; Elect A Strong Bloc Of Progressive Candidates And Defeat Reaction fl q ) i : Vote for ; Watch for | nett eoples Advocate se al in SPAIN ISSUE ! New Westminster : Next Week VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1937 <= __ Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. IIL No. 20 FULL No. 124 Published Weekly GHARGES HURLED AT CITY LABOR LEADER | |ProGeeives| Union RulesMine Owners Repeat Tories’ Cry | Abused BY upp | C.M’Donald 1 New Westminster City Contract ‘Fixed’ After Union Gas ‘Alien Agitators,’ Say Bosses Of Mine Strike | Dispute WELLS, BC, May 27.—With a deadline set for Tuesday, : Neon Saey CTR May 25, demands for recognition of the Mine, Mill and Smelter i utian pikizeneni¢a PASSA he Workers’ Union and for higher wages were presented by local y smirches the integrity of the union officials last week-end for 370 men employed by Cariboo : ae ae eae . ae ace Gold Quartz and Island Mountain Mines companies, operatins u ee a a eiieh its president, @at Wells, and promptly at 2 p-Ta- a Colin McDonald, stands charged E , Tuesday, on refusal of their de- with betrayal of principles vents Have | mands, the men walked out of the REY. E. BAKER, Communist Cranbrook SAM SHEARER, CCE Comox COLIN CAMERON, CCE Alberni-Nanaimo A. M. STEPHEN, CCE which he solemnly pledged to up- hold, was revealed to the Advo- cate and individual members of the Trades and Labor Council this week, by a Waneouver business- man, diseruntled by the manner in which the matter of a city cloth- ing contract was handled. For the last three years, Van the Tailor, Georgia Street, and Hartle Bros., Seymour Street, tendered the same bid to the city for firemen’s and policemen’s uniforms, and had divided the contract between them. But this year, Hartle Bros. managed, with the connivance of McDonald, who is an official of the Joumey- men ‘Tailors’ Union, Local i78, to eliminate the tender of his partner, Wan the Tailor and seize the con- tract for himself. Most people are aware that the submitting of tenders and awarding of contracts is often associated with esraft and bribery, but trade union- ists demand that their trusted offi- cials shall keep clean skirts. Were is the story from Van the Tailor: : eon Wan, relative of both Van the Tailor and Hartle Bros., and em- ployed by the latter for the last three years for $20 per week, when the union rate.called for $36, com- plained to his union at the March meeting of his low wages and he sharply informed AfcDonald and ether officers present that they were fully aware that union wages were not being paid and that Hartle Bros. had no right to the union card which they possessed. Mrs. Jennings and Miss Beaver of that shop were also receiving $16 and $18, respectively, instead of the union rate of $25. . WMeDonald and other union offi- cials, knowing of these bad condi- tions, allowed tenders for police and firemen’s uniforms to be Submitted that were altogether too low to per- mit payment of union wages, which the city demands of all who submit tenders. The city also demands a union card. : ; The outery raised by Leon Van in his union resulted in a union letter Campaign. : sentative in a parliament has been proven be- | tions almost invariably show in-| cents increase for miners, 50 cents to the city purchasing ascent ae| Couservative Leader Dr. Patterson is ap- yond doubt by the actions of James Litterick : CTe@5&4 votes. _ fer muckers, 25 cents for surface April 15, warning na: et ee pealing to the progressive parties to aid him in the Manitoba legislature, by Willie Gal- “ees, ae Bis oN Baker workers. 3 Eres 7 eDeRN Sty Ene. in defeating the Pattullo government in the jacher in the British House of Commons. feresced Syzee | peneae out longer union shops and that their tenders for uniforms should not be accepted. This procedure was alto- gether commendable, although three years overdue, and Van the Tailor was discreetly not informed of this letter. : Wartie, panic stricken at losing such a contract, took special and successful steps to secure the con- tract and at the same time to elim- inate his relative, Van the Tailor, from the running. On April 20, just five days after sending the letter blacklisting these two shops to the city hall, McDon- (Continued on page 2) Ont. People’s A picture taken on the streets of Madrid after Fascist planes had dropped incendiary bombs in an attempt to terrorize the civilian population. : Election of Progressive Bloc Be Step To Unity By HAROLD GRIFFIN = When, some months ago, the Communist party of British Columbia warned that re- actionary forces were consolidating their strength for an ambitious bid for power in the provincial elections, there were some in- clined to the opinion that this was an exag- gerated view of the political] situation. Today, with polling day near and the great- er part of the election campaign already past, the Communist party’s position is already vindicated. ‘ Through the medium of the Conservative party, the big interests are attempting to tighten their hold on the economic and social life of the people of this province. Not all the demagogic utterances, all the pseudo-demo- cratic speeches, can hide the fact that the Tories constitute a serious threat to the dem- ocratic rights and liberties of the people. Anti-Labor hope that his party will thereby be enabled to take office. In Alberta, the Conservative party is following the same tactics of ap- pealing to the Left for defeat of the Aberhart government. This resurgence of the Con- servative party iS no mere accident. : Already, in British Columbia as in Ontario and Quebec, industrial leaders are foaming at the mouth about the CIO and “alien agi- tators,’” while Conservative candidates echo their sentiments more plausibly from the platform. Big business is preparing an on- slaught on organized labor and only the realization by all progressives of this threat can defeat it. Vote Must Be ‘alll his fitness for the position, are unchallenged. In the last election he was endorsed by the voters of New Westminster and, to quote his own words: “If I were progressive then, I am no less progressive now.” Yet against him the CCF has nominated aman who does not command the confidence of organized labor, of progressives generally, that Baker does. Nor has he Baker’s record of service to the labor movement or proven uncompromising sacrifice of personal im- terest to principles. Blake’s withdrawal would seem to be obligatory in the interests of progress. Rey. Edwin Baker is the Communist par- ty’s sole candidate in this election, nominated by a party whose importance as a political and economic factor in British Columbia is becoming increasingly apparent. There can be no unity without the Gommunist party and the value of a single Communist repre- No Carte Blanche Endorsement. Because the Communist party is urging election of CCF candidates, it nevertheless has consistently refused to have any part of those individuals whose Trotskyist tactics have been responsible for much of the con- fusion and disruption within the CCF. In opposing Matthew Glenday and Frank Roberts in Vancouver Centre, and Don Smith in Esquimalt, the Communist party has taken the only action possible in exposing these disruptionists running as CCF candidates. The very fact that those individuals whose disruptionist tactics within the CCF have been protested by many CCF clubs are now Justified Stand —Rev. E. Baker By WILLIAM PURVIS (Advocate Staff Writer) British Columbia’s lone Commun- ist candidate, Rey. Edwin Baker, in New Westminster, feels that his Strong stand for Jezislation safe- Suarding Jabor’s tight to organize in view of reactionary attacks upon trade union organization is fully borne out by events this week, He expressed this Opinion to me one day this week as he sat across a desk from me in Communist party campaign headquarters at 45 Sixth Street, New Westminster. He was referrins specifically to reactionary Statements anent “alien agitators” appearing in the daily press in regard to the Cariboo gola- mine strike, and more Senerally to denunciations of the CIO made by Tory candidates during this election campaign. I had told him that interest in the New Westminster campaign was general throughout the province. What was his candid opinion of the situation in view of the split in the progressive vote due to the plac- ing by the CCF in the fiela of Stan- ley Blake, I wanted to know. “Prankly, I consider [ have an excellent opportunity to become the first Communist member in BG,” he replied. “Certainly, if the wide sup- port IT am receiving is any guide, I Shall be endorsed again by the voters of New Westminster.” He reminded me that it was sig- nificant that once a Communist is | elected in Canada, Succeeding elec- habilitation, health insurance, public works, depended upon the Tapid or- Sanization of the people, both indus- trially and politically, and that con- centration upon the right of the people to organize and bargain col- lectively must be made by the pro- gressive bloe in the next. legisla- ture. And frankly, said Baker, a Communist is needed in Victoria to put more ginger in the progressives than has been shown. Baker instanced the need for making New Westminster an organ- ized town by stating that at factory gate election meetings it was easy to distinguish the organized workers | by the boldness displayed in attend- ing, and the timidity of the unor- ganized. The Cariboo miners would mines, declaring a strike. This strike, the first tie-up in a year of BC mining, and affecting two companies that in the last four years have amassed three million. dollars in gold production, will de- cide whether the operators will deal with company unions in the future or not. The play made by the companies, that they will shut down indefin= itely rather than deal with the AFPofi, Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Union, is discounted by union representatives who Say that the firm attitude of the men wilk bring the profit-hungry operators to the point where they will at least discuss wages and recognition of @ genuine, long established union. Attempt To Raise Scare Union officials in a Statement made to the Advocate, say that Dr. W. B. Burnett, president of the Car- iboo Gold Quartz mine, is attempt- ing to raise a scare in BC of “for- eign agitators” because the union is an affiliate of the CIO. “AS a matter of fact,” said one of- ficial, “organization has been pro- ceeding rapidly for some time now through the efforts of duly ap- poimted local organizers and the present demands are the outcome of discussion in regular union meet- ings.”” Late News From Quesnel Latest information from Quesnel, Thursday, stated that both mining companies had ordered union mem- bers from company bunkhouses* by Priday, May 28, that while the men are willing to negotiate and to re- turm to their jobs pending negotia- tions, operators had made no move in this direction, although it was reported that the Cariboo Gold Quartz management is considering: a conciliation board. ; Wage demands of the men are 40 Arthur Evans To Tour BC Arthur Evans, popular leading figure in the Communist Party of British Columbia, will leave Vancou- ver next week on a tour of the Proy- ince to raise funds for purchase of a fully - equipped ambulance for the Mackenzie - Papi- neau company of Canadian vyolun- teers now fighting Concentrated. concentrating on election of Glenday and| fing a Communist MLA right at with the Interna- d In face of this threat, progressive forces Roberts should be sufficient evidence that| their Service during their present tional Brigade in P arty Mocte are dangerously divided. Unless the pro- these candidates are unworthy of working-| struzele, stated Baker. Spain. gressive vote in each riding is concentrated class support. The fact, for instance, that the eee : TORONTO. Moor Tie meds | on one candidate, candidates of one or the Rodney Young, suspended from the CCF and! party of Canady ripe; this is the decisive hour to| other capitalist parties who view this di- dismissed from the Federationist staff, has Was B ea t @ | 4thur Evans 2 national cam- erystallize into organizational ae vision with consulesaible SPS enio, are aeeeed for them in public, is another zs nar ait ee z ity an independent, progressive BO = > to £0 in on minori votes. id E y yr. a - tical people's movement in Ontario,” mee Coneniniee Dah hae already made Glenday has been responsible for most of By P oliceman eee is ine nee cee ee See ae — Eee oh oS its position clear. By virtue of its platform the trouble arising in CCF clubs on Vancou- andl freedom) GnSnaine A Sere faris's current political develop-| and its position as the vanguard of the work- ver Island. As a member of the Federationist HOPE, BC, May 27-—Beaten wit | SD2m, Week 1S being held May 30- j ments, given to a specially convened meeting of the provincial execuuve of the Gommunist Party here last week. : Drawing attention to the impor- tant influence of the trade union drive for the restoration of wage jevels on the present political situa- ing class, it had every right to nominate candidates in many constituencies. Instead, failing to achieve unity with the CCF and realizing that to enter Communist candidates would only complicate a difficult situation, it announced its intention of Supporting the CCF, with certain reservations, and placed control board his policies have been reflected in the pro-Trotskyist attitude taken by the CCF official organ. Don Smith, editor of the Federationist, has been equally responsible for this pro-Trotsky- ist editoria] policy of the Federationist which has done so much to confuse the overwhelm- a loaded riding crop, while covered with a revolver, by an ROMP police- man here, 4 transient suffered pain- ful injuries to neck, face, arms and back, last Priday. This transient, whose name is withheld, started to run when chal- lenged with, ‘Halt or I'll shoot,” but June 9, but in view of the proyin- cial elections, the British Columbia Spain Week will be held June 3 to 12. Complete itinerary of Evans’ ex- tensive tour will be announced next week. Meanwhile, those progressive people throughout the province who- realize that the menace of Wascism in Spain is not a menace to Spain e 5 - rovinee, Alderman 5 = - = 2 “= = = ‘ incerelx i; 2 F i S h P a Cc t Is aed I is ey movement is only one candidate im the field, Rev. Edy fu L083 rank and file of the CCF sincer ely desir handicapped by a packsack he W4S| alone, but to peace und freedom the i) Siete 2 ia ie trade unions for] Baker, in New Westminster. ing unity and progress, ; soon caught and had to submit to| world over, are urged to attend these Si nh d B Co ae Eadependent political action. Even in this constituency the CCF has per- That Glenday, Roberts and Smith have] this brutality with no chance of de | snectinest and assist snare moe: cS € y © “The question of independent | sjcsteg jn following a foolhardy policy by opposed unity is not the main reason why the ee See See sible, Ami agreement signed Thursday, between the Fishermen’s Joint Committee aid the London Fish labor political action is squarely on the agenda as the result of the rapid developments of the past six weeks. ae “The faith of large masses in the nominating Stanley Blake as its candidate. At the most, the CCF ean only split the vote and enable the election of a capitalist party nominee. Communist party has denounced them and advised its followers to vote for Social Credit candidates in Vancouver Centre and Esqui- malt ridings as representatives of a party ing to arrest you suys; I’m going to put you in the hospital.’ The two provincial policemen here have recently been joined by three Hundreds Hear Buck In Valley company provides an increase of i = a 4 2 = of the RCMP and, because of local one-quarter of a cent over last] capitalist parties has been pee Bake: Most Opposing reaction. intimidation peonle ae Seu cee CLOVERDALE. BC. May 07. =e wae lue backs, from |foundly shaken,” Smith continued CCF Secretary Herbert Gargrave and = a pagers era 2 rag gg ae trac teaers Week's price Zor blue backs, ae , f union goyern-| Popular - = = 5 come forward to force proper action | More than 350 people heard Tim June 1 to September 30. Hepburn’s offer of u eeee = p ee k ‘ot E faved other candidates are also opposed to unity, against these undisciplined repre-| Buck, Communist party leader, when Bids for blue backs above ihe| ment exposed him — vim as wil.| 22d he wished, Baker might have staye but the Communist party is not opposing] sentatives of law and order who are| he spoke here last Saturday. On Pao Sek py the pe ae ee ae es By Shaee eens the within the CCE organization he left a few them. apparently intent on beating up Sunday, some 100 persons attended be accepted by the Joint Commit-| ing to sell out to = g months ago 6) join the Communist party and young Canadians riding the freights | a meeting addressed by Buck at tee and will constitute a further rise in blue back prices. first Liberal govermment in twenty- five years.” secured the CCF nomination. His popularity, (Continued on page 6) in search of work. Aldergrove.