Ff aos gre THE PEOPLE Published every Wednesday by The People Publishing Co., Room 104, Shelly Building, 119 West Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: MArine 6929. Eprror .... Hat GRIFFIN MANAGING EDITOR --...--------- Kay GREGORY BUSINESS MANAGER —-ceeccoeeeee-s------- EDNA SHEARD Six Months—$1.00 Qne Year—$2.00 Printed at Broadway Printers Limited, 151 East 8th Arenue, Vancourer, B.C. Lift The Ban Now! i SPITE of the recommendation of an all-party parliamen- tary committee’s report to lift the ban on the Communist party, the order-in-council still remains. Public opinion throughout Canada, expressing the will of all sections and classes among the people, is very definite and insistent that this undemocratic restriction should be removed. Its continued existence makes Canada the only nation in the English-speaking world, the only nation among the Allied Nations fighting Hitler, that proscribes the right of citizens to freedom of opinion and organization. This places Canada in the shameful category of being, willy nilly, in accord with Hitler’s ‘anti-Comintern,’ ‘anti-Bol- shevist’ crusade. Herr Goebbels and his isolationist and pro- fascist elements, whether in the German Reich or in Canada, are the only people who find any satisfaction at the continu- ance of the ban. E BELIEVE that Prime Minister Mackenzie King and the progressive total-war members of his cabinet are in agreement with the parliamentary committee’s report and public opinion generally on the lifting of the ban. We also believe that the Hon. Louis St. Laurent, minister of justice, in the interests of Canadian unity and the fullest mobilization of the nation for total war against German fas- cism and its allies, must no longer be permitted, with a small coterie of Quebec isolationists and other reactionary Munich elements, to thwart the will and desires of the people of Can- ada expressed through the democratic medium of a parlia- mentary committee. Communists are in the forefront in promoting Canada’s war effort in forging tools on the production front to finish the job of smashing Hitler. Communists, their sons and brothers, are in the armed forces for one purpose only—that of killing Nazis. Tens of thousands of communists from all countries of the Allied Nations, including Canada, have paid the supreme sac- rifice as their contribution to a new democratic world. This is the last and final test of their sincerity of purpose in this greatest of all struggles for the survival of civilization. It is therefore stupid, absurd, nay shameful, that commun- ists and the party they created should be proscribed by con- tinued imposition of such a ban. How can Canadian unity be built on a secure foundation if a section of its citizens are listed, treated, and intimidated as ‘enemy aliens’? HE people of Canada must again bestir themselves on this issue, because it is not merely a matter of restricting the democratic right of a few individuals, but rather through such restrictions, maintaining a threat against the foundations of Canadian democracy in which all Canadians have a vital stake at this precise moment of history. We appeal to Prime Minister King to implement the de- cisions of the parliamentary committee during this session, to wipe this shameful edict from the statute books of Canada. We appeal to members of parliament to stand by their re- sponsibilities to Canada and to their constituents on this mat- ter, to see that this injustice to citizens and obstacle to national unity is removed. We appeal to citizens, workers, professionals, men and women in all walks of life to again raise their voices against this iniquity, to address letters to our prime minister and to members of parliament requesting that this black spot in the life of our country be finally erased. Lifting the ban on the Communist Party of Canada will strengthen the bonds of Canadian unity; give impetus to Can- ada’s war effort in all branches of endeavor, place Canada in that community of nations that looks towards wider and higher democracy; and not least important, take from Herr Goebbels the argument recently used in the ‘Volkisher Berbachter’ that “We (the Nazis) have many friends in Canada.” Remove the basis of such ‘friendship’ by lifting the ban on the Communist party and restore Canada to full demo- cratic stature. Trade Union Unity Vita To War Effort By T. McEWEN [= extent of British Columbia’s contribution to the nation’s war effort depends in a large measure upon the unity and strength of the trade union movement. This axiom of course applies to Canada as a whole—and for that matter to every country in the Allied Nations fighting the black scourge of German fascism. But in the provinces, in the Tocality and and on the spot, we have the responsibility of keeping our end up, of building the unity and strength of the trade unions. Two mighty factors will be re- solved upon how well or how bad- ly we do this job. First, the all- out job of administering to Hit ler and his dupes a decisive total defeat. Second, the job of recon- structing our country upon a prosperous peace-time social ba- sis, and assisting as we can those of our Allies who need help along the same difficult road. The one job is complementary to the other. The first is the all-important, for without the first being com- pleted it is idle prattle to talk of the second. . Without a strong united trade union movement, taking its place and its full share of the first and all essential job—that of smash- ing Hitler, all speculation and planning regarding the second task is just 50 much day-dream- ing, unrelated’ to reality. Thus any anlysis of trade union development and tasks at the mo- ment can only be made on the basis of their relations, contribu- tion, and policy towards victory in 1943. e Oo” Canadian boys in England under the leadership of Gen- eral McNaughton stand poised as “5 dagger pointed at the heart of Berlin.” To drive this dagger home will mean invasion of the continent of Burope in 1943—and the earlier the better. Invasion of Europe with Can- ada’s forces as the spearhead will mean that the men and women in Canadian war industries must increase their production, their sacrifices and their determination, to see that~ our lads lack for nothing in men and resources to drive the dagger home. In fact it means that all of Canada must tighten its belt for this coming decisive hour of supreme effort. When Canada’s hour comes in this titanic struggle her greatest strength will be the degree to which her people are united. In forging this unity for the defeat of Hitler the trade union move- ment of Canada ean be decisive. Labor policies of the federal government to date have not been designed to win the confidence of the trade unions. The appoint- ment of Humphrey Mitchell. to fill the post of minister of labor was no improvement over the pre- vious incumbent. In many vital industries wages are frozen at sub-standard levels; cost-of-living bonuses are more often determined by ‘statistical juggling than by facing economic realities. The plea for sub-stand- ard wage levels to offset infla- tion passes as currency for sound war economy. The right of trade union organization and collective bargaining is conceded by statu- tory legislation, but in practice, governmental labor policies cut across these elementary rights. In British Columbia, as in other parts of the Dominion, the law draws fine lines of demarcation between the “‘employees’’ of an in- dustrial enterprise and the trade union of such employees. In the B.C. lumber and sawmill industry this legal skullduggery is develop- ed to a high degree. Without ques- tionn the whole weakness stems directly from governmental poli- cles that as yet do not take labor on trust as a vital element of total war. : . tion, ABOR-MANAGEMENT coop- eration in solving production © problems, in eliminating produc- tion bottlenecks and attaining the highest objectives of war produc- is still largely a farcical relationship. What little success in this regard has been achiev- ed merely shows what could be accomplished if the trade unions were fully integrated in this vital machinery of our na- tional effort. The fact of the mat- ter is that big industrial and cor- porate capital does not wish or desire to have iabor in partner- ship to defeat Hitler. Many of the big concerns, plugged to the neck with war contracts, would rather see a Hitler victory, than share with labor what they allege to be their god-given right of manage- ment. - For the invasion of Europe and the stepping up of the country’s war effort, all of these wealmesses must be overcome. Unity of the trade unions is, and must remain, the springboard of victory. Any individual or group of in- dividuals, whether in government, trade union, political, or other circles, who, by actions or policies, weaken the unity of «the trade union movement, render a grave disservice to Canada, and indir- ectly aid Hitler. e To. aid the King government in evolving a genuine labor pol- icy that will bring forth the best that Ganada’s workers are cap- able of a greater trade union unity is required. Those who weaken this unity are serving neither Canada nor the trade union movement. : To organize the unorganized into unions of their own choosing, to establish the right of collec- tive bargaining, to assimilate tens of thousands of women workers into war industries and place them upon an equal footing with male workers—all this requires a greater trade union unity than is yet attained. Those who weak- en this much-needed unity are enemies of labor, enemies of the nation. When the*zero hour for Canada comes upon the European battle- front, we want our lads who must face this hell to know that behind them stands a united nation and a virile united trade union move- ment, pledged to give them the maximum and the best When victory comes — and we need not doubt that it will if we do our part—the war contribution and responsibility of a united trade union movement must in- variably be woven into the fabric of the peace and the new Canada for which we fight. It is what Jabor does today that will deter-~ mine what labor can do in the new society of the future. If the foregoing are some of the objectives of labor in this ti- tanic struggle between the forces of progress and barbarism, then the very existence of trade union- ism demands that its ranks be united as never before, that it sets upon the professional red- baiting chauvinist disrupter as one steps on a crawling poison- ous reptile, and that it explores and seeks out every medium of settling its internal differences and building its unity, mindful al- ways that its unity is a national asset of the highest importance. SHORT JABS by OV Bill — Astonishing ! NE of the most astonisi statements ever to be um by anyone connected with trade union movement in 4 couver is that attributed by — local press to CCL Vice-Presit« A. A. McAusiane. Sit Despite the concrete fact of 000 boilermakers working in shipyards and carrying cardi the union, McAuslane is alle to have said: “There is nc pe makers’ union .. .” Such a st ment is wide open to challe from any boilermaker in yards. “a Apparently some people BO that by pronouncing an of ization out of existence, they together eliminate it from” ranks of organized labor. — But if the Boilermakers’ esp keeps on as it has done im past, putting the interests of members and increased pro tion before all other consia tions, it will be able to score ¢ victories in the trade union mi ment. 2 Dictator | IX weeks or so after the} sadist hordes made 1 treacherous and -well-plar murder assault on the peopl the Soviet Union, Hitler from of his funk-holes in Berlin,— the German people and the ¥ in one of his harangues: =f jis now no Russian army. I] destroyed it.” : Hitler cheated himself inta lieving he bad dealt the” Army a death blow and trie cheat the German people inte lieving the same thing. Moscow, Leningrad, Stalin the Caucasus; the whole > ward-moving Eastern fF smashing victory after victor Soviet Iand, sea and air ¢ the most humiliating defes history for Hitlers wehrm three days of mourning latel millions of dead and muti Germans, want and sufferin the whole German people their duped allies—these giv lie to Hitler. Surgery Neede ASCISM at the heart of ocracy is like a cancer vital organ, it can only be by the most ruthless surge is like V.D. or infantile par or typhus or other diseases ¢ by bacilli and as the only ¥ cure people from these cala is te extirpate the last cell | disease-producing bacilli, democracy is to be restor health, every last fascist : drel in its bloodstream mi just as mercilessly extirpat with the other pests. Proof of that was see! week in places as far ap: London and Winnipeg. In don, durine a blackout, son cist desecrated a bust of which was placed to his m some years ago by the Be Council. In Winnipeg, a known fascist carved a s¥ on the central panel of th Jeadinge to the Manitoba 1] tive chamber. Wothing more is to be es if the leaders of the fasci ease are allowed to run ai as they are in both Brita Ganada, while those whose to unearth their treason 2 busy looking for “subv activities among trade ur and Communists.