Tet ho a 4 ENGINEERS CITY MOVIE S’ Canadian Youth to the Forefront -by Maurice Rush PAGE FOUR Western Canadadass Leading Progressive The People’s Advocate Newspaper ere DRIVE TOTAL $1573 FULL No. 146. <=> Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1937 Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. III. No. 42 Aiding Their Countrymen sheet hi —n— as Chinese children in San Francisco, carrying signs urging a boy- cott of Japanese goods are hailed by a policeman as they parade through streets where Japanese Stores are located. wart AD BANG ee Higher Wages Asked Mine Union To Present Agreement To Company CUMBERLAND, BC, Oct. 28.—_Now that coal] miners on Vancouver Island are thoroughly organized and an intensive survey by miners’ committees under the lead of Pat Conroy, district representative of the United Mine Workers. com- pleted, the ed, d union will present-an agreement to Canadian Collieries with a view to the elimination of many unnecessary classifications and a raise in wages to meet the high cost of living. CCF Awaits Labor Bill H. Winch Declares CCF To Spenser Labor Measures VICTORIA, BC, Oct. 28. — An- nouncement was made this week by Harold E. Winch, CCF whip, that his party. wili sponsor some jm- portant labor measures in the first session of the iégislature and that he is awaiting the proposed trade union bill to be drafted at the trade union conference here this week- end. Active in arousing support for the Proposed bill is Golin Cameron, CCF (Comox), who, in conjunction With the Lumber and Sawmill Workers’ Union, has personally collected signatures to petition the government for the passing of Such a bill. CGF members show promise of being the “ginger” group in the house, having already filed three notices of motion of a progressive nature. The first calls for a want of con- fidence motion on the health insur- ance fiasco of this year others be- ing a call for medical aid to old-age Pensioners and an investigation into operations of the Blections Act. These notices of motion were held up temporarily by the speaker on a technicality. F As agreed in the last district con- vention, the CCF group has no of- ficial leader for this session, Harold Winch explaining that there would be no distinction within the house group. In filing a want of confidence motion, the CCF members sought to bring out the question of health insurance in a full-dress debate which would put the government in an embarrassing position in view of election promises made. Alleged questionable practices used in the past provincial elections are responsible for the call for an investigation which prove an interesting debate in the beht of current accusations. < should also) To a packed hall of miners Con- | Loy reported his findings as to wage Classifications and conditions in the mines and outlined the main points of the proposed new agree- Inent. Determination to back this agreement was expressed by vari- ous speakers at this meeting. The fact that Vancouver island collieries showed an increased out- put of some 13,500 tons for Sep- tember, 1937, over the correspond- ing month of last year, according to the Chief Inspector of Mines, Victoria, adds to the justice of the miners’ claim for higher wages. Island coal output in September was 70,142 tons. Decision to send A. Lancashire and A. Boothman to the trade un- ion conference in Victoria and a vote of $25 to the Friends of the Mackenzie-Papineay Battalion for Christmas parcels, were other items dealt with at this meeting. Union Leaflet Answers Poster In reply to a poster which, it is alleged. was the work of the man- ager of Eden cafe, Granville street, Local 28, Hotel and Restaurant Employees union, are distributine- leaflets exposing this individual as the promoter of a company union which coerces employees to join and that the Eden cafe Pays lower wages than other Granville street cafes. Headed: “We do not patronize,” the leaflet declares that other cafe Owners have dropped the company union idea, leaving the Eden in association with the White Tunch and other union-hatinge cafes. Im a statement to the PA. Bill Gateman, business agent of Local 28, statel that the union was sys- tematically working in the inter- ess of food workers and that despite 3 F ithe Chats Refused To Meet Union Wage Increase, Double Staff Won + > Here PUBLIC GIVES AID Organized labor won a second 48-hour tilt with Famous Players, Inc., movie monopolists, this week, when Local 882, International Op- erating Engineers, picketed four high-priced city theatres and with the assistance of the Trades and Labor Council obtained com- pany signatures to a long-sought agreement. Concessions obtained are a pay increase for the men who declared that they had taken wage cuts amounting to 30 per cent since 1931, and establishing of two men on shift work in place of one, who, previous to the strike, was required to stretch 8 hours’? work over 15 hours. &. W. King, efficient business agent of Local 882, told the PA that the new agreement is the result of a long period of unsuccessful ne- gotiations which culminated in Strike action last Tuesday when pickets marched in front of Or_ pheum, Capitol, Strand and Do- minion theatres with placards worded: “Strike on. Emgineers on Strike to establish reasonable wages and working conditions.”’ King stated that the executive of the Trades and Labor Council gave Local 882 every assistance and on Thursday the four theatres, which can well afferd to pay the relatively trifling sums involved in the dis- pute, signed the union agreement. Pickets reported to a PA reporter that the public generally was sym- pathetic, many refusing to pat- ronize these theatres ‘while the strike was on. “One disturbing incident occurred which threatened to §mash our Strike,”’ declared King, “and that was a number of men claiming to be organized into a “Canadian” union and flashing white cards, were hired by the managements, an attempt being made to hoodwink the public by a statement “that the dispute is over as union men were now on the job.” Int’] Brigade Now Year Old US Congressmen See Spain Volunteers Parade VALENCIA, Spain, Oct. 28—Sevy- eral thousand Smart-stepping. “‘In- ternationa]s”’ swung down Albacete’s main avenue last week in honor of the first anniversary of the organ- ization of the International Bri- gades, now an integral part of the regular Spanish People’s Army. It was a big day, especially for the Americans who marched by two guests of honor who arrived here a few days ago to see the biz achievements of Loyalist Spain even while defending itself against the Fascist invaders. The two guests, Representatives John T. Bernard, Farmer-Laborite of Minnesota, and Jerry J. O'Con- nell, Democrat of Montana, first members of Congress to _ visit Spain since the war, were Visibly impressed by the stecel-helmeted figures as they marched under gay banners to the tune of the Star- Spangled Banner. In the short space of these men made history, Belchite, Jarama, Brunete, Quinte, Guadala- jara, Madrid—all are indelibly writ- ten on the scroll of of the great fight being waged by the Spanish people against those who woulda harness them to ignorance and pov- erty. Americans, Belgians, Frenchmen, Germans, Czechosloyaks, Spaniards, Italians, Canadians, marched to- gether in honor of past yictories and one year, difficulties, headway is being made. | as a symbol] of others to come. Vancouver Trade Unionist Is Elected President Of Workers’ Alliance Here Election of W. G. Cooper, mem- ber of Local 170, Plumbers and Steamfitters, as president of the Workers’ Alliance, took place at the meeting of the district council last Sunday. Resignation of J. H. Godkin, who found himself unable to devote the time required for the organization, made the vacancy, and the unani-_ mous election of a trade unionist is regarded as 4 significant step for- FOIL ATTEMPTS TO S IKE, WIN ASH A.M. Stephen —n— any Fi — rr — +h noted Canadian poet and writer and provincial president of the League for Peace and De- mocracy who will figure prom- inently in the peace conference which opens in the Hotel Vancou- ver this Saturday. Major Freder- ick Lord and Howard Costigan, WCF executive secretary, will be the speakers at a mass meeting in the Auditorium tonight. Boyco tt In City Is Effective Many Buyers Turning Down Japan Goods By VICTORIA POST It’s Hallowe'en weekend, and everybody is buying caps and toys, So, with the Japanese boycott in mind, I wandered into stores in the city specializing in these goods. The assistant in the first store I entered was very indignant when I asked how many of the toys were made in Japan. “Not a thing—they’re all made in Canada or China,” she declared. “We have so many people asking whether we're selling Japanese goods that I found out for certain so that I could tell them. At first when customers asked me I said I sup- posed they were Japanese and they would walk out, so I saw the man- ager and found out that all the City Project MenMay Go On Streets Meagre Relief Wages Working Great Hardships ALLIANCE ACTIVE Declaration that unless something is done quickly, hundreds of married men working on city projects will be forced to bee on the streets in order to live, was made to the PA this week when mem- bers of the executive of the Workers’ Alliance appealed for publicity in order to bring before the public the plight of many Vancouver families. @ne of the delegation, father of five children, stated ne was one of hundreds in the same position, and wrote out his budget in the office of the PA. His monthly cheuge amounts to $39.90, has to cover rent, light, fuel and other necessities before the grocery bill can be met. On this basis, 60 cents a day is left for his family of seven. The delegation stated that the Workers’ Alliance was carrying on a petition campaign through its membership of more than 1300, re- questing an adequate housing pro- gram, establishment of 11 days’ work as a minimum and one extra day for each child, a 54 per cent in- erease in relief for those unable to work, restoration of medical facili- ties which have been cut off upon inauguration of this project scheme. Questioned on the recent attack by Alderman R. P. Pettipiece on the Workers’ Alliance, the delega- tion laughingly declared that “he must have a guilty conscience,” be- cause he complained of being con- stantly under fire from the unem- ployed. The delegation claimed that, in his position as chairman of the social services committee the Work- ers’ Alliance naturally met with Hallowe'en stock was Canadian or Chinese. Of course, we still have (Continued on page 6) See PROJECTS to ‘Common Jail,’ P.A. Reporter Is Told At Deroche Is Refused Permission To Interview Single Unemployed Confined In BC Prison Camp PUBLIC OPINION FORCES GOW’T. TO OPEN FORESTRY CAMPS By WM. PURVIS The Pacific Stages bus was rocking and bumping to such a degree that the driver half-turned apologetically to the old lady behind him to murmur, “This road’s been like this for the last 12 years to my knowledge.” “Yes,” snapped the old lady, “and there’s no need for it with all those young fellows out of work.” “I guess they would rather jail them than put them to work.” She continued to talk to the now uncertain driver. Under my breath I unnecessarily urged her to keep it up. Everyone on that bus got an earful of good common sense on the subject of work and wages. En route to get the lowdown on the Deroche prison camp for the PA and packing a parcel of ‘“‘makin’s” for the boys, donated by the Canadian Labor Defence League, the “‘prison camp’ seemed on the lips of most travellers as they ap- proached Deroche, and in the time spent hangins: around waiting for transportation I noted that local residents still found the herding of young Canadians mor wonder. Even the cops and jailers seemed burnt up with the whole affair. First words, in answer to my request for admission, from a khaki-clad guard with “Oakalla” sewn on his shoulder Straps were: “Is there anything in the papers about opening the forestry camps?” His face showed genuine disappoint- ment at my negative reply, betraying his distaste of standing guard over boys whom he later described as “good, clean young Canadians.” Special Permit Required to Visit As to interviewing the boys, a government bulletin was read out: “By order-in-counci] camp 203, Deroche, is made a common jail and no visitors will be permitted to enter with-_ out special permit from the warden at Oakalla.” That was that. From the window there could be seen uni- formed guards pacing to and fro, with Oakalla “trustees” doing chores. In the drizzling rain the prison camp was a most depressing place and little imagination was needed to visualize the 49 young inmates locked in the shacks. That the supporting public would see to it the CLDL is amply furnished with tobacco to send to those lads was the uppermost thought in my mind when a guard grinningly told of the eagerness with which seme Japanese chinaware in stock, but nobody will buy it ,and I know the new stock has been ordered from either Canadian or Chinese manufacturers.” Wext I went into one of the 5 and 10 cent stores. Here the as- sistant was quite as definite about the origin of the toys, but said peo- ple investigated for themselves, and when they found a “‘Made in Japan” label, refused to buy. All the toys, caps and streamers for the Peace Ball at the Winter Saturday were bought yesterday by Mrs. Stephen, head of the Women’s Committee of the League for Peace and Democracy, and Sarah Rosman, of the Girls’ Shock Brigade. Garden this (Continued on page 6) See BOYCOTT Seattle Mayor At Nazi Rally SEATTLE, Wash., Oct. 28 —(QrP)— Mayor John F. Dore of Seattle at- tended a Nazi demonstration Oct. 9, raising his arm in the Hitler salute during the singing of the Nazi an | them, the Horst Wessl song, The } Sunday News, official organ of the Washington Commonwealth Wedera- tion, charges. The paper says he delayed his departure for the AI of L convention, where he called for | the destruction of the CIO, two days to attend the local rally. | | Want Municipal Gov’t Restored | NORTH VANCOUVER, BC, oct-| 28—To further the campaign for | restoration of municipal sovern-| ment to North Vancouver, branches $— 1 Seek Victims of Air Raid fe — in — node Here a rescue squad in Barcelona is seen digging for survivors in the ruins of a school building. It was demolished when a Fas- cist plane flew over in a bombing raid. of the Communist party here are ealling a conference of all interested | organizations. This conference will | be held in the IO@F Hall, lower | Keith road and Victoria park, Fri- day, November 26. at § p.m., accord- | ing to a circular letter sent out this week. With considerable dissatisfaction oven appointment of a commissioner | and many citizens losine their homes | ward in the efforts to win aid from | because of demands made by bond- organized labor for the Alliance and | holders, the campaign is expected to | its program. receive wide support. | Revelations Of Government Patronage Are Made at Public Meeting in Nanaimo Special Correspondence NANAIMO, BC Oct. 28—Revela- | tions of the dispensing of govern- ment patronage were made in pub- lic here recently when Conserya- tive Leader Cunliffe branded as false the assertion made by Allan Chambers, defeated Liberal candi- | | | date in the last federal elections, that his committee working on the Dominion Youth Employment Gom- mission was of an honorary nature. Cunliffe declared that Chambers receives $6,000 a year and quoted from Hansard to back up his statement, the precious weed was grabbed. Waiting for the return bus at Deroche the local citizenry really unburdened themselves over the conduct of Pattullo, Pearson and other government dignitaries, after I had told them of what was going on down the road. “Why, this here stretch of road needs a year’s work on it alone,”’ said one old-timer. And then roads, tourists, German Fascism and kin- dred subjects received full play from these country folk who know all too well the privation of hard times. Verbal brickbats and rotten eges at mention of the name of Pattullo and his policies, even before the first session of the legislature, cer- tainly presages an effective oppo- sition by common people all over the province should he, under pres- sure from the big interests, attempt to railroad reactionary measures through the house. Forced To Wait In Rain Some 250 single unemployed men were forced to resort to pan- handling in order to obtain shelter from the driying rain last Wed- nesday night, after an unsuccessful attempt to obtain shelter allowance from the city and provincial goy- ernment, with the unselfish assist- ance of a Jarge committee of city women who besieged police head- quarters on the boys’ behalf. Registration of over 400 men for forestry camp work scheduled to start next week, took place Wednes- day morning. The men, many of whom lacked overcoats, were drenched while waiting in the long lineup at the government employ- ment office, Dunsmuir street. Food tickets were issued but no shelter allowance, the officials merely shrugging shoulders when requests for this were made. At the Mothers’ Council meeting in the afternoon, ©’Brien Hall, a delegation of unemployed reported their plight and a committee of 20 women went to police headquarters where the deputy police chief phoned city aldermen and Victoria officials, who ‘passed the buck” to one another for more than two (Continued on page 6) See CAMPS e than 4 nine days’ _