j ‘GIRLS FORCED Yellow Dog Contract Is VOICE OF THE PEOPLE by Michael QO’ Mara PAGE FOUR he Peoples Advocate SPRING IN SPAIN by Ilya Ehrenbure PAGE FOUR FULL No. 126. Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1937 SS Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. III. No. 22 Split Move Fishermen To Present Counter Agreement To Company — MILITANT STAND What is described by the Fishermen’s joint committee as a “yellow dog contract,” was Oifered to captains and crews of 30 seine boats by the Canadian Fishing Company this week, a manoeuvre which —in the words of Organizer George Miller—“‘is calculated to split the ranks of the tish- ermen and prevent them from making a stake to carry them over the winter.” Qutside of the meagre share or the ‘cateh’ allotted the fishermen in this “contract,” no price is set for Sockeye salmon. Cohoes are set at 25 cents, pinks five and ene-quarter cents, chums five and one-quarter cents. These priceS were set ar- bitrarily by the company in the face of 2,000 organized fishermen who are ready to nesotiate in a resular manner, : This company has given a verbal Suarantee that the price of sock- eye “will be the same as last year’s anyway.” This particular price was the cause of the strike last year, which tied up fishing. No Cooperation Wo cooperation has been offered by the government in the present dis- putes. The union is gathering the skippers and crews together to draw up a new agreement which will be presented to the company Saturday, June 12, with a demand for immedi- ate negotiations on fish prices. Miller stated that if the bie can- ners continue to fight negotiations, a strike is inevitable, particularly in Rivers and Smith Inlets, where fishermen have put up many strus- gles in the past. With the growing prestige of the joint Gommittee, the operators will be made to realize that employees intend te work and live aS human beings. People’s Front Makes Gains Contests Presidential Elections In Chile SANTIAGO, Chile, June 10.—First formed in the Americas, Chile’s people’s front which recently emer- ged from the elections with 66 of the 143 seats in the chamber of depu- ties and 19 of the 45 senate sats, has announced its intensions of con- testing the presidential eciections next year, While the peopie’s front failed to achieve a majority, it nevertheless has dealt a smashing blow to hopes of reactionary parties, Included in the eight political organizations comprising the Chilean people’s front are the Communists, Socialists and the influential middle- class radical party. Chile has ten major political parties and some half dozen minor political groups. As in pre-election Spain, right and centre reactionaries are badly split. Despite corruption at the polis and other attempts by reactionaries to secure its defeat, the people’s front gained overwhelmine victories in Such important centres as Santiago, Valparaiso, Antofogasta and Con- cepcion. The Communist party increased its representation to seven, exiled Chas. Lafertte being elected to the senate in his absence, first Com- munist to win a seat there. Ford’s .y Ideals As Practiced & Ford denies it, but this picture proves that his thugs attacked and brutally beat UAWA Organizer Richard Frankensteen. Photogra- phers who took this picture tooiz refuge in a police station after a GO0-mile-an-hour chase by “service men.” Story on page 2. Loyalists Commence New Offensive Rebels Driven Back On Western Madrid Front Paris Newspaper Reveals Sensational Details Of Agreement Made Between Mussolini And Spanish Fascist Leaders In 1934 MADRID, Spain, June 10.—Fascist troops were in retreat this week all along the western and north-western Madrid fronts as Loyalist forces, smashing through rebel lines in the Guadarrama mountains, swept on toward the rebel-held city of Segovia and threatened the Fascists’ vital lines of com- munication. One Loyalist force through Leon Pass on the road to Avila, while another few miles of Segovia. This new drive to the west of Madrid heralds the opening of the new Loyalist general offensive on the central front, designed to re- lieve rebel pressure on Bilbao where Was was within a hard-pressed Basque and Asturian defenders held their stronsly forti- fied line around the city Against Superior-armed forces. Form some weeks past the central- ized Loyalist command has been reorganizing and consolidating the people's army which has now be- come a well-trained, efficient fight- ing force capable of defeating the best troops General Franco can pit against it. General Jose Miaja, Madrid com- mander-in-chief, is directing the new offensive and was at the front this week for a first hand inspection. In Bilbao the Basque government has removed the old crews from two destroyers and replaced them with Basque seamen with full approval of the defense ministry at Valencia. Fascists are continuing their ruth- less war of extermination against undefended towns and villages in the Basgue province in a futile at- tempt to terrorize the people into submission. Gives Proof Of Fascist Plot PARIS, France, June 10.—{(FP)— Proof that Mussolini plotted with Spanish Fascists for the July insur- rection is contained in the rench Socialist paper, Ce Soir, which pub- lished a sensational document drawn up March 31, 1934. It is sign- ed by Mussolini, Balbo and two Spanish officers, Emilio Barrera and Rafaelo Joaval. : Ttolian Fascists guaranteed their Spanish colleagues 20,000 rifles, large quanties of hand grenades and munitions, and 1,500,00 prestas for the insurrection. Wall Street Paper Publishes Special Supplement On USSR NEW YORK, June 10. — While, internal friction and for their inter- Wictor F. Ridder, former WPA ad-| vention in Spain. ministrator for New York City, con- tinues to denounce Communist “‘agi- tators’”’ in the US, the Journal of Commerce, Wall Street journal of which he is part owner, in a special 80-page supplement, was remarking on the growing prosperity of the Soviet Union. Senator James P. Pope, member of the US Senate foreign relations committee, commended the USSR for moving toward “a more demo- cratic govermment, while condemn- ing Germany and italy for creatine =o “The growing belief throughout the world that a struggle between Fascism and democracy for suprem- acy i§ likely, makes the Russian ten- dency toward democracy most wel- come,” he writes in a special article. Editorially, Dr. Jules I. Bogen states that the progress made by the USSR makes it possible for her to proceed with her planned econ- omy without imports of goods from abroad. drivine > ‘Spain’s Negrin Offer Made To Fishermen Cannery Owner Breaks Deadlock With Committee After a deadlock of seyeral weeks between cannery operators and the Fishermen's joint committee result- ing from refusal of operators to meet the committee to set the price of salmon during the coming sea- son, one operator, unnamed, made an offer of 55 cents for sockeye this week. “This break indicates that the solidarity of the fishermen around their fair demand for price negotia- tion is beginning to cause a change of attitude among the canners. Ap- parently they thought they were going to have everything their own way this season,’ Jack Gavin, sec- retary of the committee which rep- resents more than 2000 fishermen, told the Advocate. Emlarging upon the present situ- ation in the fishing industry, Sec- retary Gavin demonstrated hollow- ness of the argument advanced by cannery operators, most of whom are Americans, that their objection to the Salmon Purse Seiners and Pacifie Coast Wishermen’s unions is that “they are not Canadian unions.” At the same time cannery operators are not averse to sign- ing with Japanese and Indian fish- ermen, Dr. Bethune Plans Tour Of Canada A. Evans Makes BC Tour For Ambulance Fund FINE RESPONSE By MILDRED PRICE. TORONTO, Ont., June 10.— Dr. Norman Bethune, director of the Spanish-Canadian blood | transfusion service for nearly | Seven months, will arrive in | this city June 14 to commence a tour of Canada, report on his activities, and raise more money to extend the service, which already has saved hun- dreds of lives. Since January 1 this year, the transfusion seryice has distributed 10 gallons of blood. In Madrid, 1204 people volunteered to give their blood free of charge, and 794 were accepted. Dr. Bethune was impressed with the morale of the Spanish people. “It was never higher,’ he said. “There has been a unification of discipline, enforced by the people themselves. New recruits are com- ing up. There is a fine corps of yeung officers. The people are united as never before against the Fascists. “Qf course the Loyalists will win. If the non-intervention committee had some teeth in it, and if the democratic countries realized their responsibility, the war could end in Six months. The democratic coun- tries are allowing Hitler and Musso- lini to set away with murder.’ In his tour, the famous Canadian surgeon will take with him a movie, “Blood For Spain,” directed by Her- bert Kdine. He will tell about the sreat need for more ambulances for Spain, more medical instruments, drugs, X-ray machines, power units, mobile dental units, de-lousing cars and mobile shower baths. Although there isn’t a lack of Surgeons in Spain, there is a need for good trained nurses, he said. Dr. Bethune will return to Spain after his tour. Arthur Evans Tours Province. In British Columbia, the Com- munist party opened Spain Week by a mass meeting in Stanley Park last Saturday, when Rey. T. Jackson Wray, M_ Bruce, Alderman Helena Gutteridge and Rey. R. N. Matheson spoke at Lumbermen’s Airch. Col- lected was $67 of the $250 set as a quota for BC by the national am- bulanee committee of the Commun- ist Party of Canada. Arthur Evans, leading Communist and chairman of the committee, is now on a tour arranged to cover 48 towns in the province and there is every indication that a much larger sum than the BC quota will be raised. With him is R. W. Campbell, late campaign manager for Rey. Edwin Baker. Provision of a home and upkeep for 25 orphaned Spanish children is a task undertaken by the Canadian Committee to Aid Spanish Democ- racy and in every province there are various organizations assisting the committee in this work. WLL Active. The Women’s Labor League in BU has instructed its branches to or- Sanize affairs to raise money for this purpose and the membership in (Continued on page 2) See BETHUNE. Ask Embargo Qn Fascists Progressives Seeking to Invoke Neutrality Act in U.S. WASHINGTON, DC, June 10. — Led by Rep. Jerry O'Connell, liberal Montana Democrat, a group of Congress progressives called on US Secretary of State Cordell Hull this week to demand that the United States clamp an embargo on arms to Germany and Italy. They cited the Nazi naval bombardment of the Spanish port of Almeria as proof of Nazi aggression against Spain. Suppert from other circles came from Senators Gerald P. Nye and William FE. Borah, and included Rep. Hamilton Fish of New York. Senator Key Pittman, reactionary chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, disclosed the truth about so-called ‘neutrality’’ when he admitted that the United States would not act because that might involve danger of collision With the ageressors. loners Liberal camp only to see Ontario L Oppose iberals Hepburia Ontario Waits For Premier’s Next Move While Speculation is Rife as to Future Develop- ments in Provincial Liberal Party By CARL TORONTO, Ont., June 10.—Will Premier HICHIN Hepburn’s cru- sade against his imaginary Moscow end as ignominiously as did Napoleon’s march against the real one? In short, will he meet with increasing appears so. With his break with Mackenzie ~ King and his announced intention | te sever the Ontario Liberal party from the national organization lead tc his own political St. Helena? Will he succeed in splitting the Arthur Roebuck stage a come- back “at the right time” at the bead of the Majority section? Will the Ontario Liberal party be smash- ed as was its brother party in Britain? Will the premier tie-up with Duplessis and betray Liberal- ism completely in a bid for na- tional honors? Out of it all, will there come a broad people’s movye- ment? All those questions coming at once is like examination time, but yesterday was Self-examination day in the inner circle jof the Ontario Liberal party. Only one answer appeared to have a2 clear cut ma- jority — Premier Hepburn will not get away with a coalition or an at- tack on Prime Minister King without stern Oop- Position from the Premier Ontario Liberal Hepburn Party. E Early in the day the premier added to the announcement of his break with “Mackenzie Kang Liber- alism” hints that he- intended to + opposition from Ontario people? It Sever the Ontario Liberal party's connection with the federal Liberal party. “Some time ago I instructed the Ontario Liberal association not to send delegates to a federal Liberal meeting at Ottawa,” Premier Hep- burn stated. “The provincial and federal bodies will operate separ- ately. The Dominion party will have to set up its own organization in Ontario.” What appeared to be a majority of prominent Liberals think dif- ferently. All guard their state- ments, but are emphatic in their assertions that Premier Hepburn will neither get away with using: the Liberal party of Ontario to form a coalition with Rowe, nor with using the party to attack from the right the King-Rogers-Euler group at Ottawa. P He Marches Alone. “If Hepburn wants to go along with Wright, then he does so with out the Liberal party,’’ one promin- ent spokesman has stated very em- phatically. A few Ontario Liberals are Very, bitter against the premier. One member of the legal protes- sion usually exceptionally well in- formed, alleges that a campaign fund of five million dollars had (Continued on page 2) See ONTARIO. Rodmen Gain Pay Increase New Agreement Signed By Amal. Building Workers Substantial in conditions for the Rodmen's section of the Amalgamated Building Work- ers of Canada, per- sistent efforts of the Joint Trades committee of this organization, after gains Wages and were won by a long period of stagnation in the building trades industry. The fects all new contracts, calls for a minimum wage of 72 and one-half cents per hour on all new work. Time and a half for the first four hours after regular hours and after that, double time. Sundays and holi- days, double time. Prior to the above agreement, Rodmen were getting 60 cents per hour and no overtime rates. This Was a Sharp drop from the 81 and one quarter cents rate which pre- vailed before the slump. This year, with the increase in building activity, demands were made for the previous high rate and 1930 working conditions, but the compromise reached of 72 and one- half cents per hour is 12 and one- half cents over the old rate; plus overtime rates. new agreement, which af- Quebec Labor Challenges Premier Corporate State Threat Looms In Quebec By SYDNEY JORDAN MONTREAL, Que, June 10.— Seven thousand Montreal trade unionists thundered their challenge to the Pascist moves of the Duples- Sis government when the union gauntlet was thrown down by prom- inent labor leaders at a mass meet- ing held here last week. The meeting, first of a series to further the interests of the inter- national trade union movement in the province, acclaimed the principle of non-interference with the right of workers to organize and the trade unions’ exclusive power to better the lot of the worker. Among the speakers were P. M. Draper, president of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada; John Bruce, president of the Interna- tional Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters; Candide Rochefort, former member of the Trades and Labor Council and at present Union Nationale member of the province legislature. Won't Give Up Rights Announcing that in the last three or four months the Trades and Labor Congress has srown by fifty thousand members, Mx. Draper declared: ‘‘Notwithstand- ing any legislation in this or in any other province, our movement will never give up the right to strike nor will we ever give up the right for the closed shop.” This is a direct answer to pro- vincial Minister of Labor Tremblay’s declaration that his Sovernment will never tolerate or recognize the Principle of the closed Shop in the > INTO ‘PHONEY’ CAFE UNION Legal Fight Looms Over New‘Union’ Hotel And Restaurant Workers Prepared To Picket CO. UNIONS NEXT With the menace of com- pany unionism to hamper its campaign of unionizing Van- couver’s restaurants, local 28, Hotel and Restaurant Em- ployees union, is faced with another obstacie in the path to better pay and working conditions, by the challenge this week ot a “new union” termed United Hotel and Restaurant Employees of Canada, and a swift show- down looms. Button-holed by a questionine re- porter from the People’s Advocate, Business Agent Bill Stewart of the AE of & local, told of collusion be- tween 9 cafe owners and a man named Walker to defeat the legi- timate aims of a Zenuine union, by §0ing through the motions of reg- istering for the Sovernment files, a “Canadian union’ to which the Waitresses took violent objection. Warned by Stewart of the con- sequences which would follow their actions, § of these 9 cafes decided to drop Walker's scheme but one big: restaurant is putting up a fisht Last TPuesday, officials of local 23 took “unfair’’ placards to the stube born restaurant owner who immedi< ately changed his mind at the threat of pickets and reinstated a Waitress who had been fired because of her declaration that she belonged te local 28. This cafe owner claims that he is bound by agreement to Walker's “union.’”’ Walker asserts that it is registered with the fovernment. Local 28 has set the deadline at 2 pm Friday, June 11, when pickets will appear to force a decision. Meanwhile, youthful Bill Stewart States that his union campaign is rapidly progressing, with another batch of legitimate agreements coming up. “Company unions will be the next so down,” says Bill. Jobless Face to province of Quebec. Dealing mainly with the recent legislation of the Duplessis sovern- ment, the president of the Trades and Labor Congress condemned Tremblay’s pills respecting wages as a step towards corporatism and as being modelled on Italian Fascism. “I believe,” he said, ‘that this legislation has as its objective the Supplanting of international trade unionism in the province of Quebec and the setting up of fovernment regimentation parity committees in its stead, whose findings as to the hours of work, wages and all other conditions fovernins employment of workers will be binding. “It means that Quebec province is moving towards the corporate State.’’ Points to French Example Pointing to the fact that the pol- icy of the French Popular Front sovermment has swelled the ranks of the French trade union move- ment by about four million mem- bers, John Bruce declared that the Same can be done here. Turning to the provincial situa- tion he declared: ‘We demand the non-interference of politicians. We demand the right to shape the pcoli- cies best suited to our needs. And we are going to fight for that right.”’ LABOR MURALS DETROIT.— (UNS).— Murals il lustrating events in labor union history will decorate the walls of the new headquarters of the West Side local of the United Automo- bile Workers here. Plight Of Single Men Desperate, Says Cumber “More than 1,000 men in Vancou- ver will soon be faced with starva- tion,’”” Secretary Ernest Cumber of the Relief Project Workers’ union, told the Advocate this week. Cumber reported that, of the 23 camps operating last winter, only. three remain open and these only to the end of June. “As it is,” he said, ‘500 men came to Wancouver last week with an average of 6 to 8 dollars and about $12 apiece deferred pay, which will be doled out at the rate of $4 a week. “Pattullo is claiming that there are sufficient jobs soing to supply all these men, and yet he must know that the government employment agency on Richards street is flooded With men. The police are beatine the boys off the freights all the way. down the line when they 20 out seekine work the government elaims exists.” Producing copies of telezrams sent by the union to provincial and federal governments Stating the plight of the men and requesting that sane action be taken to pro- vide either work or relief for them, Cumber remarked, “EXvery street corner will be occupied by destitute, beggine= men if immediate action is not taken by the authorities. * Freedom Party States Nazi Armaments Bill 12 Billions BERLIN, Germany, the latest of its sensational pamph- lets this week the anti-Nazi under- Sround Wreedom party declares that the Nazis have spent $12,400,000,000 On armaments to January 1 this year and that Germany's unconvert- ed deficit has now reached the stag- serine total of 14 billion dollars. “Many of Germany financiers ad- mit their affairs to be in eatastru- phic shape,”’ the Pamphlet states. Hitler's dreaded secret police. the Gestapo, are redoublins their efforts June 10.—In to trace the source of these pamph- Which are circulated Widely in the German mails, but thus far all investigation has proven futile. The Freedom Party, the rapidly growing German people’s front, con- tinues to publish its revealing pamphlets and operate a secret radio Station te which millions listen nightly, despite seyere penalties im- posed by the Nazi regime on those caught listenings-in. lets, being Starvation é