73 hid 4 ¢ baieasih FASCIST SPY RING | EXPOSED Page Four The Peoples Advocate Formerly B.C. Workers’ News SPAIN CALLS TO B.C. By TOM EWEN Page Six FULL No. 123 Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1937 SS Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. III. No. 19° TORIES THREA Market Bd. Isa Racket Says Writer Public Bats Cheaper Rice As Valley Farmers’ Potatoes Rot RESENTMENT GROWS By E. GC. TIBBITS. Consumers who this year have had to pay $2 or more a sack for potatoes while thousands of tons 2re gcing to waste on Lulu Island and other Walley districts, are continuing to asl, in great mysti- fication, what it is all about? There are many, it is stated, who have not been able to buy potatoes at ali during this past year be- cause of high prices, and thou- Sands of others declare they have had to cut their allowance of humble “murphies” in half. Rice has been cheaper, and so foreign Srowmn products have perforce been used by hundreds of housewifes in Substitution for a locally grown product. Wow, after enduring the dictator- ship ef an autocratic Potato Board for two years, they are asking: “Is it really true that there are many potatoes going to waste in the country while we are denied access to them?” Any city dweller who will take a drive out to Lulu Island, or Cloverdale, or Langley Prairie, or any other agricultural district, will hear the same story from all sides. Qn Wo. i Road on Lulu Island, half a mile from the writer, one grower—a relative of the chairman of the Potato Board—admits to haying 25 tons of the best Netted Gems left on his hands. He has not been able to get a shipping tag Since Christmas, and his loyalty to the Board and his relative is lagging. This instance shows that mot even “pull,’”’ if it ever operated, has been capable this winter of breaking the deadlock that has re- _sulted ever since the first of the “year in the marxeting of spuds. Huge Tonnage Remains Unused Half a mile from this grower is another who confesses to 70 tons unsold. This despite the fact that he has been more successful than others Gt is stated) in bootlegging his potatoes past the policeman at the bridge to his own outlets. Another large grower (about 2 mile to the south) has a barn Stacked to the roof with the finest murphies, A hundred tons, he says, will never be sold at all. This grower has been severely penalized throughout the whole season. Al- ways having had a good market in Seattle for his “earlies,’ this year he was compelled to sell through the Board. His potatoes went to their usual market in Seattle, but he got just $40 a ton less than he would have received had he been allowed to Ship direct instead of through the Board. His shipping statements Zive conclusive proof of this. A stack of his statements, ac- cumulated for the past year, show that there had been a consistent spread of from 100 to 300 per cent. all season between what he received and what the consumer paid in Vancouver. His statements were compared With chain store prices as published in the Vancouver daily papers, and they ran something like this: when city prices were $5 per sack (for earlies) he received $1.87; city prices, $2 per sack, grower’s price, 57c; city price $2.30 per sack, pro- Gucers’ price 67¢ per sack. (Continued on page 2) Man Driven To Suicide CAMP LISTER, BC, May 20.— Tragedy struck this settlement last week when Alex Krisby, local resi- dent, was driven to suicide after re- ceiving notice from the Land Set- tlement Board to vacate his home. Krisby, who leaves a wife and three children, has struggled for years under a load of debt and mort- fages and this last blow from the government was too much. Barely 24 hours after Krisby’s tragic death his family was in- formed that the eviction order had been rescinded by the government through the united resistance of Camp Lister settlers. The 60-day notice to vacate their homes received by many settlers here, story of which was printed in the Advocate some weeks ago, ce- mented them into the newly formed Farmers’ and Workers’ Protective Association, which, by its militancy, succeeded in quashing the wholesale eviction order, after holding a mass meeting attended by Wells Gray, minister of lands, and F. Putnam, MLA, when the action committee of the local organization won this con- cession. ABOVE—Demonstrators, including persons of Basque descent in native costume, picketing the German consulate in New York. BELOW——Am- erican League Again War and Fascism pickets outside the German embassy in Washington demand withdrawal of Nazis from Spain. White Lunch On Unfair List “All White Lunch cafeterias have again been placed on the unfair list by local 28, Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ union, and the Trades and Labor Gouncil, and we appeal te the public to support the union now fighting for genuine recogni- tion and union scale of wages,” stated Bill Stewart, local business agent for the union, to an Advocate reporter this week. Patrons of the White Lunch are under the impression that all is well, now that the girl employee discriminated against is back on the job, said Stewart. “Our local at that time consid- ered reinstatement of this member the most important issue,” he con- tinued, “but the fact remains there is a company union, officered by branch managers ,existing in these eafeterias and the owners refuse to pay the scale laid down by the legitimate union.” Wages paid by this company average $10 a week, whereas the union scale calls for $12 and $14, according to the various depart- ments. Go-operation of the public is especially needed at this time, said Stewart, because of the menace of company unionism and to really unionize the White Lunch em- ployees will mean a quick sign-up of every restaurant in Vancouver which now await the outcome of the present struggle. ILA To Open Organization Drive In BC District Convention Has Endorsed Policy Committee SEATTLE, Wash., May 20.— Decision to launch an organiza- tion drive in British Columbia was reached Wednesday by the Pacific Coast District convention of the International Longshoremen’s As- sociation, now in Session here. Important decisions made by the eonvention include: Sending of an ILA organizer to BC. Re-endorsation of the Joint Policy Committee, BC Maritime Workers, composed of longshoremen’s, sea- men’s and fishermen’s organiza- tions, Which has been functioning for the past three months. All locals were urged to co-operate. Setting up of an ILA and district council at the discretion of the dis- trict executive board. Taking of recommendations to the Maritime Iederation convention to decide on further assistance in or- ganizing BC. Status Clear. These decisions clear up the ques- tion of the status of the Joint Policy Committee and definitely identify the district ILA with the commit- tee’s efforts to co-ordinate activities of all organizations interested in (Continued on page 2) Threatened invasion of inter- national waters by Japanese can- ning interests with floating can- meries, jeopardizing the livelihood of BCG and US fishermen, has alarmed the industry on both sides of the line. Last week representa- tives met in conterence with G. F. Alexander, assistant commissioner of fisheries, at Victoria, to devise means to prevent such an invasion, Reports that the three Japanese floating canneries now operating in Bering Sea will be augmented by two more, equipped for fishing and canning salmon, has brought the matter to a head, as it is suspencted they will be stationed outside Bris- Japan Threatens Invasion Of Canadian, US Fisheries tol Bay, effectively blocking the salmon run into these grounds, most important on the American coast. Whilst no definite decisions were reached at the Victoria conference, representations will be made to Ot- tawa by both Canadian and Amer ican fishermen. The immediate threat against BC fishermen is that the Japanese ecanners by their stated viewpoint, intend to operate within three miles of the BC coast, blocking the usual salmon run through Hecate Strait and Dixon Entrance, besides ruin- ing results of years of careful con- servation. Pearson On Spot, State Fishermen Refuses Investigation In Order to Assist Big Canners UNIONS IGNORED Calculated to give every ad- vantage to the big cannery op- erators in their refusal to discuss fish prices for the season open- ing June 1, and practically forcing BG fishermen to take strike action to set a fair price for their labor, Minister of Labor G .S. Pearson this week in a telegram to the Fishermen’s Joint Commit- tee, refused its request for a prebe of the present deadlock. Despite the fact that the Fisher- men’s Joint Committee represents more than 2000 organized fishermen and is by far the largest negotiating body, comprising five organizations, the big cannery operators, a sec- tion of the Canadian Manufactur- ers’ Association, persist in dickering with Indian and Japanese fisher- men, hoping thereby to cause divi- Sion in the looming strike. Pearson, who has been made fully aware of the situation by the Pishermen’s Joint Committee, is undoubtedly playing for time and into the hands of the big operators. Responsibility Is Pearson’s Willingness of five smaller can- nery Operators to negotiate with the Joint Committee places responsi- bility squarely at Pearson’s door. Pearson’s hypocrisy on the ques- tion of intervention by his depart- ment in the event of a strike or deadlock, is shown by the following telesram to the fishermen’s strike committee at Dawsons Landing last year. “Replyine your telegram eigh- teerth I consider it unfortunate fishermen have refused arbitration stop. If fishermen think their case will not stand arbitration how can I believe fishermen’s stand justi- fied stop Serious responsibility upon your Shoulders as these fishermen may be without means of support balance of year stop If arbitration- under Fisheries Act not accepted I cannot support strike and must make it possible for men. to fish who desire to fish stop Awaiting your early advice whether fisher- men are prepared to return to fish- ing at once subject to arbitration or strike called off.” It is clear from the above tele- gram that Pearson will only use arbitration or make an investiga- tion when it suits himself and the operators. In last year’s strike he wanted the men to go back to fishing at the disputed price before he would interfere and in this case the season was nearly over. Camp Strike Wins Demand HAL? MOON BAY, BC, May 20.— Strike action of 94 men out of the 100 in this relief project camp pre- vented the eviction, for union ac- tivity, of eight men, after two pro- vincial policemen had been called in. Trouble started when Camp Tore- man Cairns refused to deal with the union’s grievance committee, main- taining that he would deal only with individual cases, but later promised that he would not fire anyone for presenting complaints. Qn Friday matters came to a head when €ight men, including the union chairman, secretary and three of the grievance committee were dis- charged. The discharged men asked the foreman to phone Victoria for a board of arbitration, which he re- fused to do. However, a notice pasted on the board states that Camp 901-2 will remain open til] June 30 and that all reinstated men and others will be kept on until fur- ther notice. One of the near-discharged men, A. Davis, possesses a Navy Cross and the Croix de Guerre. Retail Clerks Union Formed Announced this week is forma- tion of a Retail Clerks’ Union in Vancouver, to be known as Local 279. Bligible for membership are all employees engaged in purchase, sale, handling, delivery, billing and exhibiting of merchandise. Dues and entrance fees are low and there is beneficial and non-beneficial mem- bership. Information can be obtained from the union secretary, PO box 703, Vancouver, BC. week, Roundly condemned for its piling up of the public debt, for its handling of the Hedley affair, for its blatant pat- ronage and for its capitulation to reactionary pressure in many instances, the Liberals found their excuses somewhat lame, sought around for a diversion. They found it last week in an idea promulgated recently by Fascist-inclined young Clive Planta, whose independence in Peace River is more a matter of name than anything else. Not long ago when market board questions were receiv- ing considerable publicity, young Planta made a fiery de- nunciation of Chinese growers which, while it served to Warning that the Committee for Industrial Organization was endeavoring to get a foothold in Burnaby, with Consequent jeop- ardy to the industries of the municipality, was given by Hovw- ard Clegg, Conservative candi- date. He was informed on reliable authority that the GIO which had set Detroit by its ears, and had put 3700 workers at Oshawa temporarily out of their jobs, was now trying to zet or- ganized in Burnaby plants. Answering the question, Why had they picked on Burnaby? Mr. Clegg said it must be because of the encouragement they had got from the radicals there .. . The time had come when these radicals must go. Burnaby had teo much at stake. ... Electors should see to it that no party with any sympathetic leaning towards radicalism is re- turned to power in BG. —From News-Herald report. may come to power in BC by ment reacting, benefit of the Son revealed his hand. induce their organize the workers. iron hand will swiftly individual .. .” province at the expense of those who do the work. And the CIO would be the snake in this Hden. Must Defeat Reaction.—Maxwell. Another and more polished exponent of this newly- acquired Conservative ‘‘de- mocracy’ is Ald. Halford Wilson, Conservative candi- date in Vancouver-Burrard, who has rosy visions of capi- tal and labor going hand-in- hand — presumably in the direction desired by capital. Once considered close to the CCF, he has adopted an oppor- tunistic line, is now endors- ing the drive to prevent the working class from attaining a higher standard of living through union organization, is using radical terminology Capt. Austin Trotter- all progressive individuals. arouse a good deal of prej- udice, solved no problem, served only to reveal young Planta as a political opportun- ist willing to use racial prej- udice as a means to an end. Now Gordon Wismer has taken the cue from Planta. For Vancouver yoters last week he drew a mental picture of BC with a Chinese pre- mier. A colorful picture, its lack of perspective was so obvious as to make both it and its political artist look ludicrous, Conservatives Reveal Hand. Meanwhile, with both the CCF and the Conservatives concentrating all their verbal fire on the Liberals, there is danger that the greater Con- servative threat to progress will be ignored, that reaction defeat of the Pattullo gsovern- not to the benefit of the CCF, but to the Conservative party. In Mackenzie last week Conservative Leader Dr. Patter- 2 It seems that his recent appeal for unity with the left-wing groups isn’t seeking coalition with these them to help him defeat the Libera] government and then ¢ adherents to vote Conservative “to see the affairs of government placed on a sound basis” so that Brit- ish Columbia can become a paradise for exploiters driven westward by union organization in the Fast. No thinking person today has any interests intend to use the Tories, if elected, to make this an oOpen-shop province and to was misunderstood. He groups. He just wants doubt that the big stamp out all attempts to No thinking person doubts that the discard its velvet glove of so-called democracy when there is no longer any need for it. Despite Dr. Patterson’s assertion “that the Conservative platform is wide enough to embrace the Support of ever What the president of the af it is not wide enough to embrace the CIO which, in a short time, has done more to secur wages and better conditions for the workers than all the plaforms of capitalist parties in the last 50 years. For proof progressives have the statement of Howard Clegg, Conservative candidate in Burnaby, who last week registered alarm because, he said, radicals ar the CIO to come to Burnaby. Conservative Action wants, apparently, is development of Burnaby’s cheap waterfrontage, cheap land and, although he didn’t mention it, cheap labor. to make Burnaby part of the Conservative paradise where the big interests can cash in on natural resources of the e higher e encouraging In other words, he wants “The real aim of the CIO is the establishment of a progressively higher standard of living. By its recent inspiring victories it has already won higher wages and better conditions for thousands of worlzers and it will continue to fight to organize workers in in- dustry and aid them in obtain- ing this standard. “Employers who resist the legi- timate aspiration of their em- ployees on the other hand, who answer labor organization with violence and who force sweat- conditions shop on their em- ployees are the people who are making dictatorship possible . . .” —Sidney Hillman, chairman, Tex- tile Workers’ Organizing Commit- tee. “The CIO has caught the im- agination of the workman and offers him hope for the fu- ture... .The CiO has organized a million and a quarter hitherto unorganized workers.”’—John IL. Lewis, CIO leader. only as a means of advancing Tory—and his own—interests. Against Wilson and White in Burrard the CCF has placed two strong progressive candidates in Don Maxwell and Maxwell, long considered one of the CCF’s most capable younger leaders, has no illusions as to reactionary aims of the Tories, is appealing for support of “Tf the people of this province have any regard for their present rights, of which the Conservatives would so readily deprive them, then they must see that a strong bloc of CCF candidates speaks for them in the next legislature. The need for electoral unity to prevent a split vote was never more urgent than at this time when the reactionaries are making (Continued on page 2) TEN LABOR’S UNION RIGHTS Speeches Reveal Reactionary Aims By HAROLD GRIFFIN. Attacked by the Conservatives for its extravagance, by the CCF for its failure to meet the needs of working and middle classes generally, by Social Credit for its financial Juggling, and by the BC Constructives (when they could make themselves heard) because it’s a popular pastime just now, the Pattullo government found the going difficult last r @ Communist Party Flays Trotskyists Glenday, Smith, Roberts Are Enemies of the Working Class STATEMENT MADE The Corniunist party will work for the election of CCE candi- dates, despite official GCF op- position to Communist support.. But the Communist party will not support Matthew Glenday and! Erank Roberts, nominated on 2 CCE ticket in Vancouver Centre, . or Don Smith, CCF candidate in Esquimalt. : In line with its refusal to support election of Trotsyist elenients, Made public some weeks ago the Communist party states that the candidates named, as enemies of the working class, are unworthy of support. In Vancouver Centre and Esqui- malt, therefore, Communist support will be given to social Credit candi- - dates, not because the Gommunist — party accepts the Social Credit pre— gram, but because they come with— in the category of progressive peo— ple pledged to fight reaction. This is the gist of a statement released to the press this week by the provincial executive of the- Communist party of British Gol-- umbia, setting forth the party’s- position in the provincial election - towards the CCE and Trotskyists - masquerading under the CCF ban-- ner. Full Text Of Statement Full text of the statement is as follows: