LISTEN IN TO -Labor News Highlights - CKMO Sunday, 9:45 a.m. The Peoples Advocate Western Canada’s Leading Progressive Newspap eT LISTEN IN TO Labor News Highlights - CKMO Sunday, 9:45 a.m. F ULL No. 160. . .VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1938 Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. IV, No. 4 <=> Published Weekly FE Fs § ; ! : Copies | Got At -| Portland A Bomiphicis i Published > th luk all ay In Tokyo, Eulogizes , Japan’s Invasion Of China. MAKE PROBE That the Canadian Steam- ship company, subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Railways, is circulating Japanese military propaganda, is the sensational charge made this week by the Sunday News, organ of the Washington Commonwealth Feder- ation, in a story from William Bisine, its Portland, Ore., corres- pondent. irrefutable proof was obtained when leaflets published by Hiromu Toyoshima, the Foreign Affairs Association of Japan, were obtained at 626 SW. Broadway avenue, Port- land office of the CPR, the Sunday Wews states. ; “The fiterature being distributed by the railway and steamship of- fice is published in Tokyo and | makes no pretense of being any- thing but violently pro-Japanese. Two double-page leaflets set forth the case of the Japanese war- lords. in these, the declaration is made that Japan is pillaging China and slaughtering thousands of innocent Civilians “in order to protect her legitimate rights in China and fur- ther to eradicate the evil elements which have been and still are try- ing to destroy friendly relations between Japan and China.” A survey is now being conducted in Seattle, San Francisco, Los An- geles and other Coast cities, to ascertain whether or not this Japa- nese propaganda is being circulated 'by Ganadian Pacific Steamship of- -fices as a general policy. Income Tax Probe Urged Harold Winch Declares Revelations Of Report Should Be investigated Fully KAMLOOPS, BC, Feb. 3.—Sug- ; t gestion that the provincial govern- ment should delve into the income tax payments of some big BC com- panies, particularly in view of facts revealed through the McDonald re- port last session, was made by Harold Winch, MLA (CCE, Vancou- ver Bast), in an address here. Winch referred to statements made in the report showing that British Columbia’s two major coal companies between 1921 and 1934 made net profits of $7,138,000, in- stead of $1,999,000, as declared. “This report cost $108,000 and will be worth every cent—if some- thing is done about the findings,” Winch declared. The CCE whip charged that the government, by holding up the re- port until after the last elections, had “legally robbed the people of BG of more than $8,000,000. CPR OFFICE DISTRI Luis Quintanilla In New York Artist Helped To Storm Barracks NEW YORK, Feb. 3.—(FP)— “They call us the anti-Spains and our ideals imported ideals. Ours are the native ideals. Theirs * are the ideals imported from the Haps- burgs, the Bourbons and now the Hitlers and Mussolinis.” Thus spoke a distinguished artist and democrat—Luis Quintanilla, on his arrival in New York to exhibit drawings of the Spanish battle- front and show the results of fascist invasion of his country. The 43-year-old artist, whose frescoes decorated the buildings at University City on what was Hsurope’s most beautiful campus until war turned it inte a shambles, is a man of action too. He organ- ized and led a group of militiamen in storming the fascist-controlled Madrid barracks when the war broke out. For 12 days after that, Quintanilla did not sleep one hour. He was organizing the defense militia and he enlisted 12,000 men for the loyalist government. Later he.fought in the Guadar- rama mountains, and in Toledo be- Luis Quintanilla. This picture was taken during: his im- prisonment in 1934. fore it fell to the rebels. He escort- ed to the doors of the beseiged Aleazar the priest for whom the rebels asked, and in return for which they promised to release the women and children hostages. The republic kept its word, the rebels broke theirs, and the priest came out alone. What sort of man is this sensi- tive painter who was able to drop his brush and lead men into bat- tle? Quintanilla is a Basque, a graduate of the Jesuit academy near Bilbao, and studied painting in France and Italy. His best-known works were the frescoes at University City and he had just finished those on the monument te Pablo {fglesias, founder of the Spanish Socialist party, when the rebellion began. All this work, and his house and studio in Madrid, have been de- stroyed by fascist bombs and shells. Almost his only remaining possession is the gold watch given him by his comrades-in-arms. Pearson’s Charges Refuted Provocation To Make Possible Closing Of Camps Suspected By Union. — INSTANCES CITED Scoring ideas conveyed in a statement made this week by Hon. G. S. Pearson that strikes foment- ed by malcontents were taking place all over BC in forestry pro- ject camps, John Matts, secretary, Relief Project Workers’ Union, countered with a statement to the PA, that there is growing suspicion of organized provocation by camp officials among forestry workers to justify early closing of the camps. For some time complaints have been sent to the union from var- ious projects regarding discrimina- tory practices on the part of camp officials, Matts stated. He pro- duced letters from MHilliers and Powell River in support of his assertions. The camp committee at Project i4, Hilliers, BC, stated that camp officials had ordered a bulletin board removed, despite the fact that safety rules, newspaper clip- pings and notices for social affairs were the only displays made: “Asking For Trouble.” Powell River project workers are indignant about a shipment of Burns’ meat sent to Camp 10 re- cently. They refused to touch it, according to the letter in posses- sion of Matts. “Authorities should know they are simply asking for trouble when they send scab meat to union- conscious project workers,” Matts emphatically declared, “and such actions raise suspicion also.” The boys do not want the pro~ jects to close down, the union sec- retary maintained. “They know too well what it means to be without (Gontinued on page 5) See PROJECTS Fairbairn Comments on Social Drama Reveals Anti-Jewish Bias In Criticizing Play Here Vancouver Theatre of Action’s Jewish social drama, Re- turn At Sunset, entered in the Dominion Drama Festival sub- regiona] eliminations here last Friday, did not meet with the approval of the adjudicator, Captain A. M. D. Fairbairn, who revealed a distinct anti-Jewish bias in his criticism of the play. The play, a one-act drama writ-© ten by A. B. Shiffrin, deals with everyday incidents in the life of a Jewish family living in a New York | tenement, is a convincing attempt to prove that the life of Jewish working-class is little different from the life of American working- class people of any other national- ity. But, despite the fact that all but “two of the players were cast from among Jewish members of the Theatre of Action, that members of the Jewish community here were consulted on the play, Cap- tain Fairbairn held that the actors were “not Jewish enough” and that the play failed to give a “Jewish atmosphere.” Or only one player cast in an exaggerated role did the adjudicator comment that he gave the impression “of being a real Sew,” leaving the impression that he had expected to see the Jewish people caricatured. Again, Captain Fairbairn stated that the makeup was not “Jewish,” although it had been done by H. Osovsky, who has specialized in Jewish makeup for years. There is no question that Van- couver Masquers with their pres- entation of Sir James WSBarrie’s “The Old Lady Shows Her Med- als,” fully earned first place, while on technical points, Vancouver Little Theatre Association, with ‘Dust Into Gold,” an adaptation by Mary Reynolds of a medieval fable, was little behind them. Director of “The Old lady Shows Wer Medals” was W. Randolph Gardner, and of “Dust Into Gold,” Peter Scott. Harry Louis and Jack Wewman directed “Return At Sun- set.” Quebec Speech From Throne Heralds New Repressive Actions Provincial Police Padlock Ukrainian Labor Temple As ‘Communist School’ In Fiftieth Raid On Homes, Officers Under Infamous — Padlock Law. DISALLOW ANCE OF LAW DEMANDED MONTREAL, Que, Feb. 3.— Warning that the speech from the throne at the opening of the Quebec legislature heralded “new measures of repression, new attacks on the freedom of the press and of organizations, ney violations of rights of citizens,’ was made by Stanley Ryerson, Quebec provincial secretary of the Communist party, this week. L. Sweeney ‘Explains’ Approves Nazi Methods | But Unaware Hitler Had Smashed Unions Until Recently By WM. PURVIS. Leo Sweeney, wooden -barrel- maker in a world of steel, past president of Kiwanis, and voluntary advisor-in-chief on social legisla- tion to Premiers Pattullo and King, wasn’t quite sure why he ac- cepted the invitation of Vancouver Trades and Labor Council to ex- plain his recent pro-Nazi utterances because, as he informed union dele- gates, Tuesday, “I have nothing to retract, but I never run away from a fight.” First he introduced himself as a two-fisted rugby football prayer who had worked his way up from selling papers until he now con- trols the pay cheques of 100 work- ers. Then he hinted to juicy real estate deals and told how he had a lot of fun but no money, finally quieting a restless audience by get- ting “to the point I want to put over’ by comparing happy, healthy, well-built youth in Nazi Germany with young Canadian un- employed, who he repeatedly term- ed “misfits.” “I’m all for high wages for skill- ed labor mind you,” he informed the largely skilled labor delegates present, “but if we can learn from Germany how to solve unemploy- ment, we should do so.” Sweeney advocated regimentation of Can- ada’s unemployed youth at this juncture. Didn’t Know Unions Smashed, It was Pete Munro, Street Rail- way delegate, who extracted the admission from Sweeney that he did not know until recently that Hitler had smashed thestrade unions in Germany and had imprisoned or killed the leadership. Even then it seemed inconse- quential to Sweeney, who countered by saying, “at any rate there was no favoritism when Catholics and Freemasons all came under the hammer also.” j While Sweeney tried to convey the impression that he meant no harm in his boost for Nazism, the delegates showed in unmistakable manner how they felt about the whole business; although great re- straint was maintained. Qne delegate saw similarity be- tween the proposed regimentation of Canada’s unemployed youth and the slaves who built marvelous (Continued on page 5) See SWEENEY The real aim of the “so-cailed anti-Communist drive,” Ryerson declared, “is to stifle all opposi- tion to the policy of the Duplessis government in sabotaging national unity, obstructing unemployment insurance and clearing the ground for a concerted drive, backed by the financial interests, to estab- lish a national government at Ot- tawa.” Ryerson stressed the danger of the present situation, appealed to “all Canadian friends of demo- eratic liberty to act without de- lay. The padlock law must be dis- allowed as a measure which is not only utterly unconstitutional, but an intolerable violation of the rights of the Canadian citizen: He charged that the federal pov- ernment, by its silence on the is- sue, despite protests from all parts of the Dominion, is encouraging further growth of repression in Quebec. “The threat of fascism in Can- ada is implicit in the anti-demo- cratic legislation of the Duplessis regime and in the open tolerance and collaboration offered by the authorities to the fascist organiza- tions in Quebec, a federal investi- gation into whose activities is im- perative,” Ryerson said. Montreal Police Raid Labor Temple Labor Act Invoked By IW A Union Blubber Bay Workers Oppose Attempts By Company To Weaken Union. LEAVE MEETING (Special Correspondence) BLUBBER BAY, BC, Feb. 3. — Breaking up in an uproar of laugh- ter and boos, a company-called meeting held this week to elect a “picked”’ employees’ committee, moved out to the government road outside company premises here and voted unanimously to call in a con- eiliation commissioner as provided in the new labor legislation. “Timekeeper J. M. Jones, self-ap- pointed chairman of the company meeting, took immediate exception to the presence of three members of the union shop committee on the ground they were not employees. Signatures of the three men, laid off during the recent slack period, were on the union agreement signed last September after a hard-fought strike. Insistent to the point of laying hands on the committee, Jones vowed they would leave the hall. The committee members refused to budge. Later they laid a charge of assault against Jones. Backing up the stand of his timekeeper, the plant manager, who arrived at the meeting later, de- clared no meeting would be held until committee members withdrew, Whereupon the cry went up, “If they £0, we all go,” and a general exodus of union men took place, with the manager pleading for a hearing. The employees returned immedi- ately, after the management agreed to drop this argument, to listen to the company’s point of view on the Labor Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Immediately this had been given the timekeeper again took MONTREAL, Que., Feb. 3.—Lat- est of Quebec provincial police raids on more than fifty offices and private homes in the past three months was that least week on the Ukranian Labor and Farm- er Temple on St. Lawrence Boule- vard here. The hall, where some 60 children are taught music and the Ukrainian language, was pad- locked on the ground that it was a “Communist school.” Gol. Piuze, head of the raiding police squad, declared: “If there are further attempts to use these quarters as a Communist school, there will be arrests and prosecu- tions, as there will be at all Com- munist schools in the city.” Full particulars of the majority of raids carried out by provincial police have been gathered by the Civil Liberties Union of Montreal in its campaign to have the fed- eral government either disallow the padlock law or submit it to the Supreme Court of Canada to decide its constitutionality. Hits Slanderous Fascist Yarn MONTREAL, Que., Feb. 3.— At- tempts of L’Illustration Nouvelle to fix the blame for the disastrous fire at Sacred Heart Colloge, St. Hyacinthe, on the Communist party by printing a story “from a good source” that a man connected with the Communist party has been ar- (Continued on page 5) See QUEBEC charge of the meeting, calling for nominations for a new committee. Four union renegades—all strike- breakers—were quickly nominated by Simpson Sr., seconded by another company man, with closure of nom- inations motioned by a third party, obviously coached for the purpose. Jones called for a vote on the mo- tion, and the meeting broke up in disorder when the timekeeper de- vote against it. On government property the men reconvened, decided to send a tele- gram to Hon. G. §S. Pearson re- questing services of a conciliation commissioner in the dispute of union jurisdiction. Organized into the International Woodworkers of America since the strike last September, employees of Pacific Lime company have stead- ily refused to attend meetings called by the company for the pur- pose of breaking the signed agree- ment and undermining the IWA- This last meeting, however, was called on company time. Woteworthy during this dispute was the unquestioning support of Chinese workers, who comprise 50 per cent of employees, for union decisions and discipline. All feel that with the busy season coming on the men should have the right to bargain with the company and hold their own union meetings without outside interference. A further test of the Labor Con- ciliation and Arbitration Act is seen in this incident {n Vancouver. “Ten years ago tonight this ment insurance lesislation. provineial governments were not gough added. the delegates. ran@ed. UTES JAPAN PAMPHLET Trades Council Backs Demands For Insurance Organized Labor Has Paved Way For Federal Unemployment Insurance, Declares Percy Bengough, Urging Support Of Conference COUNCIL TO SEND DELEGATES Trades and Labor Couneil or- dered sent to the federal government a resolution urging that a system of unemployment insurance be established to cope with the amount of unemployment in 1928,” declared Secretary Percy Bengough at.Vancouver Trades and Labor Council meet Tuesday. ft This remark was made by Bengough after he had read a com- munication from Mildred Dugan, seeretary of an initiative com- mittee set up recently to organize a conference to rally public opin- ion behind the federal government’s proposed national unemploy- Gist of the Trades and Labor Council resolution, which was also forwarded to Ottawa in 1931-32, was that municipal and in a position to implement un- employment insurance, that the burden should be borme by the federal body, which weuld necessitate changes in the BNA act. “While organized labor paved the way for this much-needed legislation, which I feel sure will be passed, at the same time we. should support any organized agitation on this question,” Ben- The recommendation from the council’s executive that Presi- dent of the Council E. A. Jamieson, and Secretary P. Bengough attend the conference at a date to be set later, was endorsed by The Trades and Labor Council also heard read a communi- eation from Langley Ratepayers’ and Workers’ Association, rapidly growing Fraser Valley organization which now has a membership of 450. The association requested that a trade union speaker be sent to Langley district to give a series of lectures on health and unemployment insurance. The council recommended to its executive that this be ar- City-Wide Conference : Will Be Held Feb. 21 elared it carried despite the 10 to 1 | day, Feb. 21, 8 pm. “Prominent people from govern- tions will be asked to express their views on the subject at this confer- ence, and resolutions will be sub- mitted to signify the will of the peo- ple of Vancouver on this vital re- form measure,’ the conference call states. Warning that powerful interests are already working to block pass- age of unemployment insurance, the conference cal] declares that the Duplessis government of Quebec is openly opposing any amendment to the BNA Act which would pave the way to social legislation. Committee members sponsoring the conference are: E. EB. Winch, MLA; Dorothy Steeves, MLA; P. R. Bengough, secretary, Trades and Labor Council; Fergus McKean, secretary, BC section, Communist Urging the widest public support for the federal govern- ment’s desired amendment to the BNA Act in order to enable passage of federal unemployment insurance, the newly formed Vancouver Citizens’ Committee on Unemployment Insurance, in a letter sent to city progressive organizations invites delegates to attend a conference scheduled for Mon- ment bodies and from Le ee Mrs. R. K. Gusk, president, Vancouver Mothers’ Council; W- Woodhead, president, district coun- cil, Workers’ Alliance; J. Maskell, secretary, Inland Boatmen’s Union; EH E. Winch, MEA; Ald. Helena Gutteridge; John Stanton) presi- dent, Vancouver Youth Council: J. Brown, president, district coun- cil, IWA; J. Matts, secretary, Re- lief Project Workers; J. Jopson, vice-president; Yancouyer Youth Council; Mildred Dougan, presi- dent, Domestic Workers’ Union. One main benefit of federal un- employment insurance pointed out in the conference call was the re- lief afforded to municipalities, should this measure become law, many local governments being on the verge of bankruptcy through the saddling of a large percentage of relief costs. day “while general, contains government, provided popular Continuing, the editorial Says, “The government definitely states it will introduce unemployment in- surance legislation at this session if it can get parliament and the provinces to agree to the enact- ment of a certain necessary amendment to the BNA Act. “But Canada’s Big Shots, be- cause they are bitterly opposed to ; unemployment insurance, are mov- ing heaven and earth to prevent the needed constitutional amend- ment. Promoting strife between the provinces and the Dominion on the question of provincial ‘auton- omy, they have put up Maurice Duplessis as their chief protagon- ist. “Duplessis, the Tory reactionary, whose message to the Quebec legislature contained further men- aces to the right and liberties of - Popular Pressure Will Win Unemployment Insurance TORONTO, Ont., Feb. 3.—(Special) —“Popular pressure —that is what is needed to offset the powerful influences being brought to bear on the government by the millionaire | overlords and their agents,” the Daily Clarion writes editor- lally in commenting on the Ottawa report of T. C. Sims, its editor-in-chief, that the speech from the throne last Thurs- _certain indications that the opinion and popular pressure are strong enough, will adopt certain measures urgently needed by the people and the nation.” the Quebec people, says he won't take ‘dictation from Ottawa.” He is taking plenty of dictation from the Big Shots of St. James Street, Montreal, “The general wage level imposed on Quebec by the Montreal trust- ards is so low that proper unem- ployment relief allowances would be high in comparison. “But the Canadian people can de- feat the wiles of the financial mag- nates and their creatures if they will make their mass pressure felt. Unemployment insurance has been endorsed by the vast majority of Canadians and by their organiza- tions and if they will now shower Ottawa with resolutions and let- ters they will manifest a tide of popular opinion which will be irre- sistable,