PPTL AUN rn. eS STINE ETRE veterans and provides gainful "ployment to fit men; -- small tax on highly profitable BC in- Men Carry Posters In City Streets Hon. George S. Pearson Hedges In Reply To ESL CHARITIES RAPPED Weaving through Wancou- ver’s crowded streets this week, ex-servicemen wit h large sandwich boards brought sharply before the public the plight of hundreds of veterans throughout the provinee who have been cut off from project work and di- rect relief. With a main Slogan of “‘Share the present prosperity now,’ ex-service- men are calling for a special “turn- over tax’ of 5 per cent on the $200;000,000 value of BC production recently boasted by Minister of Labor Pearson, as a means of fi- nancing an adequate roadwork scheme. Thousands of citizens have also been acquainted with the fact tha tall destitute veterans under 50 years of age are refused assistance of any kind by the sovernment. In the opinion of Fred Tyler, secretary Hx-Servicemen’s Leasue, the sSingle-file march of Over 100 veterans through down-town Streets last week, which was the beginning ef a broad campaign for work and wages, is responsible for a recent letter from Hon. G. S. Pearson to the league, extracts from which are as follows: “We do not admit that any group has any special rights or privilefes.”’ “Our department gives relief to those who cannot find employment, assuming that the persons seeking relief are making every attempt to make themselves self-supporting.” “We have not admitted that re- lief is a permanent institution, nor has a policy been laid down admit- ting the right of every man who is out of employment to obtain relief.” “Conditions in industry in BC are far better than for many years.” Tyler explained to a PA reporter that while ex-seryicemen haye no Wish to separate themselves from citizens generally, yet the Sacrifices made by veterans in the world war which left the health of many now destitute permanently impaired, coupled with the many promises made to those who volunteered for War service, is in reality a serious contract on the part of the govern- ment which should be fulfilled. Cannot Compete In his opinion, Pearson knows very well that aging war veterans cannot compete with young mien in the search for worl and the proposals submitted by the ESL are based on the admissions by Pearson that huge wealth has been created in BC which can easily carry the burden of finan- cing useful road maintenance worl. Peculiar methods of dispensing funds to needy yeterans and their families have been aired by the ESI which is opposed to private charity for men who haye served their country. Effort on the part of the ESL has established the principle that the Welfare Federation should issue a financial statement on the basis that public funds are involved. Expenses High Examination of balance sheets of the Poppy Fund Committee show that out of $4,439.34 collected by the Sale of poppies, $4,383.21 was dis- bursed to 2,653 needy cases, averas- ing $1.70 per case from January 31 to Deceniber 31, 1936. The Returned Soldiers’ Club of Vancouver which handled these dis- bursements, received a grant of $4,212 which all went in administra- tion expenses in the handline= of the poppy fund and that $3,016.50 went as salaries to two officials and an accountant’s fee. In other words, according to financial statements held by the ESL, it cost a dollar to disburse a dollar of the poppy fund to needy veterans. All this business would he stopped if the government establishes a proper system of pensions to unfit em- and a very dustries will make the latter prac- ti¢able, declare officials of the ESL. NEW LION HOTEL 122 EAST HASTINGS STREET _ Vets Pursuing Energetic C The People’s Advocate Newspaper Western Canada’s Leading Progressive VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1937 STRESS NEED Urge Restoration of Democratic Rights N°EE2 VANCOUVER, BG, July. 29-—With sentiment srowing here for restoration of democratic rights to>—Worth Vancouver, the North Vancouver Gommunist party is launching a campaign, in’ con- junction with other progressive or- Sanizations in this district, to re- gain the right of local self-govern- all; organizations receivyine a grant from |! ment lost when the provincial gov- ernment appointed a commissioner in 1933. “By democratic rights we mean Pritchett, At 33, Head Of Woodworkers —_ Unblemished Record In Trade Union Movement ON CIO EXECUTIVE Elected president of the International Woodworkers of America, affiliate of the CIO comprising 70,000 members, Harold Pritchett, 3o-year-old British Columbian received more than a 2 to 1 vote at the Woodworkers’ convention concluded July 24; in Tacoma, Washineton, where 500 delegates dissolved the AF of i organization in favor of a charter from the CIO. Pritchett, who was previously pres- ident of the BC Coast Council of Lumber and Sawmill Workers, is well Known in coast labor circles for his consistent trade union work and devotion to the cause of labor. Two years aso he was expelled from the Wancouyer Trades and Labor Council without trial by order of William Green because he open- dy eriticized Green’s reactionary poli- cies. The Shingle Weavers’ Union which he represente don the T & LC protested his arbitrary expulsion but without success. Born in Birmingham, England, he came to Canada in 1912, making his home in Coquitlam, BC. He is mar- ried and has five children. Pritchett’s executive ability, trade union experience and leadership has developed over a number of years, fitting him for his present PoSition. His good work as chairman of the Strike committee in the successful Fraser Milis strike of 1931 was the foundation ofa trade union career Which is without blemish. In the worst years of the economic crisis he was on relief for consid- erable periods, the shingle weaving industry being hard hit. He was active in unemployed organizations and was a delezate on many griey- ance committees to relief authorities. AS president of the TDW ofA, Pritchett is a member of the execu- tive committee of the CIO and will Sit in conference with Lewis, Bridges, Brophy and other intema- tional figures in the labor move- ment. Wants Political Co-operation. Asked at a press interview in Van- couver this week as to the outcome of his recent meeting with John Lewis in Washington, DC, Pritchett Stated that the CIO leader was en- thusiastic on the subject of an or- fanizational drive of lumber and sawmill workers on the Pacific coast, Stating that the CIO was prepared to send in 50 organizers and Spend $50,000 for this purpose. > According to Pritchett, Lewis is desirous of the closest co-opera- tion between Labor’s Non-partisan League, Washington and Oregon Commonwealth Federations, on the question of organizing the wnor- Sanized and assisting the trade unions generally. Pritchett was impressed with the abilities displayed by Lewis in meet- ing the enormous trade union problems and said it was obviops that Lewis had learned a lesson from the fate of the powerful Ger- man trade union moyement since the advent of Hitler. RECORD MEMBERSHIP OSLO, Norway.—(FP)—The WNor- wesian Tabor Party has 142.790 members, the largest eyer recorded. SOP CLOPSOCPOCS CO COCO C CDOS OOS SOS9O9O0060O0SSOOSSEO CARLETON CAFE WHERE QUALITY AND Try Our Special AT Private Dining Room JUMBO MODERATE for Banquets, MILK SHAKES PRICES Parties, Bite. We Also Specialize in CHINESE DISHES. 100% UNION HOUSE 105 East Hastings Street the privilege of electing our own city council and school board,” de- clared Bernard Stehelin, Iorth Vancouver Communist party sec- tion organizer, this week. “North Vancouver people rightly feel they should have a voice in the control of their own affairs. In Jaunching this campaign we are seeking the co-operation of other organizations and groups so that shades of progressive public opinion.” The three North Vancouver branches of the Communist party have combined to form a single branch, with headquarters at 5th and tQLonsdale avenue, Stehelin Stated. Considerable activity in support of the Friends of the Mackenzic- Papineau battalion is being car- ried on by women’s Sroups in North it may be representative of all Vancouver and plans are now being: Harold Pritchett | Young Sritish Columbian, who neads the powerful International Woodworkers of America, CIO affiliate. Trade Hits New High Canadian Arms Shipped To Franco Through Portugal OTTAWA, Ont., July 29.—Canada’s trade with Spain has dropped 45 per cent. Canada’s trade with the ou gal, has rocketed. This obyious indication of Cana~ dian sales of munitions and war ma- terials to Franco is being brought to the attention of the interdepart- mental committee set up by the Zov- ernment to “see that there is no politics and excessive profits in arms traffic.” The committee was set up by legislation which nominally gives the government greater control over the export of munitions and war materials. Confirming these figures, statis- tics released on the movement of ere shipments on Great Lakes canals hit a new peak when 10,043,- 856 tons of ore went down in the month of May. While the “control’? exerted by the non-intervention committee over arms traffic with Spain, applied most severely against the legitimate sovernment of the Spanish people, Canada and the United States have been shipping large supplies through Portugal, from where it is run into Spain to aid General Franco in his assault on the liberty of the Spanish people. SERVICE IS SUPREME JOHNNY KULAK, Mer. tpost of Fascist Spain, Portu- Hawatian Unions Hold First Meet HONOLULU, TH, July 29—Ap- proximately 100 delegates attended the first fuli fledged industrial union convention in the history of the Territory of Hawaii here. Some 50 delegates, representing 17 orsan- ized units of the Honolulu Long- Shoremen’s Association, were pres- ent. HEAR HM! CRPHEUM General Admission FREE OTHER VICTORIA, Monday, Aug. 2nd CUMBERLAND, Tues., Aug. 3rd. NANAIMO, Strand Theatre, Wednesday, August 4th. Telephone: Sey. 4060 “ SUNDAY, AUGUST ist - - EVERYBODY WELCOME Loges and First Balcony Seats may be reserved by calling Trin. 6371 MEETINGS made to aid the work to re-estab- lish opphaned Spanish children. Impetus was given to this ac- tivity last week when Mrs. Annie Buller, western representative of the Clarion now touring British Columbia, addressed a women’s meeting at the home of Mrs. Damon Hisenman. Mrs. Buller also spoke at a well-attended public meeting when She stressed the role of the working-class press in forg- ing unity of all progressive people. PA Reporter Probes Into ‘Pogy’ Here Sees Conditions Reverse Of Those Depicted By Press HITS ARTICLE By JOHN MATTS Readers of the daily press may have noticed recently an article headed: Don’t Assist Panhandlers. Send Them To Us. The writer was Jack Curry, social worker: at Ab- bott House, more familiarly known as the ‘Pogy,’ situ- ated behind Woodward’s de- partment store. And the court which last week handed over 55 sinsle unemployed youths to the John Howard Society might just as well have added: “Put these young ruffians in the “‘Pogy' and don’t let the public see any more of them on the streets.’’ Curry, in his article, seemed to take a delight in classifying the boys when he stated: “Many of the men who inhabit the Abbott House have dropped to the lowest rung of the ladder by reason of excess, crime or carelessness.” And to show What little gratitude the boys have, selected press pictures of the “Posy”’ left the impression with the unin- formed reader that the institution is in eyery way up-to-date and com- fortable. Different Picture An investigator can get a dif- ferent and more truthful picture Within a few minutes by making a personal investigation and by talk- ing with a few of the inmates, as I did this week. This dismal, small-windowed, four- storey structure reeks of strong dis- infectant which, with the smell of sour, unaired bedding, and of cook- ing, which the disinfectant is still not strong enough to overcome, as- sails the nostrils of a visitor imme- diately he enters. Corridor dormitories hold between 40 and 70 men sleeping in double decker beds, despite press “photo- graphs’? purportine otherwise. There is little ventilation and, in the present weather, the heat is almost unbearable. The food is on a par with these unsavory surroundings. Outstanding in the affairs of the incorporated company which, with yearly grants from the Welfare Fed- eration here, makes a paying pro- position of the ‘Pogy,’’ is Col. Leckie, prominent Vancouver busi- nessman and socialite. RAILWAYMEN BACK SPAIN PLYMOUTH, England. — (PP) — That full commercial liberty should be siven back to the constitutional- ly-elected Spanish government was demanded by the annual conference of the National Union of Railway- men. Back from Spain with Thrilling MOVING TALKING PICTURES Vividly Portraying Actual Conditions on the Fighting Front! DR. NORMAN BETHUNE Founder, Spanish-Canadian Blood Transfusion Institute SEE SPAIN! THEATRE S P.M. Auspices: Canadian League Against War and Fascism ARRANGED: HAMLOOPS, Monday, Aug. 9th. KELOWNA, Tuesday, Aug. 10th. VERNON, Wed., Aug. 1ith. SALMON ARM, Thurs., Aug. 12. FOR WORKS PLAN Single Men Rap Lack of Govt Policy Will Press Campaign For Public Works Scheme ‘WE WON’T : STARVE’ Need for a provincial pub- lic works scheme to employ single jobless at decent wages Was brought sharply home to Vancouver citizens last weelx When 55 single unemployed men were arrested for solicit- ing assistance on city streets. Following dispatch by Garfield A. ing, defending the men for the Canadian Labor Defense League, of a sharp message to Premier Pat- tullo, the men were released and placed in care of the John Howard Society here. While this action provides a tem- porary and inadequate answer to im- mediate problems of those men ar- rested, it jJeaves hundreds of other Single jobless in the eity still faced With the necessity of seeking hand- outs or starvings. “And we certainly don't intend to Starve,”” an official of the Relief Project Workers’ Union told the Advocate this week. “We intend to Press our campaign for public works projects all the harder and to bring it before the attention of the people and provincial authorities at every opportunity. “We are appealing to every or- Sanized worker and public spirited Citizen to assist this campaign for Work and wages which only the sovernment can supply at this time. We ask that all trade unionists brine the question up in their unions and send a collective protest to the Pat- tullo Sovernment which is endeavor- ing to evade a major responsibility by herding men in abominable flop- houses,’’ he stated. Press Claims Proven False Companies Excite Labor Violence, Findings Show WASHINGTON, DC, July 29.— (UNS)—While a large part of “he US press is trying to create the impression that Strikers are re- sponsible for the violence arising from labor disputes, there comes an announcement by the Senate Civil Liberties Committee that the concluding hearings of the “bloody and anti-union activities” of the Harlan County coal operators and law enforcement officers will soon be off the press. Volumes of hearings already published give conclusive and damning evidence of the falsity of the claim that labor is the aggres- Sor in industrial disputes. Testi- mony of spies and “finks” describ- ing the technique of labor spying and strikebrealking together with a long list of names of stoolpigeons in the appendix is contained in these volumes. 4 ture, ampaign Sask., B.C. CCF Policy Contrasted McManus Says Basis Of Unity Forged In Saskatchewan DANGER FORESEEN By B. P. WARNE SASKATOON, Sask., July 29.—Saskatchewan’s recently concluded CCF convention will go down in the history of the progressive movement as a marked success in the opinion of T. G. McManus, provincial leader of the Com- munist party. “Unlike the CCE convention in BC, which was marked by confusion and the splitting tactics of certain individuals, and unlike the Alberta convention, which seemed unclear on its political perspective, dele- gates to the Saskatchewan conven- tion were enthusiastic in their de- termination to unite the CCE to Place it in a good position to con- test the coming election,” McManus stated. “One feature of the Saskatche- Wan convention was the clearly-re- cognized need by delegates for worlk- ing in ccooperation with other prog- ressive groups, and in the discussion the convention unhesitatinely rec- ognized the Communist party as one of the groups they must cooperate with. Saw Tory Danger “Politically the delezates were quite clear that in the Conservative party are concentrated the most re- actionary forces, constitutins the Main enemies of the people, while at the same time they were clear that the Liberal party in itself is no barrier to reaction, and has be- come, under pressure of finance capital, the tool of the big shots. “The enthusiasm of the delegates in adopting the resolution for co- operation with all progressive £roups and parties in the struggle for drought rehabilitation, relief and drought moratorium, assistance to the democratic sovernment of Spain and the election of a CCE govern- ment at the next election,” Mc- Manus continued, “all indicated a big improvement in the clear under- Standings of the economic and poli- tical needs of the people in Sas- Katchewan. Weoodsworth Against Unity “The only dark spot in the con- vention,” he remarked, “was the anti-unity speech of Woodsworth. But the delegates in no uncertain terms told the CCE dominion leader that the Communists had proven their sincerity in building the CCF in Saskatchewan and cooperating with the CCF in the interests of the people. “Saskatchewan must be an ex- ample of how cooperation must be achieved in the rest of Canada. The Communist party will do everything possible in electing a majority of CCF members to the next legisla- at the same time running Communists in some constituencies conducting independent party work, “There will be no split in the Progressive forces in Saskatchewan,” McManus emphasized. ‘Both the CCF and the Communist party con- ventions in Saskatchewan have laid the basis for the victory of .the people of Saskatchewan against re- action at the next election.’ Slogans Painted On Nazi Cruiser PARIS, France, July 29 —(ISH)— Just before launching of the new German battle eruiser ““Blucher”’ in the presence of Adolf Hitler, Slogans in red paint appeared near the Ship- building yard: ‘Down with Hitler! Long Live Liberty! 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