during which time ~ FERGUS McKEAN Forward To Attainment Of ace. THE great majority of British Colum- bia pecple who have demonstrated time and again their determination to progress, who recognize the need for a strong, fearless press of the people, I am addressing this appeal. Only a few days remain in which to attain our objective of $3,000 for the People’s Advocate drive. people. Can we reach our objective? points of British Columbia hard-rock miners: loggers, fishermen, trappers, Too many of us, however, closer to the thickly pepulated centres, take the Clarion and the People’s Advocate for granted the best. We are apt to overlook the fact This sum repre- sents the bare minimum required to keep labor’s tribune—the Clarion and the People’s Advocate—before ever greater numbers of that only by the collective efforts of individ- uals like ourselves can our press be main- tained and built. In the Clarion we have a medium recog- nized throughout the length and breadth of Canada by, tens of thousands of trade union- joint Clarion- paper. ists and others as Canada’s premier Labor In the People’s Advocate of British Columbia we have a labor paper that is the household organ of many communities. Both are of major importance to Farmer-lLabor progressive thought and action in Canada. In this drive it is our bounden duty to the From the far Say we can. and hope for great cause of labor. in Canada and beyond our borders to put this campaign OVER THE TOP in a mighty collective last minute effort. Among the farmers, workers and middle- class people of BC there is a great and rich source of support for labor’s papers if we will but try to reach them. You, fellow worker in the mine, in the logging camp, in the factory, who find in the Clarion and Adyocate your champion,—will you let your buddy know this and win his support also? You, fellow worker on the farm, harassed with all the troubles of agricultural crisis—can you bring your neighbor into the great family of Clar- ion-Advocate readers and supporters? clarion - Advocate are YOUR YOUR cause! British Columbia lads are facing the Fas- cist terror in Spain that democracy and all that it stands for may survive. Many have -given their lives in order that our children may inherit a better world, in order that we may live in peace and security. These boys who gloriously died in battle, who so splendidly perpetuate their finest tra- $3,000 Labor’s press. tory; is assured eur part. The tribune and bjective They knew and know the worth of the Clarion and Advocate. Shall we Keep faith with them? their battle well. Can we do Jess? Their vic- They are fighting if we in British Columbia do Fascism sinks its bloody claws into the bodies of China’s people. The journalists of the kept press write falsehoods and slanders to cover Japanese atrocities. The Clarion and Advocate fearlessly and courageously tear our objective, these others powerful labor ditions, were and are builders and readers of the mask of falsehood aside in order that YOU may know the TRUTH: and if truth is to survive its tribunes must live. Let us combine in a mighty united last- minute effort to go over the top and reach $3,000, press. FERGUS McKEAN. the guarantee of a The pomp and ceremony, the tumult and the well-bred shouting of the opening cere- monies now duly entered into British Columbia’s legislative records, the House settled down to business in earnest this week. Far from departed, however, were the captains and the kines of in- dustry. On the contrary, they were very much in evidence behind the scenes, their fear of labor's srow- ing strength in this province mani- festing itself in stiffening of the government's opposition to the trade union rights bill endorsed last week- end by labor representatives from all over the province. Unless the progressive people of this province let the Pattullo goy- ernment know that public opinion will accept no less than the demo- eratic rights as outiined in the bill, there is every likelihood of the bill's rejection. Government circles generally ac- Knowledge that the government “is unprepared to accept this lesislation, at present, anyway, because it be- lieves it will only serve to encour- age Jabor trouble.’ Heré the influ- ence of big business is all tov marked. The government is believed to be considering a substitute bill which will almost certainly exclude those eauses Suaranteeine the rights to collective bargaining and organiza- tion into unions of the employees’ choice on which the trade unions conference Was insistent. .) OST probable course of the gov- ernment, unless public opinion deflects it into more progressive channels, will be to stall the bill ths session. This also will undoubt- edly meet with full approval of big business, which has plans of its own under way. Wot the least important of these plans concerns Colonel Edgeit of the Citizens’ Leasue who recently turned down a lucrative post on the direc- torate of the Fraser Walley Milk Board. According to rumor—and rumor in this city is often more veracious than the asserted truth— the Citizens’ League is being re organized ino a brand new Indus- trial Association of British Colum- bia with a wonderful constitution and emoluments enough to give the worthy Colonel a much greater sal- ary than he would have received from the board, besides ready exer- cise for his Own particular talents. The fight of finance capital to preserve British Columbia as an open shop province is now concen- trating itself in efforts to prevent trade union organization and unity In the ranks, of labor, just as we seem to remember the Communist party predicting it would during the jJast provincial election campaign. Whether or not big business will emerze the victor depends on the progressive people of this province. With their own demands for guar- anteeing ef labor’s rights organized, the fight the CCE bloc will certain- ly wage will be immeasurably strengthened, so much so, in fact, that the Pattullo government may find itself with no other alternative than to pass the bill. @n this central issue» of the trade union bill the fizht between progress and reaction will be immediately joined. Its out- come will unquestionably have con- siderable influence upon the living standards of thousands of British Golumbia wage-earners. e -A FPTER a week of long speeches from the two old line parties, verbal bou- thrown back- and forwards across the the prestige of the labor block is becoming much more ap- parent. The Liberal party, still a smooth working machine, is preach- ing the gosfel that “prosperity is here again’’ with more than an in- timation that the honorable minister for Prince Rupert is responsible. In- terspersed are brief appeals for bet- ter roads and vocational training. The Conservative opposition to the left of the Speaker, representing the cream of the province's monopoly quets have been wards House, eapital, is busy delivering fine- soundine demagogfic speeches in which the Liberals are branded as all that is bad, while the Tories, of course, are all that is good. All this makes fine copy for the Vancouver Daily Province and the Victoria Colonist. but is rather trying to anyone who sees through it. In contract to this hypocrisy, the observer in the gallery can see the small but efficient labor bloc tackling fundamental issues that in- terest even the followers of the old line parties in the galleries. A sure sign that the CCE members have finished for the afternoon is the very apparent emigration from. the gallery. Western Canada’s The Peoples Leading Progressive Newspape .dvocate r DRIVE TOTAL $2412 FULL No. 147. = Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C.. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1937 Single Copies: 5 Cents Bouchette Rapped For Lack of Wood Splinters Disproves Theory That Bomb Placed GAS EXPLOSION Branding the story told by Charles Greenlund, 52, that his gasboat, “Ibis,” was blown up by a bomb planted by union men, as “tantastic,” officers of Facific Coast Fishermen’s union forwarded a letter of protest to Wancouver daily papers Thurs- Gay because of the manner in which the “bomb story” is being handled by editors. Swathed in bandages as the result of the explosion on Wednesday and jying in hospital Greenlund told police of suspicions that he had been “bombed’’ because he refused to join a union. Apparently eager for sensational “news,” the Vancouver Sun sent Bob Bouchette, columnist, to inter- view Greenlund with the result that Greenlund is depicted asa hero fight- ing unions single handed and the “bomb” theory was accepted by the “Sun” before any investigation had been made. No Evidence of Bomb Declared J. Gavin, organizer, Paci- fic Coast Fishermen’s union: “Evidence submitted by practical Tishermen and boat-builders in our union, show that this is one of the not uncommon gas explosions that take place from time to time, often through carelessness. “Two such members examined the boat and declared that the absence of wood splinters precludes the idea of a bomb; and, after all, even the newshound Bob Bouchette confesses that he can’t find any pieces of bomb.”’ Asked whether Greenlund had been in trouble with the wunipn, Gavin replied: 2 “As a matter of fact he was never ostracised and beyond urging him to join up, which, by the way, is J the method we use for enrolling members, nobody ever bothered him to my knowledge. “We seems to have really spread himself to Bouchette when he. told of having 84 stitches in his leg after a beer parlor fight, and other lurid details. Apparently this stuff makes good copy for the “Sun.’ Gavin wanted to have it under- steod that the Pacific Coast Wish- ermen’s union was under attack, mainly because it had clashed with cannery interests on fish prices in the past period. “Rememiber,’”’ said Gavin, “‘that according to Bob Bouchette, Green- lund admits being a strikebreaker in the 1932 fishing strike, admits be- longing to ‘vigilantes’ in the long- shore strike, admits running to Major Crombie of the Shipping Fed- eration, on a claim tbat someone had put sugar in his gas tank a few lours before the explosion.” Relief Won All “‘tin-canners” have now been released from both jail and prison camps, with two week’s relief and camps, with two weeks’ relief and bed script in their pockets, Organizer Campbell of the Relief Project Work- ers’ Union told the PA this week. Small crews are preparing forestry camps to receive crews of varying sizes at the following places: Point Grey, Green Timbers; Campbell River and Cowichan Lake, Registra- tion of single unemployed is now proceeding in the city. RA BE nbonch Hits Oppteition TU. Bill Delegation Sees Council W.A. Wins Better Conditions RESSURE brought to bear on the city council by the Workers’ Alliance this week was instrumental in securing rectification of conditions on city relief projects. A delegation from the Alliance, which appeared before Mayor G. C. Miller, Alderman Pettipiece and Relief Superintendent Bone, secured a promise that rain clothings, shelters and stoves would be supplied on all projects. While officials refused the delega- tion’s demand for an extra davy’s work for each project worker to en- able him to buy needed fuel, an im- portant concession Was won when Bone promised to have the Parks Board apply the principle of keeping: a. all jobs open, rain or shine, and to give workers the option of going to work on wet days, provided they get their time in during a _ specified period. The question -of increased work will be discussed when. job delegates from all city projects meet the So- cial Service Committee, Tuesday, November 9, 10 a.m., at the city hall. Delegates will hold a prelim- inary meeting Sunday November 7, 10 a.m., at 49 West Fifth Avenue, in order to prepare their case for the city officials: : Workers’ Alliance officials state that winning of better conditiens de- | pends on the activity of committees on the jobs and support for the dele- gations. A demand for extra work in December to ensure some sort of a Christmas is a demand that can be won, they state, and a large crowd of those not working on November 9 will greatly assist the delegation. Arrangements to meet the govern ment at Victoria, November 22, on questions of work and wages, have been made by the Workers’ Alliance, and a public meeting Sunday, Noy- ember 14, will be announced, when delegates will be elected for this purpose. Locals and job gangs are now selecting delegates. 53 After the Japanese Bombed Canton F ign —n— Wurses and an orderly from the local hospital of the American Seventh Day Adventist Mission wait in the ruins of a building to give first aid to survivors fo und by rescue squads in homes demolished by Nippon’s air raiders. 25,000 Ask Lower Rates ~~ Committee May Seek In- junction Against B. C. Telephone Telephone users have this weel received a circular letter signed by W. R. Bradbury, organizer of the petition against proposed higher Phone rates, asking support for a continuance of the legal campaign, and announcing a mass meeting, Friday. November 5, 8 pm. at Moose Hall. Stating that some 25,000 signatures have been obtained for the petition. Bradbury declares that,-in view of the propaganda in the city press, he does not expect much assistance from that quarter, hence the cir- eular. The petition committee also states its intention of applying for an in- junction to restrain the BC Tele- phone Company from putting new rates into effect until the mass meeting is held and the case against higher rates placed before the rail- way commissioners next week. Mothers’ Council Asks Works Plan Forwarded to Premier Pattullo this week were the following pro- posals relating to a public works program for single unemployed in the province, drawn up by a com- mittee appointed at the last meeting of the Mothers’ Council: Comprehensive program of road building and highway improvement, and institution of a program of slum clearance and home-building, in con- Junction with municipalities. These projects would be out under supervision of the vVineial government, would be defi- nitely a works program and not a relief project, with payment of union wages for all types of work in- volved. Finances for this program would be obtained through a tax on corporation profits now going to for- eign owners of BC industry. carried pro- Hearst Next MEXICO CITY, DF, Nov. 4—(FP) —The huge Mexican estates of Wil- liam Randolph Hearst will soon be the object of the government's land | reform program, it is confidently | expected in well-informed circles | here. Fire 25 For Or ganization Britannia Lets Out Japanese Following Ne- gotiations. (Special Correspondence) BRITANNIA BEACH, BC, Nov. 4. —Demand for an increase in pay resulted in fifteen young Canadian- born Japanese miners being forced to leave Gritannia recently, after or- Zanized but unsuccessful attempts had been made to negotiate with the company. Since May 16, 1937, the mine owners who fight every attempt to establish a union at Britannia, have withdrawn two 25-cent-per- day bonuses from each pay enve- lope and there is a threat to cut another 25 cents at the end of November. Commodiy here, are steadily miners’ wages are always higher while the to $4.75, prices, rising, down (Continued on page 5) See BRITANNIA | of | people, were passed unanimously. ‘Dual Unionism Must Be Fought,’ Council Decides “We've Either Got To Admit They Are Right Or Go Out and Battle,’ Declares Bengough When ‘Canadian Unions’ Discussed USED AS MEDIUM BY EMPLOYERS A warning coupled with a railying call to all members of the American Federation of Labor was given by Secretary P. Bengough to a crowded Trades and Labor Council meeting last Tuesday, after W. Paige, Local 452, Carptenters union, reported that AF of I, men were not working on the new theatre building, Broadway and Commercial, due to presence of “Canadian union” men now on the job. Relating a series of recent events, Bengough showed a distinct connection between them in that the blanket of “Canadian unionism’? was the covering used in each case. Commenting on the long statement published in the Van- couver Sun this week urging the government to ignore the Trades Union Bill, presented last Tuesday, Bengough said the Support For Japan Boycott Peace Conference Here Appeals To Marine Workers Unanimous support for the boy- cott of Japanese goods was signi- fied at the peace conference held under auspices of the League for Peace and Democrary at Hotel Van- couver ljlast weekend. A resolution appealing ito workers in railway yards, docks and steamships to re- fuse to handle soods for aggressor countries, either imports or exports, was wholeheartedly endorsed. Highty-six delegates representing 58 organizations also endorsed picket- ing of docks, railway yards and ail places where such goods were being handled, and urged that an educa- tional campaign familiarisinge the people with the importance of the boycott particularly in view of the approaching festive season, be put under way immediately. Resolutions requesting immediate nationalization of war industries, and asking that the right to con- Sseript men be placed in the hands elected representatives of the At the last session, delegates and visitors were addressed by Joseph Hope, Chinese delegate from Vic- toria, who appealed for support of the Japanese boycott to stop her | aggression in China. Scenes from “Bury the Dead” and a new play) “Newsboy”’ presented by Progres- Sive Arts Players were well received. Officers elected were: A. M. Stephen, president; Mrs. Kay Heathcote, secretary-treasurer; A. F. Black and Mrs. Jean Pelton, vice-presidents. Executive members: Rey. R. WN. Matheson, William Purvis, Golin Cameron, MLA. Robert Cormac, CG. Lundgren, Mrs. R. P. Steeves, MLA. Dr. W. J. Curry, Miss Madge Portsmouth, Miss Babe Gred, Pred Tyler, James McCready, Jack Aron, Tom Hwan, D. W. Tweedhope and s orsanization Geo. LeStrange. responsible for this is the opposition on the Broadway and Commercial theatre project. He decried the theory of some that be- cause “the rank and file is alright,” the strensth of the labor movement Can be endangered by lining up With dual organizations. ‘““‘We have either got to admit they are right or go out and battle. I’d rather fight the bosses than the workers but 1 it’s time to call a halt,” Bengough declared. Council Author®es Action Attempt by big theatre owners to bring in scabs previous to the projectionists’ strike was done under the banner of Said Bengough; “Canadian unions,” as also was the posting of scurrilous leaflets against iocal 28, Hotel and Restaurant Employees. A motion that Bengough’s report be endorsed and action taken on the matter was passed unanimously by the council. Contacting members of Local 452, Carpenters, the PA was told that with the present upsurge in the building trades it was not unex- pected that dual organizations would be active at this time. Members stated that meetings of the local had been large and en- thusiastic for some time and re- cently a $1 assessment had been made of all members to help in the worl of organizing tradesmen now working under non-union conditions. In order to clarify the present situation further, the PA requested Tom Ewen, provincial secretary of the Communist party, and veteran trade unionist, to write an analysis of the Canadian Federation of Labor (CF of L), its origin, philosophy | and perspectives. Said Ewen in an interview: “There is a contention that since the CF of L contains many sincere and apparently well-meaning pro- gressive trade unionists, that it should be recognized as a bona-fide member of the organized family of labor. “It is necessary to deal with policies instead of sentiments—with trade union perspectives—which will mot meet with the approval of the pro-Pascist Industrial Association of British Columbia and its question- able allies.’’ Ewen's article will be published in next week’s issue.