MALO an Yen Night Boat From Victora by Harold Griffin PAGE FOUR The People’s Advocate We SCI? Canadas Leadin PALO G (Se ssive Newspaper Letters From Mackenzie- Papineau Baitalion PAGE FOUR FULL No. 138. <=> Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1937 Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. III. No. 34 PRINCETON MINER KILLED NEAR MAD Vessel Here Will Crash Naval Ring Haida Leads Sulphur At Royal City For China VICTORIA ACTIVE NEW WESTMINSTER, BC, Sept. 2—The Chinese freight- er Haida is loading 5,000 tons of sulphur here under special guard of her crew to insure non-interference. While considerable secrecy is be- ing maintained, the PA was able to learn from K. G. Yang, 28-year-old Gantonese in charge of the ship- ment, that the Haida will attempt to run the Japanese blockade off the China coast. The Haida’s destination is given as Shanghai. Only white man aboard is her yet- eran Norwegian skipper, Capt. F. C. Nordvick. “Of course we'll get through the blockade,’ he declared. ‘‘The Chinese need the sulphur for gunpowder, don’t they, and we're going to see We get it to them.’ The Haida, rusty and battered from her 28 years of service, was formerly the Quincy, registered in Britain. When Japan launched her attack on China she was loading coal at Nanaimo. She carries a crew ef 36 Chinese. City Men For China Reports that Lt. Col. J. B. Leckie, CME, DSO, Vancouver adventurer and soldier of fortune and yeteran oi South African and first World wars, would head a group of Brit- ish Columbian yeterans to China to act as army instructors for the Nan- king government, were confirmed by Col. Leckie Thursday. Stating that he had received mumerous letters from ex-soldiers willing to act as instructors in the Chinese army, Col. Leckie declared that eight or nine ex-army officers in Vancouver were already prepar- ing to leave for China. The recent German-Japanese pact |, had made Chinese distrustful of German army instructors in the Chinese army and they were anxious to obiain Canadian, US or British instructors, Col. Leckie said. “However, this entire question of Canadian enlistments in China must await the decision of the Nan- king government,” he added. “I do not know how long this will take, sO meanwhile I am marking time.”’ Major J. K. Matheson, MG, an- other Vancouver man, whose name is mientined in connection with a proposed ‘foreign legion’’ to be re- ecruited in Vancouver for China, stated reports were absolutely cor- rect,” but objected to the term of “foreign Ilegion.’’ “It has not been the intention to raise any sort of brigade in WVan- couver,” he explained. ‘“‘This is purely a staff project, affecting a small number of trained and experi- enced men.” In an interyiew with J. C. Chivers, organizer for the Friends of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion in Spain, on this question, the PA was told that the FMPB favored sending or technical aid to China. Chivers also stated that progres- Sive people should press for the Same privilege for the Republican government of Spain. Province-Wide Convention Of Organized Labor Called Victoria Unions Lead Fight for Trade Union Bill (Special Correspondence.) Ves. BC, Sept. 2.—Or- Sanized Jabor in British Colum- bia is preparing an aggressive cam- paign to secure its rights by proyin- ciat lesislatidn. At the opening ses- sion of the new legislature this fall Strong pressure will be brought to bear by trade unions throughout the province to ensure the passing of a bill to be introduced covering right of labor to organize in unions of its own choice and to collective bar- Saining. First steps toward united action of organized labor in this direction were taken by the Trade and Labor Council here at its last meeting, when it was decided to send out a call asking all unions to send dele- gates to a convention to be held in this city toward the end of October. organized labor’s rights and elect a delegsation to interview the cabinet and members of the legislature. Colin Cameron, CCl MLA for Co- mox, has already been active on the Island canvassing among loggers and others for signatures for a peti- tion urging the fovernment to pro- wide labor legislation. This week youthful Nigel Mor- gan, outstanding member of the CCE in this city and a candidate in the recent provincial elections, was also actively canvassing for signatures among workers in the Victoria dis- trict. Call-Urges Conference. Following is the call sent by the Trades and Labor Council here to all local unions and labor councils in British Columbia: >, This convention, it is proposed, will, © draft a trades union act covering officers of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada issued a cir- eular to the provincial legislatures in Canada urging the adoption of a trades union act. It was pointed out in the Congress circular ‘that the right to employees to organize or to join trade unions is not se- cured or protected by any positive Jaw on the subject.’ “The Wictoria Trades and Labor Council proposes that a convention of all trades unions in British Co- lumbia be held in the city of Wic- toria about the end of October, at the time of the openine of the pro- vincial legislature, for the purpose of urging upon the members of par- liament the enactment of a trades union act. “The proposed trades union act, to organize and to the right of col- lective bargaining with their em- ployers, to be drafted by the con- vention and a delegation appointed to interview the cabinet and mem- bers of the legislature. “Will you immediately upon your next meeting, notify the legislative committee of the Victoria council if your organization can be represent- ed at this convention or if you will join with other trade unions in send- ing a delegate? “We feel that the right to organ- ize and collective bargaining is the most vital issue before the workers at this time and would urge every organization to be represented at the convention. It is desirable to haye every provincial constituency repre- Sented. While the BC executive of “In February of this year the@securing the right of all employvees@the Congress will no doubt bring this matter to the attention of the =ov- emment, we are convinced that a well attended convention represent- ative of the entire provincial trade union movement will be more likely to secure immediate action from the government. “Upon receipt of sufficient fayor- able replies the Voctoria council will issue a call for the convention, set- ting time and place. This council Will also endeavor to find billets for delegates whose expense account is limited and will work out a scheme for pooling transportation costs in order to assist delegates coming from: distant parts of the province.” Chairman of the legislative com- mittee of the Victoria Trades and Labor Council is C. Chivers, 2552 Forbes Street, Victoria, B.C. Seiners ap Fish Patrol Imperial Vets To Press For Better Deal National Secretary Says Govt Must Face Responsibility CONDEMN ARRESTS Imperial veterans in Gan- ada 200,000 strong have very decided views on the discrim- inatory treatment meted out to them by the British and Canadian governments and their recently concluded con- vention in Brantford, Ontario, where 15,000 delegates met under ‘Flower Day’ In Victoria VICTORIA, BC, Sept. 2.—Twen- ty-five fruit stores here on Satur- day will sell flowers donated by the Victoria Bulb Growers’ Associ- ation to assist refugees in the Shanghai war zone, the Victorian Chinese Salvation Bureau an- nounces. Bureau officials, who have named the event ‘Flower Day,’ state that all proceeds will go to- ward alleviation of distress among Chinese and other nationals in the canvas, had the effect of consolidat- ing the Imperials as never before in organized effort to obtain the deal that is coming to them, a PA re- porter learned in an interview this week with W. E. Ellison, national Secretary, Imperial War Veterans’ Association of Canada. Startling finformation that vets are now 55 years of age was shown by Ellison te be the main reason for the need of a new deal, on the basis that the average age for vets is 49.7 years and the Sovernment of- ficially allows a ‘“‘pre-age” of 10 years to ex-servicemen. Speaking authoritatively, Mr. El- lison declared that a pool of all monies doled out to vets, from Do- minion grants down to the Smallest, mis-managed charity fund, would haye produced $42,500,000 for the year 1937, sufficient to provide a fair pension for all veterans in Can- ada at 50. Charging the British government With evasion of all moral responsi- bility toward Imperial vets, Mr. El- lison declared vigorously that the authorities must quickly face the fact, accepted by all reasonable peo- ple, that ex-seryicemen on the whole simply cannot compete with young men nowadays in the race for jobs. The extraordinary and humiliat- ing situation confronting every old country soldier who becomes sick from war experiences; in that he has no access to official army rec- ords of wounds and ill-health but must depend on cold officials at home to give personal opinions as to pension rights, should arouse the public to demand a change in this State of affairs, so at that at least the privileges enjoyed by Canadian soldiers in similar cases, shall be extended to the Imperials, stated Mr. Ellison. The PA learned that should an imperial veteran suddenly stricl<- en, the military nospital at Shaughnessy is closed to him un- til the British ministry at Ottawa is contacted by letter; that it seems to be that a man must show the stump of an arm or leg, or Far Bast. (Continued on page 2) See IDVWPERIALS Fishermen Protest Nippon Invasion Say Japanese Cleaning Coast Waters Of Fish POULSBO; Wash., Sept. 3—dJapa- nese fishermen are taking huge quantities of the highest grade Seckeye salmon off Alaska’s Bering seacoast, according to Olaf Kitel, first mate’on the Seattle codfishine Schooner, Sophie Christenson, dis- charged here this week. Captain J. E. Shields, owner of the Sophie, corroborated his first of- ficer, and told interviewers that the Japanese nets on July 5 were “lit up to look like a city,”’ there were so many. The Captain likened the Japanese fishing operations to “vacuums which literally cleaned the sea.’ Just Once Over, Please + — inode | l skirmishes with Franco’s troops. Members of the US Tom Mooney Battalion on the Jarama front, south of Madrid, treat each other to a shave and haireut in between Girls Work 13=Hour Day Charge Boarding House Evading Minimum Wage | Evasion of the provincial minimum wage law by the em- ployment of young girls who are required to work 13 hours a day are charges laid against the operator of a boarding house on Nelson street by Mrs. L. Rose, of Vancouver, recently employed there. Roofing Co. ‘Employees Organize Victoria Workers Get Charter In AF of L Affiliate VICTORIAS 8G. Sent 2=—m- pPloyees of the Sidney Rubber Roof- ing company here have been organ- ized almost one hundred per cent in the Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers’ union, affiliate of the American Federation of Labor. A charter was received this week. Some seventy-five men are employed by the company. Demand for organization is spreading rapidly in this city. At its last meeting Victoria Trades and Labor council yoted $100 to continue its organizational drive here. STRIKE IS SETTLED DRUMBELLER, Alta. — Ten-day strike of 100 miners at the Western Gem mine here has been settled. The strike was called when work- ers complained newcomers at the mine were given preference of day jobs. Details of the settlement were not announced. @ Unemployed and with no funds, Mrs. Rose, along with another ex- employee, states that she took on the job but quit after five days be- cause she could not tolerate condi- tions. Every second day there is a new girl taken on at this boarding house. Girls begin work at 6:15 a.m. and keep going until 8:30 p.m., ex cept for meal time, Mrs. Rose stated. Noticing how young the girls appeared to be, Mrs. Rose states that she remarked on this to the proprietor, who replied that he re- quires all the girls to Sigm “a state- ment declaring they are under 17 years of age, and in this way he avoids the minimum wage law. Wages paid are: cook, $30 a month; waitress, $25 a month; kit- chen maid, $15. Complaints have been laid before the minimum wage officer, who has Promised to investigate the matter and enforce the law which entitles employees working under such con- ditions to back pay. Nanaimo Report Expected Soon WANAIMO, BC, Sept. 2—A writ- ten report of the two-day inquiry inte the Beban mine flooding which caused the death of three miners here last June 11. will be ready over the Within two weeks, announced Com- missioner R. Wilson, who presided investigation. Conviction on Fine Point Is Disputed Testimony of Crews is Ignored as Charge of Fish- ing Seven Minutes Before Time is Upheld; : - $20 Fine; Fish Are Seized AIR PATROL ARRESTS AT ALERT BAY ALERT BAY, BC, Sept. 2.—In what is described as one of the worst cases of government department tyranny in the annals of coast fishing, a number. of purse seine fishermen reported to their Vancouver union a story of methods used recently te convict and fine “setting”? their nets seven minutes permitted. Scott’s Cate Signs With Union Here All Points Won After Struggle Of Three Months Six waitresses are hack on the job at Secott’s cafe, Granville street, after a six weeks strike and Local 28, Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union, has won recognition from Manager Harry Stematus who Signed a full union agreement last Saturday. The agreement called for Statement of strikers and discharge of all strikebreakers, ware increases ! from the $9.50 formerly paid to $12 with meals included for dining reom help, amd $14 with meals included for help at the counter, with $1 ex- tra for upkeep of uniforms. The vic- tory is 100 per cent, state union of- ficials. The attempt by a group of locaf cafe owners to set up a rival union to local 28 which would be entirely under their control, spurred the Trades and Labor council here to action and the public responded to its ‘We do not patronize” campaign in an understanding manner. Faced with a court injunction against picketing, ordered by Judge Manson, local 28 carried the fight against the company union both in the courts and throuzhout the entire labor movements; the coming Trades and Labor Congress haying been deluged with resolutions. Union officials have been encour- aged by this victory to intensify the unionization campaisn among other ality cafes where bad working Cusn- ditions exist, the PA was told last Wednesday. Vancouver Citizens can expect to see many more restaurants with the union card, union officials declare. There are 24 union houses in the city at present. rein- Seeks To Invoke J-Power Treaty | SHATTLE, Wash. Sept. 2.—That | the S-power treaty be immediately | invoked against Japan for its in- | vasion of China is the demand for-| warded to the US state department | by Howard Costigzan, executive Bcc retary of the Washington Common-j wealth Pederation. | “The Chinese-Japanese situation is not a War Hastern crisis. It is a} near eastern crisis for the people of | the northwest,’ said Costican. The WCF is joining with labor and civic leaders in asking for a bovy-| coott of Japanese eoods. > 14 skippers on a charge of before the legal time The story was told by indignant fishermen to the PA this week, On Sunday, August 15, a fish- eries patrol plane flew over a num- ber of the -boats and. alighting on the water, confiscated some licenses. Wext morning the patrol boat noti- fied other skippers that they were under arrest after fishery officials had seized clocks and watches be-_ longing to the arrested men and ordered them to proceed to Alert Bay. In spite of the evidence of the crews of these boats, that it was after 6 p.m., the lesal deadline, be- fore they made their “set’’ the skip- pers were fined $20 a boat and a percentage of the catch, on the charge that the ‘set’ had been made Seven minutes before 6 p.m. Pishermen demand to know how it can be considered lesal to arrest men hours after an alleged breach of fishery resulations that involve a correct check on time where min- utes May involve a conviction. They are also protesting hieh-handed pro- cedure of officials in Seizing time- pieces to be cheeked with the offi- cials’ watches, without allowing ac- cused to witness the comparison. The fact that at least six of the boats haye radio aboard is further evidence that the skippers knew the exact time for a “‘‘set.’’ The PA was informed that all Seiners will be notified immediately of the handling of these cases by the fisheries department: The union is asking fishermen to notify it imme- diately should similar charges be laid against any of them. “We will employ the best lezal talent available to protect fisher- men who are finding it difficult enough to make a living even un- der the best conditions,” George Miller declared. Meat Cutters Ask Boycott Aimed to further eripple union- hating Burns Company’s business, Local 95, Meat Cutters and Pack- inghouse Employees union will ap- peal for a boycott to the approach- ing Trades and Labor Congress of Canada which carries weight with overseas buyers of Burns products, Local 95 is at present negotiating for an agreement with other city I. Beranic Was In Anti Tank Corps Canadians Patticipate In Catalonian Army Victories QUINTO CAPTURED TORONTO, Ont., Sept. 2.— Ivan Beranic, of Vancouver, one-time Princeton miner, has meat packing-houses, officials state. been killed at Villa de Catillo on the central battlefront in Spain, it was announced this week by the national office of the Friends of the Mackenzie-Pa_ Pineau Battalion this week. Wounded in the engagement which cost Beranic his life was George Matesic, of Timmins, Ont., Croatian Workers’ Glub organizer, Joe Kelly, of Vancouver, formerly provincial organizer of the Relief Project Workers’ union, who suf- fered concussion when shrapnel] smashed against his ‘tin hat’ dur= ing a recent skirmish, is reported to be recovering rapidly, Beranic, 39-year-old Croatian, Served in an anti-tank battery and participated in the recent : Madrid offensive. He came to BC in 2928 and worked for some time in the mines at Princeton. He was a member of the Communist party of Ganada. Advance Continues VALENCIA, Spain, Sept. 2—The Spanish eS0vernment’s powerful Catalan army, a quarter of a@ million strong, recently reorganized and unified under General Pozas, con- tinues to advance all along the Aragon front. - Republican troops, preceded by a. battalion of the famed Asturian “dinamateros” are Sweeping- for- ward on the Strategic town of Beichite, 20 miles south of Zara- g0sa. Latest reports indicate that the Loyalists, backed by planes, heavy. artillery and tanks, have obtained a stranglehold. Fall of the town was considered immin- ent, Hascist aviation carried out sey- eral raids on government lines, but failed to halt the Steady advance. Capture of Belchite would Severe Fascist communications between @aragoza and Teruel and render the Flascists’ position untenable at many points along the whole Hast €rn front. Earlier this week Loyalist forces, including: Canadians, captured Quin- to, near Zaragosa. An entire Fascist Cavalry squadron was reported wiped out by artillery fire north- west of Teruel. Firanco’s boast that he would “take Cuenca in a brief campaign and severe the Madrid-Valencia highway,” was far short of fulfill- ment this week. Not only was he far from Cuenca Which, in turn is far from the vital highway, but, even should he reach the plains on which Cuenca stands, he would be faced by mechanized forces strongly entrenched, while his forces would be unable to bring heavy artillery through the moun- tains north of Cuenca. Asturians Make Stand MADRID, Spain, Sept. 2.—Asturi-_ an troops, among the finest fighters in all Spain, adoptine enerrilla tactics, prepared this week to defend their Province and Gijon, its Principal port, against impend- ing attack by the Fascists’ northern army. Fall of Santander, hailed by Mus- Solini as “ag triumph of Italian arms,” actually was an inconelusive campaign, according to foreign military observers. Against the large army massed by the Fascists, including the much-vaunted Black Arrow Italian troops, supported by aviation and tanks, was opposed a force of inadequately - supplied Basque and Asturian troops, esti- mated at less than 25,000, who, nevertheless, exacted 3 heavy toll during guerrilla fighting in the mountains. Miners Subscribe To PA Seventeen New Subs Received From Atlin es Receipt of 17 new subs for the | Advocate and two for the Clarion Weekly from Atlin, BGC, is reported by PA Girculation Manager Phil Gibbens this week. “There can be no doubt that At- lin is PA-conscious. They sure ree- Osnize a good paper when they see one,” stated Gibbens. Various theories mooted by ths editorial staff for Atlin’s good show- ing finally narrowed down to two- the miners there are orsanized and there are some PA boosters who are not afraid to ¢o after subs. Atlin has taker the drive banner for two years in succession, despite the small population. htt eehatertonatan crete te chet tuicteromtirien