August ii, 1939

THE PEGOGOPLE’S ADVOCATE

Page Five

FORUM OF THE PEOPLE

—

"Swedish
Children
At Camp

To the Editor: The week end-
ing July 31 finished up with over
40 Swedish children going home
after spending a glorious week’s
wacation at the Children’s Sum-
mer Camp at Orlohma Beach.

INot since the camp started have
the children been treated to a visit
from a bear and they thought it
Was pereat fun. The cooler was
raided twice last week and maybe
some of your readers can tell me
(the caretaker) how a bear can
lift a i0-sallon can half full of
milk, remove the lid and empty it
mrithout spilling any.

Tt also cleaned up on the butter,
cheese, bologna and sausage. Tt
looked as if a two-lezeged animal
had been at work, but about 8 a.m.
the children saw it up on a rock
looking very pleased with itself.
I would not like to say what the
camp staff was thinking.

The game warden has been puz-
zZlied cwhich has the most right
there, the camp or the bear, when
asked to do something about the
depredations.

THE CARETAKER.

Orlohma Beach, BC.

Men At
Project 30
Organize

To the Editor,—iIn view of the
fact that this camp, project 30, has
been open for 7 weeks without any
organizational activity, conditions
in it are not very good.

The camp is more or iess isolated,
4 miles off the main highway.

Alithoush we Have 45 men here,
there is no recreation hall. There
is only one radio, which doesn’t
work very well and to listen to it,
we have to crowd into someone’s
tent. Im fact we have no social life
at all,

(Elowever, we intend to improve
matters very soon. Our provincial
organizer visited the camp this
week and we set up a union, or-
Ganizine 75 percent of the camp
Members. Since the foreman re-
fused to let us meet in the dining
hall, we had to conduct our meet
ing outside.

DWach dissatisfaction has been ex-
pressed about Minister of Labor
Pearson’s “six weeks” plan and
only by organizing every single un-
employed man can we hope to de-
feat such schemes. Before next
winter I think ail relief camps in
the province will be organized i100
percent.

The People’s Advocate is very

Rules For Letters

The People’s Advocate invites readers to send in let-
ters for publication on this page, subject to the follow-

ing rules:

Letters should be written as concisely as possible,

in view of space limitations,
words. Longer letters will

and should not exceed 500
only be published in full

when they deal with questions of considerable public
interest. In all cases preference will be given to those
letters having general interest.

The editor reserves the right to edit all letters.
Where itis necessary to condense letters the original
context will be followed as closely as possible.

All letters must bear the name and address of the
writer, although for publication purposes initials or a
nom-de-plume may be used. Anonymous letters will

not be published.

Opinions expressed on this page are solely those of
contributors and not necessarily those of the People’s

Advocate.

Unscreened

Mill Stacks

For Fires

Responsible

To the Editor,— With an election pending, when progressives
have a chance to elect their representatives, public authorities
try to pin everything short of homicide on anybody besides their

own departments.

When the unemployed mades
their demonstration in Victoria a
few months ago they were herded
like cattle in wretched quarters
and all possible means taken to
tarnish their reputation.

Again during the Island forest
fires, damage to the pumps was
made to appear their doing, al-
though it happened many miles
from where they were stationed.

Wow the local papers are full of
firebug jitters in the city of Vic-
toria. it is always a worker who
is supposed to have been seen in
the vicinity of the outbreak.

Nearly every working man is
eyed with suspicion. Most every
eyclist going to his job is looked
upon as a potential criminal with
the possibility that his dinner pail
is full of bombs. Those driving
followed.

On authority of 2 veteran fire—
man, such a firebug is only in the
imagination of the authorities. If
there is a firebug why doesn’t the
police department get busy and
arrest him?

But for the most part the fires
can be explained by the fact that
mill chimneys inthe west end of
the town ‘have no screens and
sparks are allowed to waft around
in the wind. Broken glass on emp-
ty lots under the hot summer
sun can be another cause, without
Worrying about firebugs.

—LAW-ABEDING CITIZEN.

Victoria, BC.

well received here and we shall be
grateful for space in it to tell of our
progress. Gus.
Harrison Mills, BG.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

~_ -

_ ADVERTISING RATES
7 OGlassifiea, 3 lines S5c. Weekly
contract rates on application.

BICYCLES AND REPAIRS
BICYCLES, NEW AND USED —
Baby Carriages, Sulkies, Doll Car-
Tiages, Joycycles. Repairing of all
kinds. Saws filed, keys cut, etc.
W. M. Ritchie, 1568 Commercial
Drive. Highland 4123.

BOATS
ROWBOATS OF ALI. KENDS,; $30
and up. National Boat Works,
110 Dunlevy Ave., Vancouver.

MONUMENTAL
MAIN MONUMEN TS—SAVE
money here. Estimates for ceme-
tery lettering. 1920 Main Street.

Hindu
Speaker
Heard

To the Editor: At a meeting in
the Capital Theatre here last Sat-
urday, the East Indian population
of this district heard an inspiring
speech by Dr. Dhami, university
eraduate and representative of the
Hindustani League of Canada.

Drawing a graphic word picture
of the changing conditions of his
native India, Dr. Dhami stressed
the ruthless exploitation of the
people by many native princes
with the tacit cooperation of Bri-
tish imperialism.

Mentioning Mahatma Gandhi in
passing, Dr. Dhami explained that
he was a product of the times and
was not the proper medium for re-
storing “freedom to the land.

Appealing to the people to halt
fascism, Dr. Dhami likened Hitler
to a gigantic monster with an in-
satiable appetite and a warped
brain.’ ..

After an interesting question
period, the audience showed its
appreciation of the speaker by
sustained applause.

Port Alberni, BC.

—A_ W.

Boycett Japanese Goods!

‘Bloody
Sunday’
Recalled

THIS
WEEK |

To the Editor,—I notice that
the Canadian Legion, that of-
ficer-controlled ex-soldiers’ or-
ganization, as A. W. Neill, MP
for Comox, termed it, is wor-
ried that Brigadier - General
Foster may lose his job as police

chief for Vancouver.

Hiundreds of thousands of or-
dinary men are being laid off
work all the time and no notice is
taken of them.

Chief Foster is well provided for
im sure, and is quite a distance
from the relief rolls. In fact he
is holding down too many jobs at
present amd cannot possibly at—
tend to them all properly.

in my opinion, he should vol-
untarily resign either as president
of the Canadian Legion or as chief
of police. You cannot serve two
masters and these offices must
of necessity conflict at times.

Then again, may I ask when
Brigadier-General Woster or the
Canadian Legion did any spectac-
ular fighting on behalf of rank-—
and-file returned soldiers pener-
ally.

Last year during the sit-down
Strike of the single unemployed
men, some of the city police un-
der command of Foster helped the
RCMP to teargas and beat up
some of the single unemployed,
returned men in the postoffice. I
kmew one personally. He served
in the British navy before the
War and in the Canadian army
Guring the war. He certainly got
his Share of the tear gas and the
rough handling by the police while
in the postoffice.

INo doubt Chief Foster was too
ibusy attending to the Canadian
Legion duties that he did not have
sufficient time to clear up the
mystery of the $1500 which dis-—
appeared from the police station.

To put a policeman’s uniform
en a man doesn’t make him a
saint by any means and some of
them seem to have fallen by the
wayside pretty badly.

Then, of course, there are cases

which the public never hears
about.
From a long range view it

would appear that the police force
of Vancouver needs a little over-
hauling.
“ARMY VETHRAN.
Worthlands, BC.

Details Needed

A ijetter from S.W. in Kamloops,
enclosing newspaper clippings, can-
not be published until some details
have been verified. This letter is
being held for use aS soon as addi-
tional information can be obtained.

China Aid Week Here
Creates Wide Interest

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN

SEE DR. DOWNIE FOR RHAEU-
matism, Sciatica, Lumbago. Room
7 — 163 West Hastings St.

DR. H. C. ANDERSON—ALT NAT-
ural methods of treatment, such
as diet, Massage manipujatinns,
esteopathy and electrotherapy.
Free consultation and examina-
tion. 768 Granville St., SE y. 53836.

—

CAFES
THE ONLY FISH — ATT, KINDS
of Fresh Sea Food. Union House.
20 East Hastings St.

CHIMNEY SWEEPING
$150 CLEANS MAIN FLUE
Pipes, Furnace, Stove. Licensed.
FReser 1370.

PERSONAL

DENTAL PLATES REPATRED,
$5 and up. Rebuilt $1 and up.
New Method Dental Tab., 163 W.
Hastings St. SEymour 6612.

BIRTH CONTROL BUREAU OF
B.Cc., Dept PA, 441 Seymour
Street, Vancouver, B.C. Informa-
tion FREE. Write for Literature.

CHIROPRACTORS
WAL BRATDWOOD, D.C. NERVE
Specialist. 510 West Hastings St.
SEymour 2677. Evenings, High-
land 22409.

HRGOMS FOR RENT

RICE BLOCK, 800 East Hastings.
Hi gh. 0029. Furnished Suites and
Rooms. Moderate rates.

DANCES
EMBASSY BATTROOM, DAVIE
at Burrard. Old Time Dancing
Tues., Thurs., and Sat.. Ambassa-
dors Orch. Whist. $25.00 cash
prizes. Admission te dance and
whist, 25c.

DENTISTS

DR. A. J. SIPES, DENTIST
Plate Specialist Lowest Prices.
680 Robson St. TRinity 5716.

FUEL

HONEST VALUE FUELS—FATR.
0469. E-dginges No. 1, $3.25 per cord.
Slabs, Heavy Fir, $3. 75 per cord.

BPUNERAL DIRECTORS
ARMSTRONG &9CO, FUNERAL

Directors. 304 Dunievy Phone
High, 0141_
LAWNMOWERS

LAWN MOWERS, GROUND AND
repaired. T,. Gallazin, 804 Rich-
ards St, SEy. 4088.

SAWDUST BURNERS

GENULNE “LEADER” BURNERS,
323 Alexander St, at Ray’s.
TRinity 0390.

DO YOU KNOW—YOU CAN BUY
@ sawdust burner with enamelled
hopper for $9.00. Lakes and Niz-
nis Sheet Metal Works, 952 Com-
mercial Drive.

STATIONERY

YOU NEED STATIONERY
for school, home or office use,
get it at the New Age Bookshop.
Anything in the line of stationery
at moderate prices. Call at 50-
East Hastings Street.

TYPEWRITERS AND SUPPLIES

GEO. DONOVAN — Typewriters,
Adding Machines Cash Registers.
SEymour $393, 508 W. Pender st

TAILORS

Menticn the :
People’s Advocate!

M DONG, TATLORS, formerly
Horseshoe Tailors now at 8 West
Cordova St. TRinity 6024.

To the Editor,—Enquiries from a number of new organiza-
tions on how best they can assist China have been received by
the China Aid Committee as a result of the success of “China

Aid Week” and the closing garden party at “Killarney,’
of Mrs. J. Z. Hall last Saturday.

Success of the party was due ings

> home

no small measure to the high Gee ice and McGavin’s, and served

lity and variety of musical num-

bers offered by Kenneth Spencer,
negro bass-baritone, Miss Mary Mc-
Lean and Miss Mary Lewys, so-
prani; Miss Helen Wong, Chinese
singer; Miss K. Y. Ching, Chinese
harpist, and Gordon Manley, pianist.
Accompanists were Mrs. Donald
McLean and M. T. Mark.

Short addresses were given by A.
EF Black on embargo; A M.
Stephen on China Aid; Miss BH.
Copp on boycott of Japanese goods
as a means of terminating the war,
and Foon Sien on Chinese refugees.
Professor Soward presided at both
afternoon and evening sessions of
the garden party.

Total receipts amounted to over
$115, of which $60 was clear. Wom-
en’s Christian Temperance WUWnion
members prepared refreshments,
partly donated by Canadian Bak-

by Chinese girls in native costumes.
Apart from the success of the
garden party a considerable quan-
tity of bandages was rolled by
ehurch eroups and individuals.
Ghina Aid Committee, consisting of
representatives of Vancouver Eim-
bargo Council, Greater Vancouver
Joint Boyeott Council, Medical Aid
for Chins and the League for Peace
and Democracy are enthused and
plan other affairs to further assist
China.
Vancouver, BC.

Letters Held

Among tietters held over this
week because of space limitations
is one by R.J-S., Tranquille, B.C.
This letter will be published in

our next issue.

By Leslie Morris

HE OTHER afternoon a committee of which I am a member was
staving off the heat (or adding to it!) by discussing literature and

its place in the progressive movements. One committeeman is in charge
of a publishing house. He brought figure and fact to show a decline in
the sale of books and pamphlets in this country. Discussion revealed that
the small amount of reading done by leadinig people in the labor move—
ment is one of the outstanding difficulties in the way of pushing the

sale of books and pampbhiets.
x = = =

Why So Little Reading?

Ess COLUMN has time and again taken up this question. The
‘Clarion and the People’s Advocate have written about it. Local com-
mittees in all communities are more or less aware of the problem of
getting books and pamphiets sold. But still the problem remains in an
acute form.

What is the reason for this? It cannot be that there are not enough
books and pamphlets to read. There are more published now in the
Hinglish language than at any time in the history of the labor movement.
War can a person fall back on the old argument that the language used by
the writers is too heavy for the average worker. While much can be
done to make the written language more simple, the vast majority of
books now published, particularly on current questions, are written in

an understandable way.
* = * =

ea tes it is not alone the matter of price. Pamphlets particularly are
published at almost the cost of printings. There are no royalties to
pay, and overhead costs are small. Consequently the price is usually
within reason. In the case of full-size books, the price is an obstacle. But
requests to the local public libraries can usually overcome this for 2
number of people, providing they possess library cards and are on the
jook-out for additions to the library shelves. Group purchase of books,
or the starting of a library in the branch or local is possible with a very
small outlay. The Left Book Club is available to people with low incomes,
as the popular paper editions of important works such as the Penguin

series,
= * = *

Is This the Reason?

I AM APRATD we have to go deeper than merely the price. It seems
to me the cause lies in the unawareness of many old-timers in the
movement as to the things that are published, and that this unawareness
in turn is to be found in a sort of blithe optimism which leads the
person concerned into the frame of mind which says: After all, i know
there is a class strugele, and that we need a democratic front in Ganada
to stop fascism, therefore why should fT bother?

Perhaps that is placing it crudely, but the gist of the question must
be something of that kind.

= * = *

INOTHER argument I have often had given to me is the “time” excuse.

“T have no time to read,” says the comrade concerned. How can that
be? Granted that every active worker in the labor movement is pressed
for time. Granted that he is often too tired to read when he has a mo-
ment. But is that going to have him or her from grave difficulties in the
daily strife? Sooner or later this person will find that a problem cannot
be solved only by his own experience; that it requires the combined ex-—
perience of other people and other countries to find the right line of

action.
= = = =

A Classic Example

Foe "PEAT is what reading and study gives: the wealth of experiencs
and theory based upon it, which the people of the world have gathered
during centuries of strugegle,- all illuminated by the genius of great
political leaders—iMarx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin.

Take the Short History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Just because this book is the intimate story of how the great social
advance in all history was made, it is inevitable that it contain such 3
rich store of political gold that it appears quite naturally as a handbook
for the peoples of all lands in the fight for human emancipation. More
than that, the language and price of the book is within the scope of every
laboring man and woman.

WPersonaily, I cannot see how a person can fight intelligently unless
he has read this book not once, but several times.

= * * =

O TT GOHS. Our committee worked out ways and means to get ~

people to read; to arouse their excitement and curiosity, which is the
very foundation-stone of culture and understandings; to make them aware
of the world of reading and its oneness with the world of struggle.

= * = *

Lets Hear From You

SHOULD like the readers of this paper to send in their opinions about

this very important matter. What is your own experience? What do
you have to suggest in the way of popular pamphiets? How have you
been able to get your reading done and to get your friends to study?
How have you solved the problem of time?

Det us hear from you. This column will use your letters.

GRAND PICNIC

MILITARY PARK

18th Avenue & Slocan Street

SUNDAY, AUGUST i3th, at 10 A.M.

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