NCER INTERESTS MAKE BIG DEATH DEAL PE Fm prayer arate saeanee cea A Leading Progressive The Peoples Advocate Western Canada’s Newspaper JILL No. 166. <=> Published Weekly = VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1938 Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. IV, No. 10 pty 0 B “et @ march to the sea. e past two days has effec- s7ely hindered the fascist of- jasive, bombing artillery units jd supply trains and enabling aa yalists to consolidate new po- po red@In Barcelona, while the avity of the present situation 4 fully realized by the govern- fade union organizations, ere is none of that defeatist irit which fascist despatches ve endeavored to inspire -oyalist Spain is determined that agon shall be Mussolini’s second iadalajara. To this end the rearguard has en placed on a full war footing. the situation. The United So- alist party of Catalonia, the sited Socialist Youth and the two eat trade union movements, the acest and CNT, have redoubled their tivities. : The United Socialist Youth and aarchist Youth haye issued a int appeal for further mobiliza- an of youth. The UGT and CNT ave announced that they have mvached an agreement for united ‘tion. They propose mobilization | building workers for construc- dn of needed fortifications in the 2xt forty-eight hours. ye Posters issued by the various po- pu-ical parties, trade union and youth ‘ganiaztions call for greater unity ad increased production. Wothing is being kept from the zople. Elverywhere, in factories, iops, offices, meetings are being 2ld to explain the situation and 1obilize the people for immediate isks. (Continued on page 5) See SPAIN -lerks Seek Agreement Unions Negotiate With Safeway, Piggly Wiggly =| “There is no doubt that these oung people are enthusiastic about ne trade union movement and we }Hould encourage them in every }7ay, Don Maxwell, organizer for .ocal 279, Retail Clerks’ Union, told lelegates to Vancouver Trades and zabor Council Tuesday. Maxwell reported 240 signed up nembers—98 per cent of employees n Piggly Wigely-Safeway city tores. An agreement covering yages and working conditions will fe delivered to the company this Bveel, he said. He paid tribute to the organ- ational committee of the trades souncil. May Day Meet Saturday #7) Several hundred calls have gone Sut for the May Day conference to ipe held at Victory hall this Satur- day at 7:30 p.m. E. W. King, sec- fetary of the initiating committee stold the Advocate this week. + it is planned to hold a second sconference before May Day, said “Sing, expressing confidence that ‘celebrations this year will dwarf sany held for years past. ‘City 7 The loyalist air force during? People’s Heroic Resistance Stirs Millions (By Special Cable to The People’s Advocate) Slogan As Loyalist Planes, Troops Halt Fascists’ Drive inemy Can Win Every Battle But One—The Last,” Jesus Hernandez Declares In Speech Over Madrid Radio; French Workers Demonstrate As Spanish BARCELONA, Spain, March 17.—“Spain is not Austria!” Throughout loyalist Spain today this cry reverberates, louder an the German artillery which batters republican lines on the Aragon front, louder than the Italian bombers bursting in 2 streets of Barcelona. It is the Spanish people’s unflinching answer to the invading armies of Hitler and Mussolini. ; By sheer weight of artillery and superior supplies, the fascists have made considerable advances. But there is no rout. #: spectacular as the advances may appear on the surface, the high morale and splendid fighting capacities of the Spanish peo- 's army have halted Franco’s offensive in what he and his Berlin and Rome backers were confident would be an irresist- PREMIER NEGRIN -.- We must combat the enemy with our own forces, he declared in a radio speech from Barcelona. Housewives To Organize Call City Conference On High Living Costs Distribution of milk as a pub- lic utility; an investigation into the bylaws now being drafted by Food Inspector J. F. C. B. Vance; and ratification of plans to combat the rising cost of food staples are questions to be taken up by a representative conference of city women this month. All women’s organizations in Greater Vancouver will receive an invitation this week to send two delegates to a conference called by the initiative committee of the Housewives’ League, to be held in the Women’s Muilding, 752 Thurlow street, Monday, March 28, at 8 pm. Encouraged by the results of a recent canvass in Mount Pleasant district, during which hte idea of a Housewives’ League to combat the rising cost of living was mooted, the committee decided on the con- ference at its meeting last Satur- day. Canvassers reported to the com- mittee htat a state of dissatisfac- tion is apparent at the price of staple foods. They found whole- hearted support for Alderman Fred Grone’s proposal that distribution of milk be made a public utility and considerable opposition to compul- sory pasteurization as proposed in a city bylaw now being drafted. City Abandons | Works Projects Abandonment of work on city projects was decided this week by city council, because the provin- cial government has cut off its $10,000 monthly grant to the city for this purpose. Ald. J. W. Cor- nett declared that it looks as though Vancouver will have to bear the costs for March. BEHIND THE NEWS Chamberlain Policies Aid Hitler In Europe THE NEWS Faaday, March 11: Invading German army matches on Vi- enna. Chancellor Schussnig bows to Nazi ultimatum, orders Austrian troops not to resist-German troops, cries “God save Austria.” Saturday, March 12: Nazi troops enter Vienna. Czecho- slovakia cabinet in all night session as invasion looms. Monday, March 14: Hitler goes to Vienna. President Wilhelm Miklas and Chancellor Schussnig held in “protective custody.” Reign of terror sweeps Austria. Tuesday, March 15: New People’s Front government of France, headed by Premier Leon Blum, reaffirms French aid to Czechoslovakia in event of Nazi invasion. Britain warns Ger- many. In Spain, Franco, provided with huge new war supplies and fresh German and Italian troops, drives on Mediterranean by sheer weight of arms. French People’s Front threatening strike, demands aid for loyalists. Wednesday, March 16: Mussolini hails Germany’s annexa- tion of Austria. Loyalists halt Franco’s offensive after receipt of artillery and munitions “from nearby friendly power. » France and the Soviet Union pledge military aid to Czechoslovakia. Lithuania fears Polish attack following border clash. Chamber- lain forced to permit debate on Spain issue in parliament. Thursday, March 17: Fascist planes wreak havoc on Barce- lona. Spanish Republican cabinet meets. France masses troops on Pyrennees border. THE STORY By T. MAGUIRE 7Q@\HE Nazi war machine has rolled into Austria. Hitler, riding behind in a limousine, has been acclaimed in Vienna as “Our Feuhrer.” Austria, a fascist state since 1935, has become a province of Nazi Germany. Hitler has been successful in this, his biggest step to fulfill his policy of “Anchluss,” or union, of all the Germanic people in Europe. Cynically, he has announced that shortly there will be held a plebiscite asking for the people’s approval to the coup. In the meantime, his agents are applying the fascist slogan: “No opponent but shall be destroyed!” (Continued on page 6) Assembly Approves Pardon Senate Blocks Demand For Freeing Of Mooney SACRAMENTO, Cal., March 17-—(FP).— ‘The people of California want Tom Mooney free. That was made clear, as the state assembly, in a final vote the day after hearing the famous labor prisoner plead his own case, passed a legislative pardon measure, 41 to 29. The assembly represents the vot-‘ ing population in much more direct ratio than the state senate, where the measure was tabled. Even had the legislative pardon passed both houses, its legality would have been challenged by the state attorney- general. The assembly’s action, however, is considered a moral vic- tory for the framed unionist. It is the second time the assembly has taken such a stand. In his dramatic appearance be- fore the state assembly, Tom Moon- ey, world-famous labor prisoner who for 22 years has been confined in prison on framed charges, made a stirring appeal for his freedom. Facing a jammed chamber and overflowing galleries where his gray-haired wife sat weeping, Mooney once again declared his in- mocence and retraced the steps which led to his conviction on per- jured evidence in the San Francisco Preparedness Day bombing in 1916. Confident as never before that he will soon be free, Mooney urged amendment of the state law on evi- dence for reopening cases so that “no other innocent man be kept in prison for years as I have been.’ Mooney was brought to the as— sembly from San Quentin prison as the result of efforts of a labor bloc in the lower house to secure his re- lease. Quietly and fluently he spoke for two hours, but, as he turned to thank the legislators for his hear- ing, his voice broke and he sobbed his grateful appreciation. SPAIN NO AUSTRIA BC Nickel Shipments For Japan Nippon Rep resenta= tive Now In City For Shipments of Nickel Concentrates. KEPT SECRET British Columbia's “patriots,” defying popular demand for an embargo on shipments of Ca- nadian war materials to Japan, are preparing further ship- ments of death. The People’s Advocate learned on good authority this week that a representative of Japanese inter- ests is now in Vancouver negotiat- ing with Pacific Nickel Mines, for- merly BC Nickel, for shipments of nickel concentrates to Japan, where they will be converted into munitions. Major North is stated to be in the city for the drawing up of pre- liminary agreements- oo | Wames of prominent Vancouver businessmen linked with the pres- ent deal are those of Nelson Spen- cer, Col. Victor Spencer and Gol. Hogart. Edgett is also reported to be interested. Preliminary shipments of concen- trates, from raw ore shipped to Trail smelter from the mine, near Choate, have already been sent to Japan. It was reported some weeks ago that “a 500-ton concentrator, at Choate, is planned by BC Nickel (the company has since been re- organized as Pacific Nickel) when Miss Jean Ewen ... 26-year-old Canadian nurse now with Dr. Norman Bethune, famous Montreal surgeon, on the northwest front in China, Her safety was confirmed by cable this week after earlier messages had reported Dr. Bethune and her missing. Pacific Lime Negotiating Blubber Bay Employ- ees Return To Work BLUBBER BAY, BC, Mareh 17.— Successful, after a five-day strike, when Pacific Lime company here entered into negotiations for an agreement, members of Local 1-163 International Woodworkers, re- turned to work Saturday. The strike was catled following a series of provocations by the com- pany, dating back to the union’s formation last summer, and the signing of an agreement. @n the verge of a strike some three weeks ago, the local called a contract with Japanese firms for the product has been completed.” for a government commissioner under the act. BC Wants Equity main questions: Labor Will Back Rally Demonstration Against War Shipments Mooted A mass demonstration to be held on the Vancouver waterfront in protest against continued ship- ments of war material to Japan, was endorsed by the Trades and Labor Council last Tuesday. The recommendation, made by Delegate Sam Shearer, chairman of the council’s boycott committee, was ordered sent to all affiliated locals for ratification. The boycott committee plans to issue a 5-cent booklet on ““‘Why and How to Boycott Fascist-Made Goods.” It will be a modified form of a pamphlet released by the Am- erican League for Peace and De- mocracy, to suit the Canadian scene, The council also endorsed the proposal that a women’s auxiliary to the boycott committee be formed, in which wives, sisters and daugh- ters of trade unionists could join and broaden the campaign. BC Federation Vancouver Trades and Labor Gouncil Tuesday unanimously en- dorsed a motion requesting the British Columbia executive of the Dominion Trades Congress to pro- ceed immediately to circularize all affiliated locals on the question of establishing a BC Federation of Labor. Province Presents Brief To Rowell Commission “We are not expecting to get anything—and we are not pre- pared to give anything,” was the stated position of Premier T. D. Pattullo to the Rowell Commission, which began its sittings this week to hear representations from BC on the following Income tax modification; more provincial powers to levy taxes; readjustment of the provincial debt structure; freight rates; Oriental status; costs of unemployment re- lief; absorption of the PGE into the great railway systems. On the tax questions, Chief Justice Rowell posed a counter question of, ‘How is the dominion to function without revenue?” The commission stated it had no power to state a position on Ori- ental status. There was also op- position to any refunding scheme to lower interest commitments, on the part of the commission. Replying for the government, Senator Farris declared that it was not for the province te build up the dominion’s alternatives, stating that BC was suffering from special inequalities, which should be elim- inated on a basis of equity with other provinces: Ewen Addresses CP At Chase River NANAIMO, BC, March 17—A membership conference of the Communist party in this section of the Alberni-Nanaimo constituency was held at Chase River this week, Tom Ewen, central committee member, attending. United action of the common people to defeat the dominion-wide threat of the padlock law in Que- bec, to improve living standards and to force the Canadian govern- ment to take its stand on the side of collective security against ag- 4 Organized Labor Hits Tom Reid Big Trades Council Vote Opposes City Press Campaign Of Race Hatred. RAP HYPOCRISY Delegates from the affiliated Japanese Millworkers’ Union received assurance last Tues- day from organized labor that racial hatred had no place in its program, when the Trades and Labor Council by a large majority endorsed the follow- ing motion: “That this council reiterates its stand of opposing any anti-Oriental prejudice being stirred up by the daily press of this city.” Reluctantly, the trades council executive had permitted Delepate C.-M. Stewart,- executive member, to make an explanation of charges he made against Tom Reid, MP (New Westminster), at. the previous council meeting. Declaring Reid’s statement re- garding Japanese fishermen in BG to be false, Stewart stated: ‘The real enemy of the white fishermen is the trapnet and the federal mem- ber knows it.” Stewart further challenged the honesty of Reid by asking: “Would not the big canners end his career if he put up a real squawk against the use of trapnets?” Asks Clear Statement Maintaining that a continuation - of neutrality towards this grave question encouraged the boycotting of innocent storekeepers, forcing them on to the labor market, the Street Railwaymen’s delegate ask- ed for a clear statement from or- ganized labor on its attitude to- ward Japanese residents. Bill Stewart, Local 28 ,Hotel and Restaurant Employees, charged that the member for New West- minster and the Vancouver daily press were utilizing the present Oriental situation to stir up racial prejudice. He scored their silence on Japanese-controlled mining ex- ecutives, who are sending BC raw materials to Japan for war pur- poses. Said Sam Shearer, “We in Can- ada are not going to be driven into racial hysteria, as this leads inevi- tably to war.” Miners Hear Union Report —_—— Conciliation Board To Sit Early Next Month NANAIMO, BGC, March 17. — Miners crowded Union Hall here Jast Sunday to hear district of- ficials report on their efforts to af- fect a settlement-with Canadian Golleries on wage demands put for- ward by Nanaimo and Cumberland locals of the United Mine Workers. Pat Conroy told the meeting that the conciliation board applied for by the union was expected to sit early in April. Delegates were elected by the meeting to attend a preparatory conference for May Day celebra- tions. Miner Killed MICHEL, BC, March 17.— Robert McFagen, 48-year-old overman at Wo. 3 mine here, was instantly killed last Saturday when caught in a cave-in. ‘The cave-in occurred while McFagen was watching men repair a pipe line in the west level of No. 3 mine. gressors, is still the main issue, Ewen told the conference. Another worker, Harry Holub, Jr., escaped with minor injuries.