Pace Sk September 17. The Peoples Advocate Published Weekly by the PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASSN. Room 10, 163 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: Trinity 2019 One Year .....---.- $1.80 Half Year Three Months ..... .5O , Single Copy ..--.--- -05 Make All Checks Payable to: The People’s Advocate. Send All Copy and Manuscript to the Chairman of the Eiditorial Board. Send all Monies and Letters Pertain- ing to Advertising and Circulation to Business Mgr. Vancouver, B.C., Friday, September 17, 1937 Citrine Supports Chamberlain TR WALTER CITRINE, head of the British Trade Union Congress, continues to support the reactionary N ational Govern- ment, while holding out the hope of another Jabor government some time im the future. At the recent annual convention of the T.U. Congress, held in Norwich, he again defended the rearmament policy and program of hte government, using the war prepaations by Ger- many as a justification for his position. He does not say, however, that the tremen- dous armament drive of Germany was made possible by the very government with which he is lined up and in support of which he is drag- ging the trade union movement and the Labor Party- : Tn violation of treaties to which Britain was a signatory, the national government entered. into a naval treaty with Germany whereby the latter was permitted to embark on a huge naval, army and airforce program. This rearming by Germany was permitted by the national government in order to furnish an excuse to the people of Britain’s great re- armament program. Thus both Britain and Germany are preparing for war at an expense and speed unprecedented in history. Citrine but echoes the lying and hypocritical propaganda of Chamberlain, Eden and Com- pany when he says that the war preparations in Britain are to prevent the launching of a world war by Germany and her allies. ‘It is true that the war-mad fascist leaders of Germany, Japan and Italy are plotting such a war, the beginning of which thev have already made in Ethiopia, Spain and China. é But why does Citrine and his kind join the government and capitalist press chorus 1m chanting the alleged peaceful intention of the national government when he knows that Bald- win, Hoare, Chamberlain and Eden have en- eouraged Hitler, Mussolini and Japan in their ageression and sabotaged every move to restrain them ? Any democratic country is justified in re- EDITORIAL FEATURES sisting fascist encroachment. But can the national government be entrusted with the de fence of existing democracy? Its entire his- tory proves that it can not. On the contrary, placing such arms and implements of war in the possession of such a government imereases tenfold the danger to democracy in Britain and to the peace of the world. Placing such power in the hands of a Labor or People’s Front government would be an en- tirely different matter. But Sir Walter Citrine does not want to wait for such an eventuality. With childish naiyite, or diabolical treachery, he is relying on the reactionary, po-fascist goy- ernment headed by the imperialist Chamber- lain. And this very support of the national eovernment’s foreion policy and disarmament is retarding the growth, numerically and in influence, of the British Labor Party. What Citrine, Bevin, Morrison and other ‘trade union and Labor Party leaders should be doing is denouncing and exposing the national’ eovernment and its pro-fascist, warmongerin¢e foreion and domestic policies, and assisting im foreing a powerful labor and progressive front against it and all its works. . Such a line would revivify the stagnant Labor Party, bring down the government and place a Labor government in power. Fatalism and the Trade Union Bill - Ae proposal of the Trades and Labor Council of Victoria for a provincial trade union conference to rally support for the Trade Union Bill to be introduced in the legislature during its first session is gaining widespread support in trade unions throughout the prov- ince. The powerful Nanaimo local of the United Mine Workers of America at its mecting last Sunday decided fully to support the call for the conference and will send delegates to it. The Nanaimo nuners will also combat the anti-labor eounter-proposal of their local representative, Pearson, minister of labor, which proposal is advanced for the purpose of defeating the bill. Tt is unfortunate that just at a time when encouragement should be given to such a pro- eressive move as that made by the Victoria labor body, and the fullest advantage taken of the favorable reception to it, the Mederationist should throw cold water on these laudable ef- forts of the trade unions by sayine that only by supportine the CCF ean trade unionists expect beneficial leeislarion, and that the trade unions are valueless in combatting imtimida- tion. No one will deny that workers should sup- port the CCF as against the old line parties— even if a Pettipiece proves a disappointment. 3ut to advocate passivity while awaitime the election of a CCE government and the abandon- - ment of the strugeele for remedial labor and social legislation is to play into the hands of the employer and the government. Tt cannot be denied that the trade union legislation enacted by the legislatures of Nova Scotia and Alberta—made possible because of the organized pressure of the trade unions—is beneficial to the working class. Ti has been proven over and over again that a powerful, militant, united trade union move ment ean compel the passing of remedial lee- islation even before a labor government as- sumes oftice.. Tt ean be safely assumed that the CCF mem- bers of the house will support the Bill which will be proposed by the trade unions. In their struggle to have it mace law they will need all the support they can possibly get from or- ganized labor throughout the province. If this support is not fortheoming their roices will be voices erying in the witiderness. The government at Victoria is not a CCE goy- ernment. [tis a Liberal government, and by no stretch of the imagination can it be rezarded as a progressive one. But a powerful mass de mand ean and will compel it to grant at least some of the demands of the workers and, im a measure at least, stay its reactionary hand. Race Discrimination LTHOUGH there are many unemployed eirls im VYaneouver, the civic authorities are compellins Chinese proprietors of cates to discharge white girl employees. A few days ago three Chinese cafes were closed and their licenses cancelled because white girls were em- ployed im them. Such discrimination against small busimess men of the yellow race savors ot the benighted deep south, and the diserimination against working oirls is a criminal diserace. There is here no question of wages involved, for the Chinese cafe proprietors are known to respect the minimum wage law as much, and even more, than the white proprietors. To give some semblance of justification for HE mun eet erm tf a law which drives working girls out of honest employment to starvation or life “on the street.” the elaim is being made that it is the “moral welfare” of the girls that is beine sate euarded. Such a claini is a gratituous insult to a splen- did race. Girls are nof more subjected to temp- tation in a Chinese restaurant than in a “white” one. por half as much. Working girls should have the right te work fer any employer, white, black or yellow. they can find to employ them. The absurd Jim Crow law which denies them this right and discriminates against the Chinese small business men should be repealed. It is a disgrace to Vancouver which, although not quite a Dayton, Tennessee, may yet edify our citizens with a “monkey trial” peculiar to Van- eouver chauvinistic obscurantism. More Tory-Liberal Hypocrisy HE brazen hypocrisy of the Tory and Lib- eral aldermen of Wancouyer was shown once again in their eriticism of the CCF mem- bers of the City Council for their open admis- sion of responsibility to the political party to which they belong. The capitalist aldermen are members of and loyal to the o!d line parties, and although not formally elected as candidates on a party ticket are Liberals and Tories, as the case may be, in the City Council and there carry out the policies. of those parties. The GCF is quite correct in maintaining its right to participate as a party in miunicipal as well as provincial affairs. Moreover, if is neces- sary that a ~vorkine class political party exer- eise control and direction over those of their members who. once elected, may flaunt their party and 9 it alone. : That was the course followed by Connell and his followers in the last provincial house, and which the CCF quite properly refused to tol- erate. And were it not for such control, Alder- man Pettipiece would not have been compelled to withdraw his anti-democratic proposal that the mayor be elected not by direct vote of the electorate but by the City Couneil. The faked indignation of the Crones and Millers should fool nébody: and the rank and file of the CCF as well as its supporters will endorse the CCE’s stand on its candidates running for municipal office under the party banner aud. when elected, acting as responsible members of their party. Trades and Lab or Congress Takes Stand For Unity .onstration of the truth of this By T. EWEN ROM all available press reports at the time of writing, it is gratifying to learn that the 53rd conven- tion of the Trades and Labor Coneress of Canada now in session in Ottawa is standing firm for unity; this in spite of the extreme pressure that has been brought to bear upon the Congress through- put the past year by the arch- splitter, Green, and his reactionary jmorons on the executive council of the AF ofL on the issue of the cio. Qne year ago the Trades and La- por Congress took the position that the fight between the AP of L and jhe CIO was a matter between these bodies in the US only and did not affect Canada. The report of the Resolutions Committee said, in part, ‘That we reiterate our ‘position as the legislative body of the Industrial Unions in Canada and refrain from action which might be considered as being in- furious to the best interests of the Jabor movement on the Worth American continent.” The chairman of the Resolutions Committee added that, “The com- mittee had made its recommenda tion with the sole purpose in view of having this convention take ac- tion which will show that so far as we in Canada are concerned, we gre united.” This bid for a greater measure ef autonomy for the AF ofL unions in Canada in the 1936 con- vention has been considerably strengthened’ by the convention now in session. Presidet William Green and his reactionary lieutenants have left no stone unturned in their attempt to interfere with and to split the unity that has been patiently built up in Canada. I need not elaborate here on the traitorous actions of President Green against the unionization of American open- shop industries by the CIO. They are Jegion. e Green’s Attempts To Smash Unity, H™® attempt to smash the unity of the Hamilton Trades and Labor Council because that body joined hands with the CIO in at- tempting to organize the thousands of steel workers there is a case in point. The black letters issued by his office, any by his lieutenants such as Hutcheson of the UBCJ, Tobin of the Teamsters and Chauf- feurs, Wharton of the TA of M, are all two well known. Letters and “directives” which, if carried out, would deliver labor with broken ranks to the will of organized capital. The jurisdictional war being carried on at the moment by the racketeer, Dave Beck of the Teamsters and Chauffeurs, against the IA on the Pacific Coast, is the essence of Green's policies car- ried into life. When the rank and file of AFofil, men have stood solidly with the ClO in its mag- nificent organizational struggles Green has deplored this “fraternal- izing’ with the enemy.”’ In the light of this, which is by OPEN FORUM Mrs. Kerr’s Lectures Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: The Women’s Delega- tion to the Soviet Union, Commit- tee has received requests from in- terested groups in many parts of the province, to hear Mrs. ©. Kerr lecture on her tour in the USSR. The highly successful and well attended meetings held at the Moose Hall, Colonial Theatre and at group and luncheon meetings have created considerable demand for her to speak in Vancouver and district. The meetings will be held under the auspices of the Women’s Delegation Committee through the courtesy of the local groups. We would greatly appreciate it if several elubs or groups in 2 given district would work together to arrange an itinerary to Save expense, time and duplication of travel. All monies collected over the expenses of the meetings go to enable Mrs. Kerr to carry the lecture to other districts. Meetings at Nanaimo, Victoria and Sointula have peen arranged and requests from the Cariboo, Wells, Quesnel, Williams Lake and other places, such as the Okanagan Valley, Salmon Arm, have been received. Groups walling to arrange meet- ings in these two districts will be included in the itinerary if at all possible. Write to the committee at 178 Burrard 2treet, Vancouver, BC, for possible dates. A, K. Vancouver, BC. Ol’ Bill And Soviet Union Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: Ol Bill, in his column, states that the Friends of the Soviet Union propose to send a gift from the people of Canada to the workers of the Soviet Union as a mark of esteem for their glor- jous struggle against tremendous odds, and their unparelleled achievements during 20 years ot workers’ rule. I think the Spirit of Canada (under capitalism) would be too composite for anyone but a genius to depict in 2 portrayable work of art. But what would be more historic. more tangible, and more welcomed as an expression of Can- adian workers’ appreciation of the achievements of their fellow-work- eds in the Soviet Union, than a gigantic pledge signed by all pro- gressive Canadians, expressing their admiration and reaffirming friendship and loyalty to the Workers’ Republic. To help defray the cost of bind- ine in suitable book form, many would willingly contribute for the privilege of adding their name to the document. 2 fet Or Vancouver, BC. no means all, it is welcome news that the Trades and Labor Con- gress of Canada still maintains its position of Unity and, by doing so, declares for greater autonomy within the AF of L in Canada, Upon such a position and free from the splitting dictates of the ctivities of U.S. Nazis Exposed WASHINGTON: HAT readers of the liberal press long haye known—that there is a vast brown network of Nazi ac- tivities in the United States, that Nazi propagandists are continually being sent to North America to stir up race hatred and to brand every liberal thought and proposal as ‘“communistic,” that leaders of the movement in the United States and Canada, some of them nominally citizens, visit Germany, confer with Hitler and return to meddle in politics as directed—such facts as these are at last coming to the attention of a larger public as a result of the furore occasioned by The Chicago Daily Times articles: Washington is stirred .and investgations will be demanded with renewed vigor. The Times gave three of its re- porters, James J. Metcalfe, John G, Metcalfe and William