THE ADVOCATE Page Five the Editor: The executive feers of the PCFU take a very SEUS view of the unmerited a unwarranted attack on the 9¢-y of our union appearing in SH} Advocate of Feb. 23 and ap- ted a special executive com- fee to investigate the allega- 's and insinuations appearine “ein. : } here the article attacks any peon we do not think it worth y e to answer as all the allega- %s are wholly untrue, and the : fact that these men were sited in open convention shows + the union has every confi- #¢2e in them. What we take Se with is that the Advocate, 2b we thought was a propres- paper published with the idea of helping labor in its seesle asainst unfair condi- Mis, Should come out with an tle which, to say the least, scs like a deliberate attempt fesabotage the PCFU, [ sikine the charges individual- 3 }s far as the fishermen’s dance iSsoncerned, this dance was or- ized by Locals No. 1 and 5 of union. These locals have not [icized the actions of their = ce committee. The PCFU ex- Mcive can only step in when local oversteps its jurisdic- 4 in relation to union affairs. committee has investigated §= allegations in connection =i the dance and cannot find ® re these locals have involved fF union or any part of it with political party. ; politica! party. Mr. Tan tKenzie and Ald. H. Wilson = assisted the dock committee ® iryinge to bring the dock Heme to a successful conclu- |i, and the sole reason these ) gentlemen were at the dance ms that the fishermen might giw them their appreciation of @ help they had given us in @thering that project. Politics s never involyed and the very t that no political speech was de shows that these gentle Bo’s help was wholly disinter- e2d, and we hereby go on rec- 8 by thanking them for the Fp they gave to the dock com- tee, % t Many ofour meetings in the At gentlemen of all political g have been invited to at- d and have willingly come to Se Meetings. ‘egardine the charges agains e deck committee: = his committee has reported gress at every local meeting | if the various PCEU mem- S who have been interviewed - the Advocate reporter had - fault to find with the actions the committee why they did object when these reports re being made. We think the ,egoinge is sufficient answer to 5 charge. Regarding the insinuation ‘2inst Dan Martin as trouble ooter getting $125 per month: he PCEUW and the operators ier the blueback agreement ¢ season found it necessary to 7e@ @ rTesponsible man to iron difficulties arising out of the lection services and agreed to we the cost of this service. nu Martin was appointed by the ton to carry out these duties. services were entirely satis- tory. The operators paid their ire to the union and not to a Martin. The union paid a, This arrangement ‘was ae known to all locals before rwent into effect. ‘Regarding Jack Gayin: ithe executive committee take responsibility in accepting resignation. If Brother Gav- -has any complaint, he is free \bring it before any meeting of 2 local of which he is a mem- 28s ’ ) Redbaiting: The PCRU is not concerned th the political views of any its members. We would wel- me anyone to bring a single in- anee of rebaiting to their local eeting, Lack of co-operation with the PSU: Brother Miller, business agent the SPSU, and Brother Bur- ss of the UFU were invited to rend an executive meeting of > PCFU on Feb. 24 in an effort find out if there were any cunds for the charge of non- operation, and as far as the scussion went, we could find- G@ccasion in which the PCEU d not made every effort to co- erate as fully as possible. If y charges are made, we feel 2y should bbe specific as it is possible to answer the sweep- = allegations made in your pa- = The charge that a group head- by Sabin and Hill are oppos- = the policy of signed agree- sots with the canners is obvi- sly false as recerds will show at the PCEU signed more reements for the 1939 season an ever before, and more than y other salmon fishermen’s un- 1 at any time. The policy of = PCEU, however, is to sign agreements unless ratified by > Tishermen concerned. On two sasions during the 1939 season 2 membership voted not to H an agreement which permit- ted a drop in price but made no allowance for a rise. One of these instances was the case of the fall agreement which was signed by the SPSU. Perhaps this is one of the in- Stances referred to by your re- porter as ‘lack of cooperation.’ Time proved beyond doubt that the PCEU policy was correct. With jan unsatisfactory agree- ment the rise in price due to the outbreak of war would have been entirely lost to the fishermen. The decision of the PCFU was made known to the SPSU at a general meeting before their ne- gotiations were concluded. It should be realized that it is impossible to reply to such indef- inite charges in a letter, but we have endeavored to show that these charges can be answered and will be answered if your in- formants will raise them at a lo- cal meeting. However, your readers wil also realize we can- not continue to correspond on this subject which is raised by in- dividuals who are either lacking in moral courage or in faces to back up their charges, otherwise We are sure their own organ “The Fisherman,’ or their local meet- ing would have been used instead of your paper for what to those who know the facts considered to be sheer mud-slinging. As a labor paper we expect you will correct the impression that the article wil undoubtedly have made in the minds of many who have hitherto regarded the Advo- cate as a responsible organ. Enquiries among the Vancou- ver local and the executive board failed to bring to light any one from whom any of your informa- tion was obtained. And we feel that unless you produce the source of your misinformation we will be forced to the conclusion that it is all the product of the imagination of some disgruntled individual. That such disruptive material of this nature should be accepted from _ irresponsible sources and published without consulting the union itself will’ make readers extremely skeptic- al of the value of other news : found in your columns. In view of the space given tox, the article we feel justified in asking that you print this letter in full. if your readers appreciate the article entitled ‘Reading the Press, which appeared in the Same issue, we feel sure that they will also appreciate the manner in which all these charges and* misrepresentations were concoct-; ed. Yours truly, : 0. R. HANNA Secretary, Special Executive Committee, SPCU. Vancouver, BG (Precisely because the Advocate is a labor paper, having no other object than to advance the inter- ests of the working class, with which its own interests are iden- , tical, the Advecate gave publicity to the activities of certain leaders of the PGEU in the belief that they were not in the best inter- ests of the union’s membership. The Advocate now publishes the union leadership’s reply in full, and suggests that “The Fisher- man’ should also publish the Ad- yocate’s article, which contained definite statements, not insinu- ations, in order that rank-and- file union members, not all of who read the Advocate, may be ARE BARBER SHOPS NO LONGER SACRED? By HARRY ROWE pER ONE has happy recollections of the days when the barber shop was a haven for tired males who liked to relax in the chair while they were given the weekly once-over. Maybe they caught a few minutes’ nap or engaged in talk with the man they were wont to call a friend. That sacred institution at least seemed inviolate until last week when a newspaper report rudely Shattered our faith, A barber in suburban Toronto had donned the mantle of those Usually asso- ciated with Goering’s Gestapo, or the Mounties when they’re en- gaged in union-peeping, and in- formed on one of his customers. The unsuspecting client had got tired talking about whether King could out-talk Manion in a free-for-all contest, no holds bar- red, and ventured comment on the war and who might win. It seems to me he was quoted as Saying something about the Al- lies losing but we didn’t read that too carefully, taken aback as we were by the idea of a tradesman doing such a deed. Perhaps this particular Cana- dian had still felt a surge of an- fer over what had happened to his former homeland, Czechoslo- vakia, and the train of events from Munich onward, Se HE customer was tried and would get three months or more. Of course, the barber might have cut his throat. We can imagine it took great moral courage to re strain himself from the lethal step when a customer dared ex- press personal opinions contrary to his own. But we will never enter a bar- ber shop with the same equanim- ity and light-heartedness again. We can picture ourself in a sim- ilar situation. We might have had a hard day at the office and entered the bar- ber shop in no mood for chit- ehat about Leafs’ chances Satur- day night or the hard track fac- ing Seabiscuit in the Preakness. We might have disagreed with the barber’s theory that the Leafs’ defense was invincible and we would drop the subject for something else. Who knows but what we might not in 3 weak moment confess our doubts about Chamberlain’s method of pursuing the war. And thereby We could be undone. However, forewarned is forearmed. WN SECOND thought, we should not be too surprised by this threat to freedom of opinion. Wot when a liberty-lovine goy- ernment such as that headed by Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King enacts regulations by or- der-in-council permitting tintype Hitlers of the Hepburn-Conant brand to arrest any persons who may make statements “intended or likely €0 cause disaffection to His Majesty or intended or like- ly to prejudice the recruiting, training, discipline or administra- tion of any of His Majesty's forces,” We must bow to the inevitable, it seems, and resign ourselves to the fact that the tranquil days of the barber shop have gone.. The march of time has obliterated most evidences of another era. They are probably gone forever. In the long run they aren’t very important. Wot when the free- dom to say what we think in our favorite barber chair is tempor- arily threatened. We say it is only threatened be- cause we don’t believe the kind of thing evidenced in this particular case will grow unless given plen- tty of encouragement. And we are quite confident that it will be thoroughly scotched by demo- eratic Canadians. @ EH THINK that further evi- dences of this tendency can best be sterilized by a frank Statement by the union barbers of this country. Not that there was the slightest indication that they ever encouraged this un- grateful act by a fellow practi- tioner. Let the members of barber un- ions in Canada proclaim far and wide that man’s faith in the in- violacy of the barber shop is restored. Let them declare in bold terms that when men enter their shops for the customary Service, and hang up their coats, they are not baring their necks for the Procrustean blade of the first tale-carrier to shave them. Let the barbers take their Stand for the freedom embodied in democratic trade unionism and the development of cultural interests and free expression. Let the barber shop réturn to its status of bygone years and let the sky be the limit, that is for free discussion. With such an enunciation of the home-rule in barber shops, Canadians can take heart and continue to enter them with a smile. It could even mean the extension of the barber’s union which has obviously suffered the effect of governmental codes and the consequent weakening of their organization at many points. URNING to the lighter as- pect of the issue, there is al- Ways one way out. We could join the legions of the House of David. But that might require too much public explanation and the danger of constant attention by the fire department for an- other thing. We would have to foreswear soup. We believe that an occurrence of this nature will not soon be duplicated. The good name of the members of the barbering trade should not for long be scar- red by the Judas kiss of one of its members. And if there is any disquietude because we did not refer to them as tonsorial artists or beauticians, they can ask for a refund at the counter. FORUM OF THRE PEOPLE fully acquainted with the issue. Judging from the correspond- ence, pro and con, received this week, the Advocate believes the purpose of its article in bringing certain questions before the PC- FU members has been accom- plished, that further discussion and action can be left in the hands of the union’s member- ship.—Editor). And Another OF Enqutry 'To the Editor: The motion quoted below was passed by our local at its meeting Monday: “Resolved: That the secretary write the editor of ‘The Adyvo- cate, asking what proof they have of charges against certain members of the executive board of the PCFU and who laid them.” As the charges contained in the article concerned are very seri- ous, in fact, they affect the very Toots of the PCFU, we are very: anxious to get to the bottom of the trouble, A. GILSTEAD, Whonnock, BC. Secretary Local 19, PCHEU. And Some Of Pratse To the Editor: Enclosed please find money order for $19.85 to- wards maintenance of the one and only workers’ paper in BC. This amount was collected through the local press commit- tee. JAMES ROBERTSON, Secretary Local 7293, UMWA Cumberland, BG. To the Editor: Please take 1 DOte of my change of address. I lost last week’s copy of the Advo- cate, probably through change of address, and I sure hate to lose another copy as it is the best Canadian paper on the market. _, What we need is one million more readers and after that one more milion. I’m up against hard luck, but I'll send my last nickel for a copy of the Advocate and go without a cup of coffee. STAUNCH READER. South Slocan, BC. To the Editer: We wish to in- form you that the Trade Union Committee in New Westminster is not sponsoring of givine finan- Cial assistance to any candidate in the coming federal election in Wew Westminster, Many workers and other inter- ested parties have been inquiring if we were sponsoring or giving financial assistance to Eddie Mills, so-called Labor Socialist candidate in New Westminster. This letter will serve to make our position clear. We are not sponsoring or soliciting funds for any candidate’s election funds, in the coming federal elec- tion, R. LA VIGNE, Secretary, New Westminster Trade Union Committee New Westminster, BG No, The Swedes Are Not Asteep To the Editor:—I have read a lot about the Swedish Socialist party and formerly had the opin- ion that Sweden was a very dem- Ocratic country, but in the last two months I have found out my error. It looks to me as if they have adopted Hitler’s system. If I hear they are persecuting the Jews, Ill know for sure, be- Cause they are paying 300 krona for every child that is born and if that is not adopted from Ger- many, I'll eat my hat. About two weeks ago I heard a news broadcast from the US and they said that every Swedish worker had to give one day’s pay €ach month to the collector for ‘Aid to Finland. Well, when I read that I said the Swedish workers won't stand for it be- cause they are too well organiz- ed to let reaction put over any- thing like that, Then the Svenska Pressen of Feb. 8 said that donations from the Swedish people had reached - the sum of 75 million krona (about 20 million dollars). The Sum of 62 million krona of that Was from the industry—62 million krona taken from the workers to help kill Finnish workers who are trying to get rid of the octo- pus that fastened itself on them in 1918 — the Swedish landlords and the English bankers. Are the Swedish workers asleep or have their leaders sold out to reaction? It sounds like the lat- ter when I think of an article I read in the Swedish Tribune a while ago. The executive of the Swedish trade unions has advised the lo- Cals that it wants all persecution of workers who served in the Hinnish White Guard, 1918-19 to be stopped “because the Finnish workers want it.” So maybe Man- merheim can get a job in the Swedish trade union leadership When the Finns get tired of him. Pitt Lake, BC. A SWEDE. SHORT JABS by OV Bill A few days ago, a Lethbridge magistrate sen- tenced a man named Birton White to two years imprisonment for forgery, but suspended the sentence on condition that White, who was a flyer, should go immedi- ately to Finland to serve with Mannerheim’s forces. According to the Winnipeg press, White has since left for Finland. General Sir Francis Maynard commanded the British expeditionary force at Murmansk in 1918. Later, he wrote a book of memoirs en- titled, The Murmansk Venture, published about 10 years ago. It is in- teresting to read what he has to say about Mannerheim’s White Finn bandits in Karelia, as he saw them. “Tooting was their favorite pastime,’ he writes. Of the excesses committed by the imperialist invaders of the Soviet territories, he says, “Nothing compared with those carried out under the direct orders of responsible ‘White’ leaders, of whom Mannerheim was about the worst.” Wallenius, who was his second-in-command, is occupying the same position today and is chief of military operations on the Northern front. He is a criminal in mind and in fact. In 1930 he was sentenced to penal servitude for kidnapping a former president of Finland, Stahlberg. Perhaps Sir Walter Citrine will learn from his Social Democratic friends in Finland just how Wallenius comes to be leading a White Guard army today instead of cracking rocks in a penitentiary. Undoubtedly Birton White will find himself in congenial company if he ever gets into the White army. He'll have to hurry, though, or he wil have to fight his way into Finland. He may find the Finnish people in control of their own country and learn that they neither de- sire nor need the help of Canadian criminals. When I examined the contents of a package A Present I received from the mailman the other day, I From Blaylock. thought, “Aha! Mr. Blaylock has sent me a Valentine.” It was a copy of No.1, Vol. 1, of The Employees’ Magazine, published by the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Can- ada, Limited. Qn page one, over some hieroglyphics that purported to be the Signature of Mr. Selwyn G. Blaylock, was a letter ‘to the Consolidated family.’ This little magazine, the letter said, was to be devoted entirely to their interests and entertainment and was “sent to you with the com- pPliments of the company.” ZI took another look at the wrapper and concluded I had been mis- taken in thinking it was a Valentine from Blaylock — it had been re- layed. Consolidated employees are to know that it is their magazine. “Your magazine,’ says Blaylock. “Thirdly,” he writes, “those of you who are represented by the various workmen’s committees at Trail, Kimberley, and other properties, will be given a better opportunity to know what your committees and your committee members are doing.” It is only since the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers’ union has been telling the Trail and Kimberley workers what their committee members were doing, that Mr. Blaylock has seen the need for a magazine for the same purpose. eC | Like every other company or house publication it is a mere aggre— gate of plant gossip, social small-talk and company proposals ‘for their workers’ benefit.’ One of these latter is the only thing in it worth reading over, ( or rather, once). This is a company scheme of holidays with pay for day-wage em- ployees. It provides that employees, after two years’ service, are to get one day off with pay for each year worked without a break, with a maximum of 10 days. But—here shows the fine Italian hand of Mr. Blaylock—"Holiday pay will not be granted in any year when the company’s net profits, as shown by the auditor's statement for the preceding year, have been less than $4,500,000.” The paid-up capital of the company is a little over $16,000,000, so if the stock holders don’t get 25 percent on their investment, the LOSS is to be made up out of the holiday money of theConsolidated Workers. Kind, big-hearted Mr. Blaylock and company! A prize of a ten-spot is offered for a name for this new child in the journalistic world. Although IT am not eligible, I am going to butt in. I suggest the best name for this mag. is “The Consolidated Hoodwinker,’ for that is its sole purpose—to hoodwink the workers and keep them from organizing into a real union, when they could have a real paper of their own, without any kindness on Mr. Blaylock’s part. Roe how any reasonable, thinking man would de- At ork. scribe the current issue of the Labor States- man, official paper of the Vancouver Trades and Labor Gouncil. In one of the ‘ears’ of the paper’s masthead is the slogan, “To each union member the political party of his choice.” Right underneath is a news item written editorially practically calling for the expulsion of all Communists and Communist sympathizers from the unions. In all, the paper contains nine articles (and little else) attacking the GCommu- nists and the Soviet Union. These appear to the editor to be one and the same thing, In following out this red-baiting policy, the Labor Statesman is taking its instructions from two foreign organizations, the AFL in the United States and the Internatinoal Federation of Trades Unions in Amsterdam, at the same time, of course, accusing the Communists of taking orders from Moscow. This proposal to expel trade union members who happen to be Com- MTunists or sympathizers can be likened only to the excommunication of individuals by the Pope in the Middles Ages, when no one dared to ive an excommunicado a piece of bread. If a union is 100 percent or- ganized, to expel a member for being a Communist or sympathizer means that he will be prevented from working at what is perhaps the only job at which he is efficient—and no Gommunist will scab,—it is taking the bread out of his mouth; it is forming a united front with the boss against a fellow worker who happens to have different, and better, political ideas, If the AFL wants to clean harmful elements out of its ranks, it might do well to turn its attention to the racketeers and stick-up men who milk the hard-working dues-paying members. Although the Labor Statesman had nine items about the ‘Red peril,’ it did not make any mention of Willie Bioff of the Theatrical Stace Employees and Moving: Picture Operators. Bioff is a noble specimen of an anti-Communist in the AFL, He is in stir now, finishing out a jail sentence for pandering, pimping, the most degrading and contemptible crime any man could be charged with. Bioff was a member of Al Capone’s (another anti-Communist) gang in Chicago and he ran the union on the same lines. Since he has been laid by the heels now he blames his downfall on “the Communists and the moneyed interests.” The Communists probably had something to do with Bioff’s exposure; I hope so. This racketeering element can always bank on being ehecked-up by the Communists, and this is one of the reasons why the Communists are to be driven out of the unions, to be exterminated. But—when von Schleicher was at the helm of state in Germany, Hitler asked him for a money grant for the Nazis, in return for which he promised to exterminate the Communists. Von Schleicher’s secre- tary was an ex-general of the imperial army, the Kaiser’s army; he was not a Communist, but a capitalist political realist. When von Schleicher informed him of this offer made by Hitler, he remarked, “The bloody fool, does he not know that the Communists will refuse to be ex- terminated?” Criminals. incongruous to the point of absurdity. That is Come and Hear... n A. E. SMITH (National Secretary, Canadian Labor Defense League) ... tell how thousands of workers, farmers and prominent citizens are participating ali across Canada in the protest movement against repressive measures under the Canada Defense Regulations, at the LUX THEATRE Hastings St., near Columbia SUNDAY, MARCH 3rd, at S P.M. Auspices, C.L.D.L. (B.C. District) ADMISSION FREE POTS O G9 SS HOS SGS99909S8SSSSSOSS POs