Page Four THE ADVOCATE ‘December §, 1939. : Chamberlain Go Minor Concessions S 7 Mexican Workers In Military Display Only Conceded To Public Opinion By PHILIP BOLSOVER LONDON, Eng. (Passed by British Censor) — The long- awaited amendments to the dictatorial emergency defense regu- lations which went in force last week, show that the government is afraid to ignore the nation-wide protest against the regula- tions, but is trying to modify aroused public opinion with a few minor Concessions. The framework of the dictator jal state is still as strong as ever, but some nuts and bolts have been unserewed. Most important amend- ment won by widespread working class protest is that strikes by workers employed on ‘essential services’ are now not made illegal. Power to suppress written opin- ion and propaganda has also been reduced. Now only “false reports’ are subject to prosecution. Defend- ants against such charge can plead that they believed the statement to be true. But the government ‘retains power to prevent publica- tion of any statement which might be ‘prejudicial to relations between the United Kingdom and any coun-— try outside the United Kingdom.’ This power could be used to pre- vent all criticism of neutral coun- tries, including fascist countries, such as Italy, which are friendly to this country which is now fight- ing a ‘war of democracy.’ Power to prohibit publication ef newspapers offending under ¢his regulation has, however, been withdrawa. Enormous powers are sill re tained by the government. Reten- tion of citizens without trial, sus- pension of habeas corpus, right +9 ban public meetings, right to shut off ‘protected areas’ are all still kept. Wot only that, but police can still enter premises without war rant, still impose curfew in .uny area, still search premises. They ean still hold secret trials. The regulations strike at the very heart of democratic rights. In the hands of a reactionary govern- ment, such as the Chamberlain fZovernment, they menace liberty in name of war fought to retain liberty. Brazilian Leader il im Jail Argentine Paper Urges Amnesty For ‘Knight Of Hope’ BUENOS AIRES, Argen- tine —_ Information reaching this country from Brazil ad- wises that Luis Carlos Prestes, outstanding “political leader of that country, is seriously ill, in prison. Orientacion, daily Communist newspaper published in this city, protests against the treatment accorded the leader of the Bra- zilian people, which it states, ‘does not correspond to the me thods of a civilized country, and especially today when the press ef Brazil prominently publishes appeals from Brazil’s president, Dr. Getulio Vargas, calling for the ‘unity of the Brazilian fam- ily?” “Does Dr. Vargas consider the unity of the Brazilian family possible, while the jaiis are over- crowded with political prisoners, while Luis Carlos Prestes, sick unto death, is heid jncommuni-— cado and receives brutal treat- ment at the hands of his jail- ers?” the paper asks. Dominion Food Prices Show 9 Percent Rise y BAY GREGORY While working people knew only too well that food prices have soared abnormally since outbreak of war, now even the federal labor department's Labor Gazette has to admit, in its Wovember issue, that food prices from Sept. 1 to Oct. 1 showed éon advance of slightly less than 9 percent.” Since zovernment figures are al-© ways taken on an average over the dominion, checked, rechecked and ‘revised, an admission of 9 per cent can be taken as a very con” servative estimate of the inerease. Significantly, it is on the usual 99 staple foods that this rise 1S indicated. “The largest increases were TC corded in the cost of meats, but- ter, efes, lard, flour, potatoes, beans, coffee and tea,” the Labor Gazette states, foods which are essential to every working man, woman and -child to maintain health. ’ Rising in this short period from 110 to 120, the food price index is the highest since 1930, with excep- tion of two months, Aug, 1938, and Dec., 1937. Fuel and light also increased from 138 to 142 in the same period. In Britain the increase is even preater, food and tobacco index rising 11.4 percent, from 90.4 to 100.7. This is made up by 2 big rise of 169 percent in price of cereals, 10.4 percent in meat, fish and eggs, 84 percent on other items, On the other hand the industrial materials index rose only 5.4 per- cent, from 102,2 to 107,4 and whole- sale prices approximately 7 per- cent, from 98.1 to 105.2. From these figures it is clear who is bearing the heaviest bur- den in the war. Necessary staple goods without which one cannot live are the items showing largest increases. ‘Thus it is the working people, less able to pay, who sre forced, despite assurance from the government and alleged taxation on excess profits, to bear the full brunt of imperialist war on their shoulders. Average prices of separate com- given in modities in Vancouver, Labor Gazette, show substantial rises in this period. Wiost spectacular increase is that of coffee from 30.9 eents 2 pound to 37.5 cents a pound; next is tea, 48.8 cents to 53.3 cents; butter, 27 eents to 32 cents; stewing beef, 15.7 cents to 183 cents. Potatoes rose from $1.40 to $1.57 for 100 pounds, fiour from approximately q2 cents to $1.02 for 24 pounds. = Ganned salmon, product of one of BC’s main industries, increased from 24.1 cents to 26.6 cents, while eanned tomatoes, another BC pro- duct, also rose from 10.6 cents to 12.6 cents a can. Consumers Call Meet Determined to secure results in the fight against profiteering and high living costs, delegates to the newly-formed Consumers’ Re- search Council will meet next Monday, Dec. 11, at 8 pm, in the Women’s Building, 752 Thurlow street, to discuss a number of questions. Attorney-General Gordon S. Wis- mer has been invited to tell the council exactly what the govern- ment will do in answer to the de- mand for previncial food price boards, and Percy R. Bengough, trades council secretary. has been asked to speak on the Trades and Labor Congress’ attitude to profi- teering. Three aldermanic candidates have also been invited to speak, so that delegates may find out their stand on the question before the civic elections. Mrs. M. E. Worton, provincial or- ganizer of the Housewives’ League, will be in the chair. All out-of- town delegates who attended the first council meeting on Oct 30 have been invited to be present. Labor Protests Company Union Formation of a company union at the Ww. H. Malkin company to defeat efforts of Teamsters’ Joint Gouncil to organize employees in- to a bonafide union was protested by Trades and Labor Council, Tuesday. Fiecutive officials will take the question up with the company. it was pointed out by a delegate that the move was taken suddenly without giving union officials an opportunity to address the em- ployees’ meeting. President Jamieson, endeavoring to absolve W. H. Malkin of compli- city in company unionism, said he knew him as a very fine man, proved nothing. vt Forced To Relax Some R SES MIULITIA battalions of the Co ed by Gen. J. A. Castro, secretary of nation dium, Mexico City. The CTM has more than 100,000 members with military training. nfederation of egulations | { | CCF Wins First NS Election CiO Union Leader, Cape Breton Yictor NEW WATERFORD, NS. — The CCF elected its first mem- ber to the Nova Scotia legisla- ture this week with the victory of Douglas McDonald in the Cape Breton Center by-elec- tion. The seat was formerly held by Michael Dwyer, minis- % ‘ter of mines in the Liberal gov- 4 ernment, who resigned re- eently. ! Douglas, a sub-district board member of the United Mine Work ers’ union, obtained a majority of nearly 500 votes in a three-cornered fight. Opposing him were Liberal — and Independent Liberal candi— dates, Conservatives haying decided Mexican workers receive al defense, at a ceremony in the National Sta- standards distribut- Fire Loss Suit Heard Investigation of claims arising out of Vancouver Island’s disas- ¢rous forest fire last year, com- menced before Chief Justice Mor- rison and a special Supreme Court jury this week. Damages of more than $104,000 by Elk River ‘Vimber company, 2 larger sum by Comox and Cana- dian Western Lumber company, $35,000 by James Forbes and his wife for loss of the Forbes Land- ing Hotel, are claimed against Bloedel, Stewart and Welch Ltd., for alleged negligence eausing the fire. At the time of the fire, of an ex tent unparalleled in Vancouver Isiand’s history, readers will re- call the charges of sabotage level- led against unemployed men sent to fight the fire. They were ac- cused of putting sand in the pumps and cutting hoses while at the same time they were forced to endure bad food and quarters in the battle to isolate the fire. The men **them- selves, on their return, pointed out the utter inadequacy of fire-fight- ing equipment available. Wow some timber companies, seeking to recoup heavy losses caused by the fire, have laid charges against another company, REPRESSION IN FRANCE Say Labor Renegades Ready To Flee To US BRUSSELS, Belgium.—In France, the fruits of the war for democracy are already ripening. democratic traditions Communist leader and th was bodily conveyed from charging that Bloedel, Stewart and Welch Ltd. should not have been operating during the hazardous dry season and that a wood-burn- ing locomotive without a spark arrester had been used at the time. Plaintiffs claim that the fire stared in a ‘cold deck’ pile of 800,- 000 feet of timber, 12 miles west of Campbell River, eventually coyv- ering an area in all of 30 to 40 miles. Bloedel, Stewart and Welch Ltd. deny negligence and countercharge that the other companies were guilty for failing to destroy slash and debris demanded by 2 forest ranger and for not maintaining adequate fire-fighting equipment. Trials of all claims are expected to last two weeks. Jobless Supported Goordination of all efforts of every organization interested, directly or indirectly, in unemploy- ment in order to gain for relief recipients increased allowances and a clothing grant is sought by Relief Project Workers’ union pendnig em- ployment, Vancouver Trades and Labor Gouncil on Tuesday gave full en- dorsation to the union’s resolution for increased food, shelter and clothing allowance and urged an early start on 2 works program. Steps are being taken to interest married unemployed in the cam- paign and registration of all men in need of clothing has been started by the RPWU. A special meeting has been callea for 2 p.m. this Friday at 60 West Cordova Street. & committee elected at a meeting last Sunday is now working out plans for a campaign to gain higher relief al- lowances. Seek Explanation VICTORIA, BC — Delegates to the Trades and Labor Gouncil here Tuesday unanimously endorsed 2 motion requesting Justice Minister Lapointe jto explain banning of the Clarion, but rejected a move to protest its suppression and the ban on other papers published in Britain but refused entry into Can- ada. Dies Committee i ‘Insults Americans’ Says Rockwell Kent WASHINGTON, DC. — The Dies Committee is termed “silly” and “an in- sult to Americans” by Rock- well Kent, noted American journalist. In a recent speech here, Rockwell Kent stated: “I am being vindicated as Florimonde Bonte, e real representative of the workers, the Chamber, while noted defenders of democracy like Leon Blum call- or like the former Paris chief of life imprisonment. France? Here are some instances of demo- today: an old-fashioned American. I am impressed by the De- claration of Independence and by the statement of Ab- raham Lincoln. If to change things as they are—poverty, unemployment and under- privilege — I have to en- dorse radical measures, it merely means that I am try- ing to get as close to the bot- tom of the things as I can.” Governor Hears Union SEATTLE, Wash. — Full infor- mation on trade union affairs in the territory of Alaska has been placed in the hands of the newly appointed governor, Dr. ernest Gruening, upon his departure for Juneau to assume his new duties, according to A. E. Harding, secre- tary of Washington District Coun- cil No. 1 of the Maritime Federa- tion. Conferences were held last Eri- day morning between Dr. Gruen- ing and George Lane of the Alaska Fishermen’s Union, Mark Hege- berg, of the Copper River and Prince William, Sound Fishermen’s TInion and Harding, and factual information supporting the reports were submitted to the popular new chief executive of Alaska. Gruening is reported to have lis- tened with interest to revelations of the anti-labor drive being wag- ed under the guise of “Alaska for Alaskans.’ : Under the propaganda carried on with this slogan trade unions are accused of bringing in ‘outsid- ers’ to wrest jobs from resident Alaskans. However, it was cs plained that unions merely organ- ized workers hired by large fish packers and succeeded in raising the wages and working conditions from the semi-feudal levels that existed during the open shop era. Gannery workers, who bear the brunt of employers’ attacks, are largely comprised of Filipinos. These workers, it was pointed out to Dr. Gruening, were hired by packers as early as 1905. Protection of fisheries was also urged by the committee, which warned that plunder of the rich resource, if permitted to go UnDp challenged, will destroy one of the major industries in the Territory. which means for daring to say that The month closed with French ed for execution of Communists, police, Jean Chiappe, demanded How is democracy faring in Some say France, under Dala- dier, is worse than Germany un- der Hitler. Judge for yourself: eracy AS it is practiced in France Thirty-nine Communist deputies are in Sante prison—charged with ‘Sntelligence with the enemy,’ peace is better than war. Six leading members of the CGT (General Confederation of Work ers), including GGT Secretary Ju- lien Racamond, the railwaymen’s leaders, Pierre Semard and Emil Tournemain, the metal workers’ leader, Ambroise Croizat, and the leaders of the textile workers, the wood workers, the bakers and oth- er trades, are also in Sante prison. The reason is that they refused to wipe out all victories obtained by organized French labor in 1936. Alongside these leaders hun- dreds of rank-and-filers share the jails. While they are behind the bars what is the position of ,the French worker today? For the greater glory of the Two Frundred Families, the 44-hour week is gone, the system of fac- tory delegates is abolished, over- time is paid at halftime rates and if you refuse to work you will be not to nominate for the seat. sent to the forced labor squad. ticipate in Communist activity, if you dare protest against the war and ask for peace, or say 2 good word for the Soviet Union, then your let is imprisonment or de- portation to the French colonies, to Madagascar, for instance. NOT ONLY COMMUNISTS. These ‘democratic’ measures are not restricted to Communists. Simple trade unionists are con- demned to the most severe penal- ties. Thus, ‘be Temps reports that the First Military Tribunal in Paris tried three militant trade unionists: Andre Juin, editor - of the CGT organ, Le Peuple; George Maupioux and his wife — he a worker in the national mint, she a telegraphist, for pamphlet distri- bution. Although Leon Johaux gave evi- dence for the defense, the verdict was guilty. Juin was sentenced to five years in jail and givena 22,- 000 france fine. Maupioux and ais wife received four years in jail and a 16,500 francs fine. Can you wonder that people are inclined to believe, after such trials, the rumors which are circulating that Jouhaux, Blum and others have made all preparations to go to the United States, when things get too hot. Those who believed in them, and the rank-and-file of the Socialist party will be left. In spite of all measures, the vast majority of the Communist party fights on, gaining added confi- dence and support every day- In defense of ‘democracy, Dala- dier is prepared to take all meas- ures to stamp out the Gommunist virus. His task is diffigult. Hu- manite continues to appear, thous- ands of leaflets circulate, strikes take place, and anti-war agitators eontinue their work, This was the first provincial elec- tion contest entered by the CCE, which is planning to run’ candi- dates in several constituencies at the next provincial general election. Standing of parties in the Hlouse is now: Liberals, 25; Conservatives, Db; CCE, 1. Unions Oppose Manager Plan Opposition to the City Manager plan was again expressed by dele gates to the Trades and Labor Council, Luesday, when they ap- proved an executive recommenda- tion and endorsed appointment of P. R. Bengough and E. A. 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