cones presale Uni Ask Legality For Communist Party Trade unions throughout Canada are joining this month in one united appeal to Prime Minister Mackenzie King and members of the parliamentary committee on the Defence of Canada Regulations for the lifting of the ban on the Communist party in the interests of national unity and the Canadian war effort. “TJ am sure that the work of the unions in this regard will be a tremendous factor in bringing pres- Sure to bear in the lifting of the ban,’ Tom MacEwen, of the Com- munist-Labor- Total War Commit- tee, who has been addressing union meetings throughout the city, told The People this week. “Trade union members realize that the ban is detrimental to national unity, and that a total war effort is impeded while it is in effect. The ban remains a toe-hold for fifth columnists and the isolationist gang who try to sabotage and undermine the war effort under the guise of fight- ing against Communism.” Among Vancouver trade unions which have sent esolutions to Ottawa asking for removal of the ban are Bakery and Confectionery Workers’ Union, Local 42; Journey- men Tailors of America, Brother- hood of Carpenters and Joiners, Hotel and Restaurant Employees, Blacksmiths’ Union, and Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local 170. A resolution sent to Prime Min- ister King and members of ths committee from International Jewelry Workers’ Union, Local 42, stated: “The members of Local 42 are of the opinion that a continuation ef the Ban on the Communist Party helps to weaken our national unity, which is so essential for winning the war, and is in fact hindering that section of our pop- ulation from playing its full part in the defeat of the fascist na- tions.” International Woodworkers of America have protested the ban on all democratic and anti-fascist organizations for some time, and have sent “periodic appeals for its removal to the Prime Minister,’’ ac- cording to Bert Melsness, secre- tary-treasurer, IWA District Coun- cil “The ban should definitely be removed in the interests of na- tional unity,’ Melsness stated. “That is the opinion of our union members, and appeals have been sent out to that effect from our district council” “The lifting of the ban on all anti-fascist organizations was en- dorsed at our convention,” stated Bill Burgess, United Fishermen’s Union secretary this week, “and protests were sent to Ottawa im- mediately following our conven- jtion. The ban on the Communist Party is a source of national dis- unity, and must be removed. This |is the attitude we've displayed per- |sistently from year to year.” | Many other labor organizations jhave asked MacEwen to speak at |}meetings. Next Monday he will j}address a group from the Minister- ial Association, on the importance of enlisting the support of the jchurch in appeals for removal of | the - ban. ‘Business-Ass-Usual’ Ties Up US Shipping NEW YORK (ALN).—The lives of American and Allied soldiers are being lost because of the “waste, confusion and lack of planning of U.S. shipping resources,” it was charged this week by Philip Murary, CIO president, and the heads of the CIO's four maritime unions: Joseph Curran, of the WNational Maritime Union; Harry Bridges, of the International Longshoremen and Warehousemen; John Green, of the Marine and Shipbuilding Workers, and Joseph Selly, of the American Communications Associ- ation. Z “The present situation is alarm- ing and needs immediate investi- gation and correction,” the CIO leaders declared. “Right at this moment a substantial amount of our war effort is being lost be- cause of unnecessary delays, waste of manpower, cost-plus contracts and inefficient peacetime methods used in the distribution and ship- ping of war materials.” Charging that “private shipping operators, through cost-plus contracts, prefer slow and inefficient methods of cargo handling and ship operation as greater profit accrues to them under the terms of such contracts,” the unions state: “One ship, for instance, lay 100 days in the South Pacific, during which time crew members were not permitted to help unload the ship by order of the shipping oper- ators. A crew delegation went ashore and told the U.S. Army major in charge of the port that they had volunteered their work in unloading, without extra com- pensation. The major welcomed their effort, but they were still not allowed to work.” Wastage of shipping space is another charge against the com- panies “Ships carry wine and champagne in the Pacific. Others carry cargoes of bananas, arti- ficial flowers, birdseed, caviar, toothpicks and toys. A ship sailed from New York to North Africa, carrying 3000 tons of sand {as ballast. It returned to New York in ballast. Another Ship made a trip from New York to Brazil and West Africa without loading or unloading cargo.” Methods used by anti-union long- shore contractors are declared to bring results such as the following: At Southwest Pacific ports, ships unloading dumped tons of trucks, guns, ammunition and supplies into the sea. The fighting men in the forces make jokes about swim- ming out and diving down to get these supplies. At the height of the winber offensive of the Russian Army, hundreds of thousands of tons of cargo for the Soviet Union lay on docks at a west coast port. Ii was moving at the rate of 50,000 tons a month. Port facilities could have handled 200,000 tons a s Bal ted Labor Protest Continued Prime Minister King greets British Foreign Secretary An- thony Eden on his recent visit to Ottawa. Circulated with the petition is a pamphlet, signed by members of the Committee for Defense of the ULFTA, which tells a little of the history of the organization, found- ed in 1924, which had as its objects “to ereate goodwill and unity be- tween the Ukrainian-Canadians and the Canadian people in gen- eral; to educate Ukrainian-Cana- dians in the understanding of the cooperative spirit and the demo- cratic way of life in their new homeland; to bring up their chil- dren as patriotic Canadians and as healthy and intelligent citizens of Ganada, and to cultivate na- tional cultural activities to create better understanding and friend- ship between Canadians of Ukrain- ian origin and Canadians in gen- eral.” By 1940, the ULETA, through the donations and volunteer labor of its members, had built com- munity buildings valued at one million dollars. More than 200 orchestras, 120 choirs, many drama, gymnastic and dance groups, reading and study circles and lterary clubs functioned in centers across Canada. And from its inception, the ULFTA had no’ affiliations with any po- litical party either in Canada or outside Canada. Then suddenly, in June, 1940, without warning, accusation or trial, the A’ssociation was de- elaréd an “illegal’’ body, its prop- erties seized and padlocked, When the ULFTA was a young Ukrainians Petition. For Return O) Property A petition to His Excellency the Governor-General-in-Coun- cil is being circulated throughout Canada this month, asking that the property of the Ukrainian Labor-Farmer Temple As- sociation be restored to its rightful owners. The appeal was sent out by the Civil Liberties Association of Toronto. organization, another group was formed. It was pro-Nazi, anti- Soviet — the Ukrainian Nationa- ist Organization, which found sympathy in Nazi Germany. Hitler himself expressed his approval, and UNO headquarters were estab- lished, in Berlin. It was to the UNO that the Custodian of En- emy Property sold some of the most valuable ULEFTA property at, in some cases, less than one- third its value. “Your attention, please, people of Canada,” appeals the pamphlet. “You like fair play. You want to live in a world where justice relens. You don’t like to see people pushed around... . : “Kharkov, Kiev, Stalingrad, Belo- grad, the Ukraine . . you have read of their ruin and devastation. Dr. Goebbels has explained that such destruction was necessary to save Europe and the world from the ‘menace of Bolshevism.’ : Is it possible that we in this coun- try can, at one and the same time, deplore and sanction injustice? For we have our UWkrainian atroc- ities in Canada... “We can say that it is none of our business, that it is some- thing for the government to af- tend to... . . That might be pos- sible if it were merely a legal or a political question. But it is more than that — it is above all a moral question. And for each of us, therefore; the res- ponsibility is personal and in- escapable.” |the city’s labor annals. Two ‘Among the thousands were ¢ Giant Ra as your leaders. And I pledge) behalf of the other executive © bers you have chosen that thi be the last time. We're stay as long as you contin approve our policies.” — His concluding words we ly drowned out in a roar 0 ing which broke from the ¢ of the largest union meetii . before they had started pe: through the gates of the Fourth Avenue ball park, soz} them marching in groups, S01 them carrying banners bearin | mames of the various sub and the yards they represi of women members, some of carrying children in their ar The business of the meetin; conducted quickly and effici Nominations for president br | shouts of “Stewart, William art.” He was unopposed and matically elected. In quick other executive officers named: Fred Cardwell, vice- dent, unchanged; Tom Mack financial secretary, uncha Worman McSween, recording retary; Wie Forster, reportei changed, Only one other motion passed—to the effect that general meetings 50 me would constitute a quorum. = ly after the meeting adjourne the -Boilermakers poured o the park, determined this th maintain their union agains further opposition by disrujy Thus was climaxed one ¢ most unusual labor disput Canadian history, a dispute developed around the questi the right of a union 13,000 7 to choose its own officials w interference from outsiders. It began late last year wi the regular annual electio the local the membership - in a new slate of officers, F by William Stewart. Within days CCL Vice-President 3 lane, apparently acting on ir tion, suspended the charter union and appointed an ad tration board which included members of the ousted exer Reacting strongly against tt Ministrative control, the me ship reelected Stewart at ¢= cial meeting, only to have: efforts blocked again by cot junction which prohibted tt ecutive from acting. Positive feature of the entir pute remains, however, thr that it suceeeded in unitin entire membership around t sue of democratic control membership grew by several sands. And it was this uni} was to prove decisive, that possible Thursday’s meeting made possible the complete | of McAuslane and the anti elements who became asst with him. HOME, of ~.. .- @ MEN’S e CLOTHING 45 East Hastings St. Union Made Clothing and Friendly Servic Complete Stock of WORK CLOTHES Vancouver, B