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Poctrene

ON THE
BORDER
by M. Raj Anand

PAGE FOUR

The People's Advocate

Western Canada’s

Leading Progressive

Newspaper

STAND BY
ALBERTA

by: Leslie Morris

PAGE SIX

FULL No. 137. =

Published Weekly

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1937

Single Copies: 5 Cents

VOL. IIT. No. 33

ISLAND COLLI

ERIES RECOGNIZE CIO UN

hi — rife

Canadian Ambulance For Spain

of — is

Lacy
SS SS SS cS
Here is one of the two ambulances which the Canadian people, through the ambulance fund of
the Communist party, are sending to the Spanish Republic: At the right is Tom Sims, of New West-
minster, who will drive the ambulance. This pic ture was taken in New Work. :
alec.

. Fascists

Continue To Shell Madrid

Of (i — nee

Baca

A shell from a Fascist artillery battery located in a suburb bursting in a structure near the tower

of the Telephone building,

2nd bombs during one of the daily

Madrid’s 43-story slxy scraper, which provides a ready target for shells

bombardments of the Spanish capitaL

Ymir Urging
Higher Wages

Public Works Minimum
Wage Asked By
Miners
YMIR, BC, Aug. 26.—Resolutions
have been sent to the provincial

minister of public works and mem-
bers of the legislature by Ymir Mine

and Millmen's union, No. 300, a
local chartered with the Interna-
tional Union of Mine, Mill and

Smelter Workers, urging that the
minimum wage on all public works

be restored to the former scale of
fifty cents an hour. E
“We believe it only fair to ask

the minimum wage board why the
minimum wage of seventy-five cents
an hour for skilled trades should not
be extended to apply over the entire
Province instead of only Vancouver
island and the Lower Mainland,”
the union states.

“We are asking other locals
the province, no matier with what
union they are chartered, to join
in asking that these two scales be
adopted over the entire province as
so00n as possible.

“Wee believe that low government
Wages are not only unfair to organ-
ized labor but tend to lower or main-
tain at a low level the wages of pri-
vate industry. We are urging other
unions to endorse this stand and to
draft resolutions covering it with-
out delay.’

YWmir Mine and Millmen’s union
has been reorsanized and now has
approximately 200 members em-
ployed at Yankee Girl, Wesko and
Goodenough mines and mills.

in

DRIVE ON PORTS
HONCLULU, Hawaii. — (FP)—An
organizational drive to make every
port in the Hawaiian Islands a
“elosed port’’ will Soon be launched

by the executive board of the
HMonolulu TJsongshoremen’s Associa-
tion.

DISGRACEFUL TREATMENT

TENE City of Vancouver has earned an unenviable notoriety

for its treatment of unemployed workers whom the civic
authorities and the provincial government have condemned to
starvation or a life of crime by cutting them off relief and failing
to provide them with jobs.

The case of the ex-servicemen is exceptionally diseraceful.
Here are men who gaye the best years of their lives fighting for
the very class which, now that they are burned out and unable to
compete in the cruel and futile game of hunting for a job, throws
them the dirty crumbs of charity or a prison sentence.

Crime is notoriously on the increase because of imereasing:
poverty and sustained unemployment. Yet when ex-servicemen
and single unemployed attempt peacefully to solicit funds they
are herded into the boss courts and sentenced to prison.

<

Colin Cameron, MLA, Assists Union

Canvasses Comox Company Loggers

OURTENAY, BC, Aug.

challenge was issued to the
Comox Logging Company last week
when Colin Cameron, MLA, per
sonally canvassed the employees
here with petition sheets for the en-
actment of the Trade union Bill now
being cireulated by BC Coast Dis-
trict Council Lumber and Sawmill
Workers whose organizers are

26.—_A >

barred from entering the Comox
camp.

The CCH member of the provincial
legislature for Comox, who was
elected after a united front cam-
paign in the recent elections, con-
tacted the loggers as they rode to
work on the company trains and ob-
tained a large number of signatures
in a camp that is Considered one

of the “hardest”? closed
coast. .

The petition, urging the incoming
provincial legislature to enact a
labor bill recognizing the right of
employees to organize without inter-
ference from operators, is receiving
Overwhelming endorsation both in
mills and camps.

camps on the®MILA, is regarded by the loggers as

timely cooperation in the strusgele
against labor-hatine companies,
State union officials.

Last Sunday, Cameron spoke on
the Trade Union Bill alone with Tom
Bradley. secretary of the BG Coast
District council, at a meeting of
the Courtenay local, Lumber and

The action of Colin Cameron,

Sawmill Workers.

Principle Is

Established
-Col. Foster

Remark Overheard At
Trial Of Youth
Pickets

$5 FINE IMPOSED

“T heard Col. Foster remark,
‘By all means. We've estab-
lished the principle now,’ when
Prosecutor Scott approached
him to ask if he were willing
to withdraw the other three
charges,” Bill Palmer, one of
the four members of the
Youth Committee to Aid
Spain arrested last Saturday
while picketing the Italian
consulate here, commented on
the trial in police court this

week.

Qutstandine feature of the trial
was the flimsiness of police charges
against the four for causing an ob-
struction. Under the shrewd ques-
tion of Garfield King, defending, it
Was brought out that every pre-
Caution had been taken by the
Youth Committee to Aid Spain to
ensure that pedestrians would not
be inconvenienced nor traffic oab-
Structed.

Prosecutor Scott's attempts to
show that the busiest hour of the
day had been chosen with intent to
block traffic failed when evidence
was produced to prove that the only
time crowds gathered was when
police arrived.

“There was no real crowd at 12:15.
At 12:30 the officers arrive. Then
there is a big crowd. In other words
the officers brought the crowd,’
Garfield King suggested to Inspector
Scanlon during cross-examination.

The inspector hastily denied this
and Kang continued without belabor-

ing the point scored, “‘Did the boys
keep on walking?”

The inspector admitted they did
and King demanded, “Then how
could they obstruct you if they kept
walking up and down?’

“They drew a crowd which ob-
structed the sidewalk,’ replied the
inspector.

“So the crowd caused the obstruc-
tion?’

For a moment the inspector was
confused.

“Yes, in a way,’ he admitted.

“Then why didn’t you arrest the
crowd ?’’

The city authorities refuse to provide relief, but pay out of
the taxpayers’ money twice as much to keep them im prison as
would feed them. Added to this inexcusable waste coupled with
eynical eruelty is the court and other charges which the long-
suffering taxpayers must pay.

These men do not want charity slop in notoriously dirty slum-
eullion joints, nor life in pogey flop-houses. They want work and
wages. Public worl can be provided. Vancouver’s slums and fire
trap shacks are a scandal. A slum clearance project could be
instituted ot remove these imsanitary eyesores and erect decent

houses for the people.

The roads of B.C. are also a disgrace and the subject of ribald
jokes by tourists who are shaken to pieces driving over them.

There are many other public works that could be undertaken
if the city and provincial governments would not be so servile to
the bondholders as to send the Jast pound of interest flesh out of
the city and province.

Meanwhile every progressive organization and all who know
that the men in prison have been shamefully treated should make
vigorous protest and demand their immediate and uncenditicnal

Those in court smiled, while King
went on to elaborate on the recent
visit here of Film Star Ginger
Rogers and the crowds which had
flocked to the CPR station to see
her.

King submitted that Ginger
Rogers should also have been ar-
rested for causing an obstruction.

The People’s Advocate was pro-
duced by Prosecutor Scott when
Maurice Rush, another of the four
defendants, took the stand.

Prosecutor Scott wanted to know

Union Expects

Scott’

End To Dispute Expected Immediately, Local 28

Says, as Pressure of

ment is Brought to Bear on Issue

STRUGGLE EXTENDED OVER THREE MONTHS

Expectation of an agreement within the next 24 hours

between Scott’s Cafe and Local

ployees Union, is general around union headquarters, a PA
reporter learned today, as negotiations proceed.

Imps Would
Administer
New Grant

Victoria Branch
Accepts Motion
On Appropriation

VICTORIA, BC, Aug. 26—De-
mand that the $25,000 appropriation
recently yoted by the British house
of commons for imperial veterans
in Canada be administered by the
Imperial Veterans’ Association was
made in a resolution passed by the
Victoria branch of the Imperial
Veterans at a meeting in the YMCA
here this week.

Accordinse to official announece-
ments, present plans are for ad-
ministration of the appropriation

through the Imperials branch of
the Canadian Legion, head office of
which is in Calgary.

Seine Boats

if he had made the statement at-
tributed to him in the PA. Rush
Said he had.

“Might I suggest it was you by
Walking in the middle of the side
Walk who bumped into Police Chief
Foster.”’

Rush replied, ‘When Chief Foster
came up to me in plain clothes and
bumped into me, Making remarks
designed to provoke me TI could only
draw one conclusion.”

It was brought out in evidence
that while Palmer had heen cau- |
tioned, no warning had been given |
to Rush.

A little interchanze between Mag-
istrate Matheson and Garfield King

centered around what Magistrate
Matheson termed the “sallantry, of
the police.’’

Hing wondered why the four girls

had not been arrested, too, if the
pickets were really causing an ob-
Struction since, despite Prosecutor

Scott’s contention that the police
wagon intended to return it had
been shown that there was plenty
of room inside.

Magistrate Matheson sue
this was due to gallantry’’
part of the police. Kins thereupon

release.

(Continued on page 2)
See PICKETS

Tie Up Here

Protest Against Recent
Federal Gov’t

Legislation

A whole fleet of seine boats is
now docked at Campbell and Gore
avenues, the owners refusing to
fish as a protesi against recent fed-
eral government lesislation which
widened considerably the restricted
area at the mouth of the Fraser for
the conservation of fish.

The PA found gill-net fishermen
in a sardonic mood over the protest
which they claim is sponsored by
the cannery operators who fought
the restriction strenuously from the
beginning.

Gill-met fishermen claim that the
protest is timed when there is very
little fishing anyway, as the “pinks”’
have not yet appeared. |

_ from

s To Sign

Whole Union Move-

28, Hotel and Restaurant Hm-

Dating back to the middle of last
June when the United Hotel and
Restaurant Employees of Canada
apppeared as a rival ‘‘union’’ to
Local 28 of the AF of L, a con-|

sistent strugele has been maintained
by both local 28 and the Trades and
Labor Council to have this ap-
Parently legal charter withdrawn.

Scotts cafe is the storm centre
of the whole controversy and local
28 stationed pickets with “unfair to
labor” placards at its doors when
a strike was declared June 17. Ten
of the striking waitresses were on
the picket line until a court injunc-
tion was granted July 20. Justice
Manson who upheld his decision
when appealed by the union.

Describing the setup of this
“union,"’ one of the striking wait-
resses speaking at the Trades and
Labor—-Geuncil declared that em-
Ployees at Scott's cafe were given
no alternative but to join up, and
that realizing it was not a bona
fide union, the waitresses stood by
local 28 and refused to go back to
work after the injunctin.

Defended in the courts by J. W.
deB. Parris, K.C., local 28 has also
carried on a campaign against the
new “union” throughout the trade
unions of B.C. which in tum has
instructed delegates to the Trades
and Labor Congress which meets in
October to open up the whole ques-
tion there.

Perey Benzoueh, secretary of the
Trades and Labor Council takes the
Stand that the federal] Ssovernment
should never have issued a charter
to this group of staurant owners
in Wancouver. Bengough declared

Miners Win
Closed Shop

Agreement

Provisional Settlement

Announced By
Board

UMWA RECOGNIZED

NANAIMO, BC, August 26-
—After twenty-five years of
struggle for the right to or=
ganize — years during which
discrimination and intimida—
tion were rife — miners here
have scored a decisive victory
with recognition this week by
Canadian Collieries (Duns-
muir) Limited, and Western
Fuel Corporation of Canada,
Limited, of the United Mine
Workers of America, CIO af-
filiate. =

Following sitting of a conciliation
board set up in accordance with
Dominion law on application by the
UMW=A after negotiations between
Naniamo and Cumberland locals and
the companies broke down, a pro-
visional settlement providing "for
recosnition of the UMWA and a
closed shop was announced Monday.

Ts W Brockington, KC, of Win-
nipes, board chairman, in a state-
ment this week, outlined the fol-
lowing provisions of an interim Te-
Port as the basis for further nego-
tiations:

1. Companies recognize com-
pletely and fully the right of col-
lective bargaining and accept the
United Mine Workers of America
as the bargaining: authority on be-
half of all employees entitled to
union membership.

2. Companies accept the princi-
ple of a closed shop.

3. The companies will give and
continue to give preference in all
new work to present or former

that it could be nothing else but
a boss-controlled affair.

Mrs. Kerr Will
Speak On Sunday

Mrs. Elizabeth Kerr, BC Women's
delegate to the Soviet Union this
year, will address 42 meeting at
Colonial Theatre on “Shaking
Hands With the Soviets,” on Sun-
day, August 29, 8 pm.

employees.

4. It is essential for the interests
and protection of both operators
and employees to evolve a system
of contract labor on terms satis.
factory to both sides. A commit-
tee, set up by the management
and the UMWA, should be insti-
tuted when convenient and con-
tinue to sit until all the details
of the situation have been clearly.
examined.

The interim report bore the sig-
natures of Ansus J. Morrison of
Calgary, representing the employees,

A demand for this meeting arose
the fact that many people
were turned away from the Moose
Hall meeting last Sunday when she
gave a delightful portrayal of life
in the USSR.

Full play for questions is allowed
after her address.

Guards Good Earth of China

Fr— no fe

ferns

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A sentry, armed with rifle and broadsword, watches for the approach

of Japanese invaders from the top
sition on the outskirts of Peipinge.

of a trench in an advanced po-
Japanese machinesinners were

only one hundred yards distant when this picture was taken.

and George Kidd, for the companies.

In recommending the establish-
ment of a committee to work out
details of a final Settlement. the
interim report recommends it take
into consideration:

1. The rising and risen costs of
living and production.

2. The financial position of the
companies and the difficulties of
competitive and technical conditions
which surround their operation.

3. Exploration of Possibilities of
increasing revenue.

4. All factors which affect lesiti-
mate aspirations of labor and the
desirability of continuance and en-
largement of the enterprise on terms
fair to labor and invested capital.

Patrick Conroy, UMW =A. organizer,
local 18, accepted the report for
miners following mass meetings
called by the union both here and
at Cumberland.

| Campbell River

Logger Drowned

CAMPBELL RIVER, BC Aug. 26.

—George Roman, employed by
Lamb Lammber company, Menzies
Bay, was drowned while working

last Monday. This marks 38 fatalities

in B.C. logging operations since the
beginning of the year and is 6 more
than in the ecorrespondine period in

1936.

BELUBBER BAY, BG, Aug. 26—
Move to set up a conciliation board
is endorsed by the Pacific Lime Go.
strikers here, Nels Arseneau, Lum-_
ber and Sawmill Workers’ organizer
being chosen to represent the men,

Union officials from Wancouver
will go to Blubber Bay this week
end.

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