and two Ukrainians
with only a vague knowledge of the
whole affair.

A cabin 14x24, he says, was valued
by a government assessor at $15.

Broke, 1800 miles away from his
homestead, he has tried without
success to win a hearing. Clive
Planta, MLA for Peace River, re-
gretted being “unable to render
you any assistance in the matter.”

The final rebuff from officialdom
arrived this week in the form of a
letter from the deputy minister of
Jands informing him that investiga-
tion of the improvements he made
to the farm must be delayed until
after the election. The politicians
are too busy, apparently, in open-
ing the Peace River country. In-
deed, they are going farther afield
to open up the Yuxson.

Declares Fox: “It’s my land and

considerable support. Highly
whose work in behalf of the
been responsible for the raising

co-operative
Supported by all progress

MacPherson.

party and other
‘make a forecast of election Yr
toral unity,

all, the necessity of defeati

Salmon Arm Girl
Aids Spain Cause

SALMON ARM, BC, May 20.—
Spanish children have a staunch
and clever friend in Miss Dorothy
Leonard of this town. Only 14 years
old, she, with a few of her young
friends ,arranged a rummage sale
with refreshments on the lawn of
her parents’ home and raised $13 to
buy much-needed supplies for war-
torn Spain.

About 25 friennds came to par-
taxe of the ice cream, drink after-
noon tea, make a purchase ,or take
a dip in the Bran Dip, one little girl,
I don’t intend to give up fighting | Beverly Ann, calling it “Grand”
for it.” Dip.

GRAND CONCERT

Royal Theatre
Sunday, May 23, S p.m.

rs |
a

9O9OO9OOO

By RUSSIAN WORKERS’ CLUB

In Aid of Press Drive.

Silver Collection.

D0909-9-0-0-9 0090948 C94

Frankest, if least optimistic, political note of the week
was that struck by Rev. Robt. Connell, BC Constructive
leader, who in a speech at Victoria admitted that his party
has little hope of forming a government as a result of the

With the gulf of Georgia between him and critics who
last week greeted him with cries of “Traitor” and “Splitter”

the CCF to prove that it was not responsible for last year’s
split in the CCF when a small group broke away to form the
BC Constructives. The CCF, which proved its case publicly
last year, did not rise to the bait. }

Most progressive of the four CCF candidates contesting
Victoria is youthful Nigel Morgan, who has been a tower of
streneth in the CCF organization there. Capable. decisive.
energetic, he has made a favorable impression on Victoria

Elsewhere on the Island, Colin Cameron in Comox, Sam

Nanaimo were conducting aggressive campaigns this week.
Backed as each is in his riding by all progressive-minded per-
sons, all three were conceded excellent chances of sitting in

East Wellington. Speakers: Garfield
. Saturday, 3 pm, Coombs and

Stephen and James Cox. Sunday,
- A. M- Stephen and James Cox.
Capitol theatre, Port Alberni. Speakers:
H. T. Allen and James Cox.

Great interest, naturally, centres around New Westmin-
Anglican clergyman, is running on a Communist ticket. A

and progressive organizations,
campaign which is proving somewhat disconcerting to capl-

In the Interior, Stephen Freeman in North Okanagan and
Robert Wood in Salmon Arm, CCF candidates, were rallying

Spanish Defense Fund here has

the Loyalist cause, was addressing meetings throughout the
Okanagan, is considered to have
ning North Okanagan for the CCF.

Robert Wood, Armstrong farmer, is a strong advocate of
s and an authority on farmers’ problems.

Vancouver trade unionist, is making a bold bid in Cranbrook
constituency where he has a straight fight w

In Fernie, return of Tom Uphill, veteral Labor member
who has a working example of the united front in endorsation
of his candidacy by CCF, organize
progressive groups, 1S regarded as certain.
With even the perennial] political prophets he

continued last week to hammer home
the necessity of preventing a split v
cessity of electing a bloc of progressiv
ng reaction now
full force behind the Conservative party.

ared this week at a CCF rally.

a city meeting, W. A. Pritch-
the editorial staff of the now
the opportunity to challenge

and A. M. Stephen in Alberni-

ged for A. M. Stephen this

2:30 pm, Gabriola. Speakers:

and A. M. Stephen. Sunday,

Bradner farmer and former

endorsation of trade unions
is conducting an intensive

popular Stephen Freeman,

of several hundred dollars for

an excellent chance of win-

ives, Sam Shearer, youthful

ith Hon. &. M.

d labor, the Communist

sitating to
esults, the Communist party
the necessity of elec-
ote, the ne-
e candidates and, above
concentrating its

MARKET BOARD |"

————

(Continued From Page 1) |

This wide difference has per-
sisied until the present moment.
With city warehouses still stacked
high with potatoes, and farm pits
and sheds equally full of now-
sprouting spuds, the price to the
wholesaler has tumbled. This week
official quotations place Wo. 2
potatoes at $25 per ton in lots under
five tons ,and $26 for lots over five
tons.

This will mean that producers
need not loox for more than $10 or
$12 a ton. Such was their portion
when wholesale prices previously
were $25 per ton. :

Despite this fact, old potatoes
are still retailing in Vancouver for
$2 per sack ($40 per ton), with new
potatoes quoted at five pounds for
20C.

No Sales
At All

This situation, from the farmer’s
point of view, is not the worst
phase of the question. He is used
to watching his product go to the
consumer at a price treble what he
receives. The part that is now
burning him up is the fact that he
is not going to be able to sell his
potatoes at all.

With new spuds
city greengrocer's,
rapidly declaring
potatoes which he could have sold
during the winter are now rotting:

already in every
old potatoes are
in favor, and

premises.

IN VANCOUVER

REGENT

in his pits. He has been compelled
to pick over his bins twice already
(im many cases) with attendant
loss of spoiled ones at each sorting.
Just the other day a city broker
repeated what he stated a few
months ago, viz., that he could have
sold every potato in the Fraser
Valley had the Board permitted him
to do so. There was a huge demand
for this commodity across the
border in January and February,
and he declares he could have paid
$30 per ton for every potato of good
quality and still made money for
himself on the Seattle market, duty
included.

Not Allowed
To Export

Readers will remember that the
press at that time contained warn-
ings of alarm from the Board
stating that potatoes were going to
be very high this spring and should
not be permitted to leave the coun-
try. British Golumbia ‘would be
compelled to buy back these: pro-

Many Donating
To Spain Fund

Women’s Labor League, $2;
John Mcintyre, 25c; Mrs. Ron-
ayne, $8; Mx. Campbell and Mr.
Glen, $2; May Day, meeting, Soin-
tula, $90.09; sale of gods, 54.60;
United Mine Workers of America,
Cumberland, $25; G. Greenwood,
$1; V. Sleuter. $1; South Hill CCE
Club, $3; Nanaimo Branch, Can-
adian League, $3.70; J. TLarasoff,
Crescent, $12.75; Flora Hutton,
Kamloops, $1; A. Jolly, $5; Moth-

MENT!
Try US for your
SUMMER SUIT

Custom tailored and fitted in our own shop on the
Give our local craftsmen work, and
wages, and wear the BEST at moderate prices.
THE LARGEST SELECTION OF WOOLLENS

You a Perfect Fit

—_— *~« ——

324 West Hastings St.

“Vancouver's Own Tailors”

er’s Day banquet, $11.20; Anony-
mous, $2; J. Griffin, $2; Teach-
ers’ Study: Group, $20.40; W. Pet-
erson, 51; Sointula Branch, $17.10;
Cumberland Sewing Circle, $6.50;
Jim Johnston. 25¢; sale of goods,
75c; Mrs. Stehr, 75c; donated by
friends of Miss B. Brenberg at
engagement party, $15.25; pro-
ceeds of rummage sale held by
Dorothy Leonard and friends,
Sabnon Arm, $14.50.

ducts before the new crop came in
at an adyanced price, said the
Board.
How far these predictions were
awry is -being now amply illus-
irated. Yet these same men are
again bidding for public monopoly
of the potato market for another
year, with the government behind
them and the people standing for
it!
An example of the despotic srip
of the Board is given by one of
Vancouver's leading departmental
stores. Having their own farm and
growing their own potatoes they
were permitted to haul their own
spuds to their Hastings street store.
But they were informed they must
pay levies to the Board amounting
to $5 per ton. This figured out for
many months at avout 2 per cent.
of the market value of the product
which the Board took out of them
without any service rendered.
There is a well-respected couple
living up the Valley who for three
successive years have won first
prize for their Netted Gems at the
fairs of neighboring towns. This
year they have not been able to get
a tag, and expect to lose the seven
tons of prize potatoes which are
already in a state of deterioration.

(A further article by Mrs. E. C.
Tibbits will appear next week.)

Men Boycott
Burns Meat

ILA

(Gontinued from page 1)

SHERE, BC, May 20.—Strong
CCF sentiment exists in this district
and the Liberals are desperately try-
ing to buy votes by opening up
some road camps, but only to those
on the voters’ list.

So many voters need jobs that
eas-shovels and trucks remain idle
in Prince George, the government
depending upon shovel and wheel-
barrow to haul dirt uphill.

One road camp has decided not
to eat Burns’ products in spite of
threatened dismissals by the fore-
man, who apparently has been in-
structed by the Liberal party to

? TUNE IN

7:30 P.M. t
TUESDAY,

Hear REV. EDWIN BAKER, Communist Candidate for
New Westminster, Guest Speaker.

MALCOLM BRU

stifle all progressive discussion.
o 7:45 P.M.

DOCG D>
MAY 25th |

C-J-O-R

:

CE, Chairman.

Men’s Half Soles and Rubber

Ladies’ Half Soles and Heel -

Heels

unionizing the waterfront.

Notable in the convention pro-
eeedings has been the progressive
nature of all reports: Membership
of the district has almost doubled
since the 1936 convention, chiefly
through the organization of ware-
housemen and cereal workers.

Marine clerks and office workers
have been oganized into the- ILA in
San Francisco and should prove an
important factor in unionizinge office
workers all along the coast.

A woman delesate from San
Francisco office workers’ local re-
marked:

“Before organization we had white
collars and lily white hands, but
little to eat. Now, we still have the
white collars and lily white hands,
and plenty to eat. But we have
gained more than that—the spirit of
brotherhood with our own kind, the
working class.”

New Tobacco Put
On Market Here

A new smoking tebacco, “Canada
Straight,’ has been introduced imto
this province by the Royal Canadian
Tobacco Company of Toronte. This
firm advertises in the Daily Clarion
and other labor newspapers.

Two Try-ons to Ensure

TAILORS

il

iC

oming Events

a |

Lost: A bicycle, No. 12883, tips of
front fork are heavily brazed . Was
taken from Orange Hall entrance,
Saturday, May 15, between the
hours of 8:30 p.m. and midnight.

Branch No. 16, ticket No. 39, wins
the picture raffle contest in aid of
the press drive. Call at New Age
Bookshop for picture.

Waterfront dance postponed. Due
to the unexpected delay in receiv-
ine word of endorsation of the Joint
Policy Committee, BC Maritime
Workers, and adverse effect this has
had on sales of tickets, dance and
prize-draw arranged for May 24,
Orange Hall, has been postponed un-
til July 1 Tickets sold are still good
for that date.

Sunday, May 23,
Fishermen’s picnic.
come.
press

Keats Island,
Everybody wel-
Percentage of proceeds tq
drive.

2

Tuesday, May 25, 2 p.m., O’Brien
Hall. Mothers’ Council tea, to raise
funds to send delegate to peace con-

ference, Seattle, May 29-30.

in the

ot De-

Labor
Street.

Byery third Thursday
month is business meeting:
mestic Workers’ Union at
Headquarters, 529 Beatty

Watch for special adver-
tisement Donovan typewriters
in next issue.

TIM BUCK

will speak at
e@

LEGION AUDITORIUM

MISSION, B.C.
TUESDAY, MAY 2Sth

8 PM.

CITY TAXI
SEY. 988

The Loggers’ Friend

SESS

SPECIAL!
While You Wait...

Heels -
Ladies’ Half-Soles

Si

A Book to Read!

“Build

by BILL

can

@ The graphic story
the Hudson’s Bay

quent struggles.

Order NOW from...

Men’s Half Soles and Rubber

-OO
G5e

Empire Shoe Repairs

66 East Hastings Street

LIMITED
First Copies Will Be Autographed

A Book to Keep!

ers of

British Columbia”

BENNETT

170 Pages — Profusely Illustrated — Attractive Cover

You will want a copy of this fine work
relating labor history in this province
as only the pungent pen of O! Bill

tell it.

HOT OFF THE PRESS. . . MAY ist

of the great steal of B.C. by
Company and the C.P-R.

@ Indian and Oriental in the B.G. scene.
’ @ The great Nanaimo strike of 1912 and subse-

@ The shooting of Ginger Goodwin.
@ Building of a United Front today.

Price 50¢

Room 50, 163 West Hastings St.

Vancouver, B.C.
(Cash with Order)

EDITION