THE PEOPLE Published every Wednesday by The People Publishing Co, Room 104, Shelly Building, 119 West Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: MArine 6929. EDITOR) 2p cs Har GRIFFIN MANAGING EDITOR ...--..--cencenecnnenseneo= Av PaRKIN Busrness MANAGER ...--:..-------- Mryerva Cooper Siz Months—$1.00 One Year—$2.00 Printed at Broadway Printere Limited, 151 Hast 8th Arenus, Vancourer, B.C. A Strange Position pe has fully supported the current Victory Loan drive. It has done so because its members are practical people who are determined to press the fight against Hitlerism on all fronts, and who know that it takes money to equip Canada’s armed forces for the great and decisive battles on the European continent that lie directly ahead. For this reason, it is difficult to understand how an avowed spokesman for labor could take any other position. But Colin Cameron, CCF MLA for Comox-Alberni, does just this. In a letter appearing under his signature in the May 6 issue of the Comox District Free Press he goes out of his way to sharply condemn the entire Victory Loan campagin. He is critical of those “deluded people’ who want victory over fascism so badly that they are willing to buy war bonds or make any other contribution necessary. And he concludes with the following astounding statement, “buy a war bond and pur- chase a stake in the new fascist order.” Now whether Mr. Cameron realizes it or not, the implica- tion of such a line of reasoning is such as to place him in the camp of those who oppose the war against fascism. What are the issues around which the present war loan campaign revolve? This is the decisive year in the war against Hitler Germany. The Axis armies have been sent reeling back, first by the Red Army, now by the Allied armies in Tunisia. Stalin has declared that the prerequisites for victroy have been established, and that what is needed now is a com- bined offensive by the United Nations on the continent of Europe to put the finishing touches to Hitler’s mad dream of world domination. In this situation Canada is asked to raise $1,100,000,000 to make sure that her overseas armies would be fully equipped to back the attack. And the Ca- nadian people, supported by the overwhelming majority of organized labor, got behind the drive because they wanted victory in 1943, wanted the second front that would place Hitler in a hopeless position. But Mr. Cameron, who.should speak for labor, prefers to debate the issue. When the moment calls for decisive, united action by every Canadian, he speaks against that unity. By opposing the war loan he opposes the means to increase pro- duction, opposes the equipping of our armed forces overseas, and opposes the second front, which is the decisive element of victory! These are dangerous actions. In effect, Mr. Cameron aligns himself with that small group of reactionaries in high places who use every effort to block prosecution of the war. He takes his place with such people as Cardin of Quebec, who cries out against the burden of taxes, against Canadian boys leading the attack. We would refer the CCF member for Comox to the recent speech of his national leader, M. J. Coldwell, who declared: “We must support our government in the conduct of the war whether we agree with its methods or not. I ask you therefore to subscribe to the Fourth Victory Loan to the extent of your means.” That is the line of action that will bring unity to Canada and strengthen the fight against fascism. Mr. Cameron’s “Jine” will bring nothing but disunity and give comfort to our Labor Board Hearings HE National War Labor Board hearings which have started in Ottawa provide a golden opportunity for the organ- ized workers of Canada to explain and demonstrate to the people of Canada and to the government just how the pres- ent inadequate labor policies are hampering war production and sapping enthusiasm, and to present constructive proposals whereby the working people of Canada can make their fullest contribution to victory. Although the right to free representation is elementary, it has not been fully accepted in Canada, and its absence is embittering industrial relations, disturbing industrial peace, and distracting attention from the main aim of war produc- tion. Practically every application for a conciliation board under the Industrial Disputes and Investigation Act during the past two years have resulted from the failure to establish this machinery for regulating industrial relations voluntarily. A positive labor policy now would contribute directly to war production both through its effect on morale and through providing a machinery for the settlement of grievances before they lead to the breakdown of cooperation in the plant. |_abor and Construction By BRUCE MICKLEBURGH i PRINCE RUPERT. A Eee bombs that fell on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, brought great changes to northern British Columbia. This whole unbelievably vast area, scarcely touched by the hand of man, suddenly assumed major importance in the global strategy of the United Nations. It offered an open door to the Japanese should they decide to invade North America, a broad highway leading to the struction project is the worker. heart of the continent. And so The embittering factors of years existing defenses were hastily OF a eRe Sa alco bolstered while the foundations 2 : tion, can be overcome if good were laid for a new strong de- working and living conditions are fense system that would firmly established. establish United Nations’ power “The grub strike” would never in the North Pacific. This work y have happened if harmonious la- has progressed to such an” eX- hor-management relations exist- tent that even the most foolhardy ed in the camp. The company and Japanese adyenturer would pon- the workers, through accredited der long and deeply before ven- spokesmen, could have settled turing to launch an invasion of any difficulties in a sensible man- Worth America through the once- ner. vulnerable north country. In fact, In this respect a big responsib- more than one WNipponese war il finese Bb a th ility lies on the unions concerned, yaldnight oil hing ehnit the; tbe Bile Drivers! Union; Carmen’ TTAItSR) ONRGGHE’ offancive thal Bc pcobuer hood ane newlye. : formed Laborers’ Union. may one day come sweeping 2 down through the North Pacific. The Carpenters’ Brotherhood is But while great efforts have © of the oldest unions in Prince been made to bar the path to Rupert. For a generation it has Axis conquest in the north, the upheld the interests of Prince people of North America would Rupert carpenters. Now that the have been much better able to ‘district has been flooded with devote themselves to the prime thousands of carpenters and help- ttask of smashing Hitler in Eur- ers, its leaders have big prob- ope if work on northwestern de- lems, and military leaders should fense projects had been progres- not place needless obstacles in sing with maximum efficiency. thelr way by refusing admittance The major handicap has been the to camps. Organization of the poor living conditions in most C2™PS could double present effi- camps. ciency. Nothing would reduce la- bor turnover so much as 100 per- cent union membership. ANY contractors have adopt- e ee ele oe ae Te difficulties union leaders make money. They took on the face are great. Workers who jobs as strictly high-speed prop- 41° only going to be a few weeks ositions, but their methods of on any one job will not readily high-balling have not always been join unless the union has a com- far-sighted. Admittedly they Prehensive program to cover all were faced with many difficul. the camps_in the area. This pro- ties, and admittedly camp life tam should emphasize the need cannot be a bed of roses. Yet of recreational facilities in all the universal discontent among Camps, administered jointly by the construction workers, and the the union. A safety program 1s a abnormally high labor turnover burning need in some Camips, par- together point to serious griev- ticularly those operated by Can- ances. adian authorities. In many Am- A mass walkout of five hun- erican camps, workers arriving dred workers at one of the most 02 the job are required first of war-vital projects in the vicinity all to report to the infirmary for of Prince Rupert last week 4 complete physical checkup. Ex- sharply highlighted this. Discon- cellent medical facilities are tent with food served boiled over available. Similar action is ur- when 2 meeting of the Pile Driv- gently required in Canadian camps. Further, joint labor-man- agement committees could speed the job in hand. Waturally, the ever-present food and accommodation question would have to receive major em-- phasis. Provision for workers to visit town at regular intervals would boost morale. ers’ Union decided to down tools. In a few hours work was brought to a complete standstill as the entire crew of carpenters and laborers joined the pile drivers and walked off the job. The fol- lowing morning, Saturday, May 7, troops appezred to bar the workers from the project, and the walkout had assumed the char- As such a program were pressed acter of a lockout. the union’s problems would be eS simplified. It would meet the im- mediate needs of the workers. It seems clear a regional program pee particular grievance that eould overcome difficulties which touched off the Pile Drivers’ action, an action that met in- stantanequs support - throughout the camp, was that the men were being given poorly prepared 6 lunches to take on the job with HE pressing needs of the war them. Sandwiches, pie, tea, will Als fi not sustain a man in the middle demand that construction of a ten-hour shift in Prince workers be no longer neglected. Rupert weather on 4 man-sized Living and working off the job. The company, which by the eaten track, “out in the sticks,” way, would only meet one mem- : 2 er ber of the negotiating commit- Gs ae es ae ee tee, has now promised to install a =) y - E da’ a cookhouse on the job, making forgotten een. ES built Canada’s it possible to serve hot meals. railways and highways and air- This should result in a marked ports and power projects, and ace improvement in ‘work and the ee aap teen ae ae eee men, as this is being written, are DBE STE eUe os = expected to return to work on tinent. Every facility must be pro- Monday. May 10 vided to make camp life a good =e We life, well worth living, since hun- > dreds of thousands of men will HAT government officials and no other home for the duration contractors must realize is and long after. It is for the unions that the key factor in any con- to tackle this problem. al camps. @ seem insurmountable in individu- by OV Bil ry P Spies! PYING in wartime ic ject about which 7 | the average citizen, bt who consider themselye! politicians, have very littl: ledge. Two of the rear; this are that the acti spies are not publisher they are laid by the he that when their actions 4 © public a veil of romance ? around some of them, li} Hari, which hides the reality of them all.. Nath; | has been covered with gi even Benedict Arnold § his little meed of praise, a rule the spy is disoy his own people and has © snuffed out by those upo: he spies. The latest spy story is the two Polish spies, Ehri Alter, who met vwell- deaths in the Soviet Unia ease has created quite ;{° in some quarters. From p their own kidney, a ¥ ripple rather, of frothy } tion has gone forth. Mr Lewis, national secretary CCF, is among the numb cording to the CCF pre. Lewis has been associat these two social democr:” were playing Hitler’s: ¢ the Soviet Union by wor! the overthrow of the Soy ernment, Past History! HE Soviet Union’s f perience with Altex back to 1920-1. That was iod of the discussions in cialist movement, of the 2 laid down by the Third national for those desi affiliate with it. This 5; was a delegate from the Bund, a Jewish Socialist ization. With other deleg’ visited the Soviet Union time to learn what the 2: amounted to. @n leaving the Soviet he was searched, as € else was at that time. found to be the bearer G ter from the counter-ret ary Social /Revolutionay to their counter-revoli friends outside of the Union. Alter was a -8pP then. Even though that h: Shortly after the Social tionaries had assassinate darsky and Uritsky and 2 ed to murder Lenin, the government did not hav shot—that had to come 1! a climax to his social den spying. The Spy Funt HERE did the money ance these spies come From the social democrat ered around the so-called’ Labor Committee. These collected $47,000 for the of Polish refugees in the Union. They sent to thei democratic spy friends 1 the Polish government all of whom are anti-Sov most of whom are anti- Among the goods ship Kuibyshev by the Jewistk Gommittee were 67 new and 600 new silk dresse: was to clothe the spies notorious that the head of the Polish government cow has always been the of spy rings and thiey had stolen Communist do! for sale.