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‘Short while age was telling the

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| Your Dollar Donate |
Will Put j A A Dollar
The Drive ec to the |
Over! ates Drive!
FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND DEMOCRACY
VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1939 a 5 Cents

| FULL No. 254.

UPON

HEPBURN LAUNCHES ATTAC
ANADIAN LIBERTIE

Many Killed In Czech, Indian Riots

3

Unrest Wid

esprea

In Czech Areas;

Aartial Law In India

BERLIN, Germany. —Y
At least 12 persons were
executed by Nazi firing
squads in Czech student
riots at Prague last
weekend, while hun-
dreds of the thousands

of students rounded up
by police were reported to
have been sent to concentration
camps.

Private advices arriving here
this week disclosed that the
series of stident disturbances
in Prague in the latter part of
last week were of a much more
serious nature than previously

supposed.

According to one source, students
actually threw up barricades in the
Masaryk University and after beline
dislodged from this position by a
direct assault of Nazi Elite Guards,
took barricaded refuge in another
building to continue the battle.

The German people have been
kept in’ the dark about events in
Gzechoslovakia, although the DNB,
official news agency, has released
statements for the foreign press.

The DNB announced that the
*harsh measures’ taken against the
Gzech demonstrators were indi-
ecative of the government’s deter-
Mination to ‘crush relentiessly’ all
Opposition to the Nazi regime.

The only possible gauge for the
extent of the Czech protest move-—
Ment at present is the nature of
the Nazi punitive measures. Thus,
the fact that martial law has been
decreed in Greater Prague and the
nearby towns of PragueLand. Kla-
do, Geraun and Horchowitz should
be indicative of a broad movement.

BOMBAY, India. —
Martial law was declared
by British authorities
this week at Sukur in the

northwest Indian prov-:

imnces of Sind after rioi-
ing there cost the lives of

2i persons.

For two days the town, an
important commercial center
commanding the gigantic
Sukur dam on the Indus River,
was the scene of bloody street

skirmishes. ,

British authorities, proclaiming
martial law, asserted the disturb=
ances were caused by religious dit-
ferences between Hindus and Mos-

lems.

But Imdian ieaders branded this
explanation as ‘false,’ said it was
an outgrowth of the selfrule cam-
paign. They charged that British
authorities were trying to split in-
dian unity over the ‘false issue’
of religion.

It is pointed out that the Moslem
Teague, second largest political
party in Imdia, has endorsed with
Imany qualifications and exceptions
the ‘white paper’ of the British
whicn would postpone all discussion
of freedom for india until after the
conclusion of the second imperialist
world war.

This ‘white paper’ has been de-
nounced by Gandhi and other lead-
ers of the All India Congress who
are spearheads of the fight for na-
tional independence.

While demonstrations against
British rule have been almost con-
tinuous in the eight provinces dom-
inated by the All India Congress,
those at Sukur were the first
where riots occurred.

Week In I he House

By HAL GRIFFIN

MONTH ago, on the eve of the present session, the CCF
formulated a three-point program calling for protection
of organized labor’s rights, opposition to encroachments on civil

liberties and extension of existing social services.

As I com-

mented at the time, it was a program certain to find a ready
response among the people, but the only conclusion to be drawn
from three weeks of debate is that it cannot be reconciled with
the statements made in the name of the CCF House group by

Harold Winch.

The younger Winch has stated}
that the CCE accepts this war as
one for democracy, in which state—
ment he finds himself in peculiar
agreement with Premier Pattullo
and Pat Maitland, who only a

world he would rather travel alone
than travel with the CCF. The
younger Winch has also remarked
that the CCF will give full support
tc the war, although it intends to
Combat ali encroachments on civil
liberties.

Wo.amount of rationalizing can
reconcile the basic contradiction
between these statements and the
CCF program.

The younger Winch may have
His own conception of what a de-
mocracy should be, but when hs
2ecepted this war as a ‘war for

Pattulio’s concept of democracy.
And tj premier, as he has already
pointedly informed the House,

does not inclucGe in his concept of
democracy any opposition to the
War, 2 view in which Pat Maitland
enthusiastically concurs.

The CCE then, has been com-
mitted to support a ‘war for demo-
eracy in which the capitalist class
jncreasingly finds pretext for the
abrogation of civil liberties and
the denial of trade union rights.

Wo qualifications can hide the
fact that the official CCE position
in accepting ths war as a “war fcr
democracy means that the CCF
will also be unable to oppose ef-
fectively the suppression of civil
liberties and trade union rights
made in the name of essential
measures for prosecution of the
“war for democracy. Similarly, the
official ©CE position means that
the GCF will be compromised in
combatting curtailment or ‘post
ponement’ of social services in the
name of ‘economy essential to suc-
eessful prosecution of a “war for
democracy.’

Biither this, or the CCE will be
forced, if its program is to mean
anything, to come out in full op-
position and break with its present

(Continued on Page 4)
See HOUSE.

>

Toronto
Clarion
Suppressed

Hepburn-Ordered
Raids Followed -
By Federal Action

TORONTO, Ont.— Ontario’s
Premier Mitchell Hepburn
came forward last week to pick

up the discredited mantle of
Quebeec’s fallen Premier
Maurice Duplessis in an attack
on democratic liberties within
the province which has aroused
protest from the labor move-
ment throughout Canada.

Following last week’s provincial
and city police raids on its print-
shop, confiscation of the issue then
going to press and arrest of Doug-
las Stewart, its business manager,
The Clarion, oldest established
labor paper in the Dominion, was
banned by Justice Minister EF. La-
pointe this week.

The Clarion thus becomes the
second labor paper in Canada to
be suppressed for its forthright
statements, Clarte, Erench-GCa-
mnadian language weekly, having
been banned during the recent
Quebec provincial electicns.

Acting on instructions of Attor-
ney-General Conant, who recently
threatened to prosecute United
Church ministers for their pacifist
stand on the war, city and provin-
cial police on Tuesday of last week
raided Clarion offices and the na-
tional offices of the Communist
party.

At the Clarion offices police
seized all copies of the Noy. 11 is-
sue, carrying the manifesto of the
Communist International, several
old_ account books, news articles
and cable dispatches.

On Wednesday of last week Doug-
las Stewart, Clarion business man-
ager, was arrested, while a warrant
was issued for arrest of Thomas
Sims, Clarion editor.

When Stewart appeared in police
court here Thursday of last week
bail was raised from $2000 toe $5000
on instructions of the attorney-gen-
eral’s office.

A second police raid on the
Clarion’s printshop was made
Thursday of last week when ali
available copies of the Nov. 18 issue
were seized.

INDICTMENT SGUGHT.

This week Attorney-General Gon-
ant sought permission from Justice
Minister Lapointe to proceed
against Stewart by indictment
under regulation 63 of the War
Measures Act.

He was informed by federal au-
thorities that, through a recent fed-
eral order-in-council, provincial at—
torney—-generals were empowered to
proceed under the Act without first
obtaining federal permission.

Conant professed to be unaware
of this change.

it was following this correspon-
dence with the federal government
that Ottawa banned The Clarion.

Under a headline, ‘Hepburn Is
Leading to Hitlerism,’ The Clarion
in its Noy. 18 issue commented edi-
torially:

CLARION’S COMMENT.

“Tt is rumored that the Ontario
goveroment, most reactionary of
Canadian provincial administra-
tions, objects to the publication of
working class statements about the
war.

“Tt can only be inferred from this
that the Ontario government is as
desirous of smothering the voice
of the working class in this great
world crisis as it is of depriving
the citizens of Ontario of their in-
alienable right to vote in municipal
elections.

“Tt matters not to the Ontario
government that the people must
know the truth about this war. It

(Continued on Page 2)
See CLARION

;

Ss. HUGHES

SAMUEL

Hughes Labor Candidate
In New Westminster

NEW WES T MINSTER,
BC.—“The small home-own-
er is the big taxpayer in this
city,” stated Samuel S.
Hughes, labor candidate in
the civic elections, in an in-
terview with the Advocate
this week, voicing his belief
that “a more equitable form
ef taxation must be de-
veloped whereby industry
must bear its just share of
the load.”

The candidate, who last
week received endorsation
from Butcher Workers and
Meat Cutters’ union, has also
been endorsed by New West-
minster Trade Union com-
mittee. He is business agent
of his own union and presi-
dent of the latter organiza-—
tion committee, which works
in close cooperation with.

(Continued on Page 2)
See CANDIDATE

—%

AN EDITORIAL

A Blow At Liberty

| Uae CLARION, Canada’s oldest labor paper, published
continuously in Toronto since 1922, has been suppressed.

Former Premier Duplessis’ ex-axis partner Premier Hep-
burn of Ontario and his fascist-minded Attorney-General Co-
nant began the offensive by ordering all copies seized from
Ontario newsstands. Then provincial police raided its offices
and seized its clipping files. Next, Douglas Stewart, Clarion
business manager, was arrested and charged under Section
39a of the War Resulations. Finding that summary trial per-
mitted only a maximum sentence of twelve months imprison-
ment and a heavy fine, Attorney-General Conant obtained
permission from Ottawa to proceed by- indictment, which al-
lows a maximum sentence of 5 years.

The Clarion printshop was then raided and all copies of last
week’s issue on the premises seized. Copies already despatched
to the express office were also ordered held.

According to press reports the Attorney-General of On-
tario will base his charges against the Clarion manager on the
ground that the paper printed in full the text of the manifesto
of the Communist International which it received over British
cables as passed by the British censor and of which the daily
capitalist papers printed extracts and garbled commentaries.

But without waiting for court proceedings, Secretary of
State Lapointe, whose intervention is credited with the defeat
of Duplessis in the Quebec election but who as minister of
justice refused to disallow the Quebec padlock law, stepped in
to form a new axis for the suppression of democracy in Canada
and announced that by virtue of his office the Clarion would
be banned from all future publication.

(Continued on Page 6)

Government

Will Own

Proposed Oil Industry

—PREMIER PATTULLO

By LILLIAN COOPER

VICTORIA, BC.—Assurance that oil drilling operations in
the Peace River district will be owned and operated by the gov-
ermment of British Columbia was given by Premier Pattullo
in the House this week when replying to a barrage of questions

from CCE members.

“Ts the oil going to be developed ® operated

for and by the province of BC?
What methods are going to he
used? Are contracts going to be
let to companies and if so, to
whom will they be let? Is the gov-
ernment going to purchase its own
equipment? What is going to
be done with the oil when it is
obtained ?”

These were among the questions
hurled at the Premier by Harold
Winch, CCE House leader.

Beyond assuring members that
the industry would be owned ani

“by and for the people
of the province,” Premier Pattulis
Gave no satisfactory answer to the
questions. He felt sure, he re
marked, that there would be ro
eifficulty in finding markets once
the oi] was produced.

“The CCE will support this even
if only to explore further into the
Gatural resources of this proy-
ince,” remarked Harold Winch.

The appropriation of $200,000 for
oil drilling was passed with only a
few dissenting votes.

Funds For

Defense
Sought

CLDL To Defend
Distributors Of
Peace Leaflet

Remanded from last Friday,
three men and two women, ar-
rested for distributing a leaflet
entitled “The People Want
Peace’ in the city and charged
under the War Measures Act,
will appear in police court this
(Friday) morning.

Defense counsel will be EF. A:
DGueas, instrueted by the Vancouver
Mnitiatory committee of the Gana-
dian Labor Defense ieasue which
this week carried on an energetic

campaign to raise funds for the ar—
rested persons’ defense

Gity police were reported Thurs
day to-have held for questioning 4
man said to have been soliciting
funds, but George Drayton, acting
secretary for the GLDL. committee
here, told the Advocate that police
denied having booked any person
in connection with the matter.

The CEDL on Thursday re
newed its urgent appeal fer fin-
ancial aid to the defense of those -
arrested ,asking that all contribu_-
tions be sent to its office, Room
51, 163 West Hastings street.

On Sunday a meeting will be held
under auspices of the Vancouver
initiatory committee of the GLDr,
at Orange hall, at which George
Drayton will speak on freedom of
speech, press and assembly in war-
time. The CCF is also being ap-—
proached to send a speaker, it is
understood.

At this meeting the committee
expects to form a branch of the
CLDL..

Unity Foils
Company

PIONEER, BC—Forced to aban-
don attempts to reopen the struck
Pioneer mine in the face of unity
of Bralorne miners with Pioneer
Strikers, mine operators are now
turning their attentions to other
channels to recruit strikebreakers.

It was learned here that miners
on relief in Vancouver are being
hired to reopen the mine, closed
down Since Oct. 8, when Tabor
Minister G S Pearson failed to
2Pppoint a conciliation commission-—

er followings the miners’ applica-—
tion. :

Strikers are undaunted and ap-
pear More determined to see the
Strike through than at any time,
despite the turn of events which
Saw their appeal taken up by E. A.
Lucas for quashing of convictions
of their leaders disallowed by Mr.
Justice Fisher in Supreme Gouré.

George Price, Vancouver Miners’
union secretary, acting here for
the Pioneer local, appealed to trade
unions for funds to replace $775
paid out in fines following Mr.
Justice Fisher’s decision not to
reverse Magistrate G J. Sumner’s
conyiction of union executives on
charges of illegally calling a strike
and refusing to bargain collec
tively with their employers

“Tf the strikers at Pioneer are
to win their struggle, which is pri-
marily the right to organize, then
trade unions and those who believe
the miners are right should rally
to their support and see that they
are not driven back to work
through hunger and their union

(Continued on Page 2)
See PIONEER