LABOR FOCUS

Rank-and-file action seen

By J. B. SALSBERG

as only way to save trade unions

ANADIAN labor received a severe blow at the 65th
convention of the Trades and Labor Congress in Mon-
real. The gang of reactionary labor bureaucrats—the notor-
ious “roadmen”’—aided by the big business press, actively
supported by the U.S. State Department succeeded in laying
their heavy hands on Congress machinery. They whipped up
an hysterical atmosphere of terror which exceeded anything
ever seen before. They forced through
decisions which altogether constitute
a gross betrayal of the basic interests
of the working class and the trade
unions.

Under the direction of ‘the U.S.
labor attache, who was on the floor
throughout, the fat boys in the ‘‘labor
business” ignored the resolutions of the
membership on every major issue. and

: instead did the following:

They dictatorially barred from the convention those
whose crtiicism and independent opinion they feared. They
railroaded throug a foreign

reserved support to im}
and gave carte blanche to the Wall Street war imciters an

their Canadian collaborators for the extension of the present
Korean war into a third world war. It was a document -
which may well have been written by the USS: agents—a
shameless surrender of all working class independence.
Like reckless vandals they destroyed trade union dem-
ocracy, cynically barred delegates who are among the
outstanding builders of trade unionism and who are demo-

cratically elected by their members. They thus violated. the

first principle of democracy—the rights of people to elect” ;

their representatives.

They railroaded a Mages a which
is the most undemocratic in labor history. It 1s a
thousand times worse than the Taft-Hartley bill which
American labor is fighting—tt is akin to the fascist-like bill
which the U.S. eee adopted over President Tru-
man’s politically calculated veto. eS ;
Rae to rob not only LPP members of ordinary
union rights, but covers all who directly or indirectly agree,
approve or sympathize with what the LPP may preeore
at a given time. It is Japanese warlord thought—contro!
aimed at the elimination of all opposition, minority opinion,
and all crticism. It can be applied to any worker who

dares to criticize the policy of bureaucracy
ity to the handful now in power to determine ae Nae
and what union fit into the category to be banned an

Bae eee gone over lock-stock-and-barrel to the whe
camp, the bureaucrats could not but also betray the ae
ers economic interests in a disgusting fashion. They ie;

the most nauseating spectacle when they gave a stancing

ovation to the militarist minister ©
resentative of the government which only a wee!
acted the worst strike-breaking legislation in nae ae

* They banned discussion on the great reine strike,
refused to lift a finger to mobilize the people of the country

behind the railroaders who are en in the major battle

for wages and shorter hours. They feared an wipe i

their betrayal of the railroad strike. Thus they putt
ay prio geet the Rudo pe but undermin
wage movem i country, . ;
eae ae cared tb convention into an preres
red baiting circus, to the delight of big business, eseusgi :
the delegates from discussing os. reve pes ui
its | illionai rations rge th :
peel ths. He ees on the families of working
ny “ad the convention from dealing with the
Th vented the convention from th the
=. song Bil, Nos 1 which was used to force the railroad

strikers to surrender and pees Ba a precedent
of compulsory arbitration in labor als

i tional wage movement,
egies ane a dollar an hour minimum

j resolutions calling :
esate aeaed evel at utions for compulsory check
off. ‘ : re ee

But—despite all this—the gang which ase

the convention are mortally sia oar Heat of the

hey have betrayed the be er
ae So i resorted to a “Reichstag fire’ maneuover

policy statement giving un- 2
the war drive .of U.S. imperialism

Meet Comrade Hiawatha

Buried was the bloody hatchet;
Buried was the dreadful war-club;
Buried were all warlike weapons,
And the war-cry was forgotten.
Then was peace among the nations
—from Hiawatha by Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow.

ECENTLY the New York Times reported
from Hollywood: '

‘Fear that a motion picture dealing with the
life and exploits of Hiawatha . . . might in the pres-
ent temper of the country be regarded as Communist
propaganda has caused Monogram Studio to shelve
such a project...

“Tt was Hiawatha’s efforts as a peacemaker
among the warring Indian tribes of his day, waich
brought about the confederation of the Five Nations,
that gave Monogram particular concern, according
to a studio spokesman. These, it was decided, might
cause the picture to be regarded as a message for
peace and therefore helpful to present Communist
designs.”

. It gives author- —

dian labor and adhere to trade union

the m

to cover up further acts of aggression against the rank and
file. A monstrous lie was thrown at the delegates charging
that “Communists” attacked a certain delegate in hotel
corridors. Behind this henious lie the gang attempted to rush
through a constitutional amendment to allow a handful of
roadmen, who have long since ceased to live, think and
feel like workers, to completely control future conventions
2 voting for their entire membership.

But even this intimidated convention rose up in opposi-
tion to this highhanded attempt to tum Congress into an

instrument of a handful of bureaucrats. They also threw

back at the platform a whole number of substitute resolu-
tions dealing with economic issYes which sought to deny the
content of the original resolutions of local unions. The dele-

gates, a very large number of whom privately admitted -

their fear of openly opposing the gang, also avenged them-
selves by defeating the arch union-splitter, Archie John-
stone, wno was nominated by the notorious. Frank Hall to
be the fraternal delegate to the British Trade Congress.
The TCL locals must condemn the violation of
union democracy, protest the shameless interference of the

U.S. State Department in the affairs of Canadian labor ©

and censure ongress leadership for its failure to deal with
the railroad strike, Bill No. 1 and economic needs.

TLC rank-and-file must uphold traditional trade union
democracy in their own ranks and in all trades and labor
councils and resolve to fight every and all attempts to gag,
hogtie and straightjacket tne unions. They must reafhirm
their past stand to defend the autonomous rights of Cana-
democracy, ;

All unions must decide and find ways of carrying
through decisions to mobilize all support for the rail-
roaders in their effort to gain the full and original demands
they went on strike for. Unions must also demand repeal
of the strike-busting act. 7 ;

The unions must map out plans for securing immediate
and substantial wage raises for their members and co-
fe) te :
erential for the defense of the living standards of the
Canadian workers.

~ Finally, it is clear that union welfare and the whole
future of Canadian trade unionism must be de
embership. Present Congress leadership and the
bulk of the roadmen who engineered this colossal betrayal
at the convention cannot be relied upon for the honest,

“ynilitant and independent leadership Canadian labor now ~

ires to protect its living standards, its nights, its auton-
Gay. aha to save the peace of the world. Here is the
job to be undertaken by the rank-and-file as never before.
‘An upsurge of rank-and-file activity\is the greatest need
The rank-and-file—and only they—can
save Canadian labor from the disastrous course which the
bureaucratic leadership chartered at Montreal. ‘

~ diplomats of the U.S. and its satellites obeyed

. India’s motion and then External Affairs Minister

with all others in a nation-wide movement so-

fended by

By CHARLES SIMS

THE NATION

Canada must
recognize China

HINA throbs with vibrant, new life. It’s a year since

she liberated herself from the corrupt Chiang grafters.
In that year mighty changes have brightened life for
China’s 475 millions. Land-hungry peasants by the
million now til] their own land. China’s children, women
and men are going to school; they'll banish illiteracy in a
few more years; they’re learning to run their own mighty
land.

As you read this, an All-China conference, unique,
first in Asia's history is meeting over there. Li Shu-ho,
a coal miner, Liu Teh-chuen, electrical worker, Li Chin-
chuan, welder, and Hou Teh-yuan, telephone technician
(who used to live in Canada), will be there. These four
men are crack workers of China. They are at this unique
conference * along with hundreds of other workers and
peasants to discuss how to produce more for China.

These four, and many more, have broken produc-
tion records, found new ways to produce more, to save
materials, to train new hands—to build New China. It's
the only way to banish the “handful of rice” starvation
that China knew for hundreds of years, to conquer famine,
to make their countryfolk prosperous and happy. Can any-
one be against this? Shp

But down at Lake Success, the well-fed striped-pants
Dean

Acheson’s demand, “Vote on it now and vote it down,
and defeated India’s motion to recognize the Democratic
People’s Republic of China, =

Sir Benegal Rau correctly said that this Republic wal
represents China. Moreover, he repeated what Nehru sai
that China is a force for peace.

Leslie Morris, editor of the Canadian Tribune, sent
a telegram to Prime Minister St. Laurent petitioning him
to support India’s motion in the UN. As Moris stressed :
if China had been seated in the UN we would have averted
the present world crisis; China’s entry to the UN will ©
tremendously strengthen the peace of the world. ’

But at Lake Success, Canada abstained from voting

B. Pearson leader of the Canadian delegation, 1
a counter motion to set up a committee “to study the ques-
tion of Chinese representation.” a

Morally Canada is obligated to recognize and to
help the 475 million Chinese who are waging.an epic
battle to climb out of the morass of famine, devastation
and poverty that Chiang, the landlords, moneylenders and
imperialists thrust them into for generations. For never
forget that China’s is a struggle to bring bread, ‘sealth,
culture to a quarter of all humanity! oe

Recognition, reciprocal trade with China would
nothing but benefits to Canada.

And on the awful question: Is war to spread in Asia?
Does not Canada need the friendship and nding
China? Are there any so blind to not see that Ch
millions must have a mighty voice in the solution of
crucial question? oad

~ China is patient. She has borne the thorned cross
imperialist crucification for long, dreary days. N
stands upright, subject only to her sovereign people,
to make friends, and to help construct a peaceful v

The justice and honor of China's case must
against the U.S. war crowd that has seized
Chinese territory, which continues to uphold the
Chiang clique, kicked out of China by the Chinese

the CCF National Council voted in favor of China
‘nition, and then M. J. Coldwell reversed this to s
the Y'ankee warmonger’s opposition to China. It
be hard to parallel such an example of cowardly :
democratic betrayal of principle, such a contemptible
in-the-back of labor’s affirmation of China’s
independence, equality and recognition. _
PACIFIC TRIBUNE—SEPTEMBER 29, 1950—P At