sp. TNA TT LEFT TURN! A Column For WAR VETERANS -- by Jack Philips UHURU TT is only by being neutral in politics that the organization ean be of much yalue to the community.” This was the opinion pressed by the Lieutenant-Governor of B.C. when he recently jressed the West Point Grey branch of the Legion. If the statement means that the Legion should not become the pendage of any political party or group, we agree. If it means it the legion should not bar any member because of his political fliations, ditto. But if the statement means, as some would have believe, that the Legion should have nothing whatsoever to do [ch anything connected with politics, then we disagree. Actually, the whole question hinges on a definition of politics. | we see it, politics is the science of government. In Canada, S itics means the constant play and interplay of class forces and i itical parties who are seeking power. To adopt a simon-pure ijtude and say “our organization will remain over and above politics”? means to adopt a blind alley course. When homeless veterans took over the old Hotel Vancouver sy were putting political pressure on the government. It was fear ‘the political consequences that made Ottawa convert the hotel io a hostel so quickly. When organized veterans joined with organized labor to lobby Victoria, they joined forces to put political pressure on the >inet and the MIiLA’s. . Nationally, the Legion is 300,000 strong. This explains why gion representatives are given a courteous hearing at Ottawa. hb government, whatever its complexion, can afford to ignore 2 representations of such an organization. This also explains why my and Liberal machine-men have tried to make inroads into = Legion, to use it as a vote-catching apparatus. The Legion must continue in its non-partisan role, and must rther strengthen its ties with organized labor. Organized veterans Bd organized labor between them include in their ranks the best d largest part of our industrial population. Marching together fy can be a tremendous power in the nation, to make “a land for heroes to live in. MLIBVE ME, ITS TRUE j At a recent conference in Vancouver the minister of recon- fuction and supply stated that it is difficult to establish contact -ween the government and the individual war veteran who needs sriority in materials to build his home. Your reporter is willing | supply him with the name of every such veteran in B.C., and > address, provided the minister meets the cost of advertising, qd takes out a sub to the P.T. for every member of the cabinet. ast to give them the low-down on the spy scare and the question wage increases!) 1 With the people in the post-war struggles that lie ahead for jobs, decent wages, homes and social security? Or shall they disinte- grate into an ineffective. beer- drinking fraiternity, dominated by the brass hats as was the ten- dency in the years following the last war? There are reactionary forces who want to see the latter course MAURICE RUSH between labor and veterans egion and by veterans generally. Labor Veteran Councils ‘Forge Bonds For Unity In Action y BERT MARCUSE, Executive Member, New Veterans Branch “HERE is no Labor-Veterans Unity pro blem. A few reactionary elements who do not speak for any but a small clique of disruptionists have been by reckless use of lies and half-truths. Such individuals ve been thoroughly discredited by the vast majority of the membership of the Canadian trying to create a rift The truth is, that here in tories of B-C—but as well they itish Golumbia we have a de-|are taking a leading part in .e of labor-veteran unity that| Union activities. They are be- most heartening. Veterans re- coming shop stewards, a = rs. Lo ning to the trades ad tothe tee men, executive members sic industries of this Proyince ee es ee ers now——as their fathers were during the war—as they were before the war. They know, as must every intelligent person, that the fight today must be for full employment—jobs for all. So that while there is no prob- plem of lLabor-Veteran unity— there are lMabor-Veteran prob- lems. That is why the Canadian Legion and other veteran organ- izations have officially support- ed and participated in the joint Labor Lobby in Victoria last month. That is why the veter- ans’ organizations of Vancouver have joined with the leaders of the AFL and CCL in setting up a Labor-Veterans Relations Com- mittee — a move which was paralleled immediately after- wards in Courtenay, and as will probably be likewise implement- in Gomox and Cumberland. The value and importance of such a step cannot be over-emphasized. Such lLabor-Veteran commit- 2 joining the Unions almost ® a man. These vyeterans, hough Jong months and years © training and fighting, learned Me thing above all—the value teamwork, and organization— imwork and organization which peated the Fascist war ma- Back home the veterans found ait the fight for higher wages @i better working conditions; > fight to safeguard gains al- idy won by the workers could §st be carried on within the aks of the Trade Union move- mt. Here, the same teamwork ed organization taught them in i> army could be used to ad- @nce their standard of living the glorious postwar world fy had been taught to expect their right—and which they— d all Canadian. workers so hly deserve. These veterans 2 not only joining their unions mm the woods, the mills, the nes, the fisheries and the fac- \CIFIC TRIBUNE — PAGE 3 tees can deal promptly with pos- sible misunderstandings and grievances which may arise, thereby promoting harmony and co-operation between Labor and Veteran bodies, so many of whose interests are held in com- mon. An organization like this can go a long way towards ex- plaining the attitude of labor to veterans. On March 29, the Vancouver Labor-Veterans Relations Com- mittee is calling a delegate con- ference which will be attended by delegates from union locals and veterans groups from the Greater Vancouver area.. The conference will study labor-vet- éran problems and plan for ways and means of furthering the well-being of veteran and work- er alike through united action on their common problems. This is a great step forward— a step which is a happy augury for the unity of the working peoples of Ganada—a step which should be duplicated everywhere in Ganada where veteran and labor bodies can unite in the common: interests of their mem- berships. . most jloudly against is the future of the veterans’ Veterans Must Find Allies In Labor Ranks For Security Fight By MAURICE RUSH, Ex-P.O.W., Provincial Organizer, LPP HE coming Legion Convention will be the most important gathering of veterans since the end of the war. Many problems affecting returned men and women will be discussed and resolutions on veterans’ views will be passed. Which way will the veterans go? What These are the key questions veterans must ask of themselves. Shall their moyement join movement? followed. here are those who fear the thousands who are pour- ing into the Legion from the armed services. These reaction- ary circles who take their lead from right wing political circles and big business associates, would isolate the veterans from the other progressive sections of the population and set veteran against labor. Every forward-looking citizen welcomed the splendid unity which labor and veterans show- ed in the recent labor lobby. The large number of veterans dele- gates acted in their own interest when they backed the demands for the 40-hour week, minimum wage laws. holidays with pay, ete. Since the labor lobby an in- creasingly strong campaign has been conducted by reactionary elements against cooperation be- tween labor and returned men. Under the guise of ‘keeping the Legion -out of politics”. attempts are made to keep the veterans from taking effective action to solve the many economic and social problems they are faced with. Some of those who ‘shout ““nolitical Veterans Fight For Homes Now By W. S. E. MORRISON Housing will be one of the burning issues coming before the Legion Convention. There is an acute Housing Shortage. The war workers, and what a splendid job they have done, bought war bonds and small plots of land. Numbers of ship- yard workers from the Prairies, loggers from Ontario, fishermen on the Coast, coutious and thrifty, started the idea of small holdings, hoping at some time after the cessation of hos- tilities, to erect thereon a habi- tation. Few have been able to do so, and in addition many are now unemployed. The returned man, veteran of this war, who is also a worker, looks first for a job and then a home near his work. Their problem in this in- stance is the same. How many are sitting with their feet under their own tables, hearing the rain pattering on their own roofs, watching their wages being supplemented by the steady growth in their own kitchen gardens. All they ask for are simple pleasures and the sat- isfaction of security. It will be a great day when our benevo- lent, paternal government hark- ing back to the pioneer char- acteristic, says, “Brother, here is lumber to build a home, ac- commodating you in your per- manent employment, a roof un- der which you may raise your family, something tangible that you may cherish and battle for. That is what we are going to demand at the forthcoming Pro- vincial Conference of the Cana- dian Legion BESL. action” are themselves closely associated with the old line parties. Being a veteran I know why over a thousand returned men a month are joining the Legion. It is not because they want bigger and better smokers. [It is pri- marily because the veterans feel they can find security by sticking together in an organiza- ation. They join the Legion be- cause in it they see the medium through which their interests can best be advanced. The aver- age veteran feels that through organization he can get a squar- er deal for, himself. Just look at it this way. The veterans need jobs, homes and social security. Why shouldn’t they join forces with others who are working for the same things? In other words, join hands with allies in the fight for the things we need and to which we feel en- titled. We certainly did not ob- ject to the Russians and Ameri- cans giving us a hand in the job we shad to do overseas. Why not look around now for those who can give us a hand in the job we have to do here—that of winning security. This then brings us to the question: Where can the vets find allies to help them get jobs, homes and social security? Well, organized labor has similar ob- jectives. Labor wants full em- ployment; so does the veteran. Labor wants social security leg- islation; so does the veteran. La- bor wants a housing program; so does the veteran. Then why not work together for these things? Isn’t it the most natural thing in the world? : Those who raise the cry of “politics” are laying down- a smoke screen. What they actual- ly mean is: “don’t have anything: to do with labor”. No one is sug- gesting that the Legion should go into politics. That is not an issue. Those who oppose veteran cooperation with labor are doing a disservice to the returned men because they are lessening the fighting chance of getting se- curity. It is just as if you were left holding a position against overwhelming odds and much needed reinforcements were fool- ishly withdrawn. The veterans would be well ad- vised to reject such a course. The overwhelming majority of vets are workers, farmers, small business and professional people. Our problems are Canada’s prob- lems; we should join forces with all those groups who can add to our strength to win a decent postwar future. Tune In | Agnes Smedley, noted author and authority on Chinese af- fairs, will speak over CBR ... 1130 on your dial, on Sat- urday, March 16, at 4:45 p-m. Her subject will be “This Week.” FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1946