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