TAPE Eee REY ee OPEN FORUM So different R. K. B., New Westminster, B.C.: Enclosed find money or- der for renewal of my sub- scription for one year. I have been a subscriber for the past six months and enjoy read- ing your paper. When I started to read the Pacific Tribune it was so different to the daily papers that I could not be- lieve how so much news is changed or held back from the people by the dailies. Supprter passes F. H.; Kamloops, B.C.: One of the very best progressive workers in this locality, John Gregory, died in the Royal In- land Hospital here May 9 at the age of 56. Active in the labor movement since the days of the On-to-Ottawa trek in 1935, he was _a staunch sup- porter of the Pacific Tribune and played a role in every financial drive. His death was caused by cancer. The pro- gressive movement here will sorely miss him. ° ° Hindenburg disaster SURVIVOR, Vancouver, B.C.: The tragic plane crash in B.C., which received so much publicity, recently when the wreckage was found, made painful reading for me, be- cause it brought back: memor- ies of one of the greatest air disasters in history, the de- struction of the zeppelin Hin- denburg at Lakehurst, New ersey, on May 7, 1937. I was one of the passengers on the ill-fated German dirigible. It was evening, and we had been trying for some hours to land after a hard crossing (the Hindenburg was 12 hours late after fighting head winds down the coast from Labrador). Mooring lines had been drop- ped and fastened but the great ship drifted past-the mooring mast, and suddenly all hell brake loose. There was a clap like thun- der and I was thrown to the floor in the big salon. I heard the sounds of explosions and felt we were falling. I saw a sheet of flame run along the port side and heard steel beams snapping behind me. Then there was a roar of hy- drogen explosions and a draft of intense heat. The ship was aflame as the stern began to settle. I don’t remember how I got out. We were breaking in half and people were yelling, “Jump!” as the flames sur- rounded us. I don’t know if I jumped or was pushed out; I don’t remember getting away from the roaring inferno be- hind me but I must have run to safety. My clothes were burning and I lost most of my hair. Somebody grabbed me and put out the flames. I was put on a stretcher and I re- member it was raining. Then I woke up in hospital the next day. The Hindenburg was no more, and 33 of its 97 passen- gers and crew had lost: their lives. What else? L.A., Vancouver, B.C.: We have been told that the Hun- garian mess was not inspired, organized or supported by the U.S. Now, I believe strongly in Allan and John Foster Dulles and wish to take exception to this slur on their ability and efficiency. If the U.S. had nothing to do with it, then what else did all the money that was spent in Eurepe for that - purpose get them? Be fair! Give them their due. Rating zero P. NUT, Whonock, B.C.: Many thanks for publishing my election limericks. Here’s a comment on the late, unla- mented Senator Joseph Mc- Carthy: The FBI tell the sad story, How McCarthy — once their hero — Wanders wild in Purgatory; And his present rating: Zero. For rose fanciers MRS. G. C. FAULKNER, publicity, Vancouver Rose Society: Will you please in- sert in the. Pacific Tribune notice. of the eighth annual rose show.of our society, June 26 and 27 at the Vancouver Art Gallery 1145 West Geor- gia. Roses are growing and blooming abundantly this year. Many new varieties are being grown-by members of the Vancouver Rose Society, and will be on exhibit at the show. We feel that through the media of our show and our meetings that the people of Vancouver are kept well in- formed of the new worthwhile roses to purchase, the old estandbys worth having, and the culture of roses in general. Labor-farmer unity ROY REID, Saskatoon, Sask.: In the age in which we are living’ automatic machin- ery is displacing laborious hand production. From _ this great blessing .the capitalists in their short-sighted greed are trying to get all the gain. If they have their way we are _headed for unemploy- ment, depression and war. What is needed is a united farmer-labor movement. Co- handed me a pamphlet Memorial Press in England able to use it some time,” he said, recounting for me a controversy he once had with the Sherbrooke Daily Record which ended in an exchange of insults after he sent the editor a capy. I’m not surprised. The style and ‘presentation of to convince only those al- ready convinced and to es- otherwise concede the truth of some _ observations — “For ideas that would in- terpret social changes sci- entifically, and free from capitalist bias, the” capital- ist press is as wall of brass .. What is new today is the immense power of the lastrument .<..” O 0 1° Two current happenings, one in London, and the oth- Hal Griffin FEW weeks ago’ one of Press, one of a penny “Brain Duster” series published in the twenties by the “You may be the pamphlet are such as trange those who might our readers entitled The er here in Vancouver, illus- trate how this press mon- opoly, at once the instru- ment of big business and an integral part of (it, is being concentrated in the hands of still fewer and ‘bigger corporations. T I was around Fleet Street in 1930, as a young report- er on the now defunct Cen- tral News Agency, to see two developments whose significance I had _ little idea of at the time One was the launching of the London Daily Worker. The other was the taking over of the London Daily Herald by Odham’s Press. Up to that time the Daily Herald had been a arab paper with perhaps a quar- ter of a million circulation. Odham’s Press took it over, with the provision that it would follow Labor party policy and set out deliber- ately to make it a popular paper challenging the Daily Express and the Daily Mail. Live reporting supplanted dreary recital of facts, fea- tures were broadened and brightened te become as wide as the people’s own interests and in a year or so its circulation was soar- ing towards the million mark. Now, 27 years later, the Daily Herald and the News- Chronicle, the Liberal paper owned by the ’ Cadbury family, are merging. What is not certain is whether the Daily Herald will swal- low the News-Chronicle or Vice versa. But, as the Lon- don Daily Worker shrewd- ly observes, the merger will not produce a paper devoted to the real interests of labor. 50 xt BO Here, in Vancouver, the Vancouver Herald, one of the Thomson chain, is to fold on June 15, clearing the way for the long-rumored merger of the Vancouver Province and Sun which » a depression stricken world - freedom is the considera- will give the Southam chain a complete monopoly. Back in 1933 I participated ‘in the birth of the Herald, conceived as a daily co- operatively run by its em- ployees and launched into without the proverbial sil- ver spoon. The dream was exchanged for the silver spoon, but there was never enough silver on the spoon until Thomson came along. The Vancouver Herald’s announcement pleading fi- nancial difficulties admits the partial truth that free- dom of the press can also perish under economic pressures, although the fact is that a far larger monop- oly deal is involved in which profit and not press tion. But it is true — where there is any freedom to be lost. It is really true of the Pacific Tribune where fail- ure to subscribe the sus- taining fund endangers the very life of the paper. The only way to defeat the press monopoly is to keep the real free press alive. > | Prizewinning lette Each week the Paci- fic Tribune will present | -a book to the writer of” the most interesting, en- tertaining and _ topical letter published on this page. Contributors are urged to keep their let- ters to a reasonable length. The prize-winning let- ter in our last issue was written by L.A., Van- couver, B.C. = wai ts —— operative action between the two should bring to all the candidates in the present fed- eral election the requirements | of the workers and farmers | as expressed in their organ | ized unions. ; It is true that we union far- mers will have to get out and | organize a much stronger un ion. This cah be done. : Labor unions too — should realize that strike or loékout | struggles such as the present Retail, Wholesale and Depart ment Store Union 935 diffet- ence with Shelly Bros. vital ly concern all union members: — Every labor union membel in Saskatoon should be con® scious of his or her persone” interest in the settlement of | this dispute on terms whic the union can accept. ; Conditions are forcing fal too many of our farm youth who want to farm into leav ing the land. Also, far 10 many of our youth from both farm and city are unemploy ed through no fault of: thel! own. Labor-farmer unity in put- ting their requirements before the candidates in the present - federal election should unde! present conditions bring about a measure of cooperation be tween the CCF and LPP. At tivity should centre aroun the defeat of all capitalist party candidates. ag How he'll vote BILL PALMER, Vancouves B.C.: If election strategy wa as easy to figure out as youl correspondent L.H. figure’ —just vote CCF — we wort ers wouldn't have any prob: lems at all. 5 Unfortunately, things aren't quite so simple. While I coul support some CCF candidate* there are others. I wouldnt. cast my ballot for under ay circumstances. i Vote Liberal? Not after that pipeline mess last year. ‘Vote’ Tory? I’m, not prepal — ed to follow John until I knoW where he’s going The 1a time the Tories were in pow | er they led us into a full scal@- depression. at Vote Social Credit? I ee pose our debts would go dow? | and our contingent liabilitie® would go up. Instead of pay’ ing interest on debts we'd pay interest on contingent. liabil ties. Well, as a matter of fact I live in Vancouver Centt® so, I'll be able to vote LPP for Maurice Rush. He stand : for the things I stand for, 2% I'd ‘rather vote for a ma?” whose policy I. believe ie “even if he doesn’t get elect’ than vote for someone who” policy I oppose, and seg hil? get elected. i — MAY 31, 1957 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE @