Page 4 — Saturday, March 3, 1945

UACUANUANASEREECEETTUCOUNEOAPTRNSSRERSICSURRES LOU RERITUCESESESESTLERIEDEELEFEL

PACIFIC ADVOCATE

Zz PUERESENTAUSETCSSONFAEERTSEATAES CEI UCP RITS CH TLE SP ERSUCIRSATNCES ONSEN «ESES BITE

PEOPLE’S VOICE FOR PROGRESS

Published every Saturday by The People Publishing Com-
pany, Room 104, Shelly Building, 119 West Pender Street,
Vaneeuver, British Columbia and printed at East End
Printers, 2303 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British
Columbia. Subscription Rates: One year $2, six months $1.

Editor

A iat i
C. A. SAUNDERS ssociate Editor

MYER SHARZER

Political Action

A ess Canada organized labor moved forward on the
road to independent political action this week.

Perhaps the most spectacul@r and concrete results followed
the splendid labor lobby organized and spearheaded by the
B.C. Federation of Labor; however it seems probable that action
mi Ontario, led in the Legislature by LPP MPP’s J. B. Sals-
berg and A. A. MacLeod and supported by the organized labor
movement of that province, will bring results just as far-
reaching and certainly more significant in relation to the
national political scene. :

The Ontario action, centred around the questions of family
allowances and the Labor Code, forced the minority Tor
government to the wall with capitulation on both issues. First,
an abject retreat from Premier Drew’s former Oppositionist
stand toward the federal family allowance legislation, and sec-
ondly, an undertaking to appoint a select committee of the
Legislature to examine the whole field of labor legislation in
the province.

In Quebec the trade union movement is rapidly swinging
into action against the Duplessis sabotage of the family allow-
ance legislation. Montreal Labor Council~has proclaimed its

support for the federal act, whilst a special meeting held under

the auspices of the powerful Textile Workers’ Union (AFL )
has instituted a widespread campaign to combat Duplessis’

attitude and make labor’s stand on the matter known through-
out that province.

Meanwhile organized labor in B.C. has established a
precedent in government-labor relationships. By means of a
lobby, so effective and powerful (despite absence of Vancouver
and New Westminster TLC representation) that a government
caucus was called to meet their delegation during -the time
when the debate on the budget was on the floor, they have
forced a government retreat from its position of “no change
in labor legislation this session.”

In the face of one of the most powerful employer lobbies
ever to appear in Victoria, not only has consideration been
won, but participation in the goyernmient committee set up to
implement labor's demands.

This is indeed a tremendous step forward, and one that
will bring results, not only in securing outstanding reforms
needed in labor legislation, but in providing a basis for har-
monious and cooperative labor-management-government rela-
tionships.

The results obtained are an outstanding demonstration of
the effectiveness of labor and trade union political action.

They offer a sharp rebuke to those elements within
organized labor, both of the right and the “‘super-left’” who
limit the possibilities of such action by non-participation. It
exposes the weakness of those elements who would narrow
the scope and effectiveness of PAC by limiting its activities to
support of one political party.

This nationwide drive of organized labor through the
medium of non-partisan political action points the way to
solution of many of the problems causing industrial unrest
today.

A unified drive, participated in by both trade union centres,
should bring pressure immediately upon the federal govern-
ment for necessary improvements to labor legislation. Amend-
ments are needed now to orders-in-council P.C. 1003 and 9384
and the medium through which sufficient pressure can be
exerted on the federal government is through the unified
Political Action of both trade union centres. :

Events in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec are giving
concrete evpience of the correctness of the fight for Independent
Political Action. These activities should be intensified in the
‘drive for amendments to Federal Labor Legislation.

Le Passing By ©. A. Saunders

Qs another page you will read the story of one
of the most outstanding events in the labor
history of the province. It is an event that can
only be compared with the large labor delegation
~ which was successful in gain-

ing changes to the ICA act,

changes which were followed
by unprecedented organiza-
tional suecesses by the unions
In the basic industries of
the province, including the
spectacular gains of the IWA
and the outstanding drive
which brought the hard rocks
industry of the province into
the ranks of organized labor,
dealing a mortal blow to com-
pany unions.

Yet this year’s delegation
i is even more outstanding.
; ; This is no “cap in hand” ‘dele-
gation. This is not merely a presentation of a
legislative brief for consideration. This is a
well-crganized. group, spearheaded by a power-
ful delegation, presenting to the government the
just demands of organized labor, and following
it up by interviewing every MLA to record for
the edification of the voting public the stand that
each takes.

The results so far are gratifying. Labor Min-
ister George Pearson has asked the delegation
to nominate representatives to a committee to
consider all matters that have, been submitted
to the government through labor briefs. This
suggestion has been unanimously adopted, and
marks a huge step forward for labor, and a real
recognition of the strength and influence of the
trade union movement in the political life of
our province.

Se0e the presentation of the AFL
WY delegation last Friday, containing, as it did,

Around Town »

HE thin, grey woman with the fanatie’s eyes
hitched down her worn sweater and impatiently
shook her head. “No, no,” she emphasized, “you

have it all wrong. We aren’t against the Jews.
‘Here: look at this, — =.=

She thrust a pamphlet—

an expensive printing job, I
noticed—before my eyes, and
read: 2

“The Jewish question can-
not be solved by pampering
the Jews... . the Jews will
get along all right as long as
they remember that they are
a minority ... the wrath of
the people is rising, and will
not be always held in
check. . . !”

She tossed the pamphlet
aside and went on.

“But the main part of The
Teaching concerns the estab-
lishment of the New World
The world must be ruled by a great

Order.
leader chosen by ‘God. Elections, so-called democ-
racy, are childish and must be done away with.

Our race is chosen to rebuild the world. Even
the churches are on trial, and everything that
ean be shaken will be shaken... .”

She stopped for breath.

“Took here,” she said, bundling up several
pamphlets and magazines. “Take these with you.
Read them and then come back for more.”

I said goodbye, went out of the small, book-
lined room, and shut the door after me. Across
the frosted glass was printed the words. BRITISH
ISRAEL WORLD FEDERATION. EVERYBODY
WELCOME. And my mind’s eye supplied a
ihe ice pee Ne OF FASCISM TAUGHT
HE a ~

(pees sudden growth of the British Israel move-
ment on the west coast, and particularly in
Vancouver, since the beginning of the war is
incredible, because “The Teaching,” as followers
call it, is based on some of the flimsiest religious,
economic and social theories that the world has
ever known. British Israelites believe that the
British are the real “Israel,” that Kine George
is decended from the House of David, that the
British throne is, in actual fact, the throne of
David, that the British are chosen by God to
create a new world order. They believe, too,
that Communism and fascism are one, and that

4

joint presentation could have been ey |

the main demands so forcibly presente —
United Labor Lobby this week, helped ~~
government decision. However, it is

true and was recognized by Trades ar
Council affiliates at their last meeting

effective.

The Victoria. delegation was repre
of both trade union centres, imasmuck ©
Victoria Trades and Labor Council pax
fully, with one of the most powerful rei:
tions from the Island. o

Refusal of the Vancouver and New j=
ster TILLC to participate in the joint |i
view of the correctness of the venture! |
strated by the success so far achieved, jp] |

council in a rather ridiculous position.

e ‘al
JN the basis of false arguments a7) |
they have merely succeeded in isolati
selves from one of the most outstandi~
ventures in the history of the provini
argument advanced by President Birt
that they were not affiliating with a
organization, was absolutely false and ~
ing. The question at stake was one
action, Both congresses have gone on ;
favor of such action and there was no |
reason for refusal to cooperate. The aj
against participation were. weak, and
some extent characterized by the hyster
CiO, anti-CCL, outburst of CCF unionis |
ten Irving, who was ordered from the
However, definite gains have been 7
it is not too late even now for the ¥
TLG to change its attitude and jom the |
marching trade unionists of this provin-

The lessons of this event will unc |
be the subject of discussion at the next ;
of the council, and it is to be expected {
will be imsistence that such a large
labor shall in the future participate
action on legislative questions of mutua

Cynthia Carter

the defeat of the Axis must be folla
defeat of the Soviet Union. i

Leaders of the BIWF have no i ¥
when it comes to promises. In the N |}
Order, they declare, all young couple |
given a home, money in the bank, 4
honeymoon, and time off to raise a fami
body will have an abundance of ©. F
While trusts and monopolies will be 2
function, all debts will be liquidatec
The explanatign is given in a special li §
let which points out that every. do
by somebody is owed to somebody,
“by a proper system of bookkeeping,
could be cancelled out . . . and there
no more usury.” Simple, isn’t it?

Not long ago I went to 2 British Isr §
meeting here in the city. The hall \
of ordinary, workingclass people. The
was a youngish, Billy Sunday type of o
held his audience with an almost hypno’
On the way out I heard one woman say §
it sound wonderful when he tells it?” ~=

And that, of course, is the react #
by British Tsrael. Promise ’em pie. ji
too, and when they aren’t looking, sl g
poison. Tell them they can be rich ai »
then teach them race hatred and con §
democracy while the glow is still on

But there are a few questions |
help asking. Who is behind the m
Who pays for the stacks of literature f
the fine paper? Where does the moi
from for the weekly radio programs,
expenses, hall rents? (Not from audie
tributions, obviously. At the meeting I fe.
the taking up of collection was a mere! @
and the “take” was quite small.)

HE. British Israel World Federation
thorough investigation by the prope
ties, and soon. In the meantime there1§
deal that we in the progressive labor 1@
ean de to counteract such propaganda i.
who go to the BIWF are seeking a bett® @
world. We know that the happier ¥
not come through the divine leaders #x
chosen race, but through the defeat 0 @
and implementation of a sound plan?
We must, therefore, take a more actly
community affairs, talk things over @
neighbors, get te know the man and weg
door. so that we can offer a realisiiG @
sense alternative to the promises of pha
oius’’ sects, which are heartily condt
every honest and patriotic churchman