{TTS ENTIRE eRe ETT BRITISH COLUMBIA°S PROGRESSIVE HOME NEWSPA PER FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND DEMOCRACY FULL No. 210. VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1939 SS 2 REPUBLICANS BLOCK FRANCO'S BIG OFFENSIVE Morale Strensthened By Counter Drive On Southern Front BARCELONA, Spain. The ‘democratic world watched with ‘admiration this week while an army of inadequately armed and equipped Loyalist troops, fighting with its back to the wall against the biggest fascist offensive of the Spanish war, suceeded in blocking the drive by Franco’s Italian troops at defense lines some forty miles from the Republican capital. Strengthened by the addition of reserve troops, supported by full mobilization in the rear; sovern- ment troops took their stand early this week in the Queralt and Col- Jada mountains and have since turned back two rebel thrusts to- ward Barcelona, preventing rebel capture of the important communi- cation center of Isualada. In addition, Republican forces on the Central Catalonia front launched a counter-attack against _fascists southeast of Gervera and recaptured the town of Santa Co- joma de Querait. Behind the lines all Catalonia Was united in its determination fe hurl back the German and ita- lian invaders. eS _ . Phe eritical position _ ef the Spanish government's forces only served to increase the moraie of the Toyalists as they mobilized every able-bodied person for de- fense of the capital, Observers estimated Barcelona would be made impregnable within a few War correspondents who have wisited various sectors during the week report that the Estremadura drive has greatly heartened the Loyalist troops and correspond- ingly discouraged the rebels. Possibility, too, that France may open her borders for transport of needed war materials to the Span- ish government loomed as de- mands for such a2 move continued toe pour in on the French cabinet. Premier Daladier is said to be al- ready considering the advisibility of such a move, fearing for the Safety of French Mediterranean possessions if Spain should fall to Mussolini. __ Qbservers believe, however, that Barcelona will not be taken, and many express the opinion that a shipment of war material now to Republican troops would finaily end the war in the Loyalists’ favor. “General mobilization is Spain’s reply to the cowardice and vyacillation of the ‘democra- tic governments which 2ssist in the invasion and devastation of Gur country,” declared a procla- mation of the Communist Party of Sp2in issued this week. “One energetic move on the part of the democracies would be suffi- cient, thus saving the whole world from catestrophe.” With the mobilization of men of 18 to 45 for the front has gone the militarization of the entire popu- (Gontinued on page 5) See REPUBLICANS ‘OUSTER’ | LOYALIST MAYOR OF VALENCIA | JAPANESE SPY Spanish Republic. Domingo Torres, as he arrived in New Work for a lecture teur to thank the American people for the aid they have rendered the CHARGES UPHELD UNION ASSERTS SPSU Executive Answers Koci’s Distortion of Facts Officials of the Salmon Purse Seiners’ Union charged Thurs- day that Yoshio Koci, president of the Amalgamated Fisher- men’s Association, had “delib- erately distorted” in a press in- union business agent George -Miller before the annual SPSU convention on Monday. During his report to convention Mination and intimidation of the Japanese Amalgamated white fishermen to co-operate with Japanese. terview statements made by delegates, Miller had charged that & powerful Japanese fascist organ— ization was operating in BC under’ the guidance of the Japanese con- sul, from which originated the do- Fisher- men’s Union, blocking attempts by Embargo Council Plans New Protest Meeting Monday night, Council endorsed plans of its direct action committee to stage another peace— ful protest walk accompanied by a picket line at the appreach to any dock where a ship is loading scrap iron or other war materials, and arranged for a public meeting in Paradise Theatre, Sunday at 3 pm, where Pacific Coast Fishermen’s Union representatives will be on the platform to offer their coopera- tron. Delegates proposed that fisher- men’s unions be approached to form 2 sea picket line around a ship load- ing war cargoes when they met in Daily Province auditerium. Speakers at the Paradise Theatre meeting will be Dr. W. G Black, Leasue of Nations Society; Rev. G. Harrison Villette, Mrs: Stuart Jamieson, Women’s International League for Peace and HEreedom, and others. Rey. Dr. W. A. Cameron will preside. HMourteen more people from among the 100 delegates present were added to the executive to bring it up to a working strength of 20. Retiring Secretary John Stanton reported on numerous letters from organizations which attested to the popularity of the embargo as a move for peace; a few regretted be- ing unable to have representation but wished the organization every success, More than 3,000 signatures favor— ing an embargo had been received to date in the campaign that has as yet only begun to*get under way, (Continued on page 5) See EMBARGO Trades Council Calls Conference On Boycott Plans for a conference of trade unions to further co-ordinate the work of a number of boycott committees operating in the city were laid before Trades Council Tuesday night and en- dorsed by the delegates after Council’s boyeott committee made an impassioned appeal for more cooperation in making the boycott “of fascist goods really effective. Shearer reported that his com- mittee had met with delegates of the Jewish Community Association and proposals were made that the Trades and Labor Council, being a highiy respected organization, Should take the lead in the boy- cott movement by calling such a conference. -The report, which was short, dir- ect and to the point, set January 31 as the date for the conference, proposed that trade unions, cul- tural, fraternal and church organ- izations be invited to send repre- Sam Shearer, chairman of the sentatives. An invitation was extended to President Jamieson and Secretary Bengough to open the conference and give labor’s stand on the ques- tion. Shearer cited the Trades and Labor Congress position and Pre- Sident Roosevetl’s speech wherein he called for quarantine of the ag- Bressor nations, to make his report more effective and asked delegates to discuss the whole question thor- oughly either for or against His committee’s proposals: : uli confidence was fiven Shear- er by the delepates when they ac— cepted his report without question. Vancouver Embargo Council, whose initial step in organiz- ing British Columbia citizens behind the demand for a stop to war shipments to aggressor nations, faces a busy activity during the next few weeks = period of Pearson Receives IWA Brief Solution To Legging Deaths is Gutlined Practical proposals leoking to- ward a solution of four major problems facing British Golum- bia’s lumbering industry were in- eluded in the brief submitted Thursday to Minister of Labor George S. Pearson by Harold J. “Pritchett, president of the Inter- national Woodworkers of Amer- ica, on behalf of the BC District Council. The Minister is in Vancouver this week meeting with labor de partment officials from all over the province for a discussion on departmental problems. The TWA brief asked consider- ation on four questions—deaths and injuries to woodworkers, hir- ing system, the department’s atti- tude in labor disputes and the loss of the franchise by loggers. Producing stariling evidence from labor department files showing a total of 265 wood- workers Killed and 51,121 in- jured in the four-year period Simce 1934, the Submission points to higher production levels resulting in greater speed-up as one of the main factors. A change in the present co- operation between the depart- ment’s safety committee and the employers to allow establishment of safety committees in each camp elected by the men them- selves is recommended as an important means of reducing ac- cidents and fatalities. ‘“Inseparable from the problem of accidents is the system of em- ploying men generally in use and commonly referred to as the ‘blacklist,"“” the.brief continues. “As a result of the blacklist hundreds of perfectly competent loggers are Genied employment 2nd in Many instances replaced by inexperienced s+ young men from the Prairies, from which category the death and accident toll is particularly high,” the IWA president's submission States, urging that the depart- ment sponser a public investiga— tien into woodworkers employ- ment agencies. : = in the departments attitude (Continued on page 6) See PEARSON i0ci’s answer charged the SPSU with haying labelled his union as a fascist group, inferring that the union attitude fishermen paralleled Hitler’s policy toward Japanese toward the Jews. “Such an accertion is not only slanderous, in our opinion, but ridi- culous,” SPSU president Weish told the Advocate. “Our union is not attempting to put into effect a program of oppression bnt on the. contrary. a2 program to relieve economic oppression and remove intimida-— tion by Japanese fascism over BC Japanese,” he said emphati- cally. Weish declared the entire union membership upheld Miller’s state— ments and reiterated the demand for a full investigation of Japanese Elgin | espionage by the federal govern- ment. : The annual convention of the SPSU concluded Tuesday after del= egates had discussed for two days the 1939 program which may see the union merge with the Wnited Fishermen’s Unicn and later the Pacific Coast Fishermen’s Union. Assistance in bringing about Such an amalgamation was pro- mised by Percy Bengough, secre tary of the Trades and Labor Con- cil, one of the main speakers at the opening sessron. F “What is required,” Bengough told delegates, “is less charters and more organization,” refer ring to the large mumber of fed- eral unions in the industry. He advised the union to begin negotiations on fish prices as early aS possible, stressing the import- ance of negotiations being carried through by a joint committee re- presenting all unions. Harold J. Pritchett, president of the International Woodworkers of America, urged the union to press (Continued on page 5) See JAPANESE WOODSWORTH SCORES PADLOCK OTTAWA, Ontario—The Minis- ter of Justice is Side-steppine his duty in regard to the Quebec Pad- lock law, J_ S. Woodsworth, CCF leader, declared in the house of Commons Tuesday in his reply to the speech from the throne. Urging the government to take practical measures to relieve un- employment, Woodsworth declared the government had failed to take adequate measures toward econo- mic recovery. : A considerable section of the CCF leader's speech was devoted to foreign affairs. He asked the government why Canada has not participated in the Ihima conference, stating that any- thing which could be done to pro- mote better feelin= on this side of the Attlantie should be done. : He also urged that shipment of War materials to Japan and other ageressor states be stopped. In his speech, John Blackmore. Secial Credit leader, “Stated that “the prime task of this parliament is to make sure that democracy does not fail” The frst thing that must be done to assure that, he felt, was to preyide jobs for the people. Zi = ’ ASA 2 May A To Avert Congress Leaders gain A\ttempt Breach | otticials yesterday. received no mformation from the membership inteneds to con- tinue the fight tor maintenance of unity in the Canadian labor move- ment,” Pritchett stated. “We have heard nothing that would indicate officials of the Trades and Tabor Congress have decided to expel the G€I©@, and we will continue to assist them in blocking any attempt by Bul Green of the AFL to split our ranks.” The fact that other Vancouver union ‘officials had received no word from the Bast appeared to confirm general understanding in the city that Wednesday's Ottawa dispatch was not authentic. In the meantime the Advocate learned Thursday from 2 Tor- onte news source that the Cana- dian international trade union movement had launched a re newed drive to block CIO sus- pension as proposed by the AFL executive council. _ ction is being taken to per- *"suade the AFI, executive council which meets in Miami, Florida, at the end of the month, to halt its threatened ouster of the industrial “unions. Numerous resolutions ask- ing that federation leaders respect Congress autonomy are already in APE headquarters, it is understood that R. J. Tal- lon, Congress secretary and act ing president, will leave for Washington early next week to f ; Trades ask federation leaders to post- pone action on the suspension move. Tallon is expected to again re wiew the Canadian situation before the APL executive. The Congress leader may attend the Miami meet ing as well. AFL leaders, headed by the re- actionary President William Green, are trying to upset the decision of the 54th convention of the Trades Congress, held in Niagara Falls last September, which provides for the maintenance of the status quo. Since then trades councils and local unions have on numerous oc- Casions reiterated their stand or unity, It is because of the convention decision for unity that local union- ists take a grave and Sharply cri- tical view toward Green’s split- ting tactics, though it is believed he is far from the point of putting over his expulsion policy in Can-_ ada. Ousting of the CIO from the Trades Congress would affect some 35,000 unicnists. Four Vancouver CIO leaders are affiliated with the and Labor Council. The United Mine Workers of America is also a GIO affiliate, though not connected with the Council. Expulsion of Canadian CIO unions from the Trades and Labor Congress as forecast in an Ottawa news report Wednes- day was termed “not authoritative” by Vancouver trade union Harold J. Pritchett, president of the International Wood- workers ot America, told the Advocate late Thursday he had any source that would indicate such a move had already been made by Trades Congress officials. “As far as the IWA is concerned > ‘Mooney May Speak In City Trades Council To Send Letter Of Invitation Thomas J. Mooney, whose name was emblazoned on the ' front pages of every newspaper throughout the world when he Was released from San Quentin prison by Governor Culbert Ol son on January 7 may be a visit- or to Vancouver some time in the -near future as the guest of fhe — Trades and Labor Council. z A motion extending an invita- tion to him was moved by VW. Stewart, delegate from the Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ Union at Tuesday night’s Trade: and Labor Council meeting, th matter being referred to the exe> ~ cutive with instructions to write the famed labor leader as ta when it would be convenient for him to visit the city. “It’s alright to extend the in- Vitation but where are his tray- elling expenses coming from?” asked President Jamieson. “You must remember he only got ten dollars when he left the prison.” Delegate Shearer immediately replied that there was no hall in Vancouver large enough to hold the people who would come question of expenses would _b solved through a collection. Earlier in the meeting a Iet- ter was read to the delegates from the International Jewelry Workers’ Union stating: that they had sent a letter to Mooney eon- gratulating him on his release after 22 years of unceasine fight, and asked the council to follow suit. Secretary P. R. Bengough, in outlining the executive’s reconr- mendation on the question, stat- ed that a letter would be sent. TORONTO, Ontario. Unem- Ployed of this city staged a mass demonstration on the streets here Thursday, demanding release of 40 single unemployed men, arrested Wednesday when they solicited funds with tin cups on the streets after relief had been denied them. Given Hous: Temporary Setback : ng Scheme — City council members turn available in the federal treasury when they met Tuesday but as couver meyved a step closer to a ings program, The committee of council on housing will meet again within a few days along with FE. W_ Nich- | 0S; Dominion housin= director for @ thorough airing of all phases of the local problem. Obstacies to embarking on the project at Tuesday's mecetinge were Piven as the one percent taxation covered in one of the clauses of the National Hrousing Act, under which the city would be required to lower the tax rate to any private corporation undertaking the scheme to one percent of the cost of production for an extended per- iod of 35 years: = Ald: Jehn Bennett protested against “overburdened taxpayers being asked to assist In building ed thumbs down on $1,328,000 for a low rental housing scheme | a result of the discussion Van— slum clearance and home build- | komes for others.” - Answering the alderman, Mayor Telford pointed out that Vancou- | ver is actually takine “a Jess | through increased crime and dis- | ease fostered in the city’s shim | areas. See | Rather than subsidize a private | corporation, Ald. EE DD. Wyiisen favored a2 municipally-controiled scheme to provide low vental hous- ing. He opposed the erantin=—of - preferential treatment to any one group of investors. ee PP. R. U. Stratton, considered an: authority on Jocal housine condi-— tions, thought it was pEossible for the city.to build houses to rent for $15 a mionth: Such 4a project sould | be desirable, he said. and listen to Mooney, and the -