THE B.C. LUMBER WORKER

‘DELEGATES TAKE

FIRM STAND ON

BASIC POLICIES

Opposition Offered by
Minority Bloc Delays De-

liberations.

Reports reaching B.C. concerning a
“possible split” in the International
Woodworkers of America following the
recent convention in Klamath Falls are
based mainly on “sensationalized” news
accounts in the employers’ press, ac-
cording to members of the B.C, District
Council delegation who returned from
the convention last week.

“The news services, on the lookout
for every means of discrediting the IWA,
greatly over-emphasized the role of the

‘so-called opposition bloc within the con-

vention,’ declared Nigel Morgan,
trict Council vice-president.

“At the same time the press appar-
ently deliberately overlooked the fact
fhat on basic questions of policy and
our program of organizing the unorgan-
ized, the convention registered an almost
vnanimous vote.”

Chief opposition and obstruction to the

Dis-

‘LW.A. policy came from certain repre-

sentatives and officials of the local
unions in the Columbia River basin—the
same group who have opposed unity
within the organization at all previous
conventions, acéording to the B.C. dele-
gates,

This convention, however, they were
joined by a few delegates from locals
in Northern Washington and Grays-
Willipa, Harbors, among them a small
group against whom documentary evi-
dence has been secured linking them
with employer organizations and the
U.S, Immigration Department in a move
to undermine the union.

Objections to the LW.A. program
taken by this group centered around two
basic questions—the clause in the con-
stitiution allowing membership by ‘all
poltical, religious and racial groups and
the proposal to boost the per capita pay-
ments to the international to 50 cents
a month,

On the first question, spokesmen for
the so-called opposition launched a.
strong red-baiting attack on President
Pritchett and other international offi-
cers and board members. Everything
of a progressive nature was labelled
“Communist” and they fought hard for
@ constitutional amendment which would

‘bar communists from membership, de-

spite the fact that CIO Vice-President
Reid Robinson, who is also president of
‘the International Union of Mine, Mill
and Smelter Workers, came out sharply
against the red baiters ana referred to
the fact that barring of members be-
cause of political affiliation was con-
trary to the CIO constitution and pro-

gram,

On the issue of increasing the per cap-
ita to the international, leaders of the
Columbia River delegation were empha-

tie in their opposition, despite the fact

that the Columbia River District Coun-

than the international office now re-

(head o on the Main!

bb Bees. OUR PAY A DOLLAR A DAY” was the central. theme
running through the IWA Convention at which a militant

program was hewed for the improvement of working conditions and
wages of those employed in the lumber industry. Before our next
convention, thousands upon thousands of _unorganized workers
will have to be brought into our ranks; wages will have to be raised;
hours shortened; and working conditions bettered.

Convention referendums, constitutional amendments, and the
choice of administration for this great task that lies ahead are before
the rank and file. It is our unmistakable duty to provide the neces-
sary financial resources to drive this great program through to com-
pletion, to make much-needed constitutional amendments to pro-
vide a more efficient administration of our business affairs; and to
reelect our present International officers who head the progressive
slate chosen by the majority of the convention. to carry on their
efficient administration and highly successful efforts for the ex-
pansion of our militant, democratic union.

We have work to do; the work of organizing the unorganized—
of raising wages wages to offset higher living costs. And with a sound
progressive program, a capable administration and a unanimous
resolution expressed by our membership, the great responsibility
that lies ahead can be accepted with confidence.

As soon as the referendums are completed the decks will be
cleared for action.

Let British Columbia play its full and rightful part in clearing
the decks of any obstructions which might block the course of the
IWA in driving forward upon a progressive, militant program to im-
prove the standards of those who work for a living. Recent wage
increases won by the crews at the Youbou camps prove the great~
possibilities that lie ahead. Let’s go ahead on the main!

CIO Vice-President Warns IWA
Of Dangers In ‘Red-Baiting’

Flatly denying stories in ieee employers’ press to the effect that the
recent CIO convention in San Francisco had committed the organization
to a “purge” of any of its members because of political or other affilia-
tions, Reid Robinson, newly-elected CIO vice-president and president
of the CIO Mine, Mill and Smelter
Workers’ Union, told delegates to the
third annual IWA convention in Kla-
math Falls that the CIO “would go down
the line for any of its members as long
as they carried out the policies and
program of the organization.”

“As long as a mem-
) ber is a good and con-
scientious worker for
the CIO and sub-
scribes to its consti-
tution, policy and pro-
gram, we ask no ques-
tion as to his politi-
cal, racial or religious
affiliations,” Robinson
declared, denying that

John L. Lewis had
threatened a purge

the “strike-baby,” since he was born in
Butte, Montana, during a struggle of
the
against the employers, declared:

“There is supposed to be a state of
disunity in the United States. I have
been from one end of the country to the
other, and in a very few places do I
find where there is a lack of unity be-
tween the workers.

Western Federation of Miners

The workers all

snow they have a common problem and
are working them out together.

“The CIO answers all lies when it
talks about unity. We answer the pre-
sident of the United States, we answer
the corporations, the general public—
all with the same answer: That we of

the CIO are going forward to organize
the unorganized.”

of the “reds.”
The young CIO executive, known as

Robinson called unemployment the
most “paramount” problem facing the
American people today. “We must see
in this country where there is ample op-
portunity for everyone to have a job,
that that person is given a job; is given
a job at a wage which will allow him to
live in comfort. We can do this by
shortening the hours; we do this by all
of us putting our shoulder to the same

wheel and saying that these things must
be done.”

also that these atempts at obstructing
the convention centered mainly around
a few individual delegates.

Despite the outstanding differences
existing on the convention floor, how-
ever, a final “peace” proposal worked
cut by the three CIO directors for Cali-
fornia, Oregon and Washington was ac-
cepted in the closing hours of the con-
vention with no dissenting voice, the
gathering adjourning on a note of com-
plete unity regarding the next year’s
program of the I:W.A. and the necessity

of all sections of the union working to-
ward the general objective—“organiza-
tion of the unorganized.”

Tune in on “Green Gold” every
Tuesday, 7:45 to 8 p.m. over Station
CJOR.

[PRITCHETT AND
HARTUNG RUN
FOR PRESIDENCY

Orton, Lowry, Cadieu for
Vice - presidencies; Mc-~
Carty vs. Tucker.

Members of the International Wood-
workers of America who will soon be
voting by referendum on internaional
cfficials and board members for the
next term, will again see President Har-
old J. Pritchett, formerly of Vancouver,
nominated for a further two-year term.

He is being opposed by Al Hartung, pre-*

sident of the Columbia River District
Council, who was defeated by Pritchett
in the last election by a three-to-one
majority.

For vice-president (perhaps two vice
presidencies if the other post is created
by the same referendum): O, M. Orton,
Les Cadieu, International executive board
member from! Boommen & Rafters’ Dis-
trict Council, and Worth Lowry of Co-
lumbia river. ‘

Bertel J. McCarty will be opposed for
the secretary-treasurer’s position by H.
I, Tucker, president of IWA Local 3-2,
Aberdeen, Wash.

Matt Savola, secretary of the Midwest
District Council, and George Brown,
IWA Local 5-3, Portland, are the nomin-
ees for International trustee.

FOR EXECUTIVE BOARD.

The results of the district council
nominations for International executive
board member from the respective dis-
triets, were as follows:

B.C. District Council:
and H, Bergren.

Northern Washington District Coun-
cil: William Wallace and Art Erickson.

Grays-Willapa Harbors District Coun-
cil: Richard Law and B, L. Shamely.

Columbia River District Council: Max
Gardner and Edward McSorley.

Klamath Basin District Council:
H, Fenton and A. A. Oyler.

Coos Bay District Council: L, E. Pier-
pont and W. L, Harris.

Plywood and Veneer District Coun-
cil: William Baker, Bill Holman, Sever-
son and Eugene Miller.

Boommen & Rafters’ District Coun-
cil: (Two to be elected), Les Cadieu and
J. A. Coney.

Midwest District Council:
vunen.

Nigel Morgan

L.

Iimar Koi-

‘RIDING THE TRAIN—,
THEN PAY THE FARE’

Recommending an

inerease in’ per

capita to the IWA convention, Morris

Muster, of the United Furniture Worlk-
ers, told delegates: “If CIO unions are to
carry out the organizing program de-
signed in the San Francisco convention,

great organizational funds will be need-
ed.”

“If you are going to ride on the train,
you'll have to pay the fare,” he said,

Cash Cheques

Three Portland workers, George Kell,
George Krohn and C. K. Collier, who
were awarded back pay by the NLRB,
following their discharge by the Luck-
enbach Steamship Co. for union activity,
last week cashed checks totalling $8,250