Page Two THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE Jgnuary 28, 1938 The People’s Advocate Published Weekly by the PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION Room 10, 163 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. - Phone, Trin. 2019 95a 2a cS a SohS ss $1.00 sinple! Copy, see ie le -05 One Year Half Year Make Alj Cheques Payable to: The People’s Advocate Vancouver, B.C., Friday, January 28, 1938 Continued From Page One Remember the Reichstag Fire cover their bloody seizure of power to throttle their opposition —the German working class. We remember also, vividly and with pride, how Dimitroff in the Leipzig court became the ac- cuser of bloody fascism and emerged the victor before the world court of public opinion, while the bloody hands of his fascist enemies were exposed to the whole world. Everyone today knows who fired the Reichstag and why. "THOUSANDS of people the world over remember with indignation and loathing the capture of the fascist groups operating on Soviet trains engaged in the spreading of deadly disease germs. “Tncidents” and provocations with one ob- jective — to further their designs and war-plans against the people of the USSR. These incendiaries, wreckers and disease carriers were and are the co-workers of Japanese fascism. hese are the murderers who have declared a war against Communism as a cloak to cover their evil designs upon the ternitory of peace- ful and democratic states. The apologists of Japan cannot hold the growing tide of indignation against their murderous aggression in check. So what better than an “incident” calculated to turn public opinion against Chinese conspirators,’ and even involve a great power like the US in war. - At the moment, when the great power of China is slowly mobilizing against Japanese invasion, when unrest in Japan itself over the criminal war-policies of the fascists is making itself felt, such an “‘incident’’ as the bombing of the Hiye Maru would turn the trick for Japanese “statesmen.” It would help them mobilize and unite the nation. . . for a time, on a de- fensive” program, which would be infinitely more popular than a program of aggression. It would also serve, as it is doing at the moment in the City of Vancouver, to block the development of the boycott against Japanese goods and the wide popular movement for an embargo against all war materials going to Japan. | HE. fascist elements are utilizing the “incident” to cripple the bovcott. The Vancouver taxpayer is being called upon to supply heavy police cordons to “ guard” the Hiye Maru and other Japanese ships. Chief of Police Foster is talking about “fanatical anti-Japanese elements.” The League for Peace and Democracy is being intimidated in its work of extending the agitation for a tight boycott and embargo. Radio stations are vetoing all speeches on Japanese aggression. It is no longer permissible to quote verbatim from the records of the Council of the League of Nations. The bombing “‘incident”’ is being made to serve the fascist policies of Japan . . . in British Columbia. Who issues instructions to the broadcasting stations to lay off fascist Japan? Who issues instructions to the police to curb boycott activities? Who is deeply concerned in implicating the Chinese people with the bombing attempt of the Hiye Maru? Who put up the money that baited two foolish young men into a hair-brained action > These are the questions, in lieu of the cheap sensationalism, that the public wants to know and is entitled to know. Such a vital issue involving the peace of great nations should not be left to pro-fascist politicians and cheap journalism. It is a mat- ter for the federal government of Canada, a matter that calls for an International Commission representative of the US and Canada to bring the facts and the fascist criminals into the light of day. It is a matter in which the peace of Canada and the US is involved, and in which the “conspirators” are not ihe Chinese people of BC or the US but those who can be found among the more “respectable” haunts of the pro- fascist elite. —1.E. The New Conservatism Nothing is more indicative of the growing menace of reaction in Ganada than the efforts of the Gonservative party to present its reactionary policies in a progres- sive light. Masking their true aims beneath ambiguous, dema- gogic phraseology, Conservative Jeaders such as R. B. Bennett and Arthur Meighen skilfully seek to utilize the demands of the people for urgent reforms by raising is- sues and presenting the Conserva- tive party as their champion. The speech of W. D. Herridge before the Liberal-Conservative Business Men’s Club in Toronto this week is in many respects typical of the present tactic adopted by the reactionaries. When, in Sydney, NS, last year Herridge declared: “Searcity in the midst of plenty is becoming an effront to the intelligence of the man on the street. 2 To gain power, fascism makes trade unions the public enemy. To re- fain power fascism must destroy democracy in this modern form,” it was assumed that he expressed the sentiment of the Young Con- servatives dissatisfied with tra- ditional Gonservative policies and influenced by a desire for progress along democratic lines. These were statements with wien 20 heat So Sea ES ee (Se eee Buck, however, in his widely-pub- lished report to the eighth na- tional convention of the Commu- nist party, pointed out that it still remained to be seen “‘whether this speech is the manifestation of deep-going differences between Herridge and the die-hard repre- sentatives of monopoly capital or a reflection of the fact that the Tory leadership has not yet com- pletely rounded out its new pro- gram...” From MHerridge’s speech this it would appear that the latter is the. case. True, he still expresses truths with which we can agree—the need for reform week of “an outworn economic system in which want and unemployment are inherent.” He warns again of fascism. ‘Reaction in control of government is fascism,’ he says. But when he presents the Con- servative party—the party of re- action—as the party of action; when he skilfully utilizes Hep- burn, the outstanding renegade from liberalism, in an attempt to prove that Liberalism ‘when it takes action will become fas- cism”; then the demagogy be- comes apparent. The Liberals, not the GConserva- tives, are traditionally the party af rotorrm. TTritso «wro max sycrtisas Canada -= In Peace and War By T. Ewen HAT must the major role of Canada be in the theatre of conflict on the Pacitic? This problem is a disturbing one to many peo- ple these days and the po- litical puppets of the war profiteers are making much noise in formulating confus- ing answers to the question. Since the Canadian people are, above everything else, a people who love and desire peace, it is only natural that the war-monger- ing “defenders” of Canada should spread the utmost confusion to mislead the people and pave the way for war. The recent provincial conven- tion of the Communist party gave a good deal of attention to this grave question of peace and war. The whole question of Canada’s domestic and foreign policy gravi- tates around these vyital issues. Much of the “prosperity” of BC is predicated upon war—upon the Supplying of aggressor fascist nations with all the raw mate- rials required to destroy wanton- ly whole civil populations. It should be noted also that these war industrialists of ours Gwe are not proud of the “ours’”), while paying themselves all-time record profits and dividends in 137, have kept the wages of their employees down to crisis levels and have fought any and all at- tempts at unionization with a viciousness that is worthy of a Mussolini or Hitler. They would like to stay out of war, of course. Their sole ambi- tion, as befits a war-profiteer of the 1914-18 vintage, is to remain neutral in everything, except sup- plying aggressor nations with death-dealing commerce at fat prices. For them the “market” is the sacred temple of a barbarous trade, and they are finely oblivi- By Victoria Post NTHUSIASTIC demonstra- tions of solidarity with the loyalist army after its recent vic- tory at Teruel are very encourag- ing, but can’t we do something more for these defenders of our democracy? They have taken and held Te- ruel at terrific cost of life; the wounded are in desperate need of clothing, food and medical atten- tion, and if the Spanish people will go hungry and cold in order that their armies may have suf- ficient, surely we can do some- thing for the people themselves. Spain is still subject to a ruth- less blockade, which has caused supplies of foodstuffs, clothing and arms to fall at an alarming rate, while on the other hand, new, fully-trained divisions, armed with the latest weapons, are pour- ing in to aid Franco. Much has been done in the past to provide these much needed sup- plies, but more still remains to be done. Women’s committees have raised funds for Spanish children, and for food, but still more funds have to be raised before the crisis is over. The Spanish people par- ticularly need milk flour, fats, linen and clothing. We can also help by demanding that the blockade be lifted so that the Spanish government can ob- fain the goods it requires, and above all, have the right to ob- tain the necessary arms. : eriticize the present Liberal gov- ernment, torn with internal dis- satisfaction between those mov- ing toward an alliance with re- action and those looking to the progressive groups for the future, for its failure to institute progres- sive measures and for its capitu- lation in foreign policy to the pro- fascist desires of the British na- tional government. But it is through the Liberal party, at this stage, that the people must win reforms. Wor, in the face of the last Con- servative federal regime, does tion ... of national reform. Ad- mitting there was action, but it was the action of repression, presaginge the greater repression to come should the Conservative party be again returned to power. Reform, as Herridge says, means action. But there is an ominous ring to his words when he refers to the ‘“‘necessity of with- drawing the old system from the danger of interference by a rest- less democracy.” The “reforms,” the actions the people may ex- pect from the Conservative party —the party of big business—are precicely those which will lead di- rectly to a consolidation of reac- tion and to fascism. Against this trend Liberalism, its forces exposed to conflicting eurrents, is no barrier. The only effective barrier is a people’s front, the united progressive forces of the country pledged to a program of action based on the people’s needs—a people’s front in which genuine and progressive lib- erals can also find their place. rae ae pe Cees ous to its sacrificial altar with its millions of tortured dead. What are a few million peace-seeking Chinese, Spaniards, Ethiopians, compared to the dividends of BC. Wickel, Consolidated Mining and Smelting, Grandby Consolidated, the Boss Loggers’ Association or the Shipping Federation? Se paes crowning irony is their role as Canada’s “defenders” and their clamor for ‘defenses.” These industrial barons clutter the ports of BC with their car- goes of death destined for Japan and other fascist nations, and ap- plaud their achievement of hay- ing six-mech guns mounted in Stanley Park and West Point Grey for “defense.” Defense against whom? Against the very fascist nations that they daily supply with war material. Their politicians and spokesmen seek to whip up racial antagonism between Oriental and whites, demand “adequate de- fenses,” ete., hoping thereby to obscure the real issue, and induce Canada to embark on a huge campaign of armament place- ment. After all, it is good business. Selling gums or other war mate- rial to the Canadian government is just as profitable as selling to Japan, Germany or italy. Cana- dians will remember these prof- iteers did very well in 1914-18. Perforated spades, paper boots, rifles that wouldn’t fire, dud shells, jam manufactured from every conceivable object except fruit, Oklahoma razor-back, sub- stituted for choice Canadian pork —the heyday of the Flavelles, Hughes, Holts, Monds and the like. . These were Canada’s “defend- ers,” “pay-triots” and flag-wavers of 1914.18. Today the same gang of Wwar-mongering “patriots” howls for defenses with all the volubility of the hardened chau- vinist in order to cover up its bloody traffic and support of the fascist-barbarian war programs of imperial Japan. - Post-war investigation into the traffic and ramifications of these war-mongering profiteers: showed, among other things, that Cana- dian nickle adorned the white- head torpedo that sent the Lusi- tania and her cargo of humanity to the bottom of the sea. These war-promoters have even now an- nounced their intention giving the duped and broken veteran of 1914-18 the privilege to work on the “defenses” of 1938. Such mag- nanimity this, that pays divi- dends at both ends for its pro- moters. ® HAT is the remedy? Here is how the Communist party’s provincial convention answered the question. The unanimous voice and will of the Canadian people to bring pressure upon the King govern- ment to place a water-tight em- bargo upon the export of all war material to Japan. Indeed, to go further, and place an embargo against the export of war mate- rial to any and all of the fascist states or fascist blocs which are daily threatening the peace of the world. = To declare for Canada, an in- dependent foreign policy—based upon collective securtiy and peace —separated completely from the pro-fascist foreign policy of the Wational government of Great Britain. For collective security through the machinery of the League of Wations and the firm application of sanctions against aggressor nations. When a member of the community goes insane and men- aces the safety and lives of his neighbors, he is placed in safe- keeping with the collective will of the community. The war-lords of fascism in Japan, Germany, Italy, are mad- men who endanger the peace and security of the world, who are destroying the lives of millions of their neighbors in an orgy of war-lust. The mongrel breed of industrial and financial profiteers who aid and abet these fascist _and militant states are likewise a menace to security and peace. The future peace and well- being of Canada demands that these people be quarantined and placed in safe-keeping by an ef- fective embargo, by collective ac- tion, by: closing the door of ciyil- ized intercourse and commerce against them. By a government that must pattern its policy in ac- cordance with the needs and de- sires of the people rather than by a minority of profit and power- erazed ghouls. @ RESIDENT. ROOSEVELT has declared - unequivically for collective action, security and de- fense against fascist aggression. The Ganadian people must in their own interests support such a program without reservation. Our defenses must be adequate to meet the dangers of aggression warfare that the president of the US has indicated. But, and this is important, these defenses must be by and for the Canadian people, as against the war-mongers whose commerce and “patriot- ism” is a traitorous betrayal of Canada’s interests and Canada’s peace. Our defences must be such that neither the armament manufac- turers of the US, who decry Pres- ident Roosevelt, nor their ilk in Canada can utilize BC as a back- — door through which their illicit war-trafiic can be carried on, nor an easy entrance to the provoca- tive fascist aggressor with de- signs upon the territory of the people of the US or Canada- There is no infamy so low but that “our” Canadian breed of war-manufacturers will stoop to it. Only a few days ago one of their spokesmen deplored the boycott against Japan, stating it would cause loss of jobs to Cana- dian workmen and great suffer- OPEN FORUM Letters to the PA Open Forum should be brief as possible. We are not responsible for, and often do not agree with ideas expressed in this column. Space limitations demand that portions of long letters be deleted. Every effort is made to preserve the sense and continuity of letters published. Recalls Militant Island Unionist Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir,—I am sure many PA readers will remember Joseph Mairs, Jr., whe died in jail 23 years ago. Now that the miners are organized on Yancouver Island after many years of dis- organization it is fitting to recall the stand of this 21-year-old lad. He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America, residing at Ladysmith, BC, and was sentenced along with others to serve two years in Oakalla for union activities in the 1912 coal strike on the Island. He died in jail January 20, 1914. Mrs. Elien Greenwell. South Wellington, BC. Cranbrook Residents Support Boycott Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir—Granbrook citizens are waking up to the menace of fascism, being particularly aroused by Japanese aggression against China. Lately there has been a generous response to the appeal for medical supplies and eash contributions in aid of the heroic Chinese. As an instance of the popular- ity of the boycott movement, Japanese oranges were recently on sale here for 35 cents a box. Wwe 2: Cranbrook, BC. *the Nippon Goods On Project Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear. Sir,—Enclosed please find two labels with the now hated words “Made in Japan” printed on them. They were stuck on thermos bottles issued to 24 men at camp 7, Capilano forestry pro- ject. Because the boycott is very popular here, many wearing but- tons distributed by the Canadian League for Peace and Democracy denoting that they refuse such goods, the thermos incident has aroused considerable comment, one man refusing to take his thermos. Sorry to say this is one of the few camps not yet organized into Relief Project Workers’ union. Ge EF: Capilano, BC. Thanks From Ratepayers Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir,—At the last regular meeting of the Ward Four Rate- payers’ Association a resolution was passed that we convey to you the sincere thanks of our associa- tion for publishing the notices and notes of our meetings for the past year. HARLEY RETR, Secretary, Ward Four Ratepayers Ass'n. Vancouver, BC. : Alco Patients Need Help Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: Through your paper we appeal to the public and pro- gressive MIA’s for an investiga- tion of conditions at Alco Hos- pital camp. There are about 100 patients treated here and there is a staff of 40- The camp is about seven miles from Haney, and visitors are in- variably shown around a new building erected last summer to accommodate 18 patients. It is simply a showplace. _ 7The rect nt jis. sre. honseaq in. eight-bed, poorly lighted shacks. The food lacks variety and is poorly cooked by a man who ob- viously does not know his job. In our condition of health, good food, well cooked, is a . yital necessity. Fear of discrimination makes it hard for us to openly express our discontent, and we hope that proper representations will be made to those in a position to better the conditions at Alco. INMATE. ing te the Japanese people. IT am confident that as time passes the Japanese people will look for their enemies—not among the Canadian people — but from among the militarist-fascist bar- pbarians who are carrying on, with the aid of “our”’ war profi- teers, a war of extermination and destruction of the people. In the final analysis it is just possible that the factory work- ers of Japan and not the armies of the Mikado will determine the victory of China over her aggres- sors. We Communists are equally sure that our own thousands of working people in Canadian in- dustries and in the ranks of the unemployed, will not fail to note that the super-profits of the big industrialists are not the legiti- mate product of peace and good- will toward men—of any nation or race—or that the concern of “our”? own war-mongers for the “jobs” of Canadian workmen is motivated by any humanitarian desires. War is a profitable game to its promoters, and they will stoop to every trick, ruse and provocation to feed its maw. Canadian defenses must be paralleled by that most powerful of all weapons against fascist ag- gression—a united people’s front for peace and security. Wo single group of people moti- vated by the sincerest of inten- tions can defeat the diabolical aims of the war-mongers. Only through the widest unity of all classes and sections of the people can a lasting peace and genuine defence against foreign aggres- sion be achieved. Only by this unity of the people can the foul traffic of the Canadian war-profi- teers be curbed and those traitors exposed in the pillory of public opinion. | A powerful people's front of all progressives is the only guaran- tee that the defenses will be used on the side of peace. Stage and Screen By John R. Chaplin OLLYWOOD.—Just how far a : star can go by way of tem- perament is something that the Screen Actors Guild may have to settle in the current case of Warner Oland (Charlie Chan). Charlie Chan at the Ringside has been dropped, and the Chan series entirely called off, follow- ing Oland’s fourth “strike” in a week. The first was settled, at the picture’s start, when production was transferred to another stage, because Oland complained of drafts on the one he was sup- posed to work on. Since then, he has walked out three times with- out givine notice, and Fox has in- definitely suspended him. A com- plaint is expected to be filed against him with the guild and first investigation reveals he has no very good reasons for his tem- peramental outbursts. So, it may go tough with him... The Screen Writers Guild is in- wardly crowing over current humbling of the fink Screen Play- wrights, Inc. The guild, unrecog- nized, got a polite turndown when, on the writers’ request, it protested over the authors of Love is a~Headache being credit- ed thus: “Suggested by Lou Heifetz and Herbert Klein.” Heifetz and Klein had written a full original story and should have gotten full credit. But the Playwrights, who have a contract with the studios, banning such unfair credits, stepped in to “show. their power,’ and the pro- ducer gave them the same cold shoulder he had given the guild. The writers are learning that fink contracts are no contracts at all. More “wages of loyalty.” @ ANNEQUEN is a film to be watched out for: its insidi- ous anti-labor angles male it ex- tremely dangerous, without being very obvious. When Spencer Tracys employees go out on strike, they say they have no kick coming, but are in sympathy with others whose employers are “bad.” So, Speficer is ruined and his men thrown out of work. This theory of the “good employer” is one of the oldest gags used against labor, but it’s still danger- Gus. . - Tf Robert Donat’s contract, now being talked with Metro, goes through, hell be the highest- priced of all stars: $300,000 per film. And the pictures will prob- ably have to be made in HEng- land, as a couple of companies have old contracts with him which he’d have to fulfill first, if he should return to Hollywood... Cecil B. De Mille is writing the movie section for the new edition of the Eneyclopaedia Britannica. John Barrymore has been cast as Louis XV in Marie- Antoinette. . . Casting about: Irving Berlin’s musical Alexander’s Ragtime Band, tracing the long career of the great songwriter, will have a cast headed by Alice Fay, Ty- ronne Power, Don Ameche, Jack Haley, Marjorie Weaver, Jean Hersholt, John Carradine, Ethel Merman, Helen Westley—which is just about everybody on the Hox lot. . . Paul Kelly and Lola Dane are to be teamed in a series of films on the adventures of Torchy Blane. First is Torchy in Panama... Coo By ' OL’ BILL & Mussolini may be Whose Ox proud of his mis- Is Gored? begotten brats but — no normal human — being would be. The 20-year-old pyromaniacal sadist, Vittorio, was practically drummed out of Hollywood, for Hollywood is not so degenerate as Walter Winchell would have us believe. His book, Vol Sulle Ambe (Flying Over Ethiopian Ranges), had preceded him. = In this fascist masterpiece, written “to have Italian youth learn to be above war's sorrow, seeing only its beauties,’ seven months service bombing defense- less Abyssinians is referred to as, “a period of magnificent sport’ - - . “It was exceptionally good | fun” ... “It was all most divert- ing.” s M. H. Hilton, reviewing this brutal end-product of fascist idealogy, quotes the depraved youth as writing, “The effect of the bombs is excellent. Tents leap skyward. I see men and beasts trying to escape along the slope of the hill and with joy I see the white puffs of smoke.” It is “tragic, beautiful and amusing to Swoop down over a big village and try to place four-pound bombs accurately. The unfortun- ate occupiers would run out as if pursued by the devil.” Yet Mus- solini, who sired this fiendish, in- human wretch, says of Bolshey- ism, “It is the greatest spiritual danger which can menace our civilization.” The scene changes! Another Mussolini brat probably has the Same psychic reactions, when fiying a bomber with the skull and crossbones painted on it, dur- ing an unsuccessful attack on a defenseless British merchant yves- sel in the Mediterranean. But a few days later, during a raid on Majorea by loyal Spanish airmen, the pirate, Lieut. Bruno Mussolini, was one of a group of fascists among whom a bomb dropped. Unfortunately, he was not injured but had a close call. This caused his mother so much distress, according to MBritish press reports at the time that she pe ar en caannemens prevailed on the Duce to order him back to Rome. The latest chapter is the an- nouncement by Col. Attileo Biseo (who was slightly injured in the Majorca bombing) that three ma- chines will attempt a sporting flight across the Atlantic te Rio de Janiero with “skull-and-cross- bones” Mussolini in one of them. The blood-thirtsy fire-bug, Vit- torio, writes in his villainous nar- rative, “After all, war is the most beautiful and perfect of all sports,’ but not for Mrs, Mus- solini’s boy Bruno if there is any chance of the other fellow strik- ing back. That kind of “sport” is only for the boys of Italian peas- ant and working class mothers. * Herr Hans Dieck- hoff, Nazi stooge at Washington, was very angry when the scholarly Dr. Dodd, US ex- ambassador to Berlin, asserted that the Wazi rulers are worse than the bloody moron who sat on the throne of England after the Cromwells. “An wunheard-of- insult to a friendly government,” he calls it. When did the Nazis become friendly to anything, dem- oeratic? } I ii Herr Dieckhoff is possessed of any of the virtues of civiliza- tion and desires to direct his anger into worthy channels we would like to draw his attention te recent reports of the Paris and Prague police. By Their Deeds—! In the Bohemian capital, Heinz Rutha, Nazi second in command to Konrad Henlein, “leader” of the Nazi youth, “expert” on for- eign affairs and friend of Lord Rothermere, has recently com- mitted suicide by strangling him- self in jail rather than face trial on charges of homo-sexuality and the testimony of the parents of the boys who had been in his care. I From Paris also! The Surete, the French Scotland Yard, now say that Eugene Weidmann, against whom at least five ‘“wild- beast” murders are admitted and many more suspected, is a Nazi spy in the pay of Goering’s Gestapo and head of a great white slave organization. As the inner history of these artists in butchery and degener- acy unfolds before us, it is not difficult for us to understand the solicitude of the Nazi goyern- ment for the kidnapper of the Lindbergh baby. And, harking back a little further, it becomes plain why the Nazis have sancti- fied in their national hymn, not the death, but the life, of the pimp, Horst Wessel. if Spring-Heel Jack, Bluebeard, Jack-the-Ripper, Dr. Crippen the Poisoner and the Colorado Fe- male Hatchet-Killer were on deck today, they could all be ace agents for the Nazi government. Is this what Sweeney thinks would make an improyement in the life of British Golumbia?