fig ja ae Be id Page Two THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE THE PEOPLE’s ADVOCATE Published Weekly by the - PROLETARIAN UBLISHING ASSOCIATION Room 10, 163 Ww. Hastines Street Vancouver, B.C., Phone, Trin. 2019 One Year a SG aaa FESS SATO) Tal fi GV Cars ee tie ee 1.00 Three.Months ............... 50 sinplerSopy, =a. see gL -05 Make Ail Cheques Payable to: The People’s Advocate RIDAY co MARCH 4, 1938 ONE MAN CARS i hes sometime past the BC Electric has been slyly preparing the ground for the extension of one-man cars. For instance, in the Grand- view district the former three- minute service was replaced by a six-minute one, and old cars used on these lines. Last Monday it was announced that the company would ask permission of the city council to purchase twenty new one- man cars, claimed by the com- any to be a big improvement over the old cars because they run almost noiselessly and are much faster. The city council should be bombarded with protests against this scheme of the BC Electric. There is no shortage of men to run two-man cars, the sole purpose of the com- pany being to increase its al- ready swollen profits. And what about the men who will have to do two men’s work? It is a well known fact that no man can stand for very long the terrific strain of col- lecting fares, giving out trans- fers ana informing passengers as to their route, and of driv- ing through heavy traffic without endangering the sate- - ty of his passengers and of pe- destrians. The one-man cars have made physical wrecks out of many aman in charge. Hand- ling a tram is a two-man job at the best of times. But the BE Blectric hopes, in addition to imereasing their profits through a big lay-off, to create a reserve of trained men. If one-man cars become general the Street Railwaymen may expect a cut in wages. Stop the one-man cars! THE CASE OF MRE. EDEN UGH ado is made in the 1 press about the resigna- tion of Anthony Eden from the British national govern- ment cabinet through dis- agreement with its policies towards the fascist powers, Italy and Germany. But as more news comes through it is apparent that Mr. Eden did not resign—he was put out of the cabinet at the insistence of Mussolini. Premier Cham- berlain’s policy of “appease- ment” towards the fascist powers is simply a policy of collaboration with them to de- stroy democracy, not only in France but eventually in Great Britain itself. Eden opposed this policy, therefore he had to gu. Eden has the opportunity to pe- come a leading figure in S=it- ish polities by leading a move- ment against fascist encroach- ment, but there is no evidence that he will rise to the occa- sion. In his speeches he stresses that he could not very well support something he did not agree with—that is all. He does not criticize the national government as a gov- ernment unfit to lead the British people through the present trying times. He still stands for a national govern- ment dominated by the Con- servative party of which he is a member. Scion of the lower nobility, he will stay with his elass and support its interests against those of the British people. At the same time, his “res- ignation” may be the spark that will stir up the British people to the necessity of building a People’s Front movement. But it is extremely doubt- Sul if, when such a movement sweeps the country, Mr. Eden‘ -will play any part in it. ON WITH THE BOYCOTT! HE international boycott of Japanese goods is hav- ing its effect. Japanese emis- saries sent abroad to oppose it are returning home discour- aged. As the war in China be- comes prolonged, with no end yet in sight, the problem of a blank Czech. finances is assuming greater proportions for the war- mongers. The Japanese peo- ple are beginning to get rest- less under the declining stan- dard of living entailed by the ever rising cost of living. The war is losing what popularity it ever had. The period of war hysteria has passed; the period of war suffering has begun, and with it strong op- position to the war. In the Japanese House of Representatives the govern- ments fascist-like National Mobilization Bill has raised a storm of protest. The ruling clique is using the war as an excuse to proceed further with the fascisation of the en- tire country. In the Japanese army in China breaches of dis- cipline are increasing, with re- ports of large seale mutinies. The Chinese troops are gradu- ally recovering from the dis- oranization caused by the rapid Japanese advances and are now striking back with telling effect. The Chinese people want to end the war, as does a larse section of the Japanese peo- ple. On this side of the Paci- fie the people can contribute largely in hastening the end of the war by continuing, and extending, their refusal to buy any goods made in Japan. If, as Lloyd George said during the Great War, silver bullets will win the war, we can stop the flow of silver bullets to Japan by strengthening the boycott. THE SOVIET TRIALS aAYWENTY-ONE men in the Soviet Union stand charged as traitors and mur- derers, and the editors of the world’s reactionary press are delirious with delight. Again they can wallow in the muddy waters of vituperation and misinterpretation. Again they ean herald the “downfall” of the Soviet Union. Again they can call in the Trotskyites to ' “reveal the secrets” behind the trials. The people of little faith, who incline first with this Wind and now with that, may be troubled. But the working class and those who ally them- selves with it in the unceas- ing struggle against the black tyranny of fascism will not be deceived. They will hail the vigilance ef the world’s first socialist state in exposing the devious schemes of interna- tional fascism and those who seek to further them. A statistician finds that the average Englishman takes 50 baths a year. It will take more than that to wash the fascist stench off Premier Chamber- lain. Pe Es es Apart from a radio comedi- an, a dictator is the only per- son with a trained studio audi- ence—T. W. Jones, Toronto Daily Star. Hampton, NH, has just ex- onerated a woman burned 300 years ago as a witch. That gives the neighboring state of Massachusetts 290 years to act on Sacco and Vanzetti. os * ok “Hitler Demands Free Hand in Central Hurope’—Heading. Having bluffed England, France and Austria, he wants * sk Despite treacherous gener- als, little Spain has held up the military might of two dicta- tors for over a year and a half. Madrid checked fascism. Will Prague double-Czech it? gy oF oe Did you ever hear of a union label on merchandise made in a fascist country? Neither did we. The label is a hall- mark of democracy and iden- tifies the purchaser as a free man. Garibaldi with his Red Shirts fought to free Italy from Austro-German domina- tion. Mussolini with his Black Shirts is undoing that policy. —Toronto Daily Clarion. * 3K They say there’s a common jibe going around world dip- lomatie circles now: “Wonder if there really is a British lion at the other end of that tail everybodys twisting now?” Our opinion is that there is, only just now he has a fascist muzzle on him.—San Fran- cisco People’s World. The Japanese Question (Statement of the Provincial Bureau, British Columbia Dis- trict, Communist Party of Can- ada.) tr 7 Tt YEXNHESE are perilous times for the common people of the world. The threat of war on a world scale hangs like a black cloud over us all. This threat of war has been brought about by the steady, relentless carrying out of a joint plan by the three great fascist powers, Germany, Italy and Japan. This plan has as its objective the reduction of all democratic countries to a state of vassalage under the heels of this fascist trio. This plan is being daily facilitated by ready surrender to the demands of the fascist powers by the gov- ernments of Great Britain, Canada, etc. Japan’s initial step in this plan, the subjugation of Ghina, is al- ready being taken. Her highly trained and mechanized forces are Letter from London f PROUS SSIS of people gathered in Trafalgar Square on India’s Independence Day to heat leaders of all the left political parties, the trade unions and the co- operative movement. The demand was made that India be governed by a constituent assembly of her own choosing. “After two hundred years of British rule,” one speaker pointed out, “eighty-six per cent of the population is still illiterate, while the average expectation of life is 25, aS against 52 in Britain.” Following the meeting, London- ers lined the main streets to Watch the long procession, head- ed by the green-and-yellow na- tional flags. ipa newspapers during the month of February have been carrying sensational stories from Suez Canal ports stating that Italian transports were rushing blackshirts and regular troops to Ethiopia. Some of these reports, from Djibouti in French Somaliland, asserted that Ethiopian irregulars were harrassing Italian garrisons with unprecedented intensity. The irregulars, the reports stated, were better led than ever before and were following expert guer- illa tacties in place of their for- mer lesperate frontal attacks. The new leaders were either young chiefs or else men risen from the ranks and selected for their ability and undying hatred of the invaders. @ IST fights broke out in the Belgian parliament’ when a deputy of the fascist Rexist party allered that Health Minister Wauters and ex-Minister of Transport Jaspar had sold air- planes to the Spanish loyalist government in contravention of the non-intervention pact. White with rage, ex-Minister Jaspar declared that he had too much consideration for -his own honor even to talk to a Rexist. He then leaped from the tribune and knocked down Rexist De- puty Sindic. Within a minute the entire chamber was in an uproar and every Rexist deputy had been sent sprawling. Law books, inkstands and even chairs were hurled in all directions. The Rexists attempted to re-— treat from the chamber in a body, but found the way barred by a group of irate deputies. Only the arrival of a company of in- fantry halted the fracas. When order had been restored, Chairman of the Chamber Huys- mans sternly told deputies that all political disorder in Belgium was caused by Leon’ Gegrelle’s Rexists, whose favorite weapons were libel, scandal and lies. W A recent issue of the Economic Journal, the Bank of Enzg- land’s Sir Robert Kindersley, contributes his annual survey of British overseas investments. Ac- cording to this, British invest- ments abroad in 1936 totalled $18,820,000,000. From these hold- ings British bondholders reaped -no less than $920,000,000 in 1936, an increase of $62,000,000. Figures for 1937, when published some time this year, are expected to be even higher. Britain’s empire investments are estimated as: Avstraliaw aeeseun econ. $2,525,000,000 India and Ceylon.... 2,190,000,000 Canada and Newfoundland South Africa and Rhodesia <.2-5 2. 1,240,000,000 New Zealand 730,000,000 -.-- 2,215,000,000 British Malaya ..... 420,000,000 British East Africa.. 155,000,000 British West Africa. 185,000,000 Other British Terri- TOTICS [ee eee 245,000,000 59,905,000,000 waging an undeclared war agamst the Chinese people. The early suc- cesses of Japan in this campaign have spread somewhat of a panic amongst British Columbians, a2 panie caused by the possibility that a Japan victorious in China mizht next turm her eyes to the western coast of the North Am- erican continent. : The government has under- taken some measures of defense, while at the same time it permits the exportation to Japan of min- erals vitally important in build- ing implements of war, such as nickel, copper, lead, etc. HE Communist party has from the very. opening of hostilities taken the stand that the first step to defend Canada against Japa- nese aeeression is to bring about her defeat in China, and has pro- posed in this regard two measures which if carried out on a national scale, would do much to bring the Japanese invasion of China to a halt. These measures are: a boycott of all merchandise made in Japan or manufactured from raw mate- rials imported from Japan; and the immediate imposition by the federal government of an em- bargo of all shipment to Japan of materials that could be manu- factured into war supplies. Japan has already spent more money on the present Chinese campaign than she spent during her two previous wars, the one with Russia in 1905 and the last one when she sided with the allies against Germany. The first meas- ure is intended to cripple as much as Canada is able to, Japanese fi- nances without which she cannot carry on. The second measure is to make it impossible for Japan to secure the material supplies, of which she has no stores herself, that are essential to the arming and equipping of her great mili- tary machine. The Canadian people, with some exceptions, have responded quick-— ly to the boycott, but the federal government has so far taken no step towards the embargo. Weither is it taking any action to prevent the natural resources of British Columbia from falling into the hands of Japanese capi- talists. In July, 1937, Japanese in- terests bought 600,060,000 feet of timber near Port McNeil, Vancou- ver Island. In Pebruary of this year a company composed of both Jap- anese and Canadian capitalists opened the old Tidewater Copper Mine on Sydney Inlet, Vancouver Tsland. Canadian capitalists, how- ever “patriotic” they may profess to be, are Judas-like, out to get their thirty pieces of silver even by strengthening Japanese capi- talism. The question of Canadian defense should not be left in their hands, They would betray it. e UT when the Communist party proposes the boycott and em- bargo as measures to compel Japan to withdraw. from China, it at the same time makes it crystal clear that it in no way is in favor of a boycott of the Japanese peo- ple who are residents of British Columbia. On the contrary, it will defend the Japanese here against all attempts to arouse an anti- Japanese feeling amongst the peo- ple as a whole. To claim that all Japanese, either in Japan or in Canada, are united solidly behind the expan- sionist plans of the Japanese gov- ernment, is incorrect. There is a strong anti-war movement in Japan, so strong in fact, that twice in the last few months we have read that hundreds had been rounded up and put in gaol, amongst them being many intel- lectuals and professionals. After one or two defeats in China, the Japanese soldiers will themselves begin to want to go home. The war has already lasted longer than Japan had planned for or ex- pected, and a prolonged struggle will inevitably drive the Japanese to throw off the government which is reducing their standard of living at home in the name of patriotism, which is taking their sons away to die in a war of con- quest. Both the internal situation of Japan herself, and the desire of certain elements of the Japanese people in B.C. to line up in the fight against big business, prove conclusively that it would be a fatal mistake to class all the Jap- anese as imperialists. This mistake would be a costly one for the peo- ple of British Columbia—they would fall right into the fascist trap.that is being set for them. That the vile propaganda which is being used to Stir racial prejudices against the Orientals is inspired largely by fascist elements, there is no rea- son to doubt. It is thoroughly in line with Hitler methods. Fascism seeks always to secure a mass following. To do this it stirs up mationalist and racial prejudices, such as the anti-Semi- tism so virulent now in the prov- ince of Quebec. It tries to build a mass movement on some particu- lar issue, such as anti-semitism or anti-orientalism, and then, to take the leadership ef this move- ment. Fascism foments racial hatreds and persecution of national mi- norities in order to strengthen its mass base for the seizure and holding of power. The full strength of these movements is then used to carry out the real purpose of the fascists, namely, the destruction of all democratic institutions, the denial of all dem- ocratic rights, the suppression of constitution guarantees such as freedom of the press, freedom f assembly and freedom of speech, as preliminary steps towards the establishment of the corporate state. e iB THE fascists are permitted to organize gangs of anti-Ori- ental hoodlums, they will later use these organizations to raid halls and headquarters of the la- bor organizations. Such proposals as are being mooted for a “Japanese census” in BC; for the curtailment of fishing licenses to Japanese fishermen: for a curtailment and review of business licenses to Vancouver Japanese, are directed against the Japanese people here to cover up the bankruptey of governmental attitude towards the fascist-in_ spired War of aggression upon China. Objectively such proposals do not help the people of China nor the people of Ganada. With one million on relief rolls, the Communist Party of Canada opposes immigration from all countries—including Japan. rom the standpoint of union men, our party points to the fact that in the strike of the BC fish- ermen in 1936 and similar strikes, the Japanese fishermen at Rivers Inlet came out with union fisher- men of other nationalities and Stayed out after the others had returned to work. On the question of the issuance of business licenses, the Japanese or other businessman who meets his obligations as such should be treated alike. In the boycott of Japanese goods—the white trader who traffics in blood-stained war profits is equally guilty as his Japanese brother. Both should be boycotted. To impose such res- trictions upon the Japanese people of BC is to support the despicable policies of pro-fascist demagogues, scoundrels or fools. <<) fae Communist party has in the past taken the lead in the demand for democratic rights and privileges for all Orientals qualified to vote. It has never veered from this policy and has no intention of doing so. It takes the stand that there should be no national or racial barrier erected against any people born in Canada, or who make their homes within the Canadian borders. The Communist party warns the people of British Columbia against allowing themselves to be stampeded into a fascist-inspired anti-Japanese campaign which would be a prelude to a wider anti-oriental agitation. The defense of Canada against the threat of a possible Japanese invasion of our shores cannot be met by terrorising local Japa- nese. As stated above, the boy- cott is a very practicable weapon and the embargo can be made a very effective one*if the people of Canada can bring sufficient pres- sure to bear on the Federal goy- ernment to enforce it. But even the boycott and em- bargo are insufficiently powerful to defend our shores. Side by side with these and with the fortifica- tion measures planned by the de- partment of national defense, there should march a movement for a people’s front government in Canada. This people’s front movement must include the 60.000 Oriental-Canadian working and middle-class people who make up an important section of our population. The same capitalists who are Open Protest Surrey Council’s' Action Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: Will you please pub- lish the following letter: “We, the members of Surrey Workers’ Association, with a membership of 300, desire to pro- test strengly the action of Sur- rey Municipal Council in refus- ing to listen to a delegation from the association which attended the regular council meeting at Cloverdale, February 19. “This delegation waited on the council in order to try and adjust a grievance concerning one of our members who, we believe, was discharged as road foreman and discriminated against on account of his political activities.” G. GRIMES; Chairman, Central Committee, Surrey Workers’ Association. Cloverdale, BC. Forum Well, How’s About It? Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: I think your readers do not use the Open Forum enough. Not that I want to see long diatribes or new theories propounded, but I like the per- sonal touch from individuals who feel they want to write to the Advocate about something which is on their minds. Also, how about a little critic- ism of the Adyocate once in a while. Some people like certain features and could offer valuabie suggestions to help the editorial board, which, f am sure, is doing its best. A few more lively articles and Stories on Spain would not be out of place in my opinion. ART SMITH. New Westminster, BC. anti-Japanese eager to reap millions from the sale of war materials to Japan, thus imperilling Canada’s safety, will in an actual war crisis most likely sell out to an invader. This can only be prevented by a government fully representative of the Canadian people. And only when such a government ex- ists will Canadians feel them- selyes confident to repel any im- perialist invader who has desigus upon our country. The road to this people’s front movement is not along the lines of chauvinist racial superiority and racial division. On the con- trary, the fight against fascism in Canada or elsewhere can only be > successful when we can win those national minorities and groups which fascism uses—either as 2 target or a tool. It can only be won in BCG when we win the oriental section to the side of progress. And this cannot be done by permitting them to be victimized through magogy- . Stage and Screen By John R. Chaplin OW Associated Film Audiences rates the new pictures: ARSENE LUPIN RETURNS: Bang-up mystery-jewel theft melo- drama with Melvyn Douglas, War- ren William, Nat Pendleton. WIFE OF GENERAL LUNG: British-made film about secret service and Ghinese bandits. Casts little light on anything in China but seems a welcome change from Hollywood’s treatment of similar subjects. / MIDNIGHT INTRUDER: Triv- ial stuff about. hitch-hikers miis- taken for rich youth and his girl friend. You'll run into it on a double feature and you'll have to like it. BORN TO BE WILD: Title a dead give-away. The plot con- cerning two truckmen who de- liver dynamite to blast a dam to prevent a crooked real estate deal needs singing to bolster it up. Singing is good, but what's it got to do with dynamite? ‘ ADVENTURES OF CHICAGO: Mexican peasant boys friendship with birds, armadillos, honey- bears and boars. Beautifully photographed by Stacy and Hor- ace Woodward (The River). DAWN OVER IRELAND: Story of how stigma over an ancestor's alleged treached is erased in the Easter rebellion. e OLLYWOOD—H#irst-rate actor t and loyal trade-unionist Jean Hersholt celebrates his 25th anni- versary in films next Monday. Co lumbia Broadcasting System has scheduled a nationwide broadcast that day in his honor. This jubilee finds Hersholt at work on his 440th film, Alexander’s Ragtime Band. No. 441 will be Everybody's Sweethearts, with the Dionne quintuplets. . . Paulette Goddard may or may not get that famous and much-touted role in Gone With the Wind, but it seems that since she signed with Selznick Productions, She and Charlie Chaplin have really split up. Char- lie is no longer concentrating on her next film, but is preparing to add sound effects to his silent masterpiece, The Gold Rush, and re-release that on the world mar- ket. Qur homonym is still tops the world over, when it comes to box office takes. Wewere listening to Akim Tam- iroff, Anna May Wong, Gail Pat- rick and Lloyd Nolan on the Hollywood Hotel program a week or so ago. When Akim said he came from Russia and Anna May from China, there was a silence full of respect. When Gail said she was from Alabama, Lloyd Wolan quipped: “*“‘Never heard of it.” (Said we to ourselves: “What about the Scottsboro case? Ever heard of that?’’) Then Lloyd said he came from San Francisco; Gail had never heard of that. (Said we again: “What? Never heard of Tom Mooney?”) You see, you writers who do the Hollywood Hotel program, America is fam- ous, too, even though not always for glorious reasons . . ° INEW series of anti-fascist benefits has begun in Holly- wood. Clara Bow and Bex Bell, who run the If Cafe on Vine St., have turned over every Friday's lunchéon period to the Motion Picture Artists Committee. While the restaurant is open to the pub- lic, 40 per cent of the receipts go to the committee, to be used for relief for the children of loyalist Spain and China. In order to stim- ulate interest, the committee is furnishing a hostess for each Fri- days luncheon. First hostess is Sylvia Sydney, to be followed by Luise Rainer, Gale Sondergaard, and other top stars .. The wars being waged through the world are meantime costing the film industry a cool $10,000,000 per annum, according to authori- tative estimates. The markets of Spain, China and Japan have been almost completely closed, and Germany and Italy have reduced their imports of American films still further since they have taken it on themselves to protect the “sood name” of Franco and the Japanese militarists. Italy has twice, within the past few months, put complete temporary bans on American films: this happened af- ter President Roosevelt's Chicago speech and after his opening ad- dress to Congress. . . fascist de- . CS® By. OL’ BILL Inartistic t is impossible < move from one coi}! Lying. try in Europe to