Pace roae THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE Published Weekly by the Proletarian Publishing Association, Room 10, 163 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. Phone Trinity 2019. One Year -—— --—.. $2.00 Three Months Half “ear $1.00 Single Copy -————--- $ .05 Make All Cheques Payable to: The Peopie’s Advocate Vancouver, B.C., Friday, November 4, 1938 Unity and the Civic Elections pee action of the CCF nominating conven- tion in nominating a full aldermanic slate when the progressive groups had already de- elared their intention to enter one, or perhaps two, candidates, will bring satisfaction to the “non-partisan clique, which represents big business in civic affairs in Vancouver. Once again a great opportunity to unite all progressive organizations to clean out the agents of reaction from the city council has been allowed to slip away. The trade unionists and other progressives who have entered civic politics were anxious to obtain a united slate with the CCF, even if many of them do not subscribe to the policy of political parties as such entering municipal elections, and the CCF was invited to participate in the labor- progressive conference. The CCF is by no means in a stronger po- sition than it was a year ago. It would be in a far stronger position if it abandoned its narrow, go-it-alone policy and became a part of a progressive, democratic front in muni- cipal, provincial and federal politics which svyould not only unite the progressive forces, but would draw to its support large numbers of persons who are only waiting for the forces of labor to get together. The CCF is asking too much in demanding that all other progressive organizations ab- stain from participation in the political life of the city and province except under its party banner and upon acceptance of its en- tire program. Although the CCF rejected all overtures of the labor-progressive conference to draw up a single slate of candidates, there is still time to do this. There is still time for the CCF and the labor-progressive groups to reach agreement on a single slate, agreeable to both and on which both would have representation. Since the CCF is not contesting the mayoralty, there is no obstacle to CCF support of Dr. Barton for mayor. Such an agreement would do more than en- sure victory for progressive forces at the polls with a guarantee of progressive civic govern- ment. Thousands of citizens who today are midway between the camps of progress and reaction would be drawn into the democratic movement, heartened by the strensth of united progressive forces. It speaks volumes to say that attainment of progressive unity is the thing most feared by the Non-Partisan Association and the re- actionary forces of big business. Probe Police Activities HERE seems to be neither shame nor sense of responsibility left in Premier Pattul- lo—if he ever had any. His eynical reply to eharges levelled against provincial police by Colin Cameron, who backed his statements with sworn affidavits and irrefutable evi- dence, would indicate this. The public is already aware that in the Blubber Bay dispute between the New York owned Pacific Lime Company and its em- ployees the provincial government went to the aid of the company by using the provincial police as thugs and strikebreakers, and ig- nored, when it did not violate, the laws of the province which govern trades disputes and the ordinary protection of the individual. To Cameron’s charges the cornered Pat- tullo said in the House that there was nothing in the affidavits to warrant a judicial enquiry as demanded by Cameron and the Blubber Bay workers. What does Pattullo want before he moves to restrain his uniformed thugs? Does he want the police to come to him and demand a judicial enquiry? The Premier praised the police, saying that as a force they are second to none in Canada. That is true—they are second to none in sad- ism, violation of law, and as a strikebreaking agency. He also stated that they command the respect of the public, but surely the Pre- mier does not believe that the public has any respect for men who act as the provincial po- lice acted at Blubber Bay—or at Corhbin. It is to be hoped that the CCF members and decent Liberal MLA’s will not permit Fattullo to get away with his attempts to have the po- lice crimes at Blubber Bay covered up and forgotten. Such actions must be exposed, and those responsible for them punished. Tom King, Liberal member for Columbia, told the House this week that British Colum- bia farmers were prosperous. He must be getting his farmers mixed with his jobbers and shippers. meager = | Y ears of Soviet Power Bruce (Oe peoples of the whole capitalist and colonial world join with the 180,000,000 of By Malcolm free, happy and prosperous people of the Soviet Union this 21st anniversary of the world’s first socialist republic. When, on November 7; 1917, workers and peasants of Russia, led by the Bolshevik party, overthrew the rule of capitalism and tool the power into their own hands, destroyed the state apparatus of the exploiting class and established the proletarian dictatorship, confiscated — without compensation — the means of production, and abolished the exploitation of man by man, the rage of the world bourgeoisie knew no bounds. Wiuith their ingrained class con- eeit and characteristic contempt for the ability of the workers and peasants to organise production, and build a stable state apparatus, the bourgeoisie of the world fully expected collapse of the new re- gime within a few months. Still sure in their own warped class minds that the collapse would eventually come, they neverthe- jess resolved to hasten it. Ac- eordingly, the imperialist states joined with the traitorous dis- possessed class in Soviet Russia in bloody armed intervention and Civil war to drown the new-born socialist republic in a sea of work- ers and peasants blood. They failed. And the new re- public, against intrigue and treachery, began its mighty task of building socialism. Today, Lrotskyists and other anti-Soviet elements connive with their fascist allies without in vain for the vigilance of the Soviet people has thwarted all their plots. @ UL while they have conquered their enemies within and have solved production and as- sured prosperity on a constantly ascending scale, there remains one great menace, the menace of war from the seething barbarous world in which fascist states in alliance with fascist sympathizers within the democratic states, such as Chamberlain and Dala- dier, are planning the destruction of their socialist country and the restoration of capitalism. Prosperous as the people of the Soviet Union have become they would have been even more pros- perous were it not for this ever present menace against which they have to expend labor and wealth to provide the defenses and maintain an army. And they are prepared, as Hitler well knew when he backed down in his first efforts to destroy Czechoslovakia and had to wait until Chamber- lain came to his aid with the monstrous Maunich betrayal. And what of the capitalist world? Unemployment for mil- lions of workers who are on the borderline of starvation, many actually perishing; workers being deprived of their elemental rights; fascism spreading the horrors of war over the earth. A class doomed by history frantically trying to plunge the whole world into war, leading to a political, economic and cultural night of Stygian darkness—this is the capitalist world. The overthrow of capitalism and the maintaining of working class power would not have been possible had there not been a re- volutionary, Marxist-Leninist party to organize, inspire and lead the oppressed masses into revolu- tionary action when the revolu- tionary situation when the his- torical hour struck. IN, as now, there were re- formist *““Ssocialist”’ parties, parties which had stripped Marx- ism of its revolutionary content, Social-Democratie parties which taught the workers that by coali- tion with the capitalists in gov- ernments and by class co-opera-— tion in industry the way to social- ism would be opened. Prominent Jeaders in the Second Socialist International denounced MUenin and the Bolsheviks because they didn’t follow a reformist line, and, like Plekanoff, Kautsky and Mac- Donald, became enemies of the working class and went over to the service of the international Capitalist class to bring about the defeat of Soviet Russia and pre- vent working class victory in their countries. The fruits of reformist social- ism, where they mad even better opportunities than was presented in Russia in 1917 are seen today in Germany, Italy and Austria. Wot only has the’ Soviet Union attained increasing prosperity and brought happiness, leisure, culture and economic security to its people, and under its new con- stitution has provided a greater and freer democracy than the world has ever known, it has also been a mighty power in main- taining what measure of peace the world has enjoyed. The oppressed peoples of the world are determined that the Soviet Union shall not be de- stroyed, that it shall be defended as the first world fortress of so- eialism. The Soviet Union, although not at war, must be defended now. Tt can be defended by the peace- desiring and democratic peoples of the capitalist-dominated world uniting in defence of democracy against the onroads of fascism and for peace, in defence of Spain and China, against the forces of reaction on an interna- tional, national and local scale, in a stern struggle against wage euts, for unemployment relief, for a greater measure of economic security and for peace In this way will we really cele- brate the twenty-first anniversary of the victory of socialism in the greatest country on earth. If The Loyalists Had Arms... IE THE EMBARGO were lifted and the Spanish peo equipment the fascists now have, Bob Kerr, former political commissar for By Kay Gregory ple allowed only 80 percent of the the war in Spain would be over in a very short while.” the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion, who has just returned from fourteen months’ service behind the lines in Spain, reiterated this state- ment made by every returned Canadian vo “Every place in Spain has been bombed, no matter whether it was a tiny village hidden on a mountain side, reached by a winding trail, or a large city on the Mediterranean coast, but the people’s morale instead of being broken by the strain, is strength- ened and their. determination to defeat fascism intensified,” he told me. Arriving in Spain at the end of February, 1937, Bob Kerr first fought in the Lincoln Battalion where there were a number of Canadian volunteers who formed their own unit. While with the Lincoln Battalion, Bob saw front line action on the Jarama front. “TJ helped form the Mackenzie- Papineau MSBattalion,” he said, “and by the end of October, 1937, we had five hundred Canadians when we went into our first ac- tion as a Canadian battalion. As a base commissar, it was Bob’s duty to see that the men were equipped “morally and ma- terially for their job,” as he put it. To make sure that they kept always before them the ideals of the people of Spain. Prior to the fascist offensive in March this year, the Spanish peo- ple went about their business in a normal manner, Bob told me. But when the fascists broke through to the coast, the people were galvanised into terrific ac- tivity, Gafes, usually filled to overflowing with pleasure-seek- ing people during siesta hours, were then filled with people meet- ing to lay plans and equip them- selves for the overflow of fas- cism. Men did not wait for con- scription. Within a few days 100,- 000 men outside the conscription age volunteered. Trade unionists volunteered to help with fortifi- cations, and in ten days 25,000 youth had offered their services “where they were most needed.”’ Se We the Anglo-Italian pact was first discussed in March this year, Italy had planned the huge Ebro offensive, which was to extend right down from the mouth of the river to Valencia, thus allowing new fascist troops to be landed, while Mussolini as- sured England he was removing “sil the Italian troops from Spain.” The courage of the Span- ish people smashed this offensive and as a result, the pact did not go into effect. “Germany and Italy would like to make another Czechoslovakia ef Spain,” said Bob. “but they are reckoning without the Span- lunteer when I saw him in Vancouver this week. ish people. They won’t allow their country to be cut in half and they have arms already in their hands to defend it at all costs.” Bob Kerr's main concerh Dow that he is back is to help take eare of the demobilised men, fit or wounded, who are being sent back daily. “The Spanish government will not allow any international to re- main in Spain unless he was Na- turalized prior to the outbreak of the war,’ Bob said. “Some of the men, unable to return to their own home, will find haven in countries friendly to Loyalist Spain.” For this reason, the Friends of the Mackenzie-Papineau WBatta- lion has launched the huge $50,- 000 campaign sponsored by many prominent people, to provide each man with his fare home and $25 to give him a chance to look for a job. Every wounded man is given $6 a week while receiving medical or hospital treatment. “The Friends have undertaken a terrific task,” Bob remarked, “and British Columbia must ac- cept responsibility for a large part, as more than 300 BC men fought in Spain and will need taking care of when they re- turn”’ New Departure In Soviet Film OLLOWERS of the movies know But the story of “Baltic Deputy, Soviet productions as films which celebrate mass action. > the soviet hit film soon to be seen in Vancouver, breaks completely with this tradition. Here, instead, we have the saga of an old man whose moral cour- age led him to suffer all tortures for his convictions. Based completely on authentic documents concerning the last years in the life of Klement Timi- riazev, the celebrated Russian sci- entist, “Baltic Deputy” is differ- ent in that it concentrates solely on the actions of one man who, like Zola, Darwin, Pasteur, Vol- taire. gambled his own personal happiness when it became a mat— ter of his conscience or himself. A celebrated botanist for years before the Russian Revolution, Professor Timiriazeyv was hit se- verely by the physical privations of the world war and the revolu- tion. He was forced to share the rations handed to the populace on the food lines. He had no coal, and there was sel- dom current for his lights. Never— theless, when offered money and comfort by the universities and government of England, France and Switzerland if he would de- sert his own country, he chose to stand by his own people. Qut of this story, the young directors Alexander Zarkhi and Josef Heifetz have fashioned the most popular picture made in the Soviet Union since ‘“‘Chapeyev.” Wo mean factor in the success of the film is the stellar acting of Nikolai Cherkassoyv, who at 32 is being hailed as one of the greatest character actors in the world today. Gherkassoyvy was known as the leading eccentric comedian in Soviet Russia. His latest performance as the 75-year- old professor is the result of much painstaking preparation. Cher- lkassov tried over 250 different ehanges of makeup before he fin- ally used the one seen in ‘‘Baltic Deputy~”’ Vancouver theatre-goers will have the opportunity of witness- ing his exceptional characteriza— tion during its showing at the Royal Theatre, beginning Wed- nesday, November 9 and continu- ing for four days. Wovembeér 4;--1938 == « SHORT JABS A Weekly Commentary By Ol’ Bill The firm antagonistic stand of some of the mem- bers of the Trades and Labor Council to the Weliare Drive is justified by the ex perience of some of the “vol- untary’ donors during the Intimidation! drive. Woodward's Department Store employs about 1100 men and women, boys and girls. Many of them are working under such circumstances as do not allow them to spend a penny of their miserly wages in “extravagance,” much less give it away for the maintenance of the Boy Scouts, the Girl Guides and other bodies on the Welfare Federation's list, that depend on the generosity of the people at large. At the first asking some of these employees of- fered to donate fifty cents or a dollar but this did not meet the hopes of the committee in charge of the drive at the head of which is W. C. Woodward himself. So to get them to raise the ante, special meetings were called in the store and a high-pressure salesman turned loose on them. The employees were told by this highjacker that Woodward suggested that they could easily contribute twenty-five cents a week out of their wages. If this is not intimida- tion, what is it? Some of these girls receive the lordly salary of $7.50 per week. From them the two-bit payment, equivalent to a reduction in wages, would mean $13 in a year; three-and-one-third of their earnings. Hiven for those receiving the minimum wage the percentage would still be over one-and-a-half per cent. A Woodward himself donated n Odorous — $600 but that sum involves less Comparison! sacrifice on his part than even one twenty-five cent contribu- tion from the low paid store girls. He would not lose one spoonful of soup or have to wear a pair of socksS one day longer or in any way feel in his own person that the $600 would have made any difference to him. The girls, on the other hand, would miss the quarter at lunch time or in a shortage of some needed article of wearing apparel and when stretched out for a year might mean anything over a month’s room rent. Gonsidered on a percentage basis, three-and-one- third per cent of their wages, how does it compare for instance, with the donation of the Bulolo Gold Dredging Company of $300? The Bulolo Gold Dreds- ing Company is an imperialistic eorporation of Van- couver capitalists that exploits the natives of the mandated territory of New Guinea. Hor several years past it has made three million dollars a: year in profits. Its contribution to the Welfare Federa- tion represents one-hundredth of one per cent of its income. The upkeep of all the activities coming within the scope of the Welfare Federation should be properly a charge on the income of the capitalist class but, as the Communists contend, these birds always try to sluff off their burdens on to the shoulders of the workers. They rob the workers in production, and not satisfied with that, steal back a part of the measly wages they are compelled to disgorge. Tf Woodward's employees were voluntarily to pay two-bits a week into a union for their own welfare no one would oppose them more strenuously than W. C. Woodward, but that is what they must do if they would stop intimidation of this kind and be able to spend the money they earn as they them- selves decide and not as Woodward “suggests.” JOIN ©’ BILL’S INTERNATIONAL BRIGSDE Mr. Justice Manson, whose in- Who Makes junction in the gas price law is The Law? costing the people of BC $4000 a day, has let us into a secret of zovernment that is generally overlooked by the man in the street. In answering the arguments of the attorney-general he stated, ~The courts may err, but in the ultimate, they determine the validity of what parliament has done, and until such time as parliament's powers are Changed, the final order of the court prevails. The Crown speaks with fin- ality only through the voice of His Majesty's justices sitting in the higher tribunal.’ That sounds as if Justice Manson is the law- In the same case he posed as Shakespearean scholar. The newspapers reported him as saying, “You know what Shakespeare said, ‘He Goth protest too much’.”” Shakespeare never said anything of the kind. The words he put into the mouth of the queen-mother in Hamlet are, “The lady doth pro- test too much, methinks.” If Manson knows as much about law as he does about Shakespeare, the legis— jature has a busy time ahead! JOIN oO” BILZT’S INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE . When Hitler started breaking Inviolable treaties and contracts he must Contracts have seattered the bacilli in the air. Contract breaking is becom- ing commoner than corn beef and cabbage. The latest example is a local one. Pension agreements already in effect for several years are to be broken if a new superannuation act being introduced in the legislature this Session becomes law. Former civic employees who had deductions made from their wages in line with the city pension scheme are now threatened with a cut which some of them believe may amount to as much as 50 per cent. Retired employees of every municipality, who earned whatever pensions they now get, are in- volved in this threatened slash. From the little in- formation available it looks like an attempt to legalize an undisguised theft from worn-out Civic workers of all grades. “Inviolability of contract” has been one of the basie concepts of capitalist society. When a trade union asks for a raise in wages for its members during the life of a “contract,” this inviolability is flaunted in its face. But when it suits the peo-— ple on the other end, Hitler becomes their model. JOIN OL’ BILL'S INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE Mussolini is trying to scare the democratic people with tales of “deadly and astounding” weapons, which make Italy unafraid of any arma-— ment race. This is scaremongering. If they have such weapons, why don't they use them in Spain and Abyssinia? Warmonger siege aR ie ern dhe — ee mmm | Vv) lol eC lle