— Page Six THE ADVOGATE April 26, 1940 LABOR’S FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE THE TASKS OF LABOR © Los of unity has been the bane of the Canadian trade union movement for decades. The centuries-old imperialist de- | vise ‘divide and rule’ has been applied by the capitalist class with a vengeance to the trade union movement and new splits are being engineered today with the aim of smashing the labor movement entirely. The background of all the struggles and splits within the Canadian trade unions has ever been the fight between a policy of class collaboration (acquies- cence and aid to the capitalist class to exploit the vast majority of the working class so long as a small privileged group gets a ‘Take-off’) and a policy of class struggle (unification of the whole working class against capitalist exploitation). e The lines were never absolutely and clearly drawn, side issues were often the ones which were presented as the main issues, but this has been the real foundation for all the struggles. Before the last war, the struggle on these issues was wax- ing very Sharp indeed. It deep- ened during the war itself and it blossomed forth in the great One Big Union revolt in Western Can- awa in 1918. This was the back- ground of the Workers Unity League drive after the 1929 eco- nomic crisis. This is behind the CiO crusade in the United States and Canada in the last four years.. This is the basis of the present conflicts. The situation in Canada is that the trade union movement so far embraces only the minority of the workers. This minority in turn, is split up into several sep- arate trade union centers—and is being split further. @ OR forty years the clash be- tween the advocates of craft and industrial unionism has con- tinued to grow sharper. Craft unoinism, albeit it still has some LABOR AND DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES (Reprinted from the March issue of the All-Canadian Congress of Labor’s organ, the Canadian Unionist) OX of the first tasks of the new parliament must be a thorough consideration of the Defense of Canada Regu- lations and the whole matter of censorship in wartime. In the memorandum submitted by the Congress to the government in January last, this subject was referred to in general terms, and, if necessary, further representations will be made, particularly since there is a tendency not only to curtail the liberties of the citizens, but to infringe upon the rights of the workers, to a degree which seems utterly un- justified. The regulations now in effect were based on those originally adopted by the British govern- ment; they bad been prepared for some time before the war be- gan. But when the British regu- lations were discussed by parlia- ment in October last, there was so much criticism “that drastic amendments were made, remoy- ing almost all their objectionable features. The Canadian House of Com- mons has not yet had an oppor- tunity to deal with the regula- tions, which were passed by .or- der-in-council, and the peaple of Ganada should realize fully the dangers which are involved as long as they remain in their pres- ent form. " The most important sections of the regulations are Nos. 39 and 389A. Section 39 provides that “no person shall (a) spread reports or make statements intended or likely to cause disaffection to his majesty or to interfere with the success of his majestys forces or of the forces of any allied or associated powers or to prejudice his majesty’s relations with for- eign powers; (b) spread reports or make statements intended or likely. to prejudice the recruiting, training, discipline, or adminis- tration of any of his majesty’s forces; or (c) spread reports or make statements intended or likely to be prejudicial to the safety of the state or the efficient prosecution of the war.” Section 39A refers to the print- ing or circulation of any docu- ment, ete., which would have the same effect as indicated in (a), (b) and (ce) of Section 39, which are repeated verbatim. These two sections originally contained the words, “false or otherwise,” after the word “state ments,’ but these words were de- leted by an order-in- council pass- ed on Jan. 4 last The change makes no difference whatever to the application of the regulation, since all statements are presum- ably either false or true, and thus all statements as described are prohibited. 5 But the British regulation reads: “No person shall (a) en- deavor by means of any false statement, false document or false reports to influence public opinion (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) in a man- ner likely to be prejudicial to the defence of the realm or the effi- cient prosecution of the war.” Furthermore, it is a good de- fense in Great Britain if one can prove that there was reasonable cause to believe that the state- ment, document, or report was true. The British section analogous with No. 39 reads, in part, thus: “No person shall (a) endeavor to seduce from their duty persons in his majesty’s service or engaged under any public authority in the performance of functions in con- nection with the defense of the realm or the securing of the public safety, or to cause among such persons disaffection likely to lead to breaches of their duty.” This obviously is far more pre- cise and limited than the Cana- dian regulation quoted above. Tt is to be noted, however, that an order-in-council passed on Jan .17 last gives some measure of protection to citizens, as it provides that “it shall be a de fense to any prosecution for an offence against regulation 39 or 39A to prove that the person ac- eusead intended in good faith merely to criticize, or to point out errors or defects in the govern- ment of Canada or any province thereof, or in either house of legislature, or in the administra- tion of justice.” How this will be interpreted in practice remains to be seen; it is likely that a number of con- victions would not have been ob- tained if it had been in effect from the outset. e HE workers are especially concermmed with the possibili- ty that section 27 of the regula- tions may be used to their detri- ment. It reads, in part, “No per- son shall do any act with intent to impair the efficiency or im- pede the working of any vessel, aircraft, vehicle, machinery, ap- paratus er other thing used or intended to be used for the pur- pose of any of his majesty’s forces or for any undertaking engaged in the performance of essential services.” This is aimed against sabo— tage, but may have a wider appli- eation. The British regulation is essentially the same, except that it adds: “provided that a person shall not be guilty of an offense against this regulation by reason only of his taking part in, or peacefully persuading any other person to take part in, a strike.” Thus the British workers are permitted to strike and picket without infringing the regula- tion, while the Canadian one might obviously be used to pre- vent such action. @ ECENTLY, a number of per- Sons in different parts of Can- ada have been arrested for pub- lishing or circulating pamphlets Which, so far as can be ascer- tained, are in the nature of elec- tion material. The Montreal and Ottawa branches of the Canadian Civil Liberties Union have issued a statement to the press, pointing out that, “especially at election time, parliamentary democracy, as contemplated in the British North America Act, cannot exist without the freest and fullest analysis and examination of po- litical proposals, free public opin- ion and free discussion through- out the nation of all matters af- fecting the state. Within the limits set by the Criminal Code, a free press and free speech are just as important at election time as the ballot.” The statement continues: “We have opposed these regulations as being unwarranted violations of the basic civil liberties, un- questionably not dictated by mili- tary necessity. Their use in the suppression of an election pro- gram, however misguided or un- popular, reveals the extent <‘o which they undermine the demo- eratie institutions of Canada.” e HE attitude of the Congress has been clearly set forth in its recent memorandum to the government. Any regulations which restrict civil liberties should be so specific and unam- biguous that every citizen can understand them, and should he so obviously necessary that no reasonable person can object to them. In the phrase used by the Civil Liberties Union, they should be ‘dictated by military necessity.’ Further, they should be adminis- tered with discretion. The pres- ent procedure of leaving the prosecution of cases to the pro- vVincial attorneys-in-general is ob- viously objectionable. The whoze procedure should be in the hands of the federal authorities, who are responsible to parliament. It is to be hoped that the forthcom- ing session will give this import- ant question the attention it de- serves. room for co-existence with indus- trial unions today, actually grew up and hardened in the pre-mass Production area. It favors the organization of small groups of Skilled workers as Separate and apart from the masses of un- skilled workers. It is based on the principle that certain expert workers cannot be replaced eas- ily by the bosses, that they there- fore can demand and win special consideration without bothering about the rest of the working class, History has, to a very great extent, swept away the base from under craft unionism. Each new technical develop- ment either so simplifies the productive processes as to make special skill unnessary or at least narrows down the difference between the skilled and unskilled workers, The fact is that craft union- ism still has an economic base only in a number of secondary in- dustries such as the printing in- dustry, where new technique is slow in being introduced — or where it is held back by the power of the craft unions them- selves. Modern industry can be effec- tively organized only on the in- dustrial union basis. That is why the fight for the organization of the unorganized has always come down to the fight for the indus- trial form of unionism. Moreover, the ‘old’ trade union- ism completely left out such im- portant sections of the working class as the ‘white collar’ and ag- ricultural workers. And above all else, the de- velopment of trusts and cartels, wiping aside or bringing into subservience the former indi- vidual capitalist, has created the formidable enemy (modern monopoly capitalism) which can be efectively battled only by a similarly powerful unifi- cation of the working class. e HESE lessons have been learned by the workers of Canada through the experience of many bitter struggles. And the outstanding feature of the history of Canadian trade union- ism in the last four years has been the tenacity with which the unions have fought for trade union unity. It was not until last fall, after all other maneuvers had failed, that the majority of the unions affiliated to the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada bowed te orders from the American Fed- eration of Labor leaders in the United States and expelled the unions affiliated to the CIO from the Congress. The enemies of unity in Can- ada could not carry their policy through, could not often even proclaim their intentions to their membership, but were compelled to rely on Wlliam Green to put the split across. Today, they are working fur- ther. As part of a concerted drive to wreck the local unity which has remained, they are adapt- ing themselves to each local situ- ation to split the local trades and labor councils. After many months, in Tor- onto, they have succeeded in putting through a motion ex- pelling CIO affiliates from the council. In Vancouver, an undemo- cratic ‘referendum’ (on orders from Green) has been put through to expel ‘Communists or sympathizers’ from respon- sible positions. In Winnipeg, the action of withdrawing certain locals (which are led by reactionaries) from the council, on the false issue of the council’s resolution in protest against arrests of the Mid-West Clarion staff under the Defense of Canada regulations, is being applied. All this is part of a concerted national drive to disrupt local trade union unity and wreck the Trades and Labor councils in the Dominion. What is behind these attacks? What is their purpose? ) HERE is too much coincidence between these developments on the trade union field and the government’s war policy for it all to be an accident. Tom Moore was brought back from a government job to the leadership of the Trades Con- gress within a month of the out- break of war, just as be was sim- ilarly slipped in during the last war. Explusion of CIO affiliates from the Congress was engineer- ed at the same convention. War brought profiteering with it. Real wages of the work- ers have been dropping contin- ually, while profits are soaring. From the first days of the war, strikes have been taking place. These strikes are more and more being fought for wage increases in keeping with ris- ing prices. There is heard the demand for a crusade of all organized labor to win back the wages filched from the workers since war began. On the other hand, the capital- ists and the government are pre- paring stil] further sacrifices for the workers. Higher taxes. High- er prices. Direct taxes on wages. Compulsory ‘saving’ as advoca- ted by Keynes in England, in- flation, replacing men by women in industry. Under the War Measures Act, the government has powers that can very well be used to outlaw all strikes and disband trade unions. But it is dangerous simp- ly to apply repressive measures when there is a posibility of large-scale resistance which could very well wreck the government itself. The machinery of resistance must first be divided, scattered and made powerless. Trade unions must be co-ordinated or smashed! That is the ‘secret’? of the present attacks on the local Trades and Labor councils. The purpose is to smash unionism as part of the drive to unload .the whole burden of the war on the backs of the workers. @ HANDFUL of bureaucrats, always willing to serve their masters, are jockeying to create the breaches in the wall of the labor movement to let in the flood. But, on the other hand, the de- Sire for organization, for unity and for struggle is rising in the Canadian ‘working class. The strike wave—not yet a storm, but no more just a ripple—is steadily rising. Sharp battles are ahead, and labor is rising to meet the situation. Wew thousands have been or- ganized already since war began —in the steel, seamen’s, fishing, packing and other industries. Strikes have been organized and won. Organizational unity be- tween the CIO and the All-Can- adian Congress of labor seems to be approaching. ©Qut of these struggles a new and stronger unity of labor will inevitably arise. The labor move- ment will cleanse itself of the agents of the bosses. Hundreds of thousands now unorganized will enter the ranks of the trade unions. Without giving in one inch to the splitters in every local trades and labor council, the task of organizing the unorganized and of battling for higher wages must be met. Around these battles new and firmer unity will be cemented. Labor will be triumphant. In The News This Week A view of Ivitgut where Greenland’s cryolite mines are located. Consequent upon the Nazi occupation of Denmark the Allies are now discussing ‘protective occupation’ of Green- land. ON MAY DAY, 1940 By CHARLES STEWART A® MAY DAY approaches this year we look back over the struggles of the international working class with a dif ferent feeling than in former years. We see, despite the years of struggle for peace, a world plunged into war. We see those rights and liberties, fought for and won so dearly, being stolen from us. And we see the need, above all else on this May Day to rally and unite our forces to end the march of reaction. We look back on the suffering of the people in the long years of the depression, when its full burden was placed upon the Shoulders of the workers and farmers. We remember, in those years with their untold misery, that the profits of big business were maintained while thousands upon thousands went hungry. We remember the youth of our coun- try, homeless, unwanted, riding the freights, sleeping in flop- houses, herded in jails. We remember the heroic strug- 8le of the employed and unem- ployed -workers, fighting with their backs to the wall against the iron-heel policies of a repudi- ated regime, and successfully or- Ganizing the unorganized, suc- cessfully raising wages, and se- curing higher relief allowances— disproving for all time the theory that conditions could not be im- proved in a period of depression. e EH SEE again the same reac- tionary interests attempting by every means to reduce our liy- ing standards so that profits shall not be impaireti nor dividends fall. The end is the same, Only the technique differs. Por many years the main fight in the labor movement has been for unity, in preparation for just such a critical period as now faces us. The split between the AFL and the ClO was successful- ly kept out of Canada until 1939. The struggle for unity was hard indeed, Every ingenious method Was used by the opponents of un- ity to bring about a split, but the trade union membership was ad- amant in its resolve that no split Should take place. The rank and file understood that a united trade union movement was vital to the entire labor movement so that labor could get on with the task of organizing the untold thousands of unorganized work- ers with the building of a move- Ment for the protection and se curity of Canadian labor — a movement that would be a living wall of strength in the struggle for progress. At present we see the splitters riding roughshod over the wishes of the trade union membership. Maneuvering and sharp practice did what was impossible by dem- ocratic vote. It is clear that only the enemies of labor can gain by a division in labor’s ranks. First the CIO unions were ex- pelled from the Trades and Labor Congress, but a measure of unity was maintained in the trades and labor councils where the CIO lo- cals were allowed to seat their delegates. Now these locals are being expelled from the trades councils. The latest move is to weaken the trade union movement still further by the expulsion of Gom- munist trade unionists and sym- pathizers from the trades coun- cils, and this, too, is clear that the expulsion of the Communists is only the prelude to the ex- pulsion of all who have the in- testinal fortitude to fight against a policy that will first debilitate and then destroy the trade union movement. ibe us ask ourselves why this action is being taken at a time when a stronger, not a weaker, trade union movement is vital to the continued existence of workers’ organizations. It is simply the conclusion to a policy of class collaboration which has been followed for many years. From an opportunist position, where temporary gains are made by certain crafts at the expense of the mass of the workers, it is only a short step, and a natural one, that individual gains should take precedence over the inter- ests of workers as a whole. Today, for certain privileges to a handful of craft unions and in- dividuals, organized labor must become subservient to the war policy of the King government—a policy which gives labor no pro- tection. The trade union movement is hardening its opposition to re- pressive measures, particularly to the War Measures Act, which has brought to Canada all those potentials of the fascism we are told the present war is being waged to destroy. Still further measures, higher prices, in- creased taxes on all essential commodities, compulsory saving, are being prepared and all of them will exact a sacrifice from the workers. We have not yet felt the full weight of the War Measures Act, and so long as a strong and arti- culate opposition finding an in- creased support exists in the trade unions it would be danger- ous to use in its entirety. This is the reason for the expulsions. All opposition must be silenced Or eliminated. The policy of class collaboration must be extended. There must be no struggle for beter Wages or conditions. Organ- ized labor must be subservient, even if it means the destruction of labor’s organizations. We cannot stand idly by and See the heart being torn out of our trade unions. We must fight as we never fought before for unity of the Canadian workers, So, let us on this May Day re- member the early struggles of the AFL for the 8hour day. Let us remember the martyrs who fought so valiantly against all op- portunism in the early years of the trade union movement. Let us fight as they fought, and our efforts will be crowned with suc- cess. | Let us carry forward the tradi- tion of 1886, and start a mighty movement for the 6hour day as our predecessors did for the 8- hour day. Let us fight te place the bur- den of the war where it properly, belongs—on the profiteers who are reaping millions at the ex-~ pense of the Canadian people. Let us take up in earnest the fight of the unemployed for non- contributory unemployment in- surance, Let us pledge this May Day to Start a mighty movement to or- ganize the unorganized—a move- ment that will have no place for splitters and slackers, but a movement that will assure our people a decent standard of liy- ing and the freedom and security for which all of us long. Let us pledge our solidarity with the workers of the mighty Soviet Union, and Keep their glorious achievements ever before us as something that we too can accomplish. Let us pledge our solidarity with the persecuted workers in all war torn countries. Let us rekindle the spirit of 1886 and let the voices of its martyrs ring down through the years to be heard by the world’s working class. 2 SS “The History of May Day’ — by — Ss ALEXANDER TRACHTENBERG 81 Pages — Postpaid 4c ‘The Socialist Sixth Of The World” — by — THE DEAN OF CANTERBURY 384 Pages — Postpaid $2.05 This book is crammed with indis- putable evidence justifying the hish aspirations of progressive hu- Ianity; and it has the power to convince people never before in- fluenced by progressive literature. “The War Situation And Canadian Labor’ By J. B. SALSBERG 47 Pages — Postpaid 6c Shows the role and tasks of the trade union movement at this mo- mentous time. ‘Light On Moscow’ By D. N. PRITT, K.C., MP. 191 Pages — Postpaid 23c Why did the Soviet Union sign a nonh-agegression pact with Germany? Pritt’s book clearly explains this. He further shows why the Soviet Union, despite the German- Soviet pact, sent the Red Army to Save Hastern Poland from the Nazi jackboot. “Miust The War Spread?” By D. N. PRITT, EK-C., MP. 256 Pages — Postpaid 23c Here a subject of world-wide in- terest, a question affecting all man, kind, is analyzed in simple lan- guage, ‘Act Now’ = by — THE DEAN OF CANTERBURY 64 Pages — Postpaid lic “Monied interests mass themselves against the common people,” says the Dean, and he urges the British people to defend their standards of living and prevent infringement on “liberties of person, speech and press.” The sensation created by the Dean’s latest book, “The So- Cialist Sixth of the World,” has built a fresh demand for his pamphlet, “Act Now.” It would be well for us to check up if the majority in our factory, or in our village, have read this startling pamphlet.” New Age Bookshop — Note New Address — Room 14 - 163 W. Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C. wwe AE corr nccarmtirn tan ke = TNE & Pi , { a f i} i “parliament of Canada or in any = Buvwiwaiic Yost 25 ecamgR Seta a producers. ss : :