THE B.C. LUMBER WORKER Published Every Second Monday by INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO) ’ DISTRICT COUNCIL NO, 1 Editor: BERT MELSNESS (on leave, Canadian Army) Managing Editor: JACK GREENALL Room 504 Holden Building — ae PAcific 4151 — Vancouver, B.C. The deadline for stories for epereorn ing issue is 4 p.m., Thursday, uly 20 Key to Better Contracts Organization the Key to Improved Contracts O* THE first of November negotiations for a new agree- ment with the lumber operators will be coming up. - We have between now and then to clear the decks, The number of members. in the industry and how each separate plant is organized and united around the clauses the members wish to have inserted in the new agreement will be the best logic our bargaining representatives can present. It is futile to think that any agreement, however iron clad it may be, will forever sélve all our problems. The fact re- mains that the nature of any agreement that is negotiated will be a reflection of the strength and unity we have achieved. It will depend on the influence and prestige that we have earned, both from employers and the public at large by our attention, exemplary conduct and responsibility to matters relating to the agreement now in effect. Also to production in the war effort and other matters of national and public in- * terest. The extent to which we have succeeded will of course best express itself by the way in which we succeed in organizing the unorganized and consolidating our union in the operations now under contract. The immediate task confronting our local union and dis- trict officers in cooperation with our Internation Representa- tive and Job Steward is achievement of this task between now and November 1. DANGER IS GREAT The Cuban election, where a liberal-labor win-the-war coalition was defeated and a reactionary president elected, serves notice to Canadians that the radical swing among the masses is no guaran- tee against a tory victory. Pro-fascist groups, demagogically utilizing the very progressive strivings of the people, as the Tories and Bloc Populaire are trying to do’ in Canada, can be victorious if the pro- gressive forces permit a partisan spirit to divide their forces and ~ are lulled into complacency. Canadian labor, learning the lesson of Cuba to prevent a repe- tition of Cuba in our own country, must be ready to come to the aid of our Cuban brothers against attacks from Grau Martin, who is threatening to disperse the Cuban trade unions. Union Hiring Depends On Your Support By DON BARBOUR, IWA Hiring Hall Manager Late last month your hiring hall manager received the following telegram which is considered fan mail by him, as follows: “Don Barbour, Room 204 Holden Bldg., Vancouver, B.C. — Suggested by bucker you come to my camp at M—— Bay as chokerman. Stop. Wages seven dollars a day. Stop. Ship through Pacific Mills employment agency at Vancouver. Stop: (Signed) ——————_—_—_..” ‘This, of course, came from a camp which the union has not hired from as yet and I took up the matter with the District Council. The Council decided that for the present at least I stay on the job and increase the volume of hiring, So now, brothers, it is up to you, for you as members of the IWA, are the only ones who can do that part of, or in fact, any part, in the strengthening of organization. 3 : With the camps re-opening after the mid-season holiday the volume of business has greatly increased, and to catch up with the requirements right now the Hiring Hall can do with the cooperation of all members who are at present not working. Further the Hiring Hall was presented with a wood carving by Brother O. Hilgren which is on display in the hall, and everyone should see re peters leaving town as the ing. portrays a message to all of us. Se aca take the opportunity to thank all those who have called at the Hiring Hall during their stay in town, and expressed their good wishes and determination that our or- ganization shall control the hiring, and especially do I thank those who have used their own initiative to promote union hiring. This is the Sacto that will make the Hiring Hall the it ii ined to become. . eed Ae er all our readers in town, in mills, on boats, trains, on busses, in cook houses, and especially those in pane uses, restful evening with lots of discussion in the nase ested of the future, on the question of union hiring. FASCIST WORK IN U.S. ARMY WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fascist plotting in high army circles was exposed in the tenth week of the sedition trial in Washing- ton where 29 men and women are accused of conspiring with the Nazis to impair military and naval morale. Evidence showed that a fascist conyention in Kansas City repre- senting all the major fascist or- ganizations in America offered the fuehrership of what was called the American “Nationalist” movement to a Major General in the army, who was known for his Nazi sym- pathies. The evidence was given to the court by William Luedtke, former national secretary of the Nazi- controlled German American Bund. Luedtke said his informa- tion came from Fritz Kuhn, Bund fuehrer, who was later sent to prison. * Sir Oswald Mosley of Britain was also named in the trial last week. The government placed in evidence an article in the Bund’s paper, the “Deutscher Weckruf und Beobachter” of New York, lauding Mosley and quoting from his speeches. The government charges that the trial defendants were serving Hitler in America as Mosley was serving Hitler in Britain. The de- fendants are named as part of a Nazi-directed international fifth column represented in Canada by Adrien Arcand and others. Vancouver May Adopt Soviet City Vancouver citizens will be asked to adopt the Soviet port of Odes- sa. This proposal, advanced by Leon Ladner, K.C., at a meeting held in Boilermakers’ Auditorium last Sunday to commemorate the third anniversary of the Soviet Union’s entry into the war, was supported by Mayor J. W. Cornett who met this week with a com- mittee of the Vancouver Council for Canadian-Soviet Friendship. Expressing interest in the plan, Mayor Cornett said immediate steps would be taken by the city council to consider formal adop- tion of the Soviet city. Addressing the meetings in Boil- ermakers’ Auditorium and later Victory Hall which netted $3,376.64 for the Aid to Russia Fund, Fer- gus McKean, LPP provincial lead- er, told his audience that the prompt action of the Canadian Government in negotiating a trade agreement with the Soviet Govern- ment was a happy augury for the future of Canadian-Soviet rela- tions. : BID OF CCF TURNED DOWN 'TORONTO.—Toronto Trades and Labor Council has turned down a proposal that it tie itself up with the CCF in pursuing the inde- pendent political action recom- mended to AFL bodies in Canada by the last convention of the Trades and Labor Congress, Sharp criticism was voiced dur- ing the debate of the CCF leader- ship, which was charged with “fighting tooth and nail against unity in the trade unions.” A similar move by CCF mem- bers of Montreal Trades and La- bor Council to strangle the Com- mittee for Independent Political Action at last week's meeting of the council was decisively reject- ed by the delegates, who unani- mously referred the matter to their executive. 4 Seven Years of Sac HINA’S war for the common cause entered its eighth July 7. During the past 84 months of long and tedious” the people of China have suffered and sacrificed a great deal, out of this bloodshed and sacrifice, her people have insured for the Allied cause. At the commencing of this eighth year of war, the situation in | is more critical than ever; for the enemy is concentrating its effort on the Asiatic mainland in an attempt to knock China out of the war before she receives sufficient supplies from her Allies. oa enemy knows full well that when such a time comes it will mean the launching of an offensive calculated to push Japan out of China and_ write the finishing chapter of this war against fascist tyranny, * ~ This handwriting on the wall is becoming more apparent each day. Japan's present campaign in the Hunan Province is but the final and — desperate struggle of the trapped tiger in a cage. What makes it worse for the enemy is that its gangster parner in Europe also hears the tolling of the death knell. Faced with the mighty offensive from the East, launched by our great and dependable ally, the Army of the Soviet Union, and from the west and south by the combined forces of Canada, Britain, and the United States, she is being forced into a nut-cracker squeeze which presages the early defeat of Germany. When this senior Axis is down, little Tojo will not have a ghost of a chance against the combined liberation armies of Britain, the United States, China, the USSR. China will undoubtedly be the most logical and suitable base to launch such an offensive. But China cannot assume such heavy re- sponsibilities if her present horrible, internal conditions do not im- prove. For instance, the grafting and profiteering that is going on in some responsible quarters has led to political corruption and economic inflation, which is resulting in the starving and dying of millions of people. “The Special Service,” an organization which is not a bit less vicious than the Nazi Gestapo, is reaching out its iron hands all over the country. Thousands of innocent students have fallen victims to this group because their thinking 1s progressive. The “Life” Bookshop, largest of its kind in China, was compelled to close and many of its. employees were imprisoned for publishing liberal views. Incidents such as these are too numerous to record, but all of them are indicative of the reactionary elements’ absolute dis- regard for the divine rights of the people. This curtailment of civil liberties has caused grave concern in democratic countries abroad. Vice-President Wallace’s personal visit to China and a rumor that he pleads for the lifting of the blockade against the 18th group army (former 8th Route Army), so that China may have a united effort against the common enemy, to the seriousness of the situation there. The “B.C. Lumber Worker” has always been a true and sincere friend of the Chinese people. The “B.C. Lumber Worker” was one of the first papers to urge and demand an embargo on shipments to Japan and a boycott of Japanese goods. We feel that the situation in China is sufficiently grave to warrant public attention. We are writing this, not with any malicious intent to discredit the govern- ment of our great fighting ally, but rather it is to be regarded as friendly, constructive and well-meant criticism from workers who have always been sympathetic to China’s cause. The acid test of a true friend is not judged by his mealy-mouthed and flattering praises, but rather by what he does and what constructive proposals he can offer. Firmly convinced that such a stand is the only stand which can aid China in her postwar progress and democratic rule, we therefore venture to suggest the following points for consideration as essentials in China’s endeavor to the carrying forward of her people's heroi¢ struggle against Japanese fascism, essentials to the establishment of a Pdemocratic, representative government. f x Firstly, the immediate release of all anti-fascist political prisoners and the restoration of their civil rights; so that they may participate once again in the defense of China against the fascist enemy. Secondly, the readmission of civil liberties and the lifting of the ban from all liberal and labor publications, which is essential in China is to have freedom of speech after this war. Thirdly, the renunciation by the Kuomintang of its dictatorial pow- ers, so as to pave the way for the setting up of a national government based on universal suffrage and participation by all legal political parties. By adopting such liberal policies China will undoubtedly become a strong, democratic country which will merit and enjoy the respect and admiration of all freedom-loving people of the world. By so uniting all democratic, anti-fascist forces China will strengthen herself against the enemy knocking at the gates, and eliminate considerable unmeces- — sary suffering, aces THE SECRET WEAPON Our enemy has but one real secret weapon—the weapon of d As disaster confronts him, he will use that weapon cunningly. try to shatter the unity we have achieved, will try to blunt fuse our purposes and soften the defeat which he now knows not escape. He will try to maké our victory partial, rather tha plete. If we yield to such blandishments, if we allow doubt another to divide us, if we soften in our resolve to stamp hideous Nazi curse—we shall have lost this war. Worse, we betrayed all those who suffered and bled upon the soil of —the living and the dead alike—U.S, Secretary of Tre Morgenthau Jr. é - i: J strongly._tosti ae