Te ede Seal

&

THE ADVOCATE

October 13, 1989.

THE ADVOCATE

(Formerly The People’s Advocate)

Published Weekly by the Advocate Publishing Association, Room 20
163 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C Phone TRinity

EDITOR - HAL GRIFFIN
GYD VOD she eee $2.00 Three Months
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Male Ali Cheques Payable to: The People’s Advocate

Vancouver, B.C., Friday, October 15, 1939

How About It Mr. Pearson?

Gjor is in the mews these days, though our daily papers
earefully keep it off their front pages. Yet every item of
news shows the trend; a bonanza period is here for all owners
of gold mines as long as war continues.

Pioneer gold mine is no exception to the trend. In Septem-
ber increased profits were reported. Returns totalled $175,000,
_expenses $75,0000, leaving a profit of $100,000.

Since the war started the price of gold paid to Canadian
mine owners has gone up from $35 to $38.50 an ounce as a re-
sult of the established premium on the United States dollar.

_At this price and present production rates, BC mine owners
will clear a cool $2,000,000 additional profits this year.

The price of gold is rising steeply and the cost of living in
the mining camps is rising just as steeply. For every ounce of
gold the mine owners sell they get more dollars, for every
dollar of wages the miner’s wife receives jn her husband’s pay-
envelope she gets less food to put on the family table. The
people of British Columbia put this question to the govern-
ment: Is this the kind of thing you call “equality of sacrifice?

Wow miners at Pioneer are on strike. They are asking a
modest one dollar wage increase in all departments. They
want assurance that they will not be persecuted for establish-
ing the union of their choice, the International Union of Mine,
Mill and Smelter Workers, to bargain on their behalt.

Tabor Minister G. S. Pearson rushes to declare the strike
“4 direct challenge to the government,’ to threaten fines of
$500 for every miner, to assert that “the men have no risht to
strike” to say that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration
Act will be strictly enforced.

Pearson’s action makes plain-speaking essential. It is time
for him to answer the questions that our people are asking.

Why, if Pearson’s only concern is for impartial observance
of the Act, did his department fail to send a conciliator to
Pioneer at the request of the miners when the Act requires
sending of an official within three days?

Why was no threat of government action made when Fa-
cific Lime company refused time and again to adhere to awards
of conciliation officials?

Why does Hon. G. S. Pearson, as minister of labor, act as
minister against labor, as prosecuting attorney for the mine-
owners?

Wihat has he done to help raise miners’ wages to the level
of rapidly rising living costs, at a time when mine-owners’ divi-
dends are reaching record heights?

The vast majority of the people of British Columbia will
recognize the cause of the Pioneer miners as their own cause.
Every working man and woman in the province is vitally in-
terested in helping them win a just settlement.

Collective Security and

World Federation

HE statesmen have spoken. The war, apparently, is to con-
tinue. The daily press is again speculating as to which
power will launch the first mass offensive on the Western front.
Other matters too, rouse some discussion in our daily
papers. Recent articles by Bruce Hutchison draw attention
to the grave problems that will confront our country when the
war is over and won. How are we to face the calamitous
economic crisis that will follow if our industries expand for a
period of years fulfilling war orders, and enter a situation
when, with peace declared, the bottom drops out of the market
demand ?

There are suggestions and speculation about the possibility
of a world federation or European federation of states when
the war is over. Such a federation would require that its
constituent member states give up certain sovereign powers
that would be wielded by a federated governing body. Thus
national armies might be replaced or supplemented by an
international army; and since the suggestions about such a fed-
eration are being coupled with statements that the federation
be confined to-states of a uniform social and economic compo-
sition (obviously meaning thereby capitalist) then even if such
proposals were realized you would not have a world organiza-
tion that makes wars impossible but rather a situation in which
the world is again divided into a number (even if only two)
of mighty armed camps.

There is only one condition under which complete dis-
armament, including the abolition of all standing armies, could
become possible. Only if in all countries a socialist system of
economy were established, only if world production were
carried on for the direct needs of the peoples and not for the
profits of private owners could the struggle for markets, for
colonies, for monopolized sources of raw materials or spheres
of capital investment, for imperialist domination disappear.
When these root causes of conflict disappear all frontiers can
become even freer than the Canadian-US frontier has been
for the last few decades.

But the whole world does not consist of states possessing a
socialist economic system! Must we go through a vast series
of ever more destructive world wars before mankind comes
to a socialist economy?

Time will answer that question. But those who speak glibly
of a new federation after this war should first tell us why col-
lective security, which they say has failed, did not succeed.

The truth is collective security has never been tried. Every
attempt to apply the principle was prevented or sabotaged.
Yet short of a socialist economic order in all countries only
the application of this principle by the existimg states with their
varied social and economic internal conditions can provide any
hope of avoiding war between states. For collective security
means that all states (and first and foremost all the large and
powerful states) agree to join all their forces against any state
that sends troops over its borders to the territory of a neighbor.

Could Japan have attacked Manchuria and started the
train of aggressions that has led in the present war if it knew
that the principles of collective security would be adhered to
by other states? Is there any single power in the world today
fhat would launch war under these conditions?

That is why, short of a socialist word order, even now only
the establishment and adherence to the principle of collective
security can provide any hope of stopping a calamitous series
of wars.

That is why a conference of all states to establish collective
security as the governing principle of their jinter-relationship
is an object to be supported by all who wish to save mankind
from the catastrophes that threaten.

2013.

DUDPLESSIS MUST BE DEFEATE

Communist Leader Analyzes Issues At Stake In Quebec Elections
ie IS NOT only financial, but political bankruptcy that has dri

vincial election in the present circumstances.
masters, raised the hopes of his enemies, an

And the rising wave of anti-
Duplessis sentiment is sup-
posed to be successfully be-
headed by demagogic bally-
hoo about “provincial antono-
my” and a dishonest pretense
at opposition to the War Meas-
ures Act.

Such are the plans of Du-
plessis. Their only shortcom-
ing is that they may not prove
successful.

e

OQ BEGIN with there is

some discomfiture (per-
haps only momentary) in the
camp of Duplessis’ million-
aire backers. The Montreal
Gazette of the imperialist
Bassett continues to give him
annoyed approval, though ob-
viously not too happy about
the whole business. The
Globe and Mail will have none
of him. Millionaire MceCon-
nell’s Montreal Star sits un-
comfortably on the fence,
prattles about “Canadian un-
ity’ — and quotes Justice
Minister Lapointe. Yet it is
clear that at heart St. James
Street still cherishes its poli-
tical offspring, and has not
decided to throw him over-

board.

The King Liberals, who
have been allowing them-
selves to be brought ever

more completely into the or-
bit of the Big Business im-
perialists, are jumping with
both feet into the Quebec
campaign, accepting Duples-
sis’ challenge with the inten-
tion of making capital for
themselves. By defeating Du-
plessis they apparently hope
to prove that they are as good
imperialists as the ‘Tories,
while at the same time scotch-
ing for some time to come the
“national government’ ma-
neuvers of the trusts. Yet at
the same time it is evident
that to beat Duplessis they
must make some concession to
the anti-war sentiment of

Quebec.

e

ee outbreak of war was
preceded in Quebec by a

powerful and widespread

movement of opposition ‘to

THE POAD AHEAD FOR LABOR

J. B. Salsberg Discusses th

Canada’s involvement. Head-
ed by the various groups of
Nationalists, the movement
was reduced to silence and its
meetings banned once war
had been declared.

It is this sentiment which
Duplessis hopes to utilize for
his own unserupulous ends.
But the anti-conscriptionists
(who in the main are “anti-
participationists’ as well);

know that Duplessis is the ab-

ject tool of the most imperial-
istic, war-profiteering finance-
capitalists in the Dominion.
They know that he is and
has been working for a Tory
coalition regime at Ottawa,
made up of the very interests
that faver conscription today.
They know that Duplessis
double-crossed his WNational-
ist supporters in 1936, and

The gamble on which he has em

form of blackmail—a means of forcing Ottawa to “c

ven Duplessis to the dangerous expedient of precipitating a pro-
: : barked has embarrassed his wealthy pay-
L E d furnished the ma terial for a serious political crisis of more than provincial scope.
Caught in a jam, with the outbreak of war, in his orgy of graft, racketeering and whol
has resorted to this election as a new
strengthening his political position in pr

at least, this is a War for Pro-
tits!

And it is these trusted boss-
es of Duplessis who are press-
ing for conscription, and pre-
paring a militarization of in-
dustry that will drag down
wages and destroy the trade
unions. It is they who would
follow up the Padlock Law
by the total destruction of
democratic liberty in Canada.

There is a widespread
awareness of these homely
truths among the people of
Quebec!

)
HE anti - conseriptionist
_majority in Quebee has
as its deadliest enemy the
racketeering, tyrannical dem-
agogue who heads the Union
Nationale regime. But it can-
not be said that the Liberal

By Stanley Ryerson

that he has betrayed every de-
mand of the nationalist, anti-
trust platform on which he
came to power. They know
that only this spring, he in-
sulted and baited delegations
which came to him opposing
conseription.

The broad sweep of strug-
gle against the trusts, in the
past three years, has been
very largely an anti-Duples-
sis struggle. Had there been
doubts about this occasion-
ally, Duplessis worked hard
to dispel them by siding on
every issue with the banks,
the textile, steel, power, pulp
and paper barons, against the
people, and viciously attack-
ing the rights of labor, farmer

and middle class follk in the _

interests of his wealthy mas-
ters.

But it is precisely these fi-
nancial interests which today
have dictated the scandalous
war-budget, and are taking
Ottawa by storm to demon-
strate the fact that for them,

Cane labor is at a historic turning point. This war,

tions upon the organized labor movemen
and the larger number who soon will swell trade union r

of burdensome problems. They ask:

Wow can fascism be defeated ?

How can an early and just
peace be achieved? ~

Will the ripening conditions
for an unprecedented upsurge of
trade union organization be util-
ized to strengthen labor and de-
mocracy in the country perman-—
ently?

What must be done to defeat
the plans of the reactionaries
who use patriotic slogans aS COoVv-
er’ for an attack upon the living
standards of the Canadian mass-
es and upon their democratic
rights?

How can all sections ef the
trade union movement be united
so that labor will really come
forward as the great jndependent
force that will lead the nation
towards achievement of its de-
sire for destruction of fascism,
winning of peace, attainment of
the fullest measure of democracy
and economic well-being?

Se
Ow, in the light of these mo-
mentous problems and tasks,
did the Sd5th annual convention
of the Trades and Labor Con-
gress of Canada rise to the occa-
sion?

A sober analysis of the London
gathering leads us to the regret
ful conclusion that the 55th con-
yention failed to live up to the
historic obligations which the
present eritical situation placed
upon it as the expression of the
jJargest trade union center in
Canada.

In fact, the London convention
adopted certain measures which
only the rank and file of the in-
ternational trade union member-
ship can prevent from having 2
seriously damaging effect upon
their vital needs and conditions.

The previous three Congress
eonventions (Montreal, Ottawa,
and Niagara Falls) showed a dei-
inite trend towards greater inner
union democracy, a growing con-
sciousness of the historic inde-
pendent role of jabor in the pres-
ent cataclysmic period of his-
tory and an increasing determin-
ation to maintain unity as the
pre-requisite for the attainment

of labor’s goal. But this course
was changed at the London meet
ing.

That the overwhelming major-
ify. OL ) the international union
membership desired to go even
further along the path of former
conventions there could be no
doubt. But that the convention,
which should be the expression
of the wishes of these members,
was almost forcibly prevented
from going there is also beyond
question.

The London convention was 2
democratie one, but only in a
formal sense. In reality, it was
a harmful return to the days of
machine controlled conventions.
The “ryoadmen’s association”
dominated the convention with
a vengeance. The stifling hands
of Wm. Green, Hutcheson, Whar-
ton and some other wreckers in
the AFL executive council were
ever-present in the convention
hall.

Ss

N DHE all-important question
of labor’s attitude and role in
the present war, . the adopted
resolution shows no sign of la-
bor’s independence. It is yoid of
the minimum protective safe-
guards for labor conditions. it
does not even go as far as Lloyd
George in estimating the causes
of the war. It had nota word of
Jabor’s desire for peace and what
kind of peace the people want.
It does not even follow the
footsteps of the Trades Congress
during the last war when, for 2
long time, it opposed conserip-
tion. It does not even go as far
as Arthur Roebuck went in the
jegislature when he warned
against Hitlerism at home when
we are supposed to be fighting
Hitlerism abroad. Tt does not
even take the critical attitude
which the British trade unions
are talking. it has no whiff of
Jabor statesmanship as even the
right wing labor Jeaders under-
stand such statesmansbip.
Yow the hundreds of thous-
ands of unorganized workers who

t. For throughout the land toiling
anks, seek answers to tr

party offers sufficient guar-
antees.

Provincially, the right wing
machine politicians lead the
party, and do their best to
keep the campaign on the low-
est level of cheap politics,
with only the most occasional
references to labor and demo-
cratic rights.

Federally, Lapointe shares
responsibility for the con-
tinued existence of the pad-
lock law, for the long-drawn
tolerance of Duplessis’ nazi
and fascist proteges, and for
the millionaires’ war budget.

Yet the masses of liberal
supporters sincerely want a
‘‘;e-liberalizins”’ of the party
and the restoration of democ-
racy to Quebec; and with the
less numerous nationalist fol-
lowing, they heartily oppose
conscription.

Only the greatest develop-
ment of independent action
by Labor, and by the pro-
gressive democrats in both
liberal and nationalist camps,

are now rapidly becoming ripe
for organization to defend their
declining living standards will
be organized was once again dis-
posed of in the usual] Manner by
leaving it to the respective un-
ions. The danger is great that
some officials will seek short-
euts and sell unionism to em-
ployers rather than build on

solid foundations. The net re-
sult of such unionization meth-
ods are only too painfully re-
membered by the older workers.

UT the most flagrant betrayal

of the almost unanimous wish
of the rank and file of the inter-
national union membership was
reached on the question of trade
union unity. The last three con-

ventions repeatedly voted for
unity. Last year the decision
was almost unanimous. Pledges

were made to delegates that their
decision would be upheld. But
those decisions and pledges were
not kept.

Early in the year the CIO un-
ions were suspended. The lead-
ership capitulated to the destruc-
tive dictation of President Wil-
liam Green and the machinations
of the reactionary group of road-
men in Canada. Unity in the
yanks of the trade unionists was
never more essential than in the
present hour.

The menibership throughout
the country stormed against the
suspension. Over 40 resolutions
reached the congress convention
for the rejection of the SuSpen-
sion and for the re-establishment
of full unity. Practically every
trades council in the country vot-
ed for unity, but the steam-roller
crushed the democratic expres-
sion of the membership and not
only upheld the suspension but
paved the way for the extension
of the split into the trades coun-
cils throughout the country.

For this betrayal of Canadian
labor’s interests and wishes the
reactionary clique has already re-
ceived profuse congratulatory ed-

esale corruption, the Quebec premier
: s c ome across” while at the same time ~
eparation for the resumption of the “national government” campaign of Big Business 3

- itself, if it is to serve the peo-

can guarantee that the defeat

of Duplessis will at the sam:

time strike a real blow at thi

imperialist profiteers, an

raise a truly effective barri

against conscription.
e

a EBERe are signs of possible ;

cooperation among the
Liberals, the Action Liberal
Nationale (Gouin national
ist) and the Nationalist party —
headed by Hamel. Without
such unity, Duplessis will not
be defeated. But this unit

ple, must be based on a pro-
gram of opposition to con-
scription, to profiteering, to
repression, as well as to all
the rottenness and tyranny of
the regime of Duplessis.

Duplessis’ Devoir, =
publishing the Communis'
party’s statement, calling fo!
Duplessis’ defeat, tries to un
dermine opposition unity Bb
identifying Liberals and Com
But that tactic was
tried by Duplessis in the las
Montreal election — and i
didn’t work to Duplessis’ ben:
efit. :

: i]
UR position is plain. We {

are for the defeat of Du-

plessis as the worst enemy of — if

the welfare and liberties of
the people of Quebec.

We call upon the anti-par- |
ticipationists and anti-con- —
senti- —

seriptionists, whose
ments we share, to ensure the —
defeat of the tory-trustard im-
perialists whom Duplessis in
reality represents; at the same
time we declare that the Lib-
eral party cannot be relied on —

to carry through the people’s —

will, but only the united, ag- a
gressive action of the people's —
movements themselves, with
Labor as their central driving —
forces — 2% :

With the defeat of Duples-
sis, a body-blow will be de
livered to reaction, to the war
profiteers, the trusts — and
the opening of the path to a
people’s victory on a Domin-—
ion scale will have been be
eun! z

e Trades and Labor Congress Convention

which was not unavoidable, places colossal problems and obliga-
men and women, those who hold union cards
oublesome questions and guidance to solution

itorial greetings from the most
reactionary anti-union press i
the country, but they have gain-
ed the scorn and deep resentment

of the main body of their mem
bership. ie

e 24
OWEVER, the Congress con-

vention has also displayed a |
strong, healthy core which can ©

be relied upon to stay the hands
of the machine men who have
run amuck and to defend the
interests of the trade union ment
bership. The 97 delegates who,
in most instances, endangered
their union membership and jobs
but who voted in the roll-call
against the split, and the approx
imately 90 delegates who abstain-
ed from voting on that question
constituted almost half of the

whole delegation and they spoke §

for 90 percent of the membership.

Those that succeeded tempor &

arily in checking the flow ot pro-
geressivism through the conven
tion channels will either change
or they will be washed away.

For the Canadian workers in .

the international unions 3s well

as in all other trade union Cen

ters want unity.

They want large scale organiz 4
ation drives to win hundreds of ©

thousands

of new recruits te
their side. : :

They want to defeat fascism, ©

but they have no interest 12
wars of an imperialist character

They desire a just and lasting |

peace.

They want to achieve 2 higher —
living standard and want to ex |
ercise a decisive influence in the 5

government councils for the wel
fare of the whole people, instead

of being used as the hewers of |

wood and drawers of water.
Around these vitally urgent

sera

:§

bP
Ee

needs of all workers and of all

people unity will be forged, joimty
drives will be undertaken, mut

ual support will be granted and
learning from the sad exper

ences of the last post-war pene
Canadian labor will emerge vith
ereater strength and clearer 30
aim than ever visualized before. §

ek ee ee et OO ee OL A Vt