ADVOCATE HURQUCOERDOSDERUAUOLSELDORSSOEBESRESESSEDES «SEED - : A a PACIFIC PEOPLE’S VOICE FOR PROGRESS Published every Saturday by The People Publishing Com- pany, Room 104, Shelly Building, 119 West Pender Street, Vancouver,. British Columbia and printed at East End Printers, 2303 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. Subscription Rates: One year $2; six months $1. Editor Ph Cc. A. SAUNDERS MA rine 5288 Cooperation . N editorial in the December issue of “‘Western Business ‘and industry,’ a periodical serving the interests of western employers, launches a virulent attack on the trade union movement. __, A combination of redbaiting, combined with the usual splitting tactics are evident in the article which objects to the Proceedings taken at a meeting of the Vancouver Labor Coun- cil, where the actions of certain business men in meetings called by City Council on the urgent job question were severely criticized. ; Main criticism at the labor council meeting was levelled at the “odd job’’ program put forward as a solution for un- employment, and at the refusal of the business representa- tives to support labors’ 40-hour week proposals. 2 Big business in this country has plenty of criticism com- ing to it. It is not all being levelled by Communists either, as the article alleges, but arises from the evident fact that an unemployment crisis has been forced on this country by the refusal of business to open up until the chimes of the New Year ring in an era of bigger and better profits via relief from excess profits tax. The people of this country will remember the sit down strike staged by big business at the beginning of the war in protest against full imposition of the excess profits tax. The article goes on to list the projects which are lined up by big business, all to stan ‘n 1946, and fulminates exten- sively against, “tax building government jobs®’ Labor has put forward a program which can bring im- mediate relief to the unemployment situation. The demand for a full scale, low-rental housing program to provide 250,- 000 homes for Canadian citizens can provide jobs for thous- ands of veterans and war workers. Government sponsored construction and public works projects should be got under Way immediately. The veterans and labor are not willing to wait on the breadlines until ‘‘private enterprise’’ decides the time is propitous—the workers are hungry enough to accept lower wages—to start the wheels rolling. The editorial goes on to say, ‘‘During the war Mr. Leary and his Labor-Progressive party friends, acting on Commun- ist instructions, collaborated with business men and industrial leaders to get out the tools of war AND SO HELP RUSSIA.” Well—the Labor-Progressive party will certainly not apologize for the leading role it played in promoting National Unity and industrial peace in the interests of DEFEATING NAZISM and of helping TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM FASCIST DOMINATION. As a matter of fact it was the determination and self-sacrifice of labor which was the deter- mining factor in Canada’s unprecedented wartime production record, in the face of provocation and lack of cooperation from those who have fattened on wartime profits. But the editorial goes on ‘“‘They (labor) had plenty of evidence then how much more of the things that go to make a more abundant life can be turned out when labor coopérates with management for production and then divides the plenty on a sound and equitable basis.’’ We certainly did learn, during the war years, that we can produce plenty. We learned that there is no obstacle, financial or otherwise that can stand in the way of production: we saw factories spring up overnight; we saw unemployment change to a scarcity of labor; we saw the country humming with ac- tivity—and this after long years of poverty and scarcity. We know this country can produce plenty. We are determined that it shall do so. And that it shall be divided on a sound and equitable basis. The way to do that is first of all raise all substandard wages. Reduce the working hours to 40 per week, with no reduction in pay—a guaranteed annual wage. Will manage- ment cooperate with labor in these simple, basic steps toward “equitable distribution.” ; Labor is always prepared to cooperate. But when it sees deliberate sabotage of production. When it witnesses attacks on wage standards and working conditions. When it is the victim of bad faith and refusal to bargain collectively on the part of the employers, as in the Ford strike, then labor will criticize and fight. And the old familiar redbaiting tactic will fail to hide the sinister purpose behind the offensive of the industrialists. We want action on jobs. We want jobs at decent wages. An “equitable share of the plenty.” PACIFIC ADVOCATE — PAGE 4 This Week by Nigel Horgan THe year 1946 will find the common people moving steadily forward towards a happier world where its children will not be gnarled and twisted and broken—but will grow straight as the young trees straining towards the sun. In spite of the tremendous strides that have been registerer in that direction with completion of the military defeat of fascism, dominant and powerful sections of world monopoly capital seek to utilize gigantic, postwar, military and economic pow- ~ er to achieve world domina- tion. The Attlee - King - Tru- man policy on the atomic bomb which constituted a new attempt to establish another bloc against the USSR, has been discontinued —and it is well, for it could only serve to split United Nations into two. groups; to weaken and destroy the peace; and to under- . mine the domestic and social welfare of the peo- ple of all nations. The Big Three conference in Moscow this week is of far-reaching significance. It marks another big step forward in securing the peace. Together with the grave issue of creating a nurable peace, the issue of jobs and improved living standards, as well as democratic rights, will occupy the center of the Canadian political stage in 1946. In the U.S. since V-J Day. the total national income has already dropped 25 percent; the take-home pay has fallen 40 per- cent; while the outlook for monopoly profits is a rise to over seven billion dollars for 1946. According to conservative government figures, the perspective is that there will be over eight million unemployed by the spring. Comparatively the same situation is evident right here in Brit- ish Columbia. The current sitdown of big busi- ness in B.C. against immediate development of reconstruction projects and public works, speedy ‘ Around Town cya cane IT’S time for New Year’s resolutions again. Ever keep any of ’em? Longer than January third, that is? Some people do they tell me. But most good intentions, given birth early on New Year’s day in the midst of remorse at too hearty New Year’s Eve celebrations, seem to wither and die with the New Year’s morning headache. But this year I think we should all make some very serious resolutions and make them part of our day to day life throughout the coming year. First, I think, we should all solemnly resolve that this year, 1946, will see greater unity in the labor movement and the ranks of labor generally than ever before. Now the war is won and big business is on its own sitdown strike and the wartime slogans of “keep on the job” and “work togeth- er for victory” have been tossed into the capitalist ashean, workers must guard against the attacks of their enemies. Let’s not kid ourselves; capitalists are smart. It takes a bit of brains, we have to admit, to make a million dollars. And capitalists like to remain capitalists, despite their usual Christmas tear-jerking about everybody loving one another. To remain capitalists, they have to put the muscle on the workers, and particularly on or- ganized workers, who by building unions are menacing the capitalist’s profits. It sounds ele- mentary, and it is. Ask any working stiff. The boss and worker may get together on some issues that effect both the same Wway—raising pro- duction during wartime, for example—but as soon as the boss decides it’s time to get “back to normal’ the trouble starts. One of the tactics the capitalist has always found most profitable is the splitting tactic. It comes in handiest when he sees workers getting together, organizing, to win better lives for themselves. - a gigantic yet attainable task; the task ¥ .more conservative workers against economic reconversion, and against a pr reduction in the hours of work is veloping an economic crisis of consi portions. Big Business’s offensive is not pag answered! One of the charactertistigg year’s end, which will develop with ti fication of the postwar crisis, is the sistance and militancy of the labor mo Widespread and popular support of struggles for independence, unemployeg strations for reconversion and a jobs. powerful movements for the upward re low' paid wages and the recognitions ¢ legitimate and sound demands clearly - strate the possibility for overcoming — proaching economic problems. a The majority of our people are willing to fight for security and jok cause of the military defeat of fascisg, resounding blow that development gaye - nadian reaction, they are in a much mon able position to do so. ee Never before in the history of ov B.C. have we had greater responsibilitie er opportunities than in the present iod. A long and costly war has finally, i3 without terrific sacrifices, brought us. victory—in 1946 the peace has to be won : thus place before us, as the new year ing and leading the struggle for full, economic security and lasting peace; to | British Columbia a struggle that will - It is like a river that winds and falls, 7 deep gulleys, is sometimes smothered wi) but somehow always finds the sea. Le solve to each play our part to ring | much nearer the sea. before the year’s | around again. oe i “Hey, look!” says the capitalist. “T {, do! We’re gonna have to throw a few [ in the organizing machinery. First, wel hullaballo about coming unempleyment - , evitable.. Then we’ll tell the men there’ : of jobs if the women were all fired. We’) ! white workers the Chinese are taking 7 and we'll tell everybody everything 414 fine if we send the Japanese back to. ; that’ll divert attention for awhile. | | “Then, to get the workers really | we’ll encourage antagonism among the 4) izations; we'll help turn AFL against Cy) bring out the old Communist bogey to =} tion. And then, as our final master str 4 organize the war veterans to fight ag | organized workers.” 4 It’s a simple plan. Almost anybody | through it. The trouble is, it often get _ Take the present veteran-labor an! which ‘is non-existent except in played- | paper stories and in frenzied attacks — by self-styled veteran leaders who. are | inspired, possibly backed, by the worst | aries in Canada. Veterans, they try i | are being shoved around by unions, 5 getting read for a showdown. 2 This is pretty silly. Division of vett labor is purely artificial, the kind of — division which has always been wrong. 5 Hoffmeister and his capitalist friends hi. ing in common with working class i The allies of the working class vets 3. found in the,unions, and nowhere else. eres This year, we resolve, we will be: against those who try to divide us. We | solve to build the unions, organize the un | to fight for their rights, and attack the- of the people wherever they show themse | ° My personal resolutions? Oh, coment ; I resolve to get my column to the edit) deadline in 1946. And to send out next YE) spread I started last May. To teach li: he simply musn’t play in the sawdust. sensible: shoes. And .to—well, that’s en beginning to weaken already. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 7