Page Two THE PEGPLE’S ADVOCATE THE PEOPLE’s ADVOCATE Published Weekly by the PROLETARIAN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION eee rot 163 W. Hastings Street er, BC. Phone, Trin. 2019 One Year GI SSS ISAS SAW Gee 1. Pall Near ee we en Three Months 1... | 50 Sinple!Copy 22.22.1507 -05 Make All Cheques Payable to: The People’s Advocate FRIDAY, APRIL 22. A Timely And Courageous Speech AS speech of Hon. George M. Weir, provincial min- ister of education, to the dele- gates assembled at the Great- er Vancouver Youth Congress last week-end, is of prime in- terest to all who value the maintenance and extension of parliamentary democracy. Too few provincial and fed- eral government spokesmen have had the courage to state forthrightly their position on the main national and world problem of today, i.e., whether democracy or fascism shall rule. In sharp contrast to the vigorously reactionary pro- nouncements of Premier Hep- burn of Ontario and his erony, Premier Duplessis of Quebec, who are now revealed as the main enemies of national progress, Mr. Weir takes his stand with those genuinely democratic Ontario Liberals, David M. Croll and Arthur H. Roebuck, who refused to be bullied by Hepburn into sub- mission to the dictates of pow- erful employers like the Gen- eral Motors Corporation. Mz. Weir hit the nail on the head when, obviously refer- ring to the infamous Quebec padlock law, he asked: Who will detine the “ism” that is to be curbed? As we pointed out several weeks ago in drawing attention to the shameful remarks of Dr. J. J. Gillis, Liberal MILA for Yale (who asked that “both sides” of the padlock law, be exam- ined), you cannot sit on the fence when it comes to the vital issue of democratic rights versus the unbridled rule of the reactionaries. When the Quebec padlock law gives to the attorney-general of that province (none other than Duplessis himself!) the sole power to determine which “Ssm”™ is to be attacked, and thereby violates the demo- eratic principle of court in- quiry, he arrogates to his per- son the dictatorial powers which are the property of the Hitler junta. No democrat can quibble on this point. Mr. Weir correctly criti- cises such a procedure, and in the course of his remarks warned of the nature of to- talitarian states, where “de- mocracy is topsy-turvy, with ‘the fools on top.” It is to be hoped that these altogether commendable re- marks of Mr. Weir, with which every realistic labor man and woman will agree, will act as a stimulus to those elements within the Liberal party in BC. (not omitting those demo- erats who still have a measure of belief in the Conservaitve party), who are alarmed at the utter and shameless be- trayal of Liberal reform poli- cies by Hepburn, and who are justifiably worried over the ineptitude of the Mackenzie King leadership when it comes to acting to disallow the pad- lock law or removing Cana- dian foreign policy from the tails of Chamberlain’s morn- ing coat. We would be much more satisfied if Premier Pattullo voiced opinions as courageous and forthright as those of Mr. Weir. Pattullo has yet to show that he stands for democracy in the full sense of the word. Some of his statements and actions in the past few months have been totally out of har- mony with Liberal election platforms, and show that he is lending a far more willing ear to the economic royalists of British Columbia than to the common people of this province. We are sure that the dele- gates assembled at the Youth Congress enjoyed and second- ed Mr. Weir’s remarks, that in the course of their delibera- tions they benefitted from his speech. The Congress again registered a new high in the fight for unity” of all demo- cratic people. Would that the labor movement showed as keen a perception of the needs and possibilities of co-opera- tion between divergent groups! This paper has no hesita- tion in saying that it looks to a greater measure of demo- cratic sentiments within the Liberal party in British Co- lumbia, sentiments which will place the fight for national unity and increased purchas- ing power as the primary is- sue facing Canada, and strug- gle against reactionaries lile Hepburn and Duplessis as the patriotic duty of every Cana- dian. Hungry Men Must Eat! i 1935 the men in the relief camps went on strike against conditions and as- sembled in Vancouver. For weeks they held out because of the support accorded them by the citizens. Their many demonstrations and meetings were conducted in a most or- derly manner. The discipline of their organization was so well preserved that in the few clashes they had with the po- lice it was generally recog- nized that the trouble was not on any occasion started by the strikers. Even the reading of the Riot Act at the Ceno- taph in Victory Square, by Mayor MeGeer, failed to pro- voke them into disorderly acts. Then the On-to-Ottawa trek was embarked upon, and again the people of Western Canada were given a first-hand lesson in efficiency and discipline of a working-class organization. At Regina on the first of July the trekkers were suddenly attacked by armed police with a ruthlessness that shocked the Canadian people as a whole. The trek ended there, and the men were returned to BC. This spring many single un- employed are confronted with a somewhat different situa- tion. As in 1935, they are up against the question of “When do we eat?” But there is a difference this year — the men are not on strike. They are being locked out through the closing down. of the camps! Already many are facing hunger and outdoor sleeping quarters through the expira- tion of their weekly vouchers. Daily their number is increas- ing, and by the first week of May there will be few whose vouchers have not been ex- hausted. It has been officially stated that the project works camps are not to be re-opened. What do the authorities expect the men to do? Hungry men have got to eat! Are the authorities trying to provoke disorders? This question should be taken up by Vancouver citizens as a whole and an immediate reply secured. A large number of single men, anxious to work and in favor of the continu- ance of the project camps as a temporary measure until more permanent work is pro- vided, are being denied a live- lthood through shutting down of the government camps. This is the situation. Their problem cannot be solved by the men alone. They cannot provide jobs for them- selves. The government has rejected responsibility for their maintenance. WVancou- verites should compel it to re- assume this responsibility by whole-heartedly backing the men in their present fight for existence. The plight of the project camp workers is a social evil. The remedy is a social respon- sibility. EARD this one? A savage lion escaped from its circus cage in a small German town. The village blacksmith heedless of dan- ger, took up his hammer and struck the beast dead when it charged at him. His praises were sung in Berlin where Hitler, sensing publicity, invited the man to make a public appearance. The great day arrived and the shrinking blacksmith stepped up to the platform to meet the Fuehrer. Adolph took one look at him and de- manded: “What’s your name?” “Levine, may it please your highness,” was the reply. “Newspapers on the day following carried this head: “FEROCIOUS JEW MUR- DERS DEFENSELESS LION.’ —People’s World, San Francisco. Chamberlain’s Pro-Fascist Foreign Policy By Faaicolm Bruce war for which the great armament program of Chamberlain is a preparation. ; : ‘1 os : It is for this war, which is now almost upon us, that the army, the navy and the air forces are being built that cons scription in peace time is being mooted; that conscription of industrial workers for the speeding up of production of armamen: is being proposed; that the “dilu- tion of labor” and the abrogation of existing trade union rights is being discussed, and that corrup- tion of labor leaders and harness- ing of them to the war is being considered—all under the lying pretense that the army, the navy and the air forces will »e used to defend democracy in Britain and the dominions against fascism, the development and increasing strength, boldness and aggression of which was possible only by the support of the Chamberlain gov- ernment. @ HE pre-war lies and hypo- critical posing as defenders of peace of Viscount Asquith and Sir Edward Grey during the years 1911-14 are again being used by Chamberlain and Halifax and their radio retinue and pro- fascist press prostitutes today. Only the united organized ef- forts of all who would hurl the fascist interventionist hordes out By Victoria Post Vs: manufacturers haye unusual opportunities to de- fraud the public, since it is im- possible to look beneath the sur- face, and even when a Sample section of a mattress is cut, only a buyer with special knowledge of mattress construction can bene- fit. Consumers are cheated by Misrepresentation of the contents and by high prices based on the number of ventilators and other features that haye nothing to do with construction and durability. The result is that some millions are sleeping on mattresses that were purchased as new, but ac- tually were made from _ collec- tions from junk dealers. The well-known Simmons’ “Beautyrest” is rated by Gonsum- ers Union as “Not Acceptable” because, although comfortable when new, it has poor durability. Also “Not Acceptable’ are Sim- mons’ Slumber King and Deep- sleep, and Imperial mattresses, because they contain poor spring units. The best buy jis Spring-Air priced at $2450 to $45 in the United States. Also acceptable are Honor-Bilt and Quali-Rest, and mattresses made by Stearns & Foster Company, e HOSE of you who hanker after an electric heating pad in place of the good old hot water bottle, should take heart from the fact that, as yet, very few of these pads on the market are really safe and efficient. From test taken of ten differ- ent brands, Consumers Union re- port that users run risks contin- ually of burns and shock, and chances that mechanism will get out of order very quickly. In any ease, children should never be left with one of these pads turned on, nor should you go to sleep without first switching it off. Rated as “Acceptable” are the Safety-Heat, Electro-Sheet, and Samson Wetproof Model 520. Westinghouse WP164 and Ward's Fireproof are also acceptable, but these are cloth type pads and should always be used with a rubberized envelope. All cloth type pads will be found more conducive to shocks than those with rubber envelopes. e TARLY in May, Spencer's store proposes to hold stocks of real, honest-to-goodness sheer lisle hose, in all the new shades, and so fine that you can’t tell them from silk. They have a Sample now, and tell me that if orders are placed beforehand the supply stands a good chance of getting through earlier. Price will be somewhere round a dollar. @ ALES girls in five-and-ten stores and chain drug stores are making substantial headway in unionization, in spite of indus- trial spies, a report from Consum- ers Union states. Some employees of a drug store in New York City were working as much as 80 hours a wsek with- out overtime pay, until a strike early this year won them a 54- hour week, overtime pay, and paid vacations. EF. W. Woolworth Stores have been great users of the spy sys- tem. After a sitdown strike in several Woolworth stores the em- ployees obtained a contract pro- viding for a $14.50 commencing wage, to be increased to $15.60 at the end of six months. The work week is 48 hours, and time and a half is paid for overtime. HE people of Britain and of the dominions are being fed with propaganda depicting Chamberlain as “the ' preserver of peace,” while, in the name of peace, he supports war in Spain and China: ere oe The understandings and agreements whereby the fascist states are permitted to make unprovoked w upon peaceful peoples are represented as the fruits of a foreign policy of “appeasement. 3 Many confused pacifists and liberals believe this, regarding Chamberlain’s crimes against democracy and the peoples of Spain and China as evidence of faulty judgment only. : : Such an estimate of the Chamberlain government and its foreign policy is an exceedingly dangerous ORS and only serves further to confuse and mislead large sections of the people opposed to fascism and war. The Chamberlain government is not weak; it is not “yielding” to Mussolini and Hitler and the J apanese military clique. Its policy is not one of “drift.” On the contrary, it is well planned and follows a coreeeet line—a pro-fascist lime and one which does not make for the attainment of world peace, but for a terrible of Spain, and their Spanish traitor tools along with them, can bring to_a stop the Chamberlain sup- port of fascist wars of apgres- sion and prevent the spread of fires raging in Spain and China into a world conflagration of such immensity and horror as no mod- ern Dante could imagine. The forces of world democracy are potentially immeasurably stronger than the forees of fasc- ism. What is needed is that they be united and strong enough to prevent the Chamberlains from betraying the democracy they pretend to defend. Position of the King Government HAMBERLAIN and the British government have been brought into the open as the brazen allies of the fascist States. The signing of the ' shameless agreement between Chamberlain and Mussolini whereby the betrayal of Spain and democracy was carried to even greater depths of infamy than before, is further evi- dence of the pro-fascist road the national government is travelling, it is not surprising that with one voice the fascist press of Germany and Italy, the Tory press of England, and the capi- talist press of Canada hail the great betrayal; the fascist press more or less frankly and cynical- ly, and the reactionary press of Britain and Ganada hypocritically interpreting it as a step toward peace. Lord Perth and Count Ciano crossed the “t's” and dotted the “Vs” to workin-s agreements which had for their purpose the extension of fascism throughout the world, and have already ac- complished the destruction of Abyssinia and reddened the soil of Spain. Chamberlain stands revealed for all to see as the enemy of the people, first an undercover, now an open, accomplice of the fascist dictators, one who daily betrays democracy. @ To people of Britain are op- posed to the pro-fascist pol- icy of the national government. The winning of the Ipswich and West Fulham by-elections by La- bor candidates showed the grow- -ing public resentment against the Chamberlain gang, and its estab- lishment of the London-Berlin- Rome axis increases the opposi- tion. In Canada which has been drawn into Britain’s imperialist wars, the people are profoundly interested in and affected by the foreign policy of imperialist Brit- ain. Even more are they con- eerned with the foreign policy of Canada. The British Empire is not a Commonwealth of Nations, even if there is a commonwealth of nations within it. Only one-eighth of the population of the empire is to be found in the Dominions which constitute, with the Mother Country, the “commonwealth.” All the rest of the peoples of the empire are subject peoples, with colonial and semi-colonial status, without independence or autono- my. 6 ANADA is an imperialist country (even of secondary rank), and as such can and does act independently of the govern- ment of Britain, for Britain in decline cannot maintain the ad- herence of the dominions to the mother country for legal enact- ment or force when their respec- tive imperialist interests do not converge, The imperialist statesmen of Britain use propaganda such as coronations and jubiless, flattery, corruption and financial and com- mercial pressure to achieve a common foreign policy with the dominions and a united empire front in war. Imperialist competition and riv- alries develop even between the members of a commonwealth of nations, and tendencies toward greater economic and political in- dependence, and even separatist tendencies, manifest themselves and constitutional questions come to the fore. This is true especial- ly of the Dominion of Canada. These independence and separ- atist tendencies were expressed so sharply at the Imperial Con- ference of 1926 that autonomy and equality of the dominions was laid down, the only link with Britain being under the Crown; and this was embodied in the Statute of Westminster in 1931. The legal position of Canada in relation to war is the subject of much quibbling and hair-splitting. Learned jurists and other consti- tutionalist experts give conflict- ing opinions and interpretations. The reason for the adsence of final legal definition of the real position of Canada and other do- Minions to the empire in time of war, that is, whether the domin- ions are automatically at war whenever Britain declares war, is to be found in the fear of the effect such a definition would produce in the dominions. In any event, the British government is in no position to force the do- Minions into an empire war against the wishes of the govern- ments of the dominions even if Open He Wants New Deal Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: When we voted in the new Liberal government, it was to be expected that a better deal would be obtained than that given by the old one. But the way things are here now, the un- employed are being limited to certain stores in town to buy ne- cessities. The Chinese Pioneer Store, where many got a square deal, is off the list for the job- less. This is a little too raw. To be slowly starved to death on the miserable relief allowance, and al the same time be dictated to by local officials as to where to shop and eat. I suggest that civic Salaries to these officials be cut and the amount turned over to the unemployed. This would not hurt the taxpayer and would put a stop to discrimination in busi- ness in our home town. R. KB. Prince Rupert, B.C. Hits Relief Discrimination Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: Local Liberal offi- cials are very partisan in dealing out what meagre relief we have here in Hope. One married man with three children has received only $12.80 last month, while an- other married man with three children got $9.60 in the last two months. A clear-cut case of dis- crimination because of political opinions. BE. K. Hope, BC. The Peace River Outlet Editor, People’s Advocate: Sir: Perhaps you will acquaint your readers with an important question occupying the minds of almost everyone up here, by pub- lishing the enclosed copy of a letter sent to. Premier T. D. Pat- tullo: “Your attention is called to the unanimous support throughout Forum the great inland empire given to the idea of the Monkman Pass highway. Monkman Pass clubs from Hope to the Hudson Bay are being formed to back up the project. “You should understand that the great majority of the people are the best judges of what is good for them rather than arm- chair commissioners, who have been quibbling and consulting for years over the advisability of giy- ing the Peace River people an outlet to civilization. “Concluding that the big town boys have forgotten all ahout them until the next elections, Peace River people are uniting; resolying to make the Monkman Pass highway a reality. “Hioping that your government will give ear to the pioneers of a great country.” HENRY HOLLAND. Prince George, BC. Who Gets The Profits? Editor, People’s Advocate: Dear Sir: IT know of a soldier’s widow whose home was sold away from her and her fatherless daughter. If some say: where can we get the money?—my an- Swer is: from those that have it. In the Daily Province of April 14, I read that the net profit of Imperial Oil was $26,452457; for 1936, $25,628,285; for 1935, S325), 229,850 — total $77,310,292. Wet profit for three years. Profits in steel for 1937 are $231,000,000 in the United States. Coming closer to home, the News- Herald states that nickel profits in nine months in 1937 is $38- 944,380. There is profit in nickel. Ask Colonel Spencer! We hear a lot about the “purge” in Russia. Yes! they know how to deal with traitors there and do it. Urging us to defend our- selves —and them—from Japan, and sending Canadian metal and wood there to fight us. WILBER, SR. Vancouver, BG. it had the legal and constitutional right to do so. Clearly, then, for the Canadian people it is not a legal or con- stitutional question, but one of the attitude and position of the government of Canada which has the right to fashion its own for- eign policy independently of the foreign policy of Britain. It aiso has the power to decide whether or not Canada participates in a War on the side of Britain. Already, In the Chanak crisis in 1922, nine years before the enactment of the Statute of West- minster, when Britain summoned the dominions by telegram to send contingents, only New Zea- Jand responded; Australia de- clared the issue would have to be submitted to parliament, and Canada flatly refused without reason or explanation. Imperial- ist interests in Canada would not be served by participation in war at that time. (A concluding article will ap- pear next week). Stage and Screen By John R. Chaplin Hc” Associated Screen Audi- ences rate the new pictures: WOMEN ARE LIKE THAT —_ Kay Francis and Pat O’Brien in a drawn-out story about an ad- vertising; man who resents his . wife's interference. NURSE FROM BROOKLYN— With Sally Hilers and the capable Paul Kelly as the only things to recommend it. Romance between a nurse and a cop who is accused of shooting her brother. TORCHY BLANE IN PANA- MA—A newspaperwoman’s rivalry with a male reporter takes both of them all the way to Panama in pursuit of bank robbers. Dull comedy. EMI — A delightful British- made film for and about children whose simple and sincere acting shows up very favorably against the stilted and imitative antics of Shirley Temple, Jane Withers, Bobby Breen, et al. MR. MOTO’S GAMBLE — An- other of the J. P. Marquand series, whose rapidly-srowine popularity begins to rival Charlie Chan. Cast includes, besides the inimitable Peter Lorre, Key Luke, who has played Charlie Chan’s son. > FEMALE FUGITIVE—An un- distinguished picture about a wo- man who deserts her criminal husband and ends up in the arms of an artist, with gun-play by the police force ridding her of the gangster. @ OLLYW.OOD.—The law courts give us our biggest story of the weelx, once again, in connec- “tion with Grand National’s In His Steps, the Federal Trade Commis- sion has ruled the studio ‘“mis- represented” in its advertising, because the film is not actually based on the famous novel from which the title is taken. The studios are up in arms, trying to appeal the decision, but writers are delighted. For they’ve been trying for years to make studio adaptors pay attention to their Plays, novels and stories, which are bought and screened, but are entirely unrecognizable once they are released. Shirley Temple's current Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is a good example of how far the studios can wander from the original and still use a title that is useful for sales purposes. e What may be a highly signifi- cant social film, of the type of Fury, looms from Columbia Stu- dios, where Rouben Mamoulian has been signed to make Murder in Massachusetts. Based on an actual case that happened a couple of years ago, the film will tell how two taxidrivers are framed for a murder they did not commit, while all the law-enforc- ing agencies inyolved are acting in good faith: the catch is that police, G-men, congressmen, and others, stick to the goal of their own offices, losing sight of the ideal of justice which is greater than any of the individuals. The parallel with the ideal of democ- racy, which is: greater than the petty interpretation that capital- ists try to put on it, is obvious. . Metro is also making a film, a short, which should be of inter- est: it is That Mothers Might Live, based on the work of Dr. Ignatz P. Semmelweis, who found the cure for childbed fever. Betty Ross Clark gets the lead, with Fred Zinneman directing. And don’t miss a Metro short called Miracle Money, quacks, It’s a honey, about medical OL’ BIEL Bleeding (Fer) i The Public. rain’s “qj to Vanco; } the Buzzard, at the end of = ' sereed advocating the gougi | automobile owners through ing meters, there occurs th lowing passages, “There ji streetcar riders’ association. is why we try to get for ij the best possible deal in th of our streets.” i Wotice ‘our’ streets. It is : Plorable fact that there jj streetcar riders’ associatio | this delectable corporation | hirelingS and its stooges i} city council might have to | in the Buzzard of “the best sible deal in the use of our s: | cars.’’ In their efforts ot emulate © Smelter, Lake Shore and 1. national Pete in the big divi) column and at the same Jf mouth lying phrases about fe ice’, this brigand outfit has a fected a speed-up system Us celled in the transportatior =! dustry anywhere; one guarar to get the last ounce of eni) the last watt, out of the men | operate their travelling junk+ | misnamed streetcars (the z° vated ones are like a ninety-y 123 old hag who has had her {| lifted but the curmurrin in | guts is still there. The Buz ¢ is at liberty to use this wit) charge). The effect of this speed both as it concerns the street men and the unfortunates , use the streetcars, will be un §, Stood if we compare a prey schedule and the one now &- force on one line—WNo. 5, € | mercial Drive to English 1] Previously on this line there a 5-minute service and the ro trip took 80 minutes. Sixteen ¢' maintained this service for proximately 18 hours daily. 2 there is a 6-minute service; # time for the trip has been cu { 66 minutes and it is handled |} ii cars. With 5 less in use < ing 18 hours How To Boost Dividends. fewer men needed by our public futi company. At $5.04 per day man, this makes a saving $110.88 daily on this one line add to the dividends, which 4 not be “spent in Vancouver.” © — Same thing thing applies to the other lines. How much a y || for the BC Collectric? This intense exploitation we out the nerves of ‘the operate Accidents inerease. (Slaughter volving one-man juggernauts d not seem to find its way into Capitalist press). Passengers, packed like sardines, for 11 ¢ | will not carry as many pass ? fers comfortably as 16, ee though they travel faster. T packing of passengers pro; that the skookumest part of th — cars is the rear end; I count 28 passengers on the rear pi , form once. Safety First! Wo, there is no streetcar ride association. Unfortunately! 34 The social function ~ Spanish the artist deriv Posters from his socially ¢ | Again. veloped ability to gi 4 material form to = | emotional reactions so that tho of us who are of “common cla: may share his feelings, wheth in the realms of literature, poetr painting or music. It is therefore possible for artist to play an important ro in the struggle between soci classes. The artist Rouget ¢ Lisle, provided the French Rey lution with a battlesone thi brought victory to its arms ar the art of Karl Marx has give to the working class an arseni of weapons that is ridding tt | world of class robbery, one-sixt of it being already freed froi class rule. In these days, when the mac house forces of reaction threate | to engulf all the cultural gains ¢' civilization, the artist is cha lenged, both as an artist and a a human being. To their cred the artists are responding nobly Listen to Paul Robeson: “Byer artist, scientist and writer mus now decide just where he standi There is no standings above th conflict I have made m choice. I have no alternative. The Spanish artists — writer painters, singers — agree wit Paul Robeson, almost 100 pe cent. Amongst them are the Span ish painters whose posters wer exhibited by the Girls’ Brigade @ the Moose Hall a few weeks age This was the finest exhibition o; its kind ever staged in this city Wone of the posters were by? Murillo, Goya or El Greco, bu any individual one was wortt more to the people of Spain ta@ day than all the works of thes¢ old masters. : To all who missed that display I want to pass on a friendly tip You have a chance to see them today and tomorrow (Friday. from 2 pm till 7 pm, and Satur day, from 10 am till 6 pm) at Carleton CCF hall, 3365 Kingsway, where the Girls’ Brigade is re peating the exhibition. Whether you are interested in art or not you must not miss this art ex hibition which embodies every thing in the fight against fas- cism and world reaction: Take Wo. 11 car to end of the line and walk about two blocks. There is no charge for admission.