Peace Congress, declared here this week.

In that poll almost 60 percent of those answer

you think the UN would eve
in Korea?”

“Dr. Endicott pointed to the
significance of that majority op-
position even as refiected in a
loaded question. He said the
“loading” was evident in that the
UN itself is pledged to work for
outlawing of the A-bomb and no
circumstances could arise in
which the UN could legally use
the bomb.

He also said that even those who
favored using the bomb were in-
fluenced by sub-questions with no
bearing on reality, such as “To
end the war quickly” (it would end
nothing), “In retaliation” (all
bombs should be outlawed every-
where), “If necessary” (this is
meaningless), and “For self-pre-
servation” (no Korean is threaten-
ing Canada).

He though it “very important”
that even under the .influence of
such questions, the sampling show-
ed that half a million Canadians

though the atom-bomb should be
outlawed. The Canadian Peace
Congress has already signed. up
close to 300,000 Canadians on peti-
tions demanding just that, he point-
ed out.

Dr. Endicott said he felt sure
the results would be a shock to
Ottawa if an accurate poll were
taken on the propositions for the
Second World Peace Congress. Al-
ready there had been sufficient dis-
cussion ‘in Canacla, despite ‘he
daily press blackout, to show that
most citizens agreed with its pro-
positions to ban the A-bomb, cut
all armaments, outlaw war propa-
ganda, stop aggression and inter-
vention anywhere, and return to
the UN charter to settle the Korea
conflict peacefully.

Dr. Endicott said new people
were joining the discussion every
day and the peace movement was
growing. “Ve shall send to the
World Peace Congress at Shegield
one of the finest delegations ever
to leave these shores for any in-
ternational parley,” he said.

Ruddell hits —
disaster plan
as ‘disastrous’

Opposing city council’s “disaster
plan” as a “plan which will bring
disaster to Vancouver”, Elgin Rud-
dell, Civic Reform candidate for
alderman last year, announced this
week that he again intends to seek
@ council seat in the coming elec-
tions.

“This year’s civic elections must
be seen against a background of
threatening world war,” said Rud-

dell. “I cannot understand the
mentality of those Non-Partisan al-
dermen who loudly declare their
concern for the welfare of our citi-
zens, including children, yet do not
protest against the planning of
atom war by the U.S. government.

“The much-lauded ‘disaster plan’
actually anticipates an atom war
in the near future. This plan, ini-
tiated without taking a position
for peace and calling upon the
federal government to support a
peace position in the United Na-
tions, is nothing but a cynical
planning for war, on the assump-
tion that disaster is inevitable.

“It will indeed be disastrous for
our city if we let these warmongers
remain in office after December 13.
But the people of Vancouver can
make the 13th an unlucky date for
the NPA machine-politicians, by
turning out in large numbers and
using their ballot to eject Mayor
Thompson and his henchmen from
our city hall.”

~ Poll substantiates stand
for outlawing atom-bomb
taken by Peace Congress

: TORONTO
“The recent public opinion poll shows what we have claimed all along—that most
Canadians are against atomic warfare,’ Dr. J. G. Endicott, chairman of the Canadian

ing replied “No” to the question, “Do

r be justified under any circumstances in using the A-bomb

FET UU

More fhan half of
population opposed
fo using afom-bomb

MONTREAL

Use of the atomic bomb against
Korea, is opposed by considerably
more than half the population of
Canada, according to figures pub-
lished by the Canadian Institutdé
of Public Opinion last week.

The poll quotes a figure of 47
percent opposed to the use of the
terror weapon under any circum-
stances. In addition, however,
seven percent opposed its use ex-
cept in “retaliation.” Another five
percent agreed to its use “if nec-
essary” and three percent “for
self-preservation.” Only 10 per-
cent felt its use would “end the
war quickly.”

Of those opposing the use of the
bomb, the majority declared it
was inhuman, “against civiliza-
tion.” Four percent—represent-
ing 560,000 people—said the bomb
should be outlawed, that its use
could not be justified under any
circumstances. Two percent of
those questioned replied that the
“Koreans aren’t to blame for the
war.”

HWUSA LS LU

CONTINUED

CIVIC REFORM

ber of candidates for positions on
council, school board and parks
board. We intend, also, ‘to ask our
supporters to vote for any honest
independent candidate who will
fight to smash the NPA machine.

“One of the key issues this year
is the question of a plebiscite on
public utilities, so that voters can
express ‘their opinion on public
ownership -of the B.C. Electric.
Decisions regarding public owner-
ship must not be made in the
Mahogany Room; this prerogative

belongs only to the citizens of
Vancouver,
“We wélcome the opportunity

for voters to express their opinion
on another vital matter, the ex-
tension of the franchise, Our posi-
tion is clear—we will urge a ‘Yes’
vote for a wider franchise.

“A third important issue that
has been bandied around all year
is the question of re-assessment.
Quite naturally, small property
owners fear re-assessment carried
out under the present administra-
tion, for it would probably result
in higher taxation for them. The
CRA will fight for the equaliza-
tion of assessments, which in ef-
fect will mean a fight for the big
properties to pay their fair share.”

Peace Congress
hits British bar

TORONTO

Declaring it was a great honor
for Brtiain to be the scene of the
Second World Peace Congress,
the national council of the Cana-
dian Peace Congress has protested
to the British High Commissioner
in Ottawa the barring of mem-
bers ofthe preparatory committee
from England and the threat to
bar delegates to the Congress it-
sel".

(Despite the threat, the prepar-
atory committee of the World
Peace Congress has decided to
proceed with the Congress to be
held in Sheffield, November 13-19.
A score of Canadian delegates will
take part in the event.)

POLS

. RAY GARDNER

Hs i
ALEX GORDON

GO TO BRITAIN

Trade unionist,
writer, named as
peace delegates

Business agent Alex Gordon of
the United Fishermen and Allied
Workers Union and Ray Gardner,
Vancouver newspaperman and
writer, have been nominated as
delegates to the World Peace Con-
gress scheduled to be held next
month: in Sheffield, England. They
were. chosen by a conference of
delegates from organizations affi-
liated to the Peace Assembly, and
a campaign is underway through-
out the province to raise sufficient
funds to finance the trip.

Gordon has been a leading figure
in the trade union movement for
many years, and was elected vice-
president of the Trades and Labor
Congress of Canada for the 1947-48
term, representing British Colum-
bia. He is 37 years old, | married
and the father of three children.

Ray Gardner, former news edi-
tor of the Vancouver Sun, is now
a free lance writer who has won
a large audience with his articles
in national magazines.

INDEX NOW AT 169.8

points.

would “level off.”

August aise. eee

Living costs rose by
7.5 percent this year

we

Cost of living in Canada has risen 68.5 percent since August,
1939, according to the official Dominion Bureau of Statistics
index. .Since the index does not include many items generally
regarded as necessities in calculating increases under such head-
ings as food, clothing and furnishings, the actual increase in
living costs is much higher than the official admission.

Most recent index report places the general cost of living at
169.8 for September 1 compared with 162.3 for September 1 last
year—a rise of 7.5 points.. Basis is 100 for 1935-1939 period.

Since January 1, 1950, the cost of living index has risen 8.8_
Food costs rose 19.4 points in this period. For the first.
nine months of 1950 there has been a steady rise’ without letup,
despite frequent assurances from government sources that prices

Here is the record month by month:

Combined Food |-

index index
Bane REPL 161.0 199.4
Rigi Geamenye acs 161.6 201.3
Rt Dee A 163.7 204.0
Reeser ie 164.0 204.5
ye Sepaaaths 164.0 204.6
Ree y As Aare 165.4 209.0
heen es 167.5 214.3
2 Gudea 168.5 216.7
sane Rie oaene 169.8 218.8

Labor loses colorful
figure by death here

of Rev. Edwin Baker |

Death has claimed from the progressive labor movement
in British Columbia a man who for many years was one of its
most colorful figures. The Pacific Tribune learned belatedly
this week of the passing in Vancouver earlier this month of
Rev. Edwin Baker, one of the early leaders of the CCF and a
strong advocate of working class unity, and later a leading
figure in the old Communist party.

Born in Southampton, England,

58 years ago, Edwin Baker came’)

to Canada at the age of 25 and
worked as a carpenter and shoe
repairer until he had saved enough
to enter Bishop’s College (Angli-
ean) at Lennoxville, Que. By dint
of hard work during vacations he
managed to complete his course,
graduating as a professor of divi-
nity with a B.A, degree.

In 1914 he enlisted in the CEF
9th Field Ambulance, Montreal Re-
giment, and served in France for
three years until he was wounded
on the Somme and invalided home.

Following his discharge in 1919,
he obtained his first church at Le
Due, Alberta, later taking a church
at Vegreville where he became ac-
tive in the United Farmers of
Alberta. : :

From 1928 to 1932, Edwin Baker
was minister of St. Matthews Ang-
lican Church, Abbotsford, B.C., and
there he became interested in the
Socialist Party of Canada.

It was as the sponsor of the Radio
Fellowship that Edwin Baker be-
came known to thousands of peo-
ple throughout the Fraser Valley
and his broadcast won a following
seldom equalled in this province.
Finally, he was forced to give up
his church because of his activi-
ties in the CCF and labor move-
ment and for several years he eked.
out a bare living as a bulb grower
at Bradner, B.C.

In the 1935 Federal election he
contested New Westminster consti-
tuency as a CCF candidate and
came within 200 votes of defeating
Senator Tom Reid, then the sitting
Liberal. member.

But the repeated refusal of the
dominant CCF leadership to consi-
der any form or degree of unity
with the Communists and other
working class groups in order to
strengthen the fight for “work and
wages” disillusioned him and in
1987 he resigned his seat on the
CCF provincial council, stating:

“T have come at last to recognize
that the labor movement generally
and also the CCF could be more
effectively served by me, from now
on, doing what I can to make unity
of the people an actuality. For this
reason I have come to the conclu-
sion my place is in the ranks of
those who are in the vanguard of
the movement for unity and I have

EDWIN BAKER

accordingly joined the Communist
party.

“My final decision, I must confess,
has been influenced by the recent
imposition of the executive upon
speakers and other responsible
CCF’ers denying them the freedom
to speak or in any other way pro-
mote unification of the progressive
forces. This . if successfully
established as a policy of the CCF,
must reduce it to a sectarian poli-
tical machine for the opportunist
advantage of a few ambitious peo-
ple’

A short time later he contested
New Westminster as the only Com-
munist candidate nominated in the
1937 provincial election.

During the war years he worked
in Vancouver shipyards and was
elected the first president of the
Shipwrights, Joiners and Caulkers
Industrial Union which later be-
came a part of what is now the
Marine Workers and Boilermakers
Union. He was forced to relinquish |
his trade union responsibilities
when he developed the heart ail-
ment which confined him to his

home and finally caused his death.

Funeral services here were at=
tended by leading members of the
Marine Workers and Boilermakers
Union. | : Tae

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — OCTOBER 20, 1950 — PAGE 6