SS AND DEMGCRACY

IVE HOME NEWSPAPER

BRITISH COLUMBIA’S PROGRESS
VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1939

[LABOR UNITES |
TO ELECT

FOR PEACE, PROGRE

FULL No. 223.

Labor Will Answer

[AN EDITORIAL]

BELGIUM TESTS DEFENSES

EXPECTED FOR

te throw out the election of

the candidate of the CCF.

qe PATTULLO seeks to accomplish a two-fold

purpose by holding the by-election in Wancouver
Center on May 1. He hopes by this indecent maneuver to
divert the attention of some working-class voters from the
election, and the attention of other working class voters
from the May Day demonstration.

By staging a counter-attraction he hones to divide labor
on that day. Undoubtedly, he hopes that the many pro-
visions in his election act, such as the prohibition of ban-
ners and slogans advocating support for a candidate for
2 period of forty-eight hours prior to and during election
day, will put a crimp in the campaign in support of a labor
candidate. And if he can fasten any violation of this pro-
vision on te the working class organizations he will be able

The reply of labor and progressive organizations and
ef alli who are in sympathy with them is: while being care-
ful to refrain from violating the elections act, te turn out in
even greater numbers to the parade and demonstration
and on the same day go to the polls and cast their ballots for

Answer the Liberal machine by turning out in greater
numbers than ever before for the May Day labor and pro-
gressive celebration and by burying Pattullo’s candidate
under an avalanche of ballets cast for Mrs. Laura Jamieson.

their candidate.

PROJECT MEN

FACING ANNUAL
JOB CRISIS

RPWU To Urge
Gow’t Declare Stand
On Works Plan

Warnings of an unemploy-
ment crisis in Vancouver as
forestry camps, which have
provided work for some 4000
single men, began closing this
week, were sounded by offi-
cials of the Relief Project
Workers Union.

Uniess the provincial government
has a2 program to offer, a situation
similar to that of last year may
occur when the men’s deferred pay
is exhausted about June i. Mayor
Dbyie Telford has been attemptine
to Bring the potential seriousness
of the situation before the federal
government while attending the
Conference of Canadian Mayors,
but neither government has made
a2 move to cope with the problem
mor outline a program of works.

That the authorities locally are
worried about the situation was
evident this week ‘when Police
Chief W. W. Foster met with Min-
ister of Labor Pearson in Victoria.
R. Hendricks, secretary of the
Relief Project Workers’ Union, in-
terviewed regardine Chief Foster’s
Gomment to the Vancouver press
en policing of unemployed this
spring, said he was in asreement
with the statement regarding the
decency and discipline shown py
the men in the camps during the
winter.

“The single men have always
shown this strength of charac-
ter,” he said, “but unless the zov-
ermmnets come forward with a
werks pregram, things will be
mzore acute than they were last

(Continued on page 6)
See CRISIS

COAL BARONS
FORCE STRIKE

NEW YORK, NY, April 20.—-A
Seneral strike of miners in United
States soft coai mines has been
ordered for May 5 by the United
Mine Workers of America unless
the operators sisn a renewal of the
contract embodying a 50-cent daily
wage increase, 30-hour week and
deletion of the penalty clause.

President John I. Lewis accused
the operators of continuing their
“filibuster” despite attempts of the
Wational Labor Relations Board to
obtain a settlement. More than
350,000 miners have been locked
out since April 1, expiration date of
the old agreement.

Miners demand abolition of the
penalty clause which imposes a fine
ef a dollar or more every day they
are on strike, which is termed in
violation of the asreement. This
Was a substitute for the turned-
down demand for exclusive bar-
faining righis.

Coal operators apparently have
a two-fold purpose in the six-week
deadlock—to embarrass the Roose—
velt administration by forcing a
Strike at this time and to test the
Strength of the UMW =A and its wil-
lineness to strike.

During negotiations for renewal
of the contract Lewis warned the
Operators it would be the “height
of folly’ to entertain thoughts of
Smashing the union.

WY.

MES. LAURA EB. JAMIESON

SPLIT SEEN IN
BRITISH STAFF

By FRED PATEDEN

LONDON, Eng. — (CICN). A
major sensation has been created
here by news which leaked out
of a row which has broken out
in the British Committee of Im-
perial Defense on government
policy and strategy.

Ti is known that a naval chief
and one of the imperial general
staff threatened to resign jin con-

sequence of the peril involved in
the present policy.

it is apparent the fight over
Strategy rages around the question
of fighting on the outer ring now
reached by the axis powers, or
making a direct attack on Italy.
Both sides, however, agree to a
condemnation of the Chamberlain
policy on the grounds of his re—
sponsibility for the present posi-
tion.

The leakage occurred after the
premier’s speech in the House of
Commons made it clear there had
been no effective change in policy
toward collective security. The ir-

; ritation among the military to the

continued lack of an effective
counter to aggression resulted in
the indiscreet revelation of the dis-
pute in the defense committee.

The pledges given by the premier
to Greece and Roumania and an-
nounced in the House of Commons
last week were only forced by an
outburst of popular opinion after
the invasion of Albania, in which
the protests adopted by the Easter
Trade Union Conferences played
an important part.

The ramshackle system of
pledges received is by no means
a satisfactory guarantee of future
peace, because it leaves out the
most important single factor—the
Soviet Union. Tts ereation arose
from the pressure of public opinion
ana from the old parliamentary
figures such as David Lloyd
George and the Labor members in
the commons.

it therefore represents an ad-
vance, although it is n0 way satis-—
factory and still leaves the possi-
bility of a second Munich in the
Mediterranean.

The premier’s opposition to the
inelusion of the Soviet Union is
based on his desire to reapproach
Berlin via the Roman road. A
erowing feeling in the country,

(Continued on page 5)
See SPLIT

MRS. JAMIESON

Popular Choice
Has Edge On

Other Nominees

Vancouver's trade union and
workings class movement united
behind the drive to elect CCF
candidate Mrs. Laura E. Jamie-
son to the provincial house as a
brief yet bitter by-election cam-
paigsn to fill the vacancy in
Vancouver Center opened this
week.

Mrs. Jamieson, prominent CCE
member, was chosen GGF standard-

bearer at Wednesday night’s CCE
nominating convention over eight

other nominees, including Don
Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth Kerr, Her-
bert Gargrave, Arthur Turner, T.

R. Casey, E. S. Robinson and Frani:
Roberts.

The convention was marked by
extreme enthusiasm, Mrs. Jamieson
being greeted as a strong candi-
date.

With city CCE clubs and CCRr
units throughout the province al-
ready behind the drive to capture
the Center seat, it is expected that
all otber labor and progressive
groups will place their support be—
hind the candidate.

Progressive candidates failed by
very small margins in the last fed-
eral and provincial elections in the
riding.

Drs. Jamieson is widely known
in BC, having been a juvenile
court judge in Burnaby, and
played a prominent part for years
as a lecturer. President of the
Women’s International League For
Peace, she is also a leading mem-
ber of the Vancouver Embargo
Couneil: =

Both the Liberal and Gonserva-
tive parties turned to the partisan
“Non-Partisan Association” for
their candidates.

Liberal nominee is Ald. H. TI,
Corey, “Non-Partisan Association”
member; Tories have chosen Ald.
Halford D. Wilson, also a “Non-
Partisan” member.

An interesting angle of the con-
test is the fact that election day
falls on May i, international labor
day.

Labor circles charge that Premi-
er Pattullo chose this date in a
deliberate attempt to create con-
fusion, knowing that the worlkins
class mMoyement here is planning
its annual parade and celebration
for that date.

Most observers believe, however,
that the May Day celebrations will
have a determining effect on elec-
tion of the @CF candidate.

PRESSURE WINS
NURSES’ STRIKE

Strong pressure from every im-
portant civic organization and a
majority of residents in the district
was the real reason behind the suc-
eessful strike of nurses of St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Comox, which
was settled early this week with
most of the demands granted.

When nurses were forced into
strike action after their demands
had been turned down, officers of
the Native Sons of Canada spon-
sored a delegate meeting of all
public bodies in the area, addressed
by Colin Cameron, CCE-MZLA, to
protest the hHospital’s action.

As a result of this pressure, a
special meeting of the Hospital
Advisory Board was summoned
for Monday and after a 20-minute
emergency discussion, R. J. Fil-
berg, of the Comox Logging Com-
pany, notified a nurses’ delegation
that their demands were granted.

John Stanton. union attorney,
who acted for the nurses in an ad-
visory capacity, reported to the
Advocate on his return
Comox that the entire district was
behind the strike and strongly re—
sentful of working conditions im-
posed on the staff by the hospital
authorities.

Alaska Highway
Cemmission To Meet

VICTORIA, April 20—Prelimin-
ary discussions will be held here
mext Thursday by the Canadian
section of the Alaska Highway
Commission prior to 2 full confer-—
ence of the international commis-
Sion which is expected to meet in
June. Premier Pattullo will attend.

Carrying full war equipment, Bel

country road toward the new lin

Sian infantrymen march alongs 2
e oi fortifications on the eastern
borders, in anticipation of a new Nazi thrust.

Northwest Embargo Meet
Opens Vancouver Saturday

and boycott movement, dele

Saturday to open the f

parent

from |

Seriptions,

Marking a new stage in the development of the embargo

gates representing close to 500,000

people in Washington, Oregon and BC will meet in Vancouver

ference.
Sponsored by the Vancouver
Emibergo~- Council and “some 20

ether church, Political and Chinese
aid organizations, the conference
sessions, which will open in the
ITOOF hall, Pender and Hamilton
streets, are expected to map out
a policy of coordinating the efforts
of all organizaztions in the em-
bargo movement on both sides. of
the line, with the sponsors’ plans
callings for the establishment of a
permanent international executive
committee to conduct future actiy—
ity

British Columbia's
movement to stop shipment of
War materials to fascist nations
was launched last December 12
when the Women’s Christian Tem-
perance Union initiated the Van-
ecouver Embargo Council.

Since that time the movement
has spread to every major city
and rural district in the province,
with embargo councils established
at Victoria, Nanaimo and through-
out Interior BC points. Embargo
Councils haye taken part in pro-
test parades and demonstrations,
have collected some 50,000 names

embargo

(Continued on page 5)
See NORTHWEST

irst Pacific Northwest Embargo Con-

&

HOWARD COSTIGAN

RPWU Subscribes Press
Pledge In Record Time

By W. RAVENOR

Setting a mark for

all press committees to shoot at, the Relief

Project Workers’ Union upset all predictions this week by

reaching
drive.

inate returns showed the RPWU
with $120.25 turned in, 20 percent
over the pledge and well on the
way to winning its first provincial
drive trophy, Included in the am-
eunt were sufficient subscriptions
to give the project men 140 points
and the wholehearted thanks of
the campaign committee.

Keen rivalry between Vancouver
Center and Grandview is still ap-
with Grandview leading
with eight percent although the
Center holds a slight lead with 166
points against Grandview’s 160.

Trade unionists in the Center
committee are responsible for the
high score and its 32 percent Com-
mittees of the Hotel and Restau-
rant Employees have sold 41 sub-
Transportation 25)
Weedle Trades 14, Electricians 11,
and Woodworkers 8 Although the
Center committee has 150 subscrip—
tions to its credit, while Grandview,
assisted by the Seamen’s Club,
has 54.

Other Vancouver drive news saw
Burrard add $6.50 to reach 10.6 per—
eent, while Vancouver South added
$23.79 to roll up a percentage of
28.7. Hastings Hast moved up with
$25.85 and attained 31.5 percent.

Worth Burnaby leads the commit—

oer: adjoining
percent, while North Vancouver is

and passing its quota of $100 in the Advocate-Clarion

Vancouver with 19

close behind with 15.7 percent. The
latter committee members state
they will be the next BC press drive
champions.

Langley with a score of 34 per-
cent is far in the lead of any other
Fraser Valley committee, and there
is every indication the Pledge will
be fulfilled by the end of the
month Surrey has contributed
$10.75 and seven subseriptions, but
in order to reach their objective by
April 30 an average of $2.95 daily is
necessary.

Mission has sent in $4.75, includ-
ing four subscriptions, while Mats—
gui has sent in two and Haney
one.

Charles Beasor’s Nanaimo com-
Mittee has gained a fractional lead
over Cumberland and JIeads all
Island committees. Wanaimo has
27.5 and Cumberland 27.2 percent,
but the former committee has piled
up 2 big lead in points through the
number of subscriptions sent in.
They will require the bi= lead to
offset the 50 subscriptions John

(Continued on page 6)
See PRESS

MAY DAY MARCH

*“Stop Hitler And
Save Peace,’’ Theme
Of Celebrations

Organizations in Vancouver
are rushing through the finish—
ing touches to their floats for
the annual May Day parade to
be held Monday, Mey 1, start-
ing from Cambie St. grounds.

leading off the parade will be
the May Day Committee members

with their banner bearin= the
slogan of “Stop Hitler and Save
Peace.” The parade will be the -~

greatest factor in Supporting the
“Stop Hitler” bloc in the city, ac-
cording to George Milier, Salmon

Purse Seiners’ Union business
agent and chairman of the May
Day Committee.

Hiremen’s Band will set the pace
for the marchers while the CGF
and the Ukrainian children’s bands
will occupy places in the parade.

Marshals for the parade will be
supplied by the Relief Project
Workers’ Union as they have in
former May Day celebrations. Fif-
teen floats are definitely entered
and seyeral others are expected
from outside districts.

Motion pictures of the parade
will be taken as the marchers swing
along Georgia street on their way
to Lumbermen’s Arch in Stanley
Park.

Starting this Hriday (today) the
committee will solicit funds in a
one-day campaiscn in a follow-up of
100 letters sent to organizations
in order toe purchase 10,000 Maple
Leaf tags bearing the theme slogan.

Six speakers are scheduled from
the CCE, Communist party, trade
unions, Mac-Paps, Leasue for
Peace and Democracy; while the
committee hopes Mayor Telford
will address the Satherine from 2
flag-draped platform at Lumber
men’s Arch.

Permits for the parade and the
meeting have been secured from
Police Chief Foster and the Pariss
Board and the services of the St:
John Ambulance Association.

UNION MARKS
ANNIVERSARY

NEW WESTMINSTER, April
20—Third anniversary of the or
Sanization of the Butcher Work
ers and Meat Cutters Federal
Union, No. 94, was celebrated by
union members and their friends
at a smoker in the Legion Hall
here last Friday.

The union has made steady pro-
sress Over the past three years in
the Swift Canadian packing plant,
winning increased wages and im-
proved working conditions. Only
last week the union gained the
eight-hour day, a measure unusual
in the packins industry. ~

Conditions in Swift’s are rated
the best in the industry in GCan-—
ada, which is a tribute to the work
of those who started the organiza—
tion and carried it on.

Among those who attended and
congratulated the union members
were President FE A. Jamieson of
the Vancouver and New Westmin-
Ster District Trades and Labor

Couneil, William Stewart of the
Hotel and Restaurant Employees
Union, Don Maxwell, business

agent of the Retail Clerks and Je
Bryce of the Meat Cutters and
Packing House Employees’ Union.

The Butcher Workers Union
Members are staunch supporters
of all efforts to unite the unions
in this city and have supported
their brother unionists at Burn’s
Plant in Vancouver, the unem-
ployed and the Ganadian veterans
from Spain.

Unions Press Ottawa
Fer Absentee Vote

Legislation designed ot deny the
absentee ballot was protested in 4
resolution unanimously endorsed
by a mass meeting in the Moose
Hail last weekend. Copies of the
resolution were sent to all BC MP's
and the Hon. G G&G Power, Election
Act standing committee chairman.

The meeting was addressed by
Colin Cameron, MLA, Nigel MMor-—
gan, vice-president of the Interna-—
tional Woodworkers of America,
and Pat Driscoll, Inland Boatmen’s
Union, all of whom Warned of the
danger to democracy if the lezis—
lation is net amended.

eres b eat!

&
ie
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