Page Two THE PHEOPRLE’S ADVOCATE THE PEOPLE’s ADVOCATE Published Weekly by the PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION oem 10, 163 Ww. Mastings Street ancouver, B.C. Phone, Trin. 2019 dently, does the Vancouver Province. And this, if you please, in the spirit of “fair play.” It is a favorite trick of double-dealers to put over all kinds of reactionary notions One Year under the plea of “fair play.” Beret cde aa 1. : : TELUS RGD i coe enc = eam aoe Such tricks are poisonous and ghee Months street 50 tilled with ulterior motives. BE “471: ngle: Copy ios nsec an -05 Dr. Gillis should be round- ly condemned by the people of Yale constituency, who, we are sure, want no defence of the padlock law under any guise. When election time comes around they should re- member his brand of Liberal- ism, for there are signs that some Liberal leaders are pre- paring, as did Hepburn, to make common cause with Du- plessis. Make All Cheques Payable to: The People’s Advocate GEER) ALY. ae sae APRIL i, 1938 The Young Liberals’ Brief (pee Young Liberals of BC are to be congratulated upon their sturdy defence of the people’s interests con- tained in their brief to the Rowell Commission. In contrast to Premier Pat- tullo’s special pleading for BC (read, “for the big capitalists of the province”), and his ut- ter failure to support those progressive changes advocat- ed in the briefs of the Liberal governments on the prairies, the Young Liberals came for- ward with a number of pro- posals to revamp the entire taxation structure of the coun- try along lines which would make possible those increases in social services which the Canadian people demand. Greater federal responsibil- ity for these services and the taxing powers to pay for these services without increasing the burden on the “small man,” are the very essence ef improvement, along pro- gressive lines, of federal-pro- vincial relations. Hepburn of Ontario and his crony Duplessis of Que- bec, are setting their faces sternly against any widening of federal powers, for to do so would sound the death-knell for the special privileges to exploit the French-Canadian people which has character- ized the English and French owners of Quebec province since Confederation. Any breaking down of the barriers between Quebec and the rest of Canada would tend to lift up the Quebec people to the level of their brothers in @ntario. Hence the touch- ing and utterly hypocritical demand of Duplessis for “safe- Suarding the special rights of the Quebec people.” Pattullo also talks of “spe- cial consideration for BC.” There is more than one reason for thinking that these “spe- cial” considerations are not so much the concern of the BC eitizenry as they are of the present and would-be war profiteers who want to pro- eeed unhindered along their gory path. For these reasons then, and as a hopeful sign that the Pat- tullo brand of Liberalism is not the unanimous opinion of the people who vote Liberal, is the Young Liberal brief to be welcomed. ‘Fair Play’’ and the Padlock Law HE Vancouver Province has committed itself quite definitely against the Quebec padlock law, as has every other important Canadian English-language daily, with dishonorable exceptions like the Montreal Gazette. We think all will agree that there can be no compromise on the matter of the padlock law. It is not something you can condemn in your editorial columns and give support to in your news columns. But this favorite device of editors has been used with regard to the padlock law. In the March 26 issue of the Province a letter from Dr. J. J. Gillis, The People Grow Weary VANHE present Japanese war against China is nearly nine months old. A new gov- ernment has just been estab- lished for Central China with headquarters in Nanking. It is a puppet government, com- posed of pro-Japanese Chi- nese. Although the setting up of this state has been one of Japan’s objectives, another one, the domination of all China, is very far from realiz- ation. The Chinese armies are getting strong enough to take the offensive. Just this weelx they attacked on a 100-mile front, achieving notable suc- cesses. The invincibility of the Japanese armies is being proved to be mostly mythical. On the other hand, the revi- talization of the united Chi- nese armies is beings demon- strated in their passing from retreat and defence to attack. With equal equipment they. would, man for man, soon sweep the Japanese forces out of the country. The knowledge that they ean beat the Japanese has sprung from the example of the exploits of the 8th Route Army. This body, formerly known as the Red Army, is for sheer genius of leadership, morale and striking power, probably unequalled any- where in the world. It is an army that serves without pay. The average age of its*mem- bers is nineteen. In Japan itself the people are getting tired of the war. They want it stopped. The militarists are in control of civil life, and the passing of the National Mobilization Bill marked their final step in completing a fascist dictator- ship. This Bill gives to the government control over the lives and property of every citizen during the war or any “period of emergency.” If the war ends soon, which is not at all likely, the people will find that all they got out of the war was increased tax- ation and fascism. The war in China may yet be ended by the action of the people of Japan. A Vancouver Sun despatch from London states that the British cabinet “will hold a special lesson on foreign pol- Tyan With Professor Adolph Hit- ler conducting the class, no doubt. It is said in political circles that a deputation is to be or- ganized to the editor and lead- er-writers of the london Times to explain the differ- ence between cool heads and cold feet. * * Julius Streicher, Nazi anti- Semite No. 1, has prepared a book in Braille for the use of the blind. The ordinary edi- Liberal MLA for Yale, is giv- tion, of course, is for the en almost two columns of dumb. space, under the heading “BC oO OR Member Presents ‘Other Side’ Sigmund Freud, some of of Padlock Act Battle.” The ‘other side” consists of a lengthy address thoughtful- ly sent to the Province by Dr. Gillis, in which G. A. Cough- lin, KC, of Montreal, “ex- plains” the padlock law. His explanation is obviously an * inspired effort to whitewash The Fuehrer’s name will be Premier Duplessis, for not a remembered by posterity. single word is devoted to the He will share spiritual kin- most obnoxious features of ship with tomorrow’s luna- the law, namely, the absence tices, who, in moments of de- of any definition of what con- Juded grandeur, will fancy stitutes communism and the themselves Hitler instead of extraordinary powers given WNapoleon. to Premier-Attorney-General Duplessis in stepping on any person or group of persons suspected by him of being a Communist. Dr. Gillis wants the people of BG to see the “other side” of the padlock law. So, evi- whose disciples seek to ex- plain labor discontent in terms of maladjusted personality, is trapped in Vienna. He has a job ahead of him trying to psychoanalyze the goose-steppins lesions away. sk oe Lessons of Vienna: Fascism is a state of society under which the most loving care a daughter can bestow on an aged father is to shoot him before turning a second bul- let on herself. Canadian Youth Forges Ahead By Billi Kashtan HEN, around three years ago, the first Canadian Youth Congress took place, there were many who said that it would be unsuccessful. These sceptics looking backwards, and not seeing the changes taking place in the ranks of the younger generation, as a result of economic crisis, war and fascism— asked how it was possible for young trade unionists and factory workers to meet with youth from the Christian youth organizations and the Y’s; how it was possible for Young Socialis and Communists to get together with Liberal and Conservative it seemed utopian to these skep- tics to bring together youth of the most diverse opinion and philo- sophiecal outlook, because up to that time, whatever conferences and meetings did take place, brought together young people of similar outlook and opinion. it was something new and novel and therefore -to be dis- trusted, condemned and viewed with suspicion. What these skeptics did not see were the common problems fac- ing the younger generation of our day — problems which icould only be solved by common action and united effort, in conjunction with all the progressive forces of our country. Contrary to their beliefs, the first Canadian Youth Congress eame off successfully. It adopt- ed a Declaration of Rights which affirmed youth's right to peace, progress and justice. It worked out the Canadian Youth Act which, if passed, would give jobs, education and leisure to youth. The first Canadian Youth Con- gress marked a landmark in the history of the youth movement of our country. Young people at- tended, coming from all parts of Canada, representing every shade of youth organization and opin- By Victoria Post if RECEIVED an interesting let- ter in reply to my remarks last week about Chinese music. The Writer says he is very partial to the Oriental type of music, but admits he is an exception. “Eivery musician knows that from the days of John Sebastian Bach the absence of a permanent- ly enduring musical scale was solved only by the genius of Bach, in definitely postulating the chro- matic octave, with its divisions into tones and half-tones. These elements are again further elab- orated by the spontaneous gen- eration (especially in stringed in- struments) of overtone, called harmonies. The intricate emuta- tions of the Chinese scale may be said to embody finer aliquot parts, practically extending to quarter tones, or instead of our compass of 13 tones and helf tones, the Chinese consists of 27 steps. |. . Tf the patrons of the’ fine arts wish to hear the yoicing of this Chinese polophony, translated into the immortal creations of our western world, let them listen to the novel cadence of Rimski- Kxorsakoff, Tchaikovsky, Borodine and other masters of the Russian school. There these ‘dissonances’ are clothed in flashing beauty of tone, a bridge as it were span- ning the cultural gulf between the Western and Bastern World,” I stand corrected. e Ve oe training classes ‘ for girls have proved so popular that the Youth Rehabili- tation and Vocational Training commiittee of the Youth Council has decided to ask the govern- ment to take full responsibility for this work. It can prove fo them that these classes have been better attended than similar classes for boys and much more interest has been maintained throughout the courses. This work has, up to now, been under the supervision of the YWCA solely, but the committee intends to ask the government to take it over and provide economic security for the girls while they train. Courses have been held for lomestic workers, waitresses, power-machine workers, and a re- fresher for stenographer - bool- keepers. Another committee which is delving into the girls’ needs at the present time is that on the Unmet Needs for Girls, of the Vancouver Councile of Social Agencies. Various sub-commit- tees have been set up to investi- gate problems facing women and girls, the need for community girls’ clubs, homes and recreation centres, and they will report back to their main committee early in April. e RECENT report of Consumers’ Union confirms a pet theory of mine, that all the various ereams and preparations sold for removal of superflous hair are either dangerous or entirely un- satisfactory. Sulfide preparations distinguished by a strong, “rotten- ege’’ odor, that cannot be con- cealed even by strong perfume, do not remove hair permanently any more than shaving does. Ap- parently the idea was borrowed by the cosmetic manufacturers from tamners, who use sulfide to remove hair from animal skins. The only safe way to remove hair is by electrolysis, in which an electric needle is inserted along the hair shaft, destroying the roots. The method is by no means painless and, since each hair must be treated separately, usually very expensive. youth. ion. Many attended, showing fear, distrust and suspicion to- wards other youth organizzations, particularly towards the Youns Communist League. They left the Congress with a new outlook. Where there was suspicion and distrust, there developed mutual understanding and respect and an appreciation of the need for com- mon effort. After the first con- gress there was widespread ac- elamation and criticism of its findings and work. Those who ex- pected it to collapse were, pleas- antly and otherwise, surprised at its continual growth and expan- sion. ce) We was it that kept youth of so many diverse opinions together? Because, above every- thing else, an understamding srew that youth have common prob- lems and that if war is to be averted and social security at- tained, youth must act in com- mon. Youth saw the need and possibility of uniting on a mini- mum programme for the defence of peace and the elementary rights of the younger generation, while respecting each other’s opinion and viewpoint. That was the secret of its suc- cess. Since then, the Canadian Youth Congress has been able to weather many storms and difficulties. Where there was one youth coun- cil, there are now some twenty- Six throughout the country. Through its campaign for the Youth Act, federal authorities were finally forced to recognize that there is a youth problem and to allocate $1,000,000 for youth training and rehabilitation. Throughout the country, youth councils and the organizations supporting it, have campaigned and worked for peace. The Youth Congress movement has shown that youth can co- operate and that such co-opera- tion and unity benefits the youth of our country. Today, the skep= tices and opponents of unity, at- tack the congress movement from a different angle. What is the use working for peace or doing anything to improve the condi- tions of youth they say? Such “friends” of the youth, as the danger of a world war becomes sharper, as reaction advances throughout the world and Can- ada, and as we face another economic crisis, would like noth- ing better than to tie the hands of youth and condemn it to a passivity and a do-nothing policy. Precisely because a third of the world is already involved in war, instigated by international fasc- ism; precisely because reaction is raising its ugly head in Canada and attempts to win the younger generation of our country against democracy, precisely because we are facing another economic crisis—there is all the more rea- son and need for such a powerful Youth Movement. Se HAT is why the Third Ca- nadian Youth Congress is of such importance, not only to the young generation, but to all pro- gressive and democratic-minded people of our country. Haced with two open wars of aggression, the Congress must at- tempt to reach common agree- ment on how it can co-operate with other peace forces, in Can- ada and internationally, to stop them and halt the drive towards world war. Faced with growing reaction and an attack on the democratic right of the people, the Congress must attempt. to reach common agreement how to co-operate to preserve and extend democracy. Baced with an admitted diffi- eult economic situation, the Youth Congress must attempt to indicate how the younger gen- eration of our country can im- prove its position in life. We hope that this Congress will be even more representative of all shades of youth opinion than the previous two. We firmly believe that the Congress can be successful if youth of all opinion, particularly the F'rench-Canadian and Catholic youth participate as equals; together with other young people, in working out and agree- ing on a common minimum pro- gramme of action and study. The labor and anti-fascist youth, the young trade unionist, all pro- gressive-minded young people, have a particular role to play at this GCongress—to act as a unify- ing force and guarantee that the Third Canadian Youth Congress take a decisive stand on the major issues of the day. — We hope that from now until the Third Canadian Youth Con- gress, taking place in the city of Open He’s Been Listening In Editor, People’s Advocate: Sir: On behalf of radio listeners here, I wish to state that we can- not get station CKMO, but can get other stations in Vancouver. To offset some of the tripe com- ing over the air, I suggest that some way be found of getting in the Advocate a radio log of pro- gressive speeches to be delivered in Canada and the United States. Some people here claim they can get Dr. Lyle Telford over CKMO, but we certainly would like to test how many people can hear this station broadcast. Here's hoping the radio can be organized. R. A. Cranbrook, BC. He Says We Are All Wet Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: In your Stage and Screen column, I notice John R. Chaplin makes the statement, “History books in England don’t teach that there was a war in 1812; they just overlook, and far be it for Paramount to enlighten them.” Well, I for one know that Mr. Chaplin is all wet, because our history books at school, London, England, had not only a full his- tory of that war, but what caused it, and there was a full-page pic- ture of Pakenham leading the at- tack on New Orleans, where, if If am not mistaken, it said, “The British were defeated — brought about by the deadly shooting of Kentucky backwoodsmen behind the barricades.”’ It seems to me that your paper is against any race hatred regard- ing the Japanese, who have been held as a club over the head of the white worker, but you are not above stirring up the old strife of over 100 yeers ago between two great sections of the English- speaking race; and you can on the other side of the line always find some smart fool who is will- ing to start a fool argument over a thing he, as a rule, knows no- thing about. I may be wrong in my state- ment about the attack on New Orleans, but I do Know there was very little difference between the accounts of the War of the Rev- olution and the War of 1812, both in the history books of London and Massachusetts schools. Statements like these and the sudden sympathy for the Japa- nese in BC seem fishy to me. Up the coast we are well aware of the Japanese habit of handing out Christmas presents when they want anything done. Cl He Ks Pender Harbor, BC. Forum They Would Like A Padlock Law Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: Some honest and Sincere Socialists and CGommun- ists may help to solve the milk and bread problem of Vancouver, but these capitalist blokes and opportunists will only confuse the people. Years ago an egg pool was started in New Westminster, and I learned that B , the big packers, paid the manager of the egg pool $500 a month to bust it up, and eventually it was busted up. I have waited for some time now for the big capitalist dailies to begin a campaign against the Clarion and Advocate. Under this eute little system of ours they might get away with it. I say, let all of us put the press drive over in a big way and press forward to the abolition of this cursed system. READER. = Vancouver, BC. Cencerning One Bill Biddle Editor. People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: There is a guy called Bill Biddle stumping around the province taking silver collections on the strength of an address en- titled “Crime Does Not Pay.” He blames fathers and mothers for most of the youth delinquency in Canada, and stated he visited Kamloops jail. Pity he was not put in jail for a little while to become acquainted with the bugs. Biddle is on the way to Van- couver and Nanaimo, showing pic- tures of lynched negroes and other sensational stuff, and T only hope that some parents and dele- gations will call his bluff and announce the real causes of crime. S545 Kamloops, BC. Remarks On A Sorry Tale Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: The idea of J. S. Tay- lor, MP (Nanaimo), in his letters to the Sur and Province regard- ing the decoration of the First Warrows, beg pardon, Lions Gate bridge, is a noble one—a real brain wave. “A lioness couchant with head turned toward the harbor” and “a lion facing seaward, erect and guardant with tail extended, somewhat after the manner of the lions fronting the art museum in Chicago,” would surely be symbolic of something or other. But I don’t quite understand Mr. Taylor’s preoccupation with the carriage of the lion’s tail. To me its position seems immaterial —so long as it is not where Tay- lor will be carrying his after the next federal election, unless he succeeds in caressing his way into one or other .of the old parties. Chemainus, BC. AUER S ashe Toronto, May 21-24, that wide- spread discussion will be carried on within each organization, so that the delegates coming to the Congress will be clear on the issues and the attitude to adopt towards them. ) S FOR the Young Communist League, it has and will con- tinue to be a staunch supporter and builder of the Youth Congress movement. I tis proud of the fact that the progressive youth movement is developing and growing stronger, and that it has played no small part in this de- velopment. It will centinue to work in a practical and modest fashion, recognizing that it is a minority of this great movement and has no intention of forcing it to accept its program or to dominate or monopolize its leadership. Throughout the country, the Young Communist League will continue to work loyally for the carrying out of the decisions of the Youth Congress movement and will co-operate with other youth organizations on an equal basis and by its efforts show young people exactly what can be done to attain social justice and peace today. Stage and Screen By John R. Chaplin OLLYWOOD.— Warmers have ’ a habit of announcing. Paul Muni films at least twice a month, and the great° actor’s name attracts international pub- licity. But so far there is noth- ing definite on what he will do When he returns from his trip abroad. Add to past announce- ments of biographies of Victor Huge, Anatole Hrance, Balzac, Beethoven, and others, these new Muni scenarios: a life of the late Clarence Darrow, which should be a great subject for Muni, and a new version of The Sea Wolf. Might we accuse Warners of having a Munificent Obsession? e west to do with the Holly- wood extras who, on the whole, as you know, make a wretched living, is the current problem botherine both the Sereen Actors Guild and the pro- ducers. First of all, they have noticed that extras rapidly “grow. old.” In other words, young ex- tras may be made up to look old, but older ones cannot be made to look youthful. And as soon as an extra is, or looks, over 35, his earnings drop to practically nothing. On the other hand, there are definitely too many extras in the industry for all to be able to make a living. The guild’s answer is: very. strict enforement of the suspen- sion of delinquent members. This may be cruel, in that it deprives those already too poor to pay their dues, of any chance of get- ting studio work. But the guild believes it is the best way to insure a living for the rest. . Another plan is to have each stu- dio put several hundred extras under contract. While this would virtually eliminate all extras not thus permanently engaged by one of the studios, it is believed that constant employment, at a living wage, to close to 1,500 extras would be better than keeping 12,000 living on an insufficient level. A knotty problem, in which it is hard to decide who is right. The only obvious fact is that need for capitalist competition on the labor market is at present forcing nine-tenths of the extras to starve in a genteel sort of way. But then, again, where will these nine-tenths turn if they are put out of the movie industry? ... The producers are threatened to try to put in pay cuts through- out the industry at the April la- bor meeting. But the unions are girded for a big fight. There is very much talk of a gigantic strike out here later in the spring, but as yet there doesn’t seem any real foundation for it. > AM GOLDWYN, who electri- fied the world last year by trying to rent Egypt’s pyramids for advertising Marco Polo, has just propositioned the Albanian royal princesses to appear in his next picture, Graustark, with Gary Cooper, Merle Oberon and Sigrid Gurie. Albanian royalty is so new and so phoney, I guess Sam felt they wouldn’t be able to take offense. $2,000,000 is getting to be an everyday ex- penditure in the film business: Darryl Zanuck has scheduled Alexander's Ragtime Band, Suez, The Rains Come (the Louis Bromfield novel) and Jesse James, each of which is to cost that figure. Marie-Antoinette will cost that much too. And a British company has announced a similar budget for a Biblical film. But none will come near the $3,800;000 cost of Conquest. About the Czechoslov }/ History Wazi question, so Lesson. “2uthorities’” write if it only dates eilk fa! ty J 191819. They display a wo: {li lack of knowledge of the hist’! {I of the twelve hundred-year lf efforts of the German Junk i to seize the territories of }° Western Slavs. i P Bohemia, Moravia, Sloval |}! the political entity that we rj} f call Czechoslovakia, has been } }; home of Slav people since hist 4 t was written. About the ninth ¢ tenth centuries, German trad and mechanics, encouraged their rulers, who had their e jf ¢€ on the rich mineral resources } ; Bohemia and Slovakia, ber it seeping into the country and | the eleventh century had set ments of their own in Praha