THE PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE Page Three IN U.S. Dr. Eduard Benes, former president of Czechoslovakia, speaks to a ? -rowd of severai thousand who cheered him on his arrival in New York. With him was dirs. Benes. Spain Will Not Accept Unconditional ‘Peace’ States Lieut. Kardash “There is no truth in newspaper headlines that the Spanish rovernment is planning a new surrender. The peace proposals >t Premier Dr. Juan Negrin were placed before the League of ‘Nations more than a year ago as the only condition for an end -o the war,” declared Lieut. Wil- Siam Kardash to an audience of nore than 1200 people in the Em- scress Theater Sunday night. Resting his amputated right lez m a chair, the youthful leutenant of the Mackenzie-Papineau Batta- ion gaye a resume of events lead- *nme up to the rebellion which he Wstated had been transformed into iim invasion by Italian troops and Solanes six days after it broke out. | Documents had been seized in Scoreign embassies proving foreign jurid had been promised Franco lone 9erore the rebellion started, and che implementing of the populer ront government's policy of giving fF and to the peasants and increas- . ug wages had served as one of the excuses for the rebel generals and gerandees to start the revolt, Sardash explained. “Every loss and defeat has only served te strengthen the ‘Spanish people and make them more determined to die fighting on their feet than live as slaves on their knees,’ Kardash stated amid a burst of applause. At Brunette and Teruel the pop- ulace had remained behind the cebel lines, despite grave danger, to aid the Loyalists, and when these cities fell to the republican armies they had joined their ranks, while at Saragosa the gar- rison had revolted and was sub- dued by italian planes. The Basques had carried on for eight and a half months against the well trained forces of Italians, | Moors and Germans, although they Shad only one rifle to five men. 'These actions proved that the lpeople Know and understand the struggle and would not tolerate 'fascism, Kardash said. “Never in the world’s history have tens of thousands of men left their hemes, families and jobs and gone voluntarily to fight in a foreign land with one pur- pose—to defeat fascism. Im the ranks of the International Bri- gade were men speaking 53 dif- ferent languages,’ Kardash de- clared. There were Germans and Ita- lians, not only emigres but men who had found their way out of concentration camps to come to Spain, to make up the Thaelman ! and Garibaldi battalions, he said. ieardash stated he went to Spain because he feit, as did the 1200 other Canadians, that he did net Want the younger generation con- scripted to fight in Britain and France, that the place to fight fas- cism was in Spain since the de— fense lines of democracy were front lines of Spain. “T have no regrets for fighting in Spain, and would do it again if T had the oportunity,” he declared amid cheers. Sergeant George Ross, who re- turned with seven others Sunday | morning, declared that members of the Mackenzie-Papineasu- Battalion Gid not leave Spain as a defeated force, but came home to carry on the struggle against fascism in Canada. George Edgar, another veteran, told the audience of how the Mac- Paps were shipped home, the au- thorities being very careful that no demonstrations were held in their honor. In Liverpool the vet- erans had refused to board ,ship untGl given some assurance that their comrades still in Spain would be sent home safely. Behind the speakers a sandbags barricade stretched zig-zag across the stage with two veterans mount ing guard at each end. Crosses honoring those who fell in baitle cast their shadows across the stage backdrop. At the entrance another veteran did guard duty. Volunteers marched with their colors to the theater and laid them in front of the speaker's table. As they marched in the audience rose as one and tendered them a rous— ing ovation. Beckie Buhay, national organizer for the Friends of the Mackenzie Papineau Battalion spoke briefly en the tour which has met with splendid response from ali sorts of people. Her appeal brought in sev- eral large donations from various organizations amounting to $416. George Miller of the Salmon Purse Seiners’ Union presided. A full minute’s silence was observed for Canada’s war dead in Spain. A resoution asking the Canadian government to break with the “ap- peasement” policy of Chamberlain and lift the arms embargo to Loy- alist Spain received the meeting's endorsement. ClO Launches Drive Against NLRA Changes WASHINGTON, DC.—John L. Lewis, CIO president, this week announced the launching of a nation-wide campaign to defeat the amendments to the National Labor Relations Act proposed by William Green and introduced in Senate Bill 1000 by Senator Dayid I. Walsh of Mas- sachusetts. Opening gun in the campaign to save the Act for labor was fired with the publication of a new pamphlet prepared by the legal dept. entitled “The Wagner Act Threatened With Destruction.” The pamphlet analyzes the nine proposed amendments in the Walsh-Green bill and describes them as designed to “foster com- pany unionism and shackle Ameri- can labor to the courts.” Special efforts will be made to reach AHT. unions, many of which are far from agrecing with William Green in his drive against the Act. A serious threat to all genuine Jabor unions, API. as well as CIO, is seen in the amendments. The new ClO pamphlet charges that the Walsh-Green amendments “go far beyond anything author- 4zed or favored by the Houston convention of the AFL,” Taking up the Walsh-Green-em- Cre | ployer amendments one by one, the apmphlet describes the anti- labor features of each. First on the list is the amend- ment redefining company wnions which would allow employers to interfere with unions and favor one as against another—in other words, removing the checks on employers now contained in the Act. The proposed amiendments would also allow company union con- tracts to stand, taking away the Board’s present power to invalidate them, Gontracts signed with unions in collusion with employers would also be allowed toe stand— leaving a wide loophole for dishon- est labor practices. This is described as one of the worst features of the Walsh-Green bill, which would destroy the Act and “destroy with it all the bene fits which members of the CIO and the ABIL alike have enjoyed under its protection.” TCL RE-STATES OPPOSITION 10 CITY MANAGER Delegate Warns Of Move to Bring Back Ward System Some measure of recognition was siven the Trades and Labor Council by the City Council when the latter asked that a list of all firms employing un- ion labor or dealing in union- made products be supplied the city s purchasings agent. P. R. Bengough, Council secre— tary, read out a list and asked other locals who had agreements or knew of more to supply him with the additions. Trades Council reiterated its stand in oppoSsifion to any return to the ward system. A report whieh prefaced a resolution to that effect was made by A. For- dyce, who stated the advocates of the city manager plan were advan- cing a plan to subdivide the city into four wards as a step towards “their goal. Continental Upholsterers placed on the “we do not patron- ize” list of Council when they stalled and evaded the question of recognizing Local 306, UWpholster— ers Union. Another dairy was added to the list of union plants when Birt Showler announced that IWational Dairies had signed an agreement with Malk Salesmen and Dairy Employees. Delegate Shearer reported on a2 meeting of the Boycott Committee, l of which he is chairman, to be held in the | Tuesday, were Labor Headquarters on February 28 at 8 pm. ; Amone other business to be deait with will be the election of officers. The organizing committee of Couneil is meeting tonight (Fri- day) in the Labor Headquarters. Charles Stewart, chairman, invited any union with organization prob- lems to send delegates in order that the committee might render them some assistance. He stated his committee had drawn up a plan ns ‘Building Trades: Delegate Charges Aldermen‘Hedging’ Charging that “a couple of old mossbacks on the City Coun- cil” were blocking Vancouver's entry into a housing program under the National Housing Act, William Page, secretary of the Building Trades Council, won the unanimous approval of dele- gates to Tuesday night's Trades and Labor Council meeting in his request that Council reiterate its stand in support of the low rental housing scheme. Page charged that aldermen were hedging on the question of the one percent taxation clause, which they claim would create a “preferred” class of taxpayers. “There is no basis for such an assertion,” the building trades dele- gate remarked. “The fact is; we be- lieve the low rental housing scheme, for which the federal gov- ernment has earmarked $1,328,000 for VYancouver’s use, is the best plan advanced yet, since it is de Signed particularly to provide homes for those with low incomes.”’ He refuted Ald. John Bennett's elaim that the weakness of the scheme had been proved several years ago when houses had been built for Great War veterans. The delegate explained that the main objective of the scheme under the ational Housing Act was to build homes in blocks, which would provide the city with a source of income through rentals where at present it was unable to collect any taxation. The city could borrow up to 90 percent on any given number of houses, Page said, and where the city owned the property it would be credited to its ten percent of construction costs. He explained also that Vancou- ver was in a particularly favorable position over other cities, since it would be able to build individual units at less cost than eastern cities, where it would be necessary to build the duplex type of home and provide for more eostly. heatinie= equipment. In connection with the scandal Qn inferior Home construction ex- posed several weeks ago by an offi- cial of the federal government, Page stated that some contractors have since been barred from enter-— ing tenders on house construction Since their previous jobs had been cheaply done. Delegate Stewart urged dele- gates to back the scheme, pointing out that large corporations had lifted themselves out of the depres- sion at the expense of the workers. He stated these corporations had made more profits in the past few years than at any time prior to 1929 while wages had not advanced materially in the same period, but this housing scheme provided an opportunity for the working people to assist themselves. Kitchener Rubber Strike Solid Despite Provocation KITCHENER, Ont—Strikebound plants of the Dominion Tire and Merchants Rubber companies remained closed this week as 1300 striking employees maintained picket lines in front of both buildings. of organization for the Stationery Engineers’ Union to draw the jani- tors into the realm of unionized workers. Gonditions in this line of work was deplorable, with janitors in many cases only receiving $40 per month and working long _ hours every day, he stated. NAZIS WORRIED OVER AUSTRIA GENEVA, Switzerland—German authorities are reported te be deeply concerned this weelk with an “away from Germany’ move- ment which has got under way in the western province of Austria, the former Vorarlberg province, which borders on Switzerland. The movement is being carried on quietly but with determination by the citizens of the district. The people have always been more Swiss in character and more in sympathy with Switzerland than with Austria. Resistance to Nazi orders is makine itself felt to am increasing extent. Many public services have been affected. Trains have been delayed many hours and work on fortifications along the Swiss bor- der carried out by conscripted labor from other parts of Germany has been hampered by the ill-will of the local people. Six German Cities Place Ban On YRICA BERLIN, Germany—The Young Men’s Christian Association has been banned by the Nazi govern- ment in Dresden and five other major German cities. The action was taken under the decree of 1933 “for the protection of the people and the state.” The property of the YMCA will be confiscated, and while reason was given for the banning, obser- vers of the Nazi regime found it a logical sequence to repressive measures Hitler has already taken against all Catholic youth organi- zations in the Reich- INCO Pays Huge Salaries In 1938 NEW YORK, N.Y—internation-— al Nickel Company, which supplies some 90 percent of the world’s nickel for armament purposes, paid its chairman, Robert C. Stan- ley, a s@lary of $204,550 in 1938, it was revealed here this week. John F. Thompson, executive vice-president of the giant nickel company, received 091,150. All ex ecutive officers together got 3$778,- 800 in 1938. c City Hall Highlights This Week T MIGHT have been just a co- incidence, but a number of observers at City Hall Monday noticed how quiet & group of aldermen were regarding propo- sals made by the BC Pederation on Unemployment for improve-— ment in the relief situation, then how voluble they became imme- diately after over the proposal to deny married women jobs. It seems to be a custom of long standing ‘‘on the hill” to get worked up to a fever pitch over matters that don’t touch the pocketbooks of the citys ruling families, then emulate the Saan- ich clam when it comes to ques- tions affecting the lives of thou- sands of people. Wot that the clash on jobs for women did not revolve around an important question of principle. Ald. Gutteridge left no doubt of this when she tore into the pro- posal to write a letter to employ— ers asking them not to hire mar- ried women and warned council members to expect “repercus- sions” from every women’s or- ganization in the city, which, she decared, had been fighting for years to establish equal rights with men on the labor market “Once we do this well be adopting the policies of the fas- cist states,’ she said, citing the examples of Germany and Italy. As a result mainly of her oppo- sition, the social services com- mittee finally decided to tone down its letter. The revised com- munication will be drafted by a committee comprising Ald. H. D. Wilson, Ald. Gutteridge and Counsel D. E. McTaggart. = = = ENTATIVE approval has been given a $65,000 water devel- opment program to increase water pressure in the higher levels of the West End by SESE Gounceil this week. The program will include re placement of a wooden water main at Broadway and Vine with new piping costing $40,000. Some gaps will be closed in the Kitsi- lano system and a 12-inch main installed on Comox Street to the height of land on Bute. The strike was called last week on ‘demands for increased wages, abolition of speedup and recogni- tion of the United Rubber Work ers’ Union. Since the plants were closed, strikers’ representatives have met company officials twice in an attempt to negotiate differ-— ences, but in both cases the com-— panies haye adjourned the confer— ences. New discussions are expect- ed toward the end of the week. A widely-circuated rumor that the companies intended to move their plants out of Kitchener was termed by N. H. Eagie, URW or- Ganizer, as a “bogey so often used that it has whiskers on it.” “Why, in the United States a coal operator Eves threatened to move his mine,” he added amid laughter. Meanwhile strikers were forced to face strikebreaking attempts by Hon. N. ©. HMipel, Ontario minister of labor, who had stated to the press that workers’ demands for a five-cent-an-hour wage increase “was of secondary importance.” Strike committee members were quick to deny the insinuation, pointing out that while the issue of union recognition was import- ant, increases in wages were by no means a secondary issue. Trades Council Asks City Hous! Plan TORONTO LABOR LEADER EXPOSES McCULLAGH PLAN Leadership Leasue Has Fascist Program Says Ald. Smith TORONTO, Ont. Globe and Mail Publisher George Me- Cullagh’s “save Canada” policy forms the basis of a fascist at- tack on the democratic institu- tions of the nation, Ald. Stew- art Smith told a Toronto audi- ence here this week in the course of a speech exposing the reaction— ary forces behind the publisher and his Leadership League. “The root problem, according to MeCullagh and the Globe and Mail, is the incompetence to rule of the masses of the people,” Ald. Smith declared. “His whole program is predicated on the fact that he con- ceives the source of ills of the ‘political system’ to be the fact that the people can exert and do exert influence upon the govern- ment. That is wrong, he says, and must be stopped. “MeCullagh infers that demo- cracy is running wild. A stop must be made to the whole business. It must be brought under control by competent people, men who know. what is really good for Canada, men like R. B. Bennett, Col. George Drew, Charles Dunning and Mz George McCullagh,” the alderman remarked ironically. The speaker went into a deep amalysis of the nature of MecCul- lagh’s program, which proclaims arrestins government spending and making a substantial reduc— tion in taxation generally, and pro- poses as a solution to Canada’s economic ills the expansion of pri- wate industry and enterprise. “These are familiar catchwords of the banking interests—less goy- ernment in business and more busi- mess in government,” the labor al- derman charged. “When McCullach demands 2 50 percent reduction in taxation you may be sure that the least he means is a 50 percent cut in the taxes of the rich and a much smaller proportionate reduction in the people’s taxes” Big capitalist interests have been working toward this objective for a long time, the speaker charged- Hepburn and Duplessis had been working on it, but their “axis” no longer fills the bill. So this new method is tried. The prime moving forces in the whole plan are these around Sir Edward Beatty and the CPR. They want to amalgamate the railways, steal the CNR from the people. They aiso want te pre- pare the people for war Im this lay the secret of McCullagh’s recentiy-discovered concern for the youth. The Leadership League is but a ecopy of the United States’ ili- famed Liberty League. The con- tent is the same. “What is needed in answer to MeCullaugh is the unity of the great masses of democrats of all parties who will push forward quickly to fight for a program of real recovery and real democracy,” Ald. Smith asserted. ‘Tjet the hesitating democrats of the old parties come forward fear— lessly and let the trade unions and farmers’ organizations step to the forefront.” Georges Bonnet Asks To Become Ally Of Axis By HAROLD JEFFERSON PARIS, France—Dominating all else in French affairs are the peel allegations against Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet. Several papers have declared categorically that he has sent his friend De Brinon to Berlin and Baudoin to Rome for negotiations on colonies. Tt has long been suggested that Bonnet’s aim is to “buy a place in the axis’ and that he is prepared to go to any length to make this possible at the expense of French democracy. This theory was confirmed in startling fashion when an account ef the De Brinon-Ribbentrop con- versations were published by Ga- briel Peri in L’Humanitie. Several cabinet ministers are prepared to yvyouch for the accuracy of the ac- eount. Ribbentrop told De Brinon Ger- many soon intended to demand re— cognition of her moral right to have a colonial empire and stated that concrete demands weuld come later. De Brinon allowed it to be un- derstood that Bonnet had no ob- jections. Ribbontrop said that he understood Bonnet wanted to use Germany against Italy and added that “we can’t be separ ated from our axis ally—or rather, only if France were to substitute for Italy in the system of alliances.” “Por this Hrance must renounce its western alliances and its under— standing with the United States,” Ribbentrop said. “Further, your system of democratic lcence makes a truly intimate under standing difficult.” Said De Brinon: “The foreign minister understands that align-— ment with the axis imposes a new conception of democracy and mica- sures for internal order, but he has agreed in advance to these mea- sures” Ribbentrop asked what mea- sures were envisaged and De Brinon enumerated three. First the suppression of the Commun- ist Party of Erance; second, 2 controlied press; third, restric- tion of the rights of parliament, free speech and assembly.