“THERE PEOPLES ADVOCATE eed Page Three ht On pupport Canadian Railway Unions In Merger 18 railway brotherhoods in The decision of the United jsistance in the amalgamation @ the Brotherhocd of Locomotive 4 gineers, was preparing his brief | presentation. He is expected to be specific answers to pro-amal- "2mationist proposals made by two Meoges of Sir Edward Beatty, got. J. M. MacDougall and CG. W. tterson of Calgary. Recent sessions of the Senate Tamittee have witnessed a par- of mysterious individuals iming to represent certain bodies opinion but actually, according observers, subsidized by vested erestS behind the campaign for i1alpamation. (3. W. Peterson, who testified last ek, came from Calgary in order, "> use his own terms, to make “a Szorous attack on the present level railway wages, on unions domi- ted by international officers, 2st cf whom are not resident in mada, who while defending ex- ling high wages are opposed to 4 ier economies.” 4 Peterson represents nobody nt himself. This was made lear during his testimony, when ‘is fare was paid to Ottawa from _algary on motion by Sir Arthur feizhen, Tory leader who has ‘iloted into the comimittee every tpokesman for Sir Edward peatty. —Prof. MacDougal of Queen's Sjiversity took a similar line, Bouck the eminent professor was ite prepared to face a strike of t months or a year on the rail- sys “to clean up the situation.” His proposal meant in effect a skout of railroaders on both sys- ims, an attempt to smash their Special to the Advocate OTTAWA, Ont.—As officials of Canada’s Standard Railway fabor Organizations prepared to make further representations Wfore the Senate Railway Committee opposing CNR-CPR algamation, a message of support came from representatives United States. States railroaders offering full fisht was transmitted to the Ca- dian legislative committee as its spokesman, Howard B. Chase, _ unions, and a policy which would lead to disruption of the economic life of the country. Earlier the Committee had been forced to listen to a hysterical at- tack on the unions launched by Allan Meikle, president of the Phoney Canadian Federation of Labor. It was Meighen again who insisted that the committee hear Meikle. Meanwhile Senator James Mur- doch in communications read to the Senate Committee last week. charged that the Citizens’ Group for Railway Action was com- posed of CPR shareholders, and that its purpose was to saddle Canadian taxpayers with a bur- den of $32,000,000 annually as Suaranteed dividends to share— holders of that company. The senator declared that if an investigation were undertaken, the character of those who were mem- bers of the organization would be discovered. He said there were some “special interests who should be smoked out with regards to the amalgamation campaign” conduct- ed by the so-called citizens’ group. Many of the organization mem- bers were financially interested in the GPR and the material they were spreading was “absolutely un- true.” Im connection with the Liberal senator’s charge that the CPR was financing the Canadian Federation ef Labor, it is known here that delegates to the recent convention of that organization travelled free on CPR passes. abor Chiefs Oust Five Ppponents Of Chamberlain LONDON, Eng—Fxpulsion of five leading members of the abor Party for supportins Sir Stafford Cripps’ campaign for a opular Front against the Chamberlain National government nenge large sections of the British Sorking and middle class people. ' Aneurin Bevan and George ) rauss, MP’s, Sir Charles Treve- San, Aibert Bruce and Lieut Com- Sander E. P. Young refused to sed the Labor Party executive arning to stop agitating for unity id their support of Cripps. Other embers are faced with expulsion, ‘cluding Prof Harold J. Laski, Ynless they change their stand. Since his expulsion a tew weeks zo Cripps has been meeting with large measure of success in his ampaign Crowded meetings have iven him tumultous receptions ad his petition is being sigmed by sundreds of thousands. Moreover, ripps has succeeded in combining 3iS Campaign with intense per- onal efforts to strengthen the "as raised the question of “whither is the Labor Party headings” Labor Party. Over 1000 members haye been re- eruited to the Labor Party by Cripps since he was ousted. At the Free Trade Hall in Manchester nearly 500 members were signed up. Observers here state that the executive members who voted for the expulsion of Cripps have not recruited 2a fraction of that num- ber. “a Transport House, headquarters of the Labor Party, announces it eannot take the lead in uniting the opposition forces because it stands for Socialism, but its support of Ghamberlain is just as definite. The movement for a Democratic Front is expected to make great headway with the release of the five prominent members from the ranks of the party. ~ No Immediate Election seen In Vacant Riding _ Wo provincial by-election in Vancouver to fill the vacancy ‘reated by the death of Ald. Fred Crone, MLA, is seen likely ‘or several months, probably not before September, according @ reports from Victoria this week. The Provincial Elections Act de- aQands a by-election within six naonths of 2 vacancy, and an elec- ion could be called within 15 days £ the government so desired. But since the “provincial legis- ature is not likely te meet before Jctober, it is believed Victoria will t0t call for a poll much before that ime. Ald. Crone, who represented the “iberal Party in Vancouver Centre, tied suddenly while playing golf at Shaughnessy Heights Club on “Londay. Under provisions of the Elections Act, it would require 10 days for sreparing the voters’ list and post- ng them, before nominations could | Je called. But owing to the fact hat some 12,000 people are at pres- snt disfranchised owing to their ‘allure to vote in the last elections, here are only 20,000 people on the ist. Lhe Act would therefore re juire April 14 to be the deadline fOr receiving applications for reg- stration, and the Court of Re- vision would be held May 15, which would mean that June 5 would be She earliest possible day for nom- mations. 1300,000 US COAL MINERS ON STRIKE NEW YORK, NY—Some 300,000 eoal miners in the Appalachian coal area covering 70 percent of the United States soft coal industry remained away from the mines this week as officials of the United Mine Workers of America met with eperators in an attempt to nego- tiate a new agreement. Most of the affected mines are in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The shutdown, however, covers the entire soft coal area. Secretary of Labor Prances Per- ins wired negotiators from Wash- ington over the weekend asking operators to be reasonable in their demands. She pointed out that the union had conceded the employ- ers’ request for a two-year exten- sion of the contract which expired last Friday midnight. She said it seemed reasonable that the coal operators should either agree to the union sugges- tions or make a proposal of their own. > GERMAN SEAMAN’S PAY ENVELOPE Soe ie en een) ay & HZ, Uberstunden 2g. Eph —:RM. Tage Verpicgung zu RM. {Gr Urlaub vom: — bis Mebrrertienst: Barvercicosr . =. “ Bordbekistigung = Gessmrverdienst . ~ mrewerirel. Lohnsseurs suf ———8/aKirchenseuccaul 2 PBUtgersteucr....... Beltrsg zur Scekasse ~ Wersorgungskmsst = Arbeltslosenversichcrung = Ste-Krankenkasse: - ~ Deurchen Arbeisfro! (S:eucrberrsg) = = > Winrerhille..- *WorscbuD auf Zichschein ~ Pfindung .- Sonstiges. ee ne One eee —VorschuB wom Kapitio.in © Die Enrlessung erfolgte — t2 < 4 Uerers-brit dea Rapitins _ o=*Obiges Restretbaten habe tch erhalten verbihais bie xum.b Tage an dic OP. eréérspese irgrsdecicher An weder stellen Kann-noch werdc. Dives Mewtrabrechnwng dst corgsditly amPratewen eA et Sh Mere re Bigger — Grants To City Asked A. E. Craddock Warns of Burden On Taxpayers A strong plea for better treat- ment of Vancouver in the way of increased grants from the pro- wineial government was voiced this week by A. E. Craddock, sec- retary-manager of the Associated Property G@wmers, in referring to the fact that the city, while con- tributine more than $9,000,000 an- nually to the provincial treasury, receives a return of only five percent. Urging the discarding of the present system oof assessment and adoption of some system along the lines of revenue, Crad- dock proposes as one means of relieving the overburdened tax- payer the application of the 52 percent profits from liquor in Vancouver to the city treasury. “This will relieve the property owners from what is now becom- ing a suffocating taxation bur- den,” he declares. He points to the fact that, ac- cording to statistics supplied by the deputy minister of finance, Vancouver contributes $2,719,710 in gasoline taxes; $2,627,179 in motor vehicle licenses; $3,607,315 in liquor profits; and $209,455 in amusements tax. Out of this sum, Craddock pro- poses that the city receive in re— turn 65 percent of the gax tax; 75 percent of motor license re- ceipts; 50 percent of liquor prof- its; and 60 percent of amusements tax. At the present time, the city receives only some $470,000 ear- marked for schools and $270,000 for roads, or about five percent. Graddock pointed to the fact that the provincial government has discontinued its grants to the city from pari-mutuel taxes and liquor profits. Grants from this direction amounted to close to $200,000. LABOR ACT FOR ONTARIO TORONTO, Ont.—David A. Croll, member of the Ontario legislature for Windsor and former minister of labor in the Hepburn cabinet, announced this week his intentions of introducing a bill into the legis- lature guaranteeing workers the right to organize into unions of their own choice. While Croll would not elaborate on the proposed bill it is under- stood it will be modelled after the Nova Scotia Trade Union Act which gives employees wide rights to organize. Highlights of the legislation are expected to be provisions for heavy penalties against employers who prevent workers from organizing and making it a criminal offense for employers to refuse to bargain with the trade union in the plant or industry- Arthur Roebuck, MLA for Beil- woods and a former attorney-— general in the Hepburn cab- inet before he and Croll were forced to resign for their support of the Oshawa auto strikers, has indicated he will support the mea- sure, while organized labor in the proyince has given the proposal enthusiastic approval. Vancouver School Board expects to launch its $390,000 building and renovating program withina month after final approval of the loan, it Was indicated this week. Immediately the loan is author- ized, tenders will be called for the first new building, a $90,000 elemen- tary school. = x Monar——-—__Tage. RM. Pausthale RM. — {ir freica TagiMonar = fallig am Werk-— — Sonpuge -- RM. Mit diceer Zahlung sind meine akmiichen D.R. canstandenen Anspracbe reatlos adg Usterschrin éce Empliagers = rem. €a win bel Secuteagung oon Are Kars arteitatenrhefnigume mma wercufepen tale Oldenburg-Portugiesiscke Dampischilfs-Rhederel S See f5f 724 Oberstunden zu ¥4 Rpf = RM- 7 Tage Verphegung zu RM. ft, ¥o 7. /2- ge = ig arn 7 = 74 wea Fallig 2 2 Monat > Arbeltsloxenversicherung » Scee-Krankenkassc. . . ~ Deurscheo Arbeirsfronr S ~ Winterhilfe ... Vorschu auf Zichschel Pficdung .- STS Sa Sa Vorschut vom Kaplrindn Die Entlassung erfolgre t sarinem Dienst- a5 Ich weitere Obig Ferhilizia Bis xum beutigen Tege an die QO. SA Diese Mowrradrechrwng e. WTerer Wien gy stress on mE sure ioe peas B25 Be ca Reetcuibaten habe ich achalicn Mit dieser Zahlung sted meine skmstichen sil 18H pees 703 ESS RM,3 3 245 Z S Ke. — ae hot f_ Restguthaben RM. 7 (RX <> ———— Fis ef j a Heats ii, 4, Ge tO rie SYA ZOE Untersch ft dex Kepidne Fees, if “meinem Diensr- BRoeort peeden Anypricke restos shgegeliert $0 da ich sesmrre 1 Forécrunges irgenewelcher Art weder stellen kann noch © erde. sh ft des Explingers hrem. ca ale tel eaml crg ise) Sle Arleitabrar he tsigum mre Bre une 5 ent were K) Looe cere ef = Olvenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschills-! Typical pay envelopes of two German seamen show (left) a balance of 7.38 marks ($3.12) after a month’s work, and (right) a balance of 10.62 marks ($424) after all taxes and deductions. Included in the chechk-off are sums for the German workers’ front and winter relief. Inflation, Higher Taxes Hit German Wage Scales BERLIN, Germany.—Germany’s working people are al- ready feeling the first effects of the Czechoslovak and Memel burglaries in a reduction in their living standards, monetary inflation and a steep rise in taxes. The day after Memel was in-~% vaded, Britz Reinhardt, undersecre- tary of state+in the finance minis- try, issued a decree providing for inflation in the form of fiat money (paper with any backing except Hitler’s orders that it be negoti- able). The same decree, which was re- troactive from January 1, 1938, also demands that taxes be paid years in advance by certain industries Mot within the finance capitalist sphere. Continuance of this process means that while Czechoslovakia was being robbed and bled white, the German people likewise will have to dig at the expense of their stomachs. The latest Nazi financial raid is all the more startling in view of the fact that the Nazis’ first haul in Czechoslovakia amounted to roughly $200,000,000, and serves to emphasize their desperate eco-— nomic plight, a situation which is actually aggravated by each suc- cessive conquest. Wot long before the aggression against the Czechs, a Nazi loan had failed. That is, despite pressure and threats, no more “free” money was available. The Nazis had rifled every cash box they could lay their hands on, that is, of course, except the over- flowing coffers of the armament trust magnates backing Hitler. Savings bank deposits, insur- ance company reserves, and all other such resources belonging to ths people have long ago been stolen. So this time they resorted to a new form of financial robbery. The oppressive nature of the lat- est income tax is demonstrated by the fact that if a worker who earns 600 marks ($240) a year is able to inerease his income, he must pay 30 percent income tax on the in- creased portion. Put more clearly it means that any worker who is now able to imecrease his pay above $5 a week has to give the Nazis 30 percent of that increase. Besides that, what he pays for bread will rise and the money he gets will decrease in value because of inflation. Considering this situation the prize for sardonic humor in Ger- many belongs to the newspaper Lokalanzeiger, which made the fol- lowing comment on the latest financial decrees: “The German citizen will con- tinue to take part during the next few years in the wonders of Ger- man financial politics.” NEWSMEN WIN ANOTHER STRIKE WLLEES-BARRE, Pa-—The 26 week-old strike of the Wilkes- Barre Wewspaper Guild against three local dailies came to an end here recently as strikers over- whelmingly accepted an agreement arranged by leaders of the Guild and the Cio. The agreement, which provided for a five-day, forty-hour week, closed shop conditions and arbitra- tion of wage demands, came after six months of strike action during which all three daily papers were suspended. The Guild organized its own news collecting service and broadcast items nightly. President John IL. Lewis of the GIO assisted union leaders in the negotiations and helped arrange the settlement. Previous to final negotiations the publishers had offered what union leaders called a “sub-standard” contract with a “take-it-or-leave— it?” attitude ‘When the strikers “Jeft it’ the publishers’ representa— tives walked out of the conferences. PROTEST DRIVE ON JUGOSLAVIA Anticipating possible interfer- ence by Hitler in the internal prob- lems of Jugo-Slavia, some 350 Io- cal immigrants from Jugo-Slavia assembled at the Orange Hall Sun- day to raise unanimous protest against the ambitions of the fascist 2geressor within their country or any other state. While declaring themselves ready at all times “to defend and fight for the democracy of their new coun- try—Canada,” against the attacks of any aggressor power, those in attendance reaffirmed their opposi- tion to fascist occupation of any part of Jugo-Slavia under the pre- tense of settling some internal problem, such as the demands of the Croats. The Croatian people have de- mands which will, if granted, tend to solidify internal relations of the country and oppose any interfer- ence by Germany or Italy in the nation’s domestic affairs, speakers affirmed. Resolutions ito this effect were cabled from the meeting to Prime Minister Mackenzie King, to Dr. V. Macek, leader of the Croatian Peasant Party at Zagreb, and to the Jugo-Slay government at Bel- grade. P. Pavlich and S. Jakovievich were the two feature speakers. M. Ruljanovich acted as chairman. stake and the breadline. S Railmen Oppose Unification | | PILE DRIVERS ASK COUNCIL TO - JOIN MAY DAY Restaurant Workers Launch Organizing Campaign in City Vancouver Trades and Ia- bor Council participation in the 1939 May Day celebrations Was urged in a letter presented before the central labor body by Local 2404 of the Pile Driv- ers and Wooden Bridgemen’s Union at Tuesday night’s meet- ing. The local also asked that repre- Sentations be made to have May. Day declared a civic holiday. - Delegates approved the recom- mendation of the Trades Council executive referring the question of participation to the local unions for endorsation. Delegate Stewart of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ Union announced that his union is shortly launching an intensive campaign to unionize a larger number of the citys cafes. The Labor Concil- jiation and Arbitration Act had hindered organization of_ these places. The Oyster Bar on Granville Street, formerly known as the Del- monico, would be unionized throughout when it opened its doors for business, he informed the delegates. The Trades Council executive Was asked by the Taxi Drivers’ Union delegate to make representa— tions to the New Vancouver Hotel to consider union taxis when let- ting the contract for the stand. The barbers’ delegate also asked that a union shop be established in the hotel as the old hotel housed a non-union place. Hon. Norman Rogers, Minister of Labor, in a letter to the council welcomed its support for wunem- ployment insurance, stating that if similar actions were taken where provincial governments were in op- position the measure would be as- sured of passage. WORK ON FISH DOCK TO GET UNDER WAY Work is expected to start on the fishermen’s dock at the head of False Creek about the end of the week or just as soon as the fed-— eral government gives definite as- surance to the Pacific Goast Fish- ermen’s Union that no difficulties will be encountered in the dredg- ing of the channel. Ald. Halford D. Wilson was siven some assurance to that effect when he took the matter up with the Ottawa authorities last week A careful inspection of the site was made by R. O. Campney, chair- man of the National Harbor Board, before he left for Ottawa last week and he will take the matter up with the federal government. You Anybody! ... And they’ll tell you that your donation toward the $2800 Advocate sustaining fund drive will give you an ace-in-the-hole that will help to force Canada’s open shop bosses to throw in their hand. Ask That Railroader He'll tell you the Advocate is consistent in exposing the biggest holdup of the century—the CPR’s proposal to take over the Canadian National system. Ask That Fisherman He'll tell you the Advocate has fought for unionism on the fishing grounds and helped to get that extra few cents a fish that means the difference between a winter In Fact, Ask Anybody! . . . And they’ll tell you to shoot in those dollars for democracy now before “Old Man Deficit” gets the better of the argument and you lose a friend. a Send all donations and subscriptions to W. Ravenor, Press Drive Committee, Room 14, 163 W. Hastings St. Boycott Japanese Goods!