LACK OF CONSIDERATION LED TO CRISIS’ nity Will in Fight or Jobless “Common PeopleMust Arise To Reinforce Gallant Fight Of Youth’ 7 WIPE OUT STAIN’ »§ TORONTO, Ont., June 30.— 'm a scathing editorial indict- “ment of those responsible for she eviction of single unem- dloyed from WVancouver’s post »>ffice and art gallery, the Daily Slarion here declare d last weekend: _ “The blood shed in Vancouver 7on Bloody Sunday has left a stain )2>n Canada that will be wiped out »only by the united forces of labor and the common people, by the “zrowing people’s movement that _will yet win the jobs, happiness and security for which the boys m VYancouver are fighting 50 Full test of the editorial follows: “It is indeed impossible to find ‘words strong and passionate snough to express the indignation f3and horror that the Cansdian peo- Wole feel as a result of the brutal attack made upon the single un- >mployed. . “If the men who planned and or- jiered this outrage had a spark of ‘aumanity left they would hurry from the sight of men. ‘Tinemployed single men plead ‘for jebs. They beseech the federal "3nd provincial governments, they ‘ask the so-called captains of in- dustry to let them build roads and homes. “They do not want to live on charity or the dole. “Willing and brave, they want to work, to Hold their heads high, to Zive their all to Canada’s democ- racy and progress. “Hearts of stone haye men as the muiti-millionaire R. B. Benneit, W. I. Mackenzie King and T. D. Pattullo, who failed to provide jobs for willing hands of laboring men ... who placed teargas bombs and blackjacks and rubber-hose clubs in the hands of the RCMP and Vancouver police to ‘solve’ the problem of youth. “Premier Pattullo strikes a cal- lous note in declaring, “I was the prime mover in the eviction.’ “Fe should have added the words —TI acted as the mouthpiece and | puppet of the economic despots.’ | “Right, justice and the sym- 'pathies of all who truly cherish ‘fair play and democracy and on ‘the side of the unemployed single “men. - “Thirty thousand Vancouver citi- zens gathered at midnight on Sun- ‘day down at Pier D to cheer the '100-strong delegation that sailed ‘for Victoria to lay the case of themselves and their brothers, the Case of Ganada’s youth, before the Pattullo government. “This great assemblage wept tears of pride and shame as the boys sang ‘QO Canada’ while the Princess Elizabeth pulled away from Vancouver's shore. Drive Gut the Tyrants’ “Q Canada! Our land is indeed in travail and peril when the prom- ise-breaking politicians and profit- Imad despots answer the cry for jobs with a hail of teargas bombs and police clubs. “OQ Canada! From Halifax, across your boundless acres to faraway Prince Rupert, the common people must rise and unite to stand on guard for thee . - - to reintorce the gallant fight of your precious youth for jobs, for democracy, for ess. ero Canada! Your indignation and burning shame, rising in mighty Waves, must drive out of public life those tyrants who are respon- Sible for Bloody Sunday out on the Pacific slope. “The crusading cry of the un- employed single men—J: obs for the unemployed single men 1n BC—re- mains to be fulfilled on the coast. “In every other province thou- Sands of our men and women of tomorrow are in like plight. The crusade shall go on!” : ' Protest Embargo WASHINGTON, DC, June 30— Wirtually the entire faculty of Yale Wniversity is represented on 2 Petition to the Roosevelt govern- Ment askine the lifting of the em- bargo on arms shipments to Loyal- ist Spain. The petition states that the embargo cripples the republic and aids its fascist aggressors. DEFEAT THE PADLOCK LAW. THE PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE British Columbia’s Progressive Home Paper VANCOUVER, B.C., THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1938 Clerics Rap Gov’ t Policy ~ On Jobless Only One Solution, Says Rev. Andrew Roddan, And That Is Federal Program. ‘CALLOUS INACTION’ From their pulpits last Sun- day several Vancouver min- isters denounced the govern- ment for its policy toward the single unemployed. Most out- spoken was Rev. A. E. Cooke of St. John’s United Church, who declared that “the wunem- ployed have fundamental rights which Prime Minister Mackenzie King and Premier Pattulleo would not deny to their dogs.’ Likening Canada to “a no-man’s land for the jobless,’ Rev. Mr. Cooke stated: “The prolonged and callous inac- tion of both dominion and proyin- cial governments regarding the deepest needs of the unemployed, and the positive refusal to ac- knowledge these needs, and the cowardly and brutal assaults on them with baton and tear gas, have caused widespread indignation. “There is no coolness when there is a broken head and a choking throat and that is what led to the riot and destruction. “You may say they had no right te occupy public buildings and destroy property. Of course not. But they have the fundamental rights to food and shelter.” At First United Church, Rey. An- drew Roddan asserted that only a federal works program could pro- vide the solution to the problem of unemployment. “There is only one answer to the Single men’s problem, and that is work,” he said. “There is only one authority to provide adequate work and that is the federal govern- ment.” Queensboro IMBF Hall Is Opened NEW WESTMINSTER, BC, June 30—CGpecial)—Some three hundred persons were turned away from a concert at Queensboro last Saturday on the occasion of the opening of the new hall built by the Branch Wo. 301 of the In- dependent Mutual Benefit Federa- tion. William Palmer, provincial sec- retary of the DMEF’, in a brief ad- dress, pointed out the necessity of contributing to the general im- provement of the community. Hlymie Epstein Vancouver volunteer in the Mac- kenzie-Papineau Battalion, werd of whose death in Spain was re- ceived by the Friends of the Mac- kenzie-Papimeau Battalion here this week World war veteran and former seaman on the Cana- dian National West Indies run, Epstein was a member of ICOR in this city. He was on the Gn- To-Ottawa trek and was one of the first Canadians te go to Spain. For a time he was chief of transport at Albacete. Ban Silk At Boycott Ball ‘Come In Cotton’ Is Slogan This Friday “Thirty-five cents, please!” This is what you will hear in a charming but determined feminine voice this Friday if you are so foolish as to arrive at the Trianon Ballroom wearing a silk gown. For the slogan is “Come in Cot- ton to the Boycott Ball.” For those boycott-conscious young things who come in cotton dresses, even if it’s only a made-over pillowslip, the admission charge will be 25 cents. But if you wear silk—and ex- ecuses will avail you nothing—you will be stopped by an investigating committee and fined one dime for your assistance of Japanese im- perialism in its slaughter of Chi- nese women and children. The Boycott Ball is being spon- sored by the Boycott Committee of the League for Peace and Democ- racy here as part of its campaign to intensify and publicize the boy- cott of fascist-made goods. Withdrawal Of Charges Is Demanded Meet Backs Resolution Stating Firemen Only Expressed Opinion Of Citizens. 2,000 ATTEND Two thousand people packed themselves into Moose Hall last Friday night, while an equal number crowded both sides of Burrard street to pro- test the recent brutal attack on the single unemployed. Called by Dr. Lyle ‘Telford, MELA, the meeting was addressed by a battery of prominent citizens, whose speeches reflected the re- sentment of their audience at the eallous attitude of provincial and federal governments toward the problem of homeless, hungry men. Chairman Dr. A. F. Barton, presi- dent of the Federated Ratepayers’ Association, was enthusiastically applauded when he demanded re- sults instead of promises from the provincial fovernment. One resolution stated the fire department, in allegedly refusing to cooperate with police in the at- tack on the sitdowners, “was only expressing the approval of citi- zens,’ and demanded that any charges against the department or firemen be withdrawn. Rev. R. J. Mcintyre condemned the police for taking “judicial func- tions into their own hands,” and declared the clubbed men had 2a good case against the city for heavy damages. “Why weren’t the men arrest- ed,” he demanded. “It was a vi- cious, brutal and insane attack. I hope the public will remember this at the next election.’’ steve Brodie, who could not ap- pear at the meeting because of the beating he had received, sent a message by Dick Smeal, who stated: “Tell them we are not down- hearted yet and our organization is as strong as ever.’ Harold Winch stated that the Peace River people would be glad to have the Monkman Pass high- way built and the boys would be gZlad to do it Dr. Telford, quoting from a speech in which Premier T. D. Pat- tullo advised the boys ‘to go out and rustle,’ termed this advice ‘a eruel, vicious statement.” He read a letter from G Bus- combe, president of Ward i rate- payers, who was unable to be pres- ent. The letter stated: “I deplore the whole shocking mess. I think the government should resign.” = WHAT OUR READERS THINK Express Views On Jobless ‘They Live On Our Street’ My own boy, who is now 22 years old, has a good job in a small of- fice. I will be frank and say that he only got it through a friend of ours. My boy’s friend, who lives across the street, left school at the same time and has only worked three months or so in three years. All this time he has been an un- willing burden on his parents, who ean hardly afford to keep him. I thought of these things as I stood on the street last week and saw some of the single unemployed men shaking their cans. Where would my boy be, I asked myself, if he had had no one to speak for him? I should add that I am de- pendent on what my son carns. Where would my son’s friend be, if his parents could no longer keep him? Why, they would be on the street corner, too, shaking cans or hunted like wild animals down a city street because they asked for work. How thin the dividing line is between those who walk into a cafe and pay for 2 meal and those who must walk in eg for it! aS ied Bremer Pattullo tries to tell us that all these boys are from the prairies. It’s not true. Some of them lived on our street and, if he doesn’t do something, their successors are living on our street right now. MRS. R. C. Vancouver, BC. ‘What Of Our Children?’ It struck me when I saw the “riot” pictures in the newspapers what effect these must have on the impressionable minds of children. How can we parents bring up our children to respect the laws of our country in face of such pictures as these? I was absolutely horrified at one picture which showed a fat detective hitting Brodie with a length of rubber hose (and with a smile of enjoyment on his face). Can we tell our children that these men only do these things because they have to and expect them to believe us? Many children have friends and relatives among these boys and know they only want a chance to work. And some of the older chil- dren are beginning to realize that in 2a short itme, all too short a time, this will be the ‘future’ facing them. MRS. MAC. Langley Prairie, BC. ‘They Mock Our Traditions’ I was one of the 30,000 down at Pier D on Sunday to give the single unemployed a send-off which must have been heard in Yictoria-. I was interested, naturally, in knowing what motivated many of those around me in coming down to the dock at midnight. Here are some of the things I found stirred people most: 1) The savage and unprovoked assault on Steve Brodie on Sunday morning. 2) The beating up of a returned veteran over 50 years of age. 83) The riding down of an old man by a mounted policeman. When I went to Sunday school as a lad in England it was im- pressed on me: Remember, thou shalt keep the Sabbath holy. Tf wonder why those who ordered the police attack did not live up to this ideal? At school too, I learned all about the glorious British Eim- pire on which the sun never set and where mercy, justice and free- dom prevailed. What mockery Pre- mier Pattullo and his ilk made of our splendid traditions! They must not be allowed to get away with it. ARMY VETERAN. Vancouver, BC. CUMBER REFUTES PEARSON’S CHARGES lJ obless Leader Denies Work Available Here field. purposes. Says Immediate Action Is Necessary To Save Men From Further Degradation Declaring that Hon. George S. Pearson made no effort to deal with the problem of unemployment from the viewpoint of the single unemployed when he outlined the provincial sov- ernment’s policy in a radio address on Saturday, Ernest Cumber, executive member of the Relief Project Workers Union, ef fectively countered the minister of labor’s arguments in a radio speech over station CJOQR Monday night. “In order to justify the department of labor’s policy, Pearson launched into a maze of figures and statistics, “We sought to convince his audience ni this manner that every “He sought to convince his audience in this manner that every or convincing figures to refute this argument than the number of single unemployed men themselves who are now in the capital to testify to the fact that jobs cannot be had, except at the ex- pense of some other workingmen, either in industry or in the 23 Cumber said. “Pearson, in his lengthy broadcast, used figures to support his contentions and substantiate his arguments,’ marked. “We also have a set of figures to offer—the total of those single unemployed men who have registered themselves as job- less and destitute with the Single Unemployed Committee since the beginning of May. These figures show that the authorities cut adrift some 3,000 young men who had only one asset, youth and a will to work and contribute their energy for constructive In return for this, all they ask are the rights, priv- ileges and standard of living of Canadian citizens.” Text of Cumber’s speech, in part, follows: Government Policy Responsible b) Cumber re- The minister of labor made cer- tain references to the men and their organization in an effort to discredit them. He only proved his own prejudice by such statements, which certainly were not worthy of a member of the provincial cab- inet whose duty it is to serve in an impartial capacity, to maintain harmony and better the relation- ships of people. By his attitude he indicated that he does not cherish the principle that all workers should have the right to organize and endeavor collectively to better their conditions—at least, not the single unemployed. The most important statement of government policy made by the minister of labor was to the effect that the government intends to give neither work nor relief to the Single unemployed. This denial of consideration for the single unem- ployed is the basis of the present erisis and is responsible for the delegation now being in Victoria. Pearson and Pattullo have alter- nately accused the single unem- ployed of unfair tactics and lack of good faith with the government in order to justify and defend themselves. When every other of their arguments has been exposed as untrue this has been their last subterfuge, vilification and bitter denunciation. Unemployment Has Grown Steadily Pearson stated that last year the government cut the single unem- ployed adrift and found they could work and care for themselves. But the citizens of Vancouver will re- member the unemployed demon- strations last summer when 50 ex- Servicemen and hundreds of youny men were rounded up by police and sent to jail. The citizens of British Columbia can testify to the fact that last year, in greater numbers than in the past, single unemployed young men roamed the length and breadth of the province in search of work and know how they spent a futile summer. They went through all this misery in order to prove to them- selves and the public that they were willing to cooperate with the authorities. If there were oppor- tunities for work, they would take them. But the opportunities were lacking. When finally cold weather drove them back into the cities gsovern- ment relief officials greeted them with cries of “Transients.” It was only after 500 young men had been swept into prison and the in- dignmation of the public had been aroused that the authorities opened the forestry camps for the winter months. Men Eager For Chance To Work One of the minister of labor’s major arguments, one shared by Pattullo, is that government as- sistance to the single unemployed will destroy their initiative and de- velop a dependence upon public aid. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Pearson’s own figures, if Ihe stopped to check them over, are a refutation of this argument. The minister admitted that over a thousand men left the forestry camps last winter to fill positions in private industry. Private in- dustry boasts of its ability to of- fer the workers a better standard of living than the government. Therefore it stands to reason that such an attraction would meet with a ready response. Further- more, working for the government, far from being detrimental, would create a sense of responsibility and respect toward the institutions of our country, would make of the young men now persecuted and embittered, some of Canada’s best patriots. Indeed, of all the arguments ad- wanced by the authorities, the most barren is that working for the government would destroy initia- tive. Who Are The Transients? Pearson laid great emphasis on the transient question. Who are these transients? ‘The attitude of the government is that a young: man who goes out to rustle for himself is a transient. The minister of labor referred to one leader of the single unemployed. We can re- fer to another, a boy born and raised in Vancouver, who left re- cently via the boxcar route to take a job in Ontario. A statement issued from Trail Saturday divulged the fact that 586 workers from the prairies had ob- tained jobs with the Consolidated Mining and Smelting company. But one particular young man in our ranks placed his first applica- tion with that company five years ago and has since removed it three times. Public Works Scheme The company will admit that the reason so many men from the prairies obtain work there is that they can pass the strict health regulations. Because the company is not strict about residence quali- fications in order to fill its labor demand, it lures hundreds of men from the prairies to work until their health is undermined and then turns them adrift to wander through the country in search of work. There are also hundreds of young men from the British Isles who find they are not wanted. The way these boys will be re- habilitated is by the provincial government intervening on their behalf with the federal govern- ment, either for placement on fed- eral works projects or for special grants to the province for their care. Essential Paitullo and Pearson crown their arguments with the ringing state- ment that “law and order must be preserved.” Property must be pro- tected. But no thought is given that life as well as property must be protected. The lives of a country’s people are precious. Once already these young men, who threatened mo property damage, have been teargassed and forced to run the gauntlet of police clubs. Now, it appears, they are in danger of being assaulted again. There must be no repetition of Sunday's events, which solve no problem. The men must be given the opportunity to work. While a works program is being drawn up they must be given relief, so that their destitution will be alleviated to some extent. Immediate action by the people of British Columbia is necessary to save the unemployed youth and the name of the proy- ince from further degradation.