Meeting in regular executive session, District Number 1, In- ternational Woodworkers of Am~ erica gave consideration to the denial of citizens’ rights, under). special Order-in-Council P.C. 6444. The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr. Mackenzie King disclosed on March 18, that this Order-in-Coun- ceil P.C, 6444, had been passed in secret, last October, 1945. The order, under the terms of which the traditional rights of habeus corpus is being arbitrarily denied ‘was protested and Interational Board Member Dalskog and Dis- trict Secretary Melsness were elected as delegates to represent the IWA at a special emergency council meeting for democratic rights, The meeting was held last Wednesday night and charged the official secrets’ act with violating the cardinal principle that a per- son is innocent until he is proven guilty and constitutes gross viola- tions of the most elementary prin- ciples of justice. The Vancouver Labor Council (CCL) meeting in regular session sharply denounced the Federal Government in pursuing the in- vestigation into espionage charges in arresting prominent Canadian nationals and others and holding incommunicado without right to legal council. With the ink scarcely dry on the surrender documents, people of this country can’t help but feel the gravest concern over the hap- penings in the last few weeks, as we have not yet begun to tackle the problems of building the new happier postwar world for which our fighting forces gave all they had. Yet, we are in the midst of a war hysteria that is unsur- passed, with the atmoic energy issue the center of the picture. Resolution Number 33, adopted in the 9th Annual Convention of the International Woodworkers of America, called for prompt steps to deal resolutely and independ- ently with both the International and domestic problems created by the release of atomic energy. To enter now into any such atomic armament race with other powers would destroy any hope of Inter- national cooperation and could only end in disaster for the world. The resolution called for the establishment of suitable In- ternational machinery to bring the use of atomic energy under world wide direction. The vast powers which are now being lib- erated for industrial, scientific and medical purposes must not become the tool of monopoly but must remain in the hands of the people, The resolution urgently recommended immediate negotia- tions between United States, Brit- ain and Russia to agree on world wide atomic energy controls and extension of the agreement there- after, to the United Nations with full authority vested in the United Nations to outlaw the use of at- omic energy for military pur- poses; to control the atomic en- ergy and material production everywhere in the world with au; thority to inspect, investigate and police and the improvement of the present machinery of the Uni- ted Nations in order to make the above controls effective and to re- duce or eliminate all International military rivalry, ‘The spy scare in Canada is be- ing blown up to fantastic propor- tions with the abvious aim of THE BC LUMBER WORKER Page Three No Time For Rumors During the war years we were cautioned at every corner to catch and kill any and. all rumors which might be detrimental to the war effort, or might give assistance to the enemy. Now that the union has entered into negotiations for the revision of our agreements we must make certain that we do not allow rumors to weaken and divide our forces. In some cases already the employers have effectively used this weapon to their advantage in stifling the growing determination of the workers to fight for the establishment of decent wages, hours and working conditions, which is the only hope for a prosperous post- war Canada. We have heard of one camp where, due to company inspired rumors, the crew had already, in their own minds, decided what the outcome is to be as regards the present negotiations. As a result they Were not too enthusiastic about the Fighting Fund. The facts are that the fund is now the most important step. Any number of similar cases could be cited but this is not required at this time. Our mem- bership must be on the alert. Accept nothing unless it is officially released through the District Office to the Local Officers. If you hear rumors hunt them down and destroy them. LONDON—More. than 70 Brit- ish Labor Members of Parlia- ment have signed a statement demanding postponement of the Greek elections scheduled for March 31. British Foreign Min- ister Ernest Bevin has insisted that the elections be held,, de- spite the resignation of 19 mem- bers of the Greek Cabinet on the grounds that elections would be “impossibly unfair.” Seventy is the largest number of M.P.’s so far to criticize openly any aspect of the government's foreign policy. ‘ Meanwhile, Prime Minister Att- lee received a telegram from the Greek Republican group led by ex-Foreign Minister Sophianop- oulos, the HAM (National Lib- eration Front), the Oemocratic Union, the ELD (Socialists) and the Left Liberals, calling for assistance to “prevent a travesty of the elections.” Describing the damaging beyond repair, coopera- tion and friendship between our allies, especially the Soviet Un- jon, through the United Nations organizations. At the same time, conservative Premier Drew of the province of Ontario drags out the old red herring as a substi- tute for decent housing, a labor code and the fulfilment of his other election pledges, while con- servative Premier Duplessis of the province of Quebec proclaims his government's intention of stif- ling civil liberties by again resur- reeting his infamous padlock law. Conservative Mr. Churchill, re- pudiated in the last elections in Britain, calls for an English speaking alliance of Britain, Uni- ted States and the Dominions, against the Soviet Union in place of unity of the Big Three, which is, As our convention unanimously pointed out, the only possible basis for a just and lasting peace. What does all this mean? Ob- viously there are those forces in Canada and throughout the world who are working behind a bar- rage of propaganda whose aim is to convince the people, instead of world peace that we all long for, ‘we must prepare for a third world war. If we are to win postwar secur~ ity and jobs at decent wages with homes, we must get back to sanity, to the policies that will make peace work and make it last. It is not too late! The gov- ernment of Canada, instead of giving aid and comfort to world reaction, can strike a blow for democracy on the path of world peace for International and Na- tional security, 70 British MP’s Say Greek Policy Unfair reign of terror in Greece, the telegram says that democrats cannot take part in elections that will be an obvious fraud. Last Word Is Still Union's Editor, The Lumberman: Your “last word” editorial at- tack upon our IWA president, Mr. Harold Pritchett, does him unex- pected honor, and refreshingly unexxpected indeed is the candor that compels you to contradict your suggestions on previous oc- casions pertaining to “hire” and “Moscow gold!" That Mr. Prit- chett “arousues antagonism” is obvious. His efforts against the throt- tling of a democratic Spain, and against the shipment of war ma- terial and scrap iron to the Fas- cists, also aroused your antagon- ism, We members of International Woodworrkers are proud of the leadership Mr. Pritchett gave in the maintenance of our pledge of “No Strike,” and our holding that pledge assisted you considerably in maintaining your privilege of attacking Mr. Pritchett. The Vancouver Sun could exert itself towards much more worthy objectives than this attack upon a man whose every effort has been directed successfully and unselfishly towards the well-being of many thousands of workers in this province, which fact inciden- tally might constitute another reason for antagonism. A. H. PARKIN, President and Business Agent, Local 1-405, IWA-CIO. P. WALSH, Financial Secretary, Local 1-405, IWA-CIo. Regional Board Says 40 Hrs: OK The Regional War Labour Board went on record this week, supporting the application of the Vancouver Newspaper Guild, Lo- cal No. 2, an affiliate of the Ca- nadian Congress of Labor, for the forty-hour week. Authorization of a forty-hour work week by the board, enables firms desirous of so doing, to implement a five-day work week for their employees—a step im- possible under “frozen” work Weeks of longer periods. One of the foundation stones of British justice on which our Canadian law is based is the presumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty. However, the Official Secrets Act reverses this principle. The suspect is presumed guilty until he proves his inno- cence. The burden of proof is switched from the crown to the ac- cused. This is shown by the contents of the Act, which in part reads: “On a prosecution under this section, it shall not be necessary to show that the accused person was guilty of any particular act tend- ing to show a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state, and notwithstanding that no such act is proved against him, he may be convicted if, from the circumstances of the case, or his conduct, or his known character as proved, it appears that his pur- pose was a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state.” It further states that “a person shall, UNLESS HE PROVES TO THE CONTRARY, be deemed to have been in communication with an agent of a foreign power” if he has visited the adress of such an agent, consorted or associated with him or if the name or address or any other information concerning such an agent has been found in his possession or has been supplied to him by another person. ‘The term “agent of a\foreign power” includes any person who has been or is “reasonably suspected” of being or having been employed by a foreign power either “directly or indirectly.” That such legislation exists and has existed on the statute books of Canada since before the war has only come to light now as far as the Canadian people are concerned. This Act also arbitrarily denies the right of habeas corpus (produce the person) and furthermore, people may be detained indefinitely for questioning under this Act. The point we wish to bring out in this matter is the vigilance that the Canadian people must exercise in watching legislation that is placed on the statute books by the lawmakers of the land. We must use our influence as an organization to stop legislation detrimental to the welfare of the Canadian people. It is only now that we have found out that a new secret Order- in-Council 6444 was passed as long ago as October of last year. The practice of establishing laws by order-in-council is a dangerous one and very closely resembles the methods of fascist governments of ruling be decree. The right to legislate and make laws belongs by all rights to the representatives elected by the people, the Members of Parliament. Restrictive regulations were necessary in wartime but _ the war is over and legislation by order-in-council should be abolished. ‘As Locals, Sub-Locals and individual members of the IWA, we should all make our woices heard and our wishes felt by the govern- ment at Ottawa regarding this undemocratic practice. Resolutions and letters should be sent at once to Prime Minister Mackenzie King and your Member of Parliament. If IS TIME TO CHANGE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCE- DURE OF ALLOWING THE PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT AS THE LAWMAKERS FOR WHICH THEY WERE ELECTED! Although the Labor Lobby delegates are all back home the fight for labor’s demands goes on. Keep the letters and resolutions going. to Victoria with each mail. There has been no statement by the gov- ernment yet. LABOR WANTS ACTION NOW. do Says Delegates ‘Subordinate’ WFTU NEW YORK (ALN)—The CIO protested this week against the “arbitrarry and ill-considered ac- tion” of American delegates to the United Nations Organization London meeting in “depriving the World Federation of Trade Unions of an effective voice” in the UNO Social and Economic Council. ‘The statement issued by the CIO executive board, charged that the U.S. delegation acted as “organizer of the cam- paign” which resulted in the WFTU being granted a “subord- inate, consultative position of the same character as that conceded to national organizations.” The board, meeting in Wash- ington, demanded that the issue of Franco Spain be raised at the UNO Security Council meeting here March 25 so that concerted action can be taken “to secure the speedy elimination of this cen- tre of fascist infection and threat to world peace.” The resolution also urged that the U.S. State De- partment immediately break rela- tions with the Franco regime. On the domestic front, the CIO demanded abolition of the poll tax, which prevents millions of whites and negroes in the sou- CIO pointed out that the poll tax enables “Congressmen represent- ing but a small minority of their constituents” to “join hands with representatives -of the minority party” and defeat all legislation “to promote the welfare of the people.” A resolution condemning mount ing instances of police brutality hit particularly at the recent mass arrests of negroes in Columbia, Tennessee, where two negroes have already been murdered and much property in the negro com- munity destroyed. This resulted from a false report that a negro had struck a white storekeeper. ‘The resolution also attacked “bru- tal police actions” against strik- ers. The necessity for renewing price control legislation was stressed in another reoslution which pointed out that big: busi- ness is “organized and geared to destroy the American standard of living.” The resolution urged that CIO affiliates take the ini- tiative in organizzing consumers behind the price ‘control fight, emphasizing that “labor's gains in the recent wage struggles are thern states from voting. The at stake.”