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WHITHER CHINA?
An Interview With
Mao Tse-tung
*

PAGE FOUR

The People’s Advocate

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TROTSKYISM
AIDS
FRANCO

By Malcoim Bruce

PAGE SIX

FULL NO. 132 >

Published Weekly

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1937

Single Copies: 5 Cents

VOL. III. No. 28

MARCHING CITY JO

LESS

JEMAND

Rap Gov't
Over Cafe
Strike Here

Organized Labor Backs
Legitimate Union
In Fight

APPEAL INJUNCTION

Carrying the fight against
a group of Vancouver res-
taurant owners who have set
up a company union, Local 28,
Hotel and Restaurant Em-
ployees, will, on Friday, J uly
23, appeal the court injunc-
tion imposed on them this
week, prohibiting picketins
of Scott's Cafe; Granville
Street, where there is a com-
Pany union.

The waitresses
Struck work at
July 17, followmne weeks of unsuc-
cessful barsainine with Harry Ste-
Matus, proprietor, for a union agree-
ment coverins wages and conditions.
Ten of the fourteen girls were on the
picket line.

The court injunction was franted
en the grounds that the federal goy-
ernment had given a charter to
this “union” of which Stematus is
a leader.

Reporting the matter to the
Trades and Labor Council last Tues-
day, Delegate Stewart, local 28, was
assured of the backine= of the coun-
ceil and Secretary Bengough was in-
Structed to protest through the
Trades and Labor Congress to the
federal government against the pre-
cedent of srantine a charter to what
is obviously a company union.

in a statement to the press, Stew-
art pointed out the gravity of the
company union menace to labor and
Stressed the need for organized labor
entering the political arena through-
out the Dominion to prevent a
repetition of such incidents.

Stematus faces a Charge of abuse
and assault arising out of a strike
incident, and will come up before
the court next Monday.

of Scott's Cafe
noon, Saturday,

Valley Farm
Ass’n Formed

L. A. Shepherd Speaks
At Meeting of New
Organization

LANGLEY PRAIRIBP, BC, July 22.
—With a view to relieving hardship
among members of the community
and actively supporting progressive
measures, a new organization to be
known as the Langley Farmers and
Workers’ Association was organized
at a mass meeting in Fem Ridge
community hall this week.

Present at
members of the Surrey Workers’ As-
sociation, a neighboring organiza-
tion which has made considerable
Progress during the past few
months.

i, A. Shepherd, MLA-elect, was a
Suest speaker at the meeting.

Immediate result of the meeting
was formation of a grievance com-
mittee to aid several families in the
community reported to be despsrate-
ly iz need of assistance.

A second meeting has been called
for Monday, July 26, at 8 pm, in
Herm Ridge hall.

Hollywood Sees _
Hemingway Film

HOLLYWOOD.—A private audi-
ence of 200 here was stunned into
Silence when the Hemingyway-Joris
ivens film, “Spanish Earth,’ was
shown recently at‘the Ambassador
Hotel. Hemingway and Ivens flew
Over from New York with the film.
A second group saw it later at the
home of Fredric March, where it
Was hailed as the first redoubtable
film on Spain ever made.

Wall Street Finances Japan in Attack on China

|

By ELIOT JANEWAY. <
(Federated Press)
qe jatest war crisis in the Far
East is a clear-cut one, and the
relation to it of the contending
forces in Worth American life is
equally clear-cut.
= The reactionary Japanese war
machine wants to take over north
China. Behind the generals, Jap-
anese big business wants north
China as a market and a source of
rawlaw materials. For the present,
businessmen would be content to
sell to China and to invest capital
there, dominating it indirectly. But
the military clique insists upon con-
quering the strategic northern

Against the Japanese army is
pitted for the first time in history
@ united Chinese nation which is
equipping itself wth machinery and
armaments for self-defense. With
the support of the democratic
peoples of the world, China can re_-
pel the latest Japanese ageression
and she can compel Japan to re-
treat, thus averting the Far Hast-
ern war danger.

The reason why Japan can be
compelled to retreat is that she is
faced with an acute economic de-
Pression. While China has begun
to prosper with the introduction of
economic reforms, Japan’s stupen-—

provinces, and to date it has dom-

dous armament expenditures have

inated Japanese politics. Vprouent her to the yerge of bank-

ruptey.
If not for one fact, Japan would
| very probably be compelled to back
down. By herself; she is not strong
But

enough to conquer China.
Japan is not alone,

She has been able to win the sup-
port of certain American economic
royalists. Without pig iron from
Mellon companies and steel] plants
from United Engineering & Foun-
dry Co. and Westinghouse (in
which Mellon is “interested’’), with-
out copper from the Morgan and
Guggenheim interests, without oil
from Texas Corporation, Standara
Oil of California and Shell, and
without cotton financed by big US

>banks, Japan would not
backed by the smokestacks of Pitts-
burgh and the checkbooks of Wall
Street, Japan can be expected to go
ahead with her adventure.

So much for the interests of
American big business in the Far
East. The US government, on the
other hand, after several years of
Passivity, has again moved to bring
conerete assistance to China. Fi-
nanced by the Government Export-
Import Banks, China is to receive 3
railroad loan from the ‘United
States. Machinery has been set up
for financing China’s payments for
such basic equipment. With this
type of peaceful aid, which is prof-

have
the wherewithal to fight China, Buty.

itable to American business and
which makes jobs in the depres-
Sion-hit railroad equipment indus-
try, the American people can en-
able China to strengthen herself
sufficiently to ward off Japan's at-
tack and thus buttress the cause of
peace in the Pacific.

In the War East as in Washing-
ton, on the war issue as on the taxa-
tion issue or the Wwage-and-hour
issue, big business tales its stand
on the side of reaction. The
Roosevelt administration ite 1S
fighting tooth and nail is attempt-
ing to aid ‘China. Wall Street is
actually arming the Japanese
Senerals.

Organizing
On Projects

Workers’ Alliance Plans
Several Meetings

this meeting were}

Shortly
PETITION MLA’S

Union buttons are being
handed out to men on the new
civic-provincial works scheme
as fast as they can be made
and a number of organiza-
tional meetings were held
aiter the first day’s work,
officials of the Workers’ Alli-
ance stated this week.

With a feeling that for the
first time in the last two-year
period, unemployed are at last get-
ting together ‘‘on the job,”" a great
Tesureence toward organization has
been shown and, under the slogan
of the Workers Alliance, “‘Double
the number of working days,’ it is
expected that the union will be over
1000 strong in a few weeks.

Last Monday saw 285 men turn
out for work at Stanley Park at
§ a.m. and it was not until 9:30 a.m-
that foremen in charge found that
there were not sufficient tools or
equipment for 80 of the men, who
were then told to go back to the
relief office for other work.

When told to report for work in
the following morning by relief of-
ficials there was a general protest
from the men, who demanded that
they be reimbursed for carfare if not
allowed a day for the time spent
travelling between various offices.

A compromises was reached when
relief officials stated that each man
would be giyen work as near his
home as possible to save carfare.

The executive of the Workers Al-
liance is contacting union leaders

and MiA’s in an effort to change
completely the nature of the work
scheme which, at the present time,
is totally inadequate and is causing
larger families intense suffering.

New M-=P Badges
Issued For Sale

Get your Mackenzie-Papineau
badge and tell the world for what
it stands. Attractive badges fash-
ioned in honor of Canada’s fighting
battalion in Republican Spain, have

been issued by the National Com-
mittee to Aid Spanish Democracy
and are now on gale throughout the
dominion at one dollar.

Shaped as a letter ‘‘C” with gold
lettering of the slogan ‘“‘Non Pasa-
ran, Mackenzie-Papineau battalion,”
there is also a figure representing
the people’s army, surrounded by.
maple leaves of gold on a _ back-
Sround of blue and white enamel.
Made to screw into coat lapel. Ob-
tainable at room 438—615 ‘West
Hastings street.

UMWA Locals Endorse Resolution

Amendment To

Compensation Act Urged

NANAIMO, BG, July
dorsed by both Nanaimo and Cum-
berland locals, UMWA, a resolution
calling for an amendment to the
Workmen’s Compensation Act will
be presented to all Island MI.A’s at
the next session of the provincial
legislature.

Arising out of discussion on the
recent Bevan mine disaster at a

22.—_En-©

Meeting of the miners’? union local
here this week, the resolution asks

Workmen's

that age at which a child may be
obliged to contribute to a depend-
e€nt’Ss support under the act be
raised from 16 to 18 to correspond
With school age.

it was pointed out that Nelson
Shepherd, one of the victims of the
disaster, left a wife and four chil-
dren. At age 16 the children must
contribute $10 a month each toward

Jobless Are

2 City Men Die In

o

Fascism Strikes at the Farmer

A photograph from the archives of th
ish peasant family with all their wordly goods wiped out after the black bombers of Hitler and

Co. Doing
Govt Work

Board increase
Protested To
Hon. G. Pearson

PORT ALBERNG, BGC, July 22.—
Action of Coast Quarries in increas-
ing board charges of men in its Dog
Creek road camp near here has been
protested to the provincial govern-
ment with a request for interyen-
tion.

Simultaneously with a wage in-
crease of 5 cents an hour for only
7 of a crew of 30, the company,
which has a government contract on
the Alberni highway, raised the
board from $1.05 to $1.20. A protest
meeting was called and a committee
elected to meet the management.

The company argued that as its
last contract had resulted in a loss
of $10,000, it was justified in guard-
ing against further losses. Revealed
was the fact, admitted by the time
keeper, that the company had added

their mother’s support, although
they may still be attending school.

4 telephone bill of $30 to kitchen ex.
penses. The men believe that the
time-keeper’s cost and that of the
lighting plant are placed against the
board bill.

Communication with Hon. G S.
Pearson, minister of labor, brought
the reply that-his department could
do nothing unless proof was forth-
coming that board charges were
“excessive.”’ The company refuses to
produce the kitchen accounts for
analysis.

Typical of the manner in which
Sovernment camp regulations are
ignored here is the storing of blast-
ing powder within 20 feet of bunk
houses.

There are no bathing, Washing or
drying facilities and blankets must
be packed for wooden bunks that
hold dirty, worn-out mattresses.

Chinese Refuse
Low Paid Jobs

NANAIMO, BC, July 22.—tTo0cal
Chinese workers have been inform-_
ed at the employment office here
that they must accept jobs paying
as low as $1.50 for nine to ten hours
per day or be cut off relief Sey
eral Chinese have refused to work
under such conditions. Young
single Canadians have been ignored
by~ employment officials because
they come under the minimum wage
ate.

Fascist Morale Breaking

and Englishmen played an

Hilustrating the graphic story of
his work and experiences in Spain
with the motion picture, “Blood
For Spain,” pictorial record of
the life-saving Spanish-Canadian

bleed transfusion Service for
organization and direction of
which he is responsible, Dr. Nor-
man Bethune, FRCS, noted Cana-
dian surgeon, will face a packed
audience in the Orpheum The-
atre here, Sunday, August 1, 8
Pim. Many sympathizers with
democratic Spain from Fraser
Valley and Island points are
Planning to attend the meeting,
it is reported.

The following itinerary, under
auspices of the Canadian League

Against War and Fascism, BC
Section, has been arranged for

Dr. Bethune. August 1, Vancou-
ver; 2, Victoria: 3, Cumberland:
4, Nanaimo; 9, Kamloops; 10,

Salmon

Kelowna; 11, Vernon 5 ibs
Arm.

Canadians Share Honors
In Historic Offensive

By ANNA LOUISE STRON G
Federated Press,

MADRID, Spain, J uly 22.— (FP) -—Canadians, Americans

important part in the recent

notable advance of the Spanish People’s Army north-west of
Madrid, sharing with famous crack Spanish troops the honor
of taking the first towns in this historic offensive.

__ its purpose was to encircle the
Fascists opposite Madrid, driving
them southwards out of the capital.

The attack is highly significant
as the first large-scale organized
offensive of the new Spanish army.
The previous brilliant victory at
Guadalajara was technically a
counter-attack into a disorganized
enemy, but this is a well-planned
offensive aganist strong positions.

It broke the long trench stale-
tate. In its place there is running
fighting in the open, sniping from
behind hummocks, and the steady
moving forward of all forms of at-
tack. The commander of the 15th
Brigade, which includes American
battalions, told your correspon-
dent:

“The first few days the Fascists
fought very well, but after that the
complete surrender of two whole
battalions showed that their morale
was beginning to break.”

Hields and villages are in flames,
the result of shelling and air bom-
bardments in this, the fiercest bat-
tle thus far seen. The intensity of
| Spanish conflict begins to take on
the proportions of the World War.

E Many Wounded.

Many Canadians and Americans
are now in Madrid hospitals, mostly
with light wounds which the excite
ment of the successful advance
causes them to discount. Walter
| Garland, Negro inachinegsun com-
Mander in the Washington batta-
lion, was wounded the first day.
He has already skipped the hospital,

and wanders about Madrid. de-
manding his return to the front
| His comrades laughingly protest

that he will be arrested as a Moor
without authorized papers.

More serious casualties exist, but
they are few. I talked to Robert
Traille an English boy, two hours
before he died. He was fully ra-
| Honal and unaware of his condi-
tion, which was hopeless from the
start—a smashed spine. He said:
“Excuse me for not being more
sociable, but really I’m feeling
rather rotten.” He asked me for

(Continued on page 2)
See VOLUNTEERS

Spain

O'Neill, Deck

Are Killed In
Big Offensive

O’Neill Active In Many
Organizations
Here

WAS WAR VETERAN

By HAROLD GRIFFIN.

Two more Vancouver vol-
unteers in the Mackenzie-
Papineau Battalion were killed
this week as Canadians,
Americans and British, ad-
vancing with troops of the
Spanish People’s Army and
International Brigades, took
Strongly fortified Fascist
positions on the Madrid front
by storm.

Killed were: Patrick O'Neill, sec-
tion leader of the Mackenzie-Papin-
eau Battalion, and John Deck.

At 47, Pat O'Neill had led a full
and colorful life, throughout the
whole of which ran a thread of con-
sistent activity in the cause of pro-
Sress and freedom.

He died as he would have wished
to die, fighting those forces of
reaction against which he had
struggled all his life.

A member of the Irish Republican
Army (there was never any need
to tell the world he Was an Irish-
man), a soldier in the Great War
(he was discharged with the rank of
Serseant). And afterwards, the long
fight to win consideration from those
for whom he had fought.

His was not a pretty story. But
it Was a typical one. Highlights were
those occasions when he was thrown
into jail for Political activities, his
name written into police records as
that of an “agitator.”

His work, the real wors (he was a
casual laborer), was among the camp
boys. He was on the On-to-Ottawa
trek and was one of those who
faced ex-Premier R. B. Bennett ac-
cusingly at Ottawa.

They tell a story of him when
Single unemployed, cut off relief,
were jingling their cans at Vancou-
ver street corners last winter.

A policeman ordered him to
move on. He refused.

“Where's your permit?” demanded
the policeman and O'Neill retorted,
“My stomach’s my permit.

Veterans here remember him well
for his activities on their behalf. He
Was a past president of the Ex-Ser-
vicemens League, a foundation and

executive member of the Imperial

Veterans.

Down at the Progressive Arts
Players, too, they remember him,
for he was a strong supporter of

the New Theatre movement. He was
in the casts of both “Waiting for
Lefty’ and “Private Hicks.” And he
would have played in “Bury the
Dead,” too, had he not felt the urge
to play an heroic role in the great-
est drama of our times—the fight of
the Spanish People for democracy
and freedom.

WORK

Vets Urge

Mines Tax
For Scheme

Fifty-five Une m ployed
Were Arrested
Thursday

DEMANDS PRESSED

Complacent citizens of Van
couver were confronted Thurs
day with more than 100 vet
eran €X-Servicemen wearing
cards carrying striking slo-
fans and young single men
stationed at street corners
mutely asking for public sup-
port.

Explanatory leaflets intended to
Win the public to the side of these
Jobless destitute boys and men were
distributed. -

Ex-servicemen marched up Hast-
ings and Granville, halting period-
ically and linine up on the side-
Walk to focus all eyes on such slo+
Sans as: “1914, over the top; 1937,
no price for a flop.” “We want
work, not charity.” ‘War heroes
have come to this.”

Youngs men ousted from the camps
wore slogans peculiar to their case
and rattled a few coins in cans.

Police arrested 55 Camp boys,
charged them with “obstructing the
Police.”’ Shame, Possibly, on the
Part of the police, saved veterans
from arrest.

The Canadian Labor Defence
League with Garfield A. Hang, law-
yer, will defend the boys.

Representatives of the ESL and
REWU told the PA that this is- only
the beginning of a campaign to en-
lighten the public on the policies of
the municipal, provincial and federal

S0vernments in regard to wunem-
ployed.
Constructive leaflets, as distrib-

uted Thursday, five a solution.
Their main Slogan is “Share the
present prosperity,”

AS an example, they show that
Hon. G S§. Pearson has boasted
that BC gold mines will Produce
$70,000,000 of Wealth this year. The
men show that an efficient roads
Prosram can be started by imposing
a 5 per cent. tax on this wealth,
which will give $3,500,000, and Pat-
tullo need not go back East to
borrow.

Wells Press
Reports False

Scabs Composed Mostly
Inexperienced
Men

(By Special Correspondent)

WELLS, BC, July 22.—Capitalist
press reports on the strike here are
a tissue of lies calculatea to assist
Powerful mining companies in their
efforts to crush a Senuine union
and force down the living standard.

Facts are that only seven experi-
enced miners have been secured:
from far and wide and the rest of
the scabs, about 50 all told, are
Composed of Storekeepers, office
workers and mine bosses.

The union stands firm and with
financial assistance from brother
locals and Organized labor fenerally,
operators ¢an be forced to negotiate.
The importance of this strike is
fully realized by the other operators,
who are now Suaranteeing any losses
to the owners. Other camps in the
Cariboo are hotbeds ef company
spies.

Wingdam mine is notorious for
bad working conditions. Tungsten
mine at Hardscrabble is dead set
against union men. Cariboo Hudson
undertook to send its quota of scabs.

Wells miners are appealing to
union men throughout the Province
for aid.

NEW CIO UNION
WASHINGTON.—(FP)—The- Com
mittee for Industrial Oragnization
is forming a national union for state,
country and municipal employees.

3,000,000 Workers In CIO

Labor Research Figures
Reveal Progress Made

NEW YORE, July 22.—Clear evi-
dence of the overwhelming success
of the CIO is to be seen in that no
less than 3,000,000 workers are mem-
bers of unions which have affiliated
Since the CIO Was set up shortly
over a year ago.

Bighty-five affiliates in 26 states
make up the CIO membership, ac-
cording to fifures released by the
Labor Research Association.

Largest labor bodies which are
united in the CIO. tosether with
their membership figures, follow:
United Mine Workers of America,

600.000; Steel Workers’ Organizing
Committee, 370,000 covered by con-
tracts with employers; the United

Automobile Workers of America,
350,000; the International Ladies’
Garment Workers’ union, 250,000;

the Amalgamated Clothing Workers
of America, 180,000; the Textile
Workers’ Organizing Committee,
130,000 covered by contraets with
employers; the United Electrical
and Radio Workers of America,
80,000; and the Oil Wield, Gas Well
and Refinery Workers, 80,000.

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