d - 40 buy these bare necessities of _ life, to keep body and soul _@Sk you to remove the tax from | Hall, on Homer street. "| in the hands of a few individuals.” Consumers’ Council To Be Set Up Toronte Women Also Pianning To Call Conference Outcome of an enthusiastic meetins held under auspices of British Columbia Housewives’ League two weeks ago, a dele- gate conference has been called for Thursday, October 30, in the Women’s Building, 752 Thurlow street, to protest ad- ded strain placed on slim budgets by continually rising prices and to demand action against hoarding and profiteer- ins. _ More than three hundred invita- Woens have been sent out by the league te organizations through- out the province. Representa- tives are expected from the proyvin- cial Sovernment, city council, trades and labor council, Welfare Federation, Retail Merchants As- Sociation, all trade unions and ether progressive organizations. Intense interést and determina- tion displayed by consumers to protect their rights and their Purses will probably lead to set- ting up at this conference of a Consumers’ Research Council, to investisate all rises in prices and recommend action. The conference committee has issued an appeal to all orgsaniza- ions which have not received in- Vitations and wishins to be repre sented, to get in touch with the acting secretary, Mrs. D. Hartley, 3541 West 12th Avenue, BAyview 7965-R. TORONTO, Ont—More than 300 citizens gathered at a mass rally here last week decided to call a con- ference under Housewives’ League auspices to discuss ways and means of combatting rising food prices. _Following addresses by George S. Hougham, secretary, Retail Merchants Association, Herbert _Hannam of the United Farmers of Ontario, and Miss Marjorie Bell, of the Home Makers, the raily also Gecided to call government atten- tion to the need for price stabili- zation and wage increases to meet the rising cost of living. Resolutions were unanimously Passed askine the government to keep the public informed as to why prices were rising and de mandinge appointment of a woman a5 consumers’ representative on the board. Keynote of the meeting was Siven by Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, Housewives’ League president, when she deciared: “As one small group we cannot de much but if all we women in @Woronto band together to wipe out Wartime profiteering we can ac- complish a great deal” Speaking on behalf of farmers £enerally, Herbert Hannam of the UFO stated: “The farmers are with you in combatting profiteering in this War We must not have indivi- Guals growing fat on blood money Won from the people in war time.’ George Hougham, Retail Mer- ‘chants’ Association secretary, told housewsves that the real solution “is to revise the economic setup So as to provide the greatest good fer the ereatest number, rather than the concentration of power High Food Costs Hit Strong protest against the ex— cessive price of flour when wheat Eas dropped back to par, and “un- warranted and unjust taxation” on necessities such as tea, coffee and fish, was made by the Vancouver Mothers’ Council Tuesday. Sending a copy of its protest res- olution to many organizations in the city for endorsation, the coun- cil stated its intention of conduct— Ing a strong campaign to have taxation readjusted to luxury tax enly. “People on relief and very small Wage earmers find it hard enougn to- ether without any added tax,” the resolution declared. “We therefore feel quite justified in makings this protest and would thes€é commodities and readjust taxation so as to make it a luxury tax only.” The council issued an invita- tion to all interested women to at tend its meetings, held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the O’Brien ombat Pro ae iteering < ‘Housewives To C The ADVOCA FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND DEMOCRACY FULL No. 248 VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1939 a= © 5 Cents SOL PIONEER MINERS efforts to restrict the theater TURKISH Foreign Minister Sukru Saracogly (left), and Ru- manian Foreign Minister Grigore Gafencu (right) who con- ferred with the Soviet government in Moscow this week in ef war and prevent countries now neutral from becoming engulfed. AT CIO CONVENTION achievements and even When President Lewis was in- troduced for six minutes the ap- lause and cheering from delegates who came to their feet simultane-— ously all over the hall allowed nothing more to be heard. Lewis stood there and looked out over the great hall, with its aisles packed with spectators in every inch of standing room, with one long table down one whole side of the hall ocupied by the delegation of the mighty United Mine Work- ers of America, Lewis’ Own union, with gay blue and gold bunting blazing welcomes to the CI@ from every wall, and he shouted in clarion tones: “Organize the unorganized! There are millions clamoring to enter our movement! “Don’t glue yourselves to swivel chairs—and that includes my- self,” he addressed the officers of the CIO and the international presidents of unions ranged on the platform with him. ~ “We must go to the millions of industry,’ he said to officers and delegates alike.” “Organize the unorganized,” was the keynote he struck, and they liked it. PRINCIPLES AMERICAN. Lewis began his speech by de- claring: “The principles of the CIO are, we think, virtuous, and American. “The CIO is making through these principles a contribution to the country which no man can af ford to ignore and no man may as— sail lest in the end it be proven that he is a foolish man” ‘Keep US Out Of War’ is Unanimous Resolve SAN FRANCISCO, Cal.—As the second an- nual convention here of the CIO swung into its third day of crowded sessions a record of great greater prospects for a united, democratic, militant and efficient trade union movement for the United States unrolled before the eyes of all observers. Highlights of the convention sessions have been the great ovation accorded John I... Lewis Harry Bridges’ address in welcoming Governor Olson of Cali- fornia; the resolution, carried unanimously, pledging the CIO. to exert every effort to keep the United States out of war. for his convention report; Just as long as the officers and representatives of the CLO stick to the principles of 4,000,000 men and women who compose this move-— ment, just so long will it be impos— Sible to discourage them, he said. The CiOG president then read his report to the convention, in which he declared the CIO and the labor mevement would oppose any entrance ef the United States inte the European war, declared war profits illusory, urged the unions to defend civil liberties and toe organize their full strength as rapidly as_ possible. “Preoceupation with foreign af- fairs must not be allowed to de- tract attention from unemploy- ment and other pressing problems of internal economic insecurity,” and, “Real wages of American workers must not be allowed to suffer from rising living costs, and every eifort must be made to stop profiteering and to adjust wage levels to rising prices.” A partial report of the creden- tials committee headed by S. H. Dalrymple of United Rubber Work- ers, Showed that in the first session there were: Delegates present, 378. National and international unions represented, 35. Wational Organizing Committees, oo State industrial union councils, 25. City and county industrial union councils, 81. individual local unions, 90. by the population. government. border with East Prussia. in Kaunas, declares: fully provided with orders.” | Improved Soviet | \Trade With United States F orecast NEW YORK, NY.—As Washington reports this week brought news of prospective substan- tial increases in Soviet purchases in the United States during coming months, Moscow des- patches announced strengthened trade and de- fense pacts with the Soviet Union’s Baltic neigh- bors and a commercial agreement with Britain to exchange timber for rubber and tin. Latest of these pacts signed with Lithuania, which includ- ed among its provisions return of the ancient capital and prov- ince of Vilna to Lithuania, was met with tremendous rejoicing © =-In— Kaunas,present-capital of Lithuania, schools—were— closed, houses beflagged as the entire population danced in the streets in a joyous celebration. Strangely enough, the London Times reports that the British government has no intention of recognizing the cession of Vilna to Lithuania and has so informed the Lithuanian In view of the fact that the territory in question was seized by a Polish General Zheligovsky in 1920 after a League of Nations commission, with the British government participat- ing and agreeing, had awarded it to Lithuania, consistency of the attitude expressed is being questioned. The treaty with Lithuania further provides for Soviet military aid to Lithuania if attacked, for leasing of air fields at reasonable rates and for Soviet fortification of Lithuania’s Lith, Estonian Papers Welcome Pacts A prominent Lithuanian paper, Lietuvos Aidas, published “The experience of the past few years and existing tradi- tions give Lithuanians every ground to believe that the great Soviet state which has now risen and reached the zenith of its international prestige will also in the future continue its friendly policy towards Lithuania.” The Soviet treaty with Estonia, first of the series to be Signed, is already leading to big trade developments. The newspaper Rakhvalekht, elaborates on the theme: “Up to now,” it writes, “our exchange of commodities with the USSR comprised a little over 4 percent of our entire for- eign trade. With the conclusion of the trade agreement, the exchange of commodities increases fourfold. From October 1 to December 1, 1939, our exchange of commodities with the Soviet Union will reach 39,000,000 krons. “Estonia will sell the Soviet Union agricultural products, hogs, cowhide, paper cellulose and certain industrial products. Estonia will also build small steamers and repair big ships for the USSR. Thus the Estonian ship-building yards are now (Continued on Page 6) See SOVIET STAND TRIKE That is why newstand sales of the Advocate have doubled during the Past few weeks. That is why the Advocate’s $4000 press drive must £O over the top to ensure that Bri- tish Columbia can obtain access to the truth, the real facts behind the news, distorted and suppressed by commercialized newspapers. History is rushing alone at a furious pace. People must all speed up to keep abreast of the times. Correct thinking, quick thinking and then action are the Our Sales Reflect Your Confidence In Us Through the fog of censored and distorted news and rumor only one beacon can be trusted to shine through clear and bright. That beacon is the labor press. Without it we cannot light a clear path to march forward io progress, democracy and a just, lasting peace. Canadian people want the truth. < requisites if Canadian people are to influence the course of his- tory. As labor’s voice, the Advocate is helping to make the story of our “se one of proud tradition, to zo down in history side by side with that of our Canadian democrats, William Lyon Mackenzie, Louis Joseph Papineau and Louis Riel. The truth must reach the people. Enderby has set the lead as first committee to reach its press drive quota. Who will be next? Gold Price Up, Wages Stay Low Strikers Claim ‘Double-Cross’ By Commissioner PIONEER, BC.—(Special) —Striking Pioneer miners, determined not to return to work until theix demands have been met, are incensed at what they term Concilia- tion Commissioner Mc- Geough’s ‘double-cross.’ According te Tom Forkin, in- ternational organizer for Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers’ Union, pledge was made to the men that a secret ballot would be taken to__decide what _oreanization should represent them as 2 col- lective bargaining agency. At the meeting, however, when it was obvious that the union had the overwhelming support of the men, Conciliation GCommis— sioner McGeaugh informed min- ers they must return te work be- fore any ballot could be taken. Since the strike was “‘Weral” he told the men, they could no longer be considered as Pioneer employees. He set last Tuesday night as the deadline for return te work. The miners replied that they would not return to work before obtaining their demands. There is ne doubt that the strike has the support of the whole Bridge River valley. Min- ers at Braleorne have pledged their support and Symapathy for the men is strong in all camps. A women’s auxiliary of 45 members has been organized, while strikers have set up foot- ball and softball leasues and arranged 2 smoker tournament. PIONEER, BC. — That the action of the provincial sovern- ment in declaring the Pioneer miners’ strike ‘illegal’ consti- tutes a threat to the entire British Columbia trade union (Continued on Page 6) See PIONEER CCF Opens Campaign IIMBERLEY, BC. — Optimism is felt in progressive circles here for the victory of Tom O’Connor, CCF candidate in the provincial by-election to be held Thursday, October 26. Formerly a delegate to Vancou- ver and New Westminster Trades and Labor Council, O'Connor was nominated by a CCE convention here Oct. 5. He is now a member of the CCE provincial executive and chairman of its economic re-— lations committee. 4n intensive campaisn of meet ings has been arranged for the next 10 days. Supporting the CCEr candidate will be Grant MeNeil, MP, and Colin Cameron, WMiA, who will be in Kimberley next week, During the last week of the cam- parn, Mrs: Dp. CG Steeves, MILA, and Harold Winch, MLA, CCE leader in the legislature, will Siso assist at meetings. Indications of success in the district, CCE members feel, are promising, and O’Connor is expect eéd to gain full support of the labor—-progressive movement.