Page Bight THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE May 5, 1939 Longshoremen unloading cargo rushed to New York by the Hansa, bearing one of the last shipments of Nazi goods to enter America free of the 25 percent import tax now applied on dutiable German subsidized goods. Railway Workers’ Wages No Burden On Industry Special to the Advocate OTTAWA, Ont.—‘Wages of railway employees which have been the subject of criticism are not a burden on the industry, and in fact increasing efficiency has made it possible to produce better transportation at lower cost, particularly lower labor cost per unit to which the railway em- ployees have contributed no small Share,” A J. Kelly, chairman of the Ganadian cooperative legisia- five committee of the Standard Railroad Labor Organizations, said in a submission to the special Senate Railway Committee this week. Presenting the statement with Mr. Kelly were Wm. L. Best and R. J. Tallon. “Griticism of railway wages and workine conditions,” he added, “is wholly unjustified and these fac- tors do not present any difficulty im consideration of the railway problem. In fact, the operation of the railways as a whole is con- ducted efficientiy and cannot be eriticized. “Declining traffic and revenues, due to competition and the drain on the revenues from other sources, principally the capital tsructure appear to suggest more fruitful field of inquiry for a solu- tion of the railway problem.” The submission was supplemen- tary to representations made by railway labor earlier and was also a reply to an attack on railway labor made recently by Prof. J. L. McDougall of Queen’s University and GC. W. Peterson, editor of the Farm and Ranch Review. Both speakers proposed measures DOW advocated by the Canadian Pacific Railway in its effort to grab the CNR. A number of tables were sub- mitted by Mr. Kelly, compiled from reports issued by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, in support of railway labors contention that “Wages as a factor in the opera- tion of railways in Canada have rot been and are not now a bur- den.” In 1920, he said, there were 157,- 702 employees engaged in actual railway service in Canada. By 1937 the total had increased to 121,541, or by 30.8 per cent. “In other words,’ he added, eut of every three employees 1920 was unemployed in 1937.” Compensation for these employ- ees, he said, decreased from 3280.- 353,910 in 1920 to $179,110,674 in “one in 1937, a decrease of 361 per cent, indicating that the employees had in employ- suffered severe losses Celebrating : : : : : : SEymour 8580 on the occasion of a 1st Anniversary, May 12 MANITOBA HOTEL 44 West Cordova St. ment and that the total wage bill ef -the railways has been conse— quently reduced. “A study of the average monthly earnings received by Canadian workers will immediately explode the fallacy of high railway wages in Canada. Mr. Kelly cited figures showing two-thirds of the railway employ- ees earn less than $125 a month, 10.1 per cent less than $75 a month and 6.3 per cent earn less than $60 a month. He said labor cost as a factor in operation of railways has not been and is not no a burden on the in- dustry. In fact, he said, the pro- portion which has gone to other factors in production, stock and bondholders for example, would suggest relief for the railways should be sought elsewhere. “In 1920,” he continued. “Can- adian railway dividend payments amounted to $29,942,556. In 1928 dividend payments were $33,729,273 or 12.6 per cent greater than in 1920. For 1930, after more than a year of depression, dividend pay- ménts soared to $33,890,927, this new high peak being 29.9 per cent greater than in 1920.” We showed that while dividends had increased during the depres- sion employees’ wages were cut. In 1920 it required 59 cents out of each dollar of total operation revenues to pay employees com- pensation, said Mr. Kelly, and in 1937 it required 54.5 cents for the same purpose. On the other hand, it required 412 cents out of each dollar of total operating revenue to pay interest on funded and unfunded debi, while in 1937 it required 21.9 cents, an inerease of 82.5 per cent, he said. KAMLOOPS, BC, May 4—Funds raised for the relief of the victims of Japanese aggression through af- fairs sponsored by the local Chin- ese organizations and the Red Cross Society were as follows: Combined churches, $200; proceeds of a dance, $73.50; Chinese Masonic Hall tea and sale of home cooking, $60; contributions by Kamloops Chinese, $373.75; and contributions from Ashcroft, $966.65. RALPH ROSSE, : = No One Should Miss EME THE GRAND BI-ANNUAL PRESS DRIVE s~ Drawing of Handsome Prizes NIPPON TROOPS WEAKEN UNDER STEADY ATTACKS Invaders Suffer Heavy Losses In Two-Week Period CHUNGEING, China.—(By Mail). —The significance of the present Chinese offensive is ex- plained by the influential news- paper Ta Kung Pao in an article dealing with the situa- tion at the various war fronts. “The successful development of offensive operations by the Chi- nese forces on the various fronts does not indicate that our armies are passing over te a general counter-offensive, since the corre- sponding conditions do not as yet exist for this,” the newspaper writes. “The success of these operations shows the growing strength of the Ghinese army and the weakening of the invading army. “During two weeks in April, Chi- nese units dislodged the enemy from more than 80 positions. Twice the Chinese forces broke into Kaifeng. Perpetual attacks by Chi- nese units on the eastern front has forced the Japanese to declare mar-— tial law in Shanghai and Vyoosung. “In Kwangtunge province, the vanguard of our forces is nearing Canton, “During this period the Japa- nese lost more than 20,000 men ikilled. “The loss of Nanchang has not undermined the morale and staunchness of the Chinese units who have taken the initiative into their hands also in this district.” The newspaper points out fur- ther that these successes are the result of the high moral spirit of the Chinese army, its ability to apply the tactics of sur- prise attack, and the great im- provement in its armed ef- ficiency. As a result of surprise attacks by Chinese troops against Japa- nese positions in Shansi, their hold en even the small section in this province which they occupy is con- stantly threatened. During the last month the ratio of casualties has changed in favor of Chinese units. Now, three Japa- pese are killed for every one Chi- nese soldier. The Ta Kung Pao concludes its analysis by stating that the situa- tion at the front is now quite clear. “The difficulties of the Japanese army are increasing. At decisive sections of the fronts we have been able to frustrate the designs of the enemy. During the 22 months of war, the armaments of the Chinese army have increased by 100 percent, During this period, the enemys armament has been decreased by 40 percent.” PRAISE ACTION ON SCRAP IRON Special to the Advocate NANAIMO, May 4 — Residents of this city were commended by Miss Loh Tsei at the May Day celebrations in Central Sports Grounds for their action in pick- eting scrap iron destined for Japan, which culminated in for- mation of Embargo Councils that have swept the entire Paci- fic Coast witha popular demand for an embargo on war ship- ments to Japan. Attired in attractive Chinese costume, the youthful and pretty student, who has been touring Canada and Wnited States on be- halt of her country’s cause, made an impassioned appeal for 2 complete boycott of Japanese goods, an embargo on all ship- ments to Japan and financial aid for the International Peace Hospital in charge of Dr. WNor- man Bethune, famous Canadian surgeon. “TInless the democratic na- tions halt aggression whenever and wherever it occurs there will be no peace in the world,’ she warned the huge gathering. Recounting the toll of the Japanese invasion, Miss Loh stated there were 13,000,000 re- fugees and 1,000,000 orphans but with these adversities the Chin- ese nation is more united than ever and more determined to ——mee MAY DAY PRIZE WINNER Fishermen, Unions. : : Spe Union in offering aid to the demo- eracies to halt fascist aggression. (Special to the Advocate) MISSION, BC, May 4—May Day celebrations were brought to a fitting close here when a crowded meeting unanimously went on record as having the May Day committee stand as a unity constituency committee for the Fraser Valley federal Speakers at the meeting were William Stewart, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union and executivet member of the Trades and Labor Council, Her- bert Gargraves, CCE provincial secretary, and William Bennett of the Communist Party. Bach of the speakers stressed the need for unity of all progres- sive groups and support of one pro- gressive candidate in order to work for a new deal for the Cana- dian people and to halt the bid of the Leadership League to estab- lish a National government at Ot tawa which would operate in the interests of the financial and min- ing magnates of eastern Canada and not in the interests of the people. Imperial Veterans Call Provincial Convention 3pm: A provincial council will be or- ganized to coordinate the work of the branches and officers are to be elected for one year, accord- ing to Fred. Tyler. British and Canadian authorities have been appealed to in a memor- jal signed by hundreds of Imper- jal weterans to arrange reciprocal agreements on the costs of main- taining ex-servicemen of both South African and European wars since they do not come under the scope of the Canada War Veterans Allowance Act. The federal government will be asked to carry out the recommen— dations of the Veterans Assistance Commission to allow all Imperial veterans free medical services at Shaughnessy Military Hospital. Provincial authorities will be asked to amend the Soldiers Edu- cation Act to enable all veterans who have lived in BC five years or over free high school education for their children up to the age of 16. Extended relief all summer will be sought for all unemployed sin- gle Imperial veterans or in pre- ference be given work on public projects. The BICA is offering their full cooperation with the Army and Navy and the Canadian Legion in: plans for the royal tour late this month. Delegates Kamloops, at are expected from Woodfibre, Cumber- land, Haney, New Westminster, Worth Vancouver, Capilano, Vic- toria besides the city organization. eontinue until] not a Japanese soldier is left on Chinese soil. Guerilla fighters were taking a toll of 14 Japanese for every Ghinese killed, in the territory which was held very precari- ously by the Japanese, she said. A large parade of labor organ- izations with banners apd floats preceded the meeting. CE ¥ Refreshments ASSY BALLROOM 1022 Davie Street 25¢ WEDNESDAY - MAY 10 Dancing “till 1 A.M. ADMISSION Four main items aiming at a better deal for Imperial veterans resident in Canada will be the center of discussion when dele- gates from nine branches of British Imperial Comrades Ass’n meet in provincial convention in O’Brien Hall Saturday, May 13 > 700 Hear Loh Tsei At Victoria Meeting VICTORIA, May 4—More than 700 Victoria people paid admis- sion to the Chamber of Com- merce building to hear Miss Loh Tsei, famed Chinese youth lead- er, last week. She had previ- ously been welcomed to the city by Chinese organizations. Dr- Baillie was chairman of the Thursday meeting, and a collec- tion of $110 for the International Peace Hospital was realized. Chinese Woman Flier Injured MONTGOMERY, Ala., Miss Ya-Chen Lee, 25-year-old Chi- mese flyer, was reported recover- ing from injuries sustained when her monoplane Spirit of New China crashed in a field near here while attempting to take off. The attractive goodwill ambas- sador has been touring the United States on behalf of Chinese war refugees. - She was scheduled to visit Van- couver, B.C., sometime in May dur- ing the course of her tour. TROTSKY AIDS — FASCIST GROUPS IN OLD MEXICO Pewerful Labor Movement Demands His Expulsion By ALFRED MILLER MEXICO CITY.— Two new |) reactionary fascist parties have | been added to the Mexican po- | litical scene in an effort to further confuse the situation and to break the growing unity. of the countrys progressive forces. The Revolutionary Anti-P’ascist Party and the Revolutionary Work 7 ers and Peasants’ Party have just made their first public appearance with larze manifestoes in “La Na- cion” which were given full page pasted as posters on the walls of the city. : Both groups, as is already shown ~ are cleverly disguised as revolu- tionary organizations. Their pro- erams have an abundance of catch- ing revolutionary phrases which make it difficult for many workers and peasants to see their real ob- jectives. Their real character be- comes evident, however, when one looks at some of their leaders or at the people behind the scene. Of the two organizations, the PROE is perhaps the most danger ous—not because Diego Rivera is its “secretario politico,” but be eause behind the scenes Trotsky is the real leader of the group. The official “break” between Trotsky and Rivera, announced by the painter several weeks age in the press of the capital, is just a fake, your correspondent learned vhile interviewing some of the minor officials of the new party at their headquarters. “The break between Trotsky and Rivera is not really worth talking about,” one of them stated. “it was thought inconven- ient, however, to have Trotsky’s name attached to our new party.” Mexico’s entire labor movement, headed by the formidable CTM, has long since adopted a definite attitude towards Trotsky and his followers in this country. it con- May 4.— siders them as part and parcel of the fascist forces and time and again Trotskys expulsion frem Mexico has been demanded of Pre sident Cardenas. The name Trotsky has been dis- eredited to such an extent in Mex ico that even the Trotskyites no longer consider it advantageous to use it. The first national congress of the CTM, held in January, 1938, repre senting Mexico’s organized labor movement, unanimously passed 4 resolution denouncing Trotsky as a fascist and his activities as sub- versive, and demanding that he be expelled from the territery of the republic. .Trotsky’s aim is evident.. With. Trotsky’s aim is evident With carefully planned maneuvers he is seeking to destroy the unity of workers and pessanis. By rally- ing support for General Mujica as president of the republic, he hopes to defeat the progressive Avila Gumacho, candidate for president of the CIM. With sup- port of the masses divided be- tween Gumacho and Miujica, he hopes that Almazan, a recognized fascist, will be future president of Mexico. In order to accomplish this end, Trotsky has officially “broken” with Rivera, who is the director of the “new party.” But the break is already known as a fraud and this fascist maneuver will not succeed, thanks to the vigilance of Mexican ; HURRY! $944O040O0090000000006 25¢ $0004 Sponsored by The PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE and THE CLARION WEEKLY se Good Popular Music HURRY! VOTE CCF Support Your Own Civic Representative and Your Own Civic Interests ON MAY 10th! HURRY, ALFRED .......:6: HURRY! : 1X | 4O99OOO999OOO9O949O909004 Peeper rer errs segs ait scar tL OTT TAINAN Nr es a EFT publicity in the fascist press and | by the names they have chosen, * a) e 4 a