‘Stick to facts’ says McEwen to O’Neal in an open letter In the May 23 edition of The Vancouver Sun “Letters to the Editor” section, there is a letter under the caption * Reply to Mine- Mill” and signed by E, P, O'Neal, Secretary-Treasurer of the B,C, Federation of Labor. Personally I am not here inter- ested in Mr, O’Neal’s views on Mine-Mill, or the opinions of leading Mine-Mill personned re Mr, O'Neal, My interest primari- ly is setting the record straight; of correcting Mr, O’Neal’s gross distortion of labor history con- tained in the closing paragraph of his letter, wherein he says: “The British Columbia Federa- tion of Labor does not support strike-breaking, which is more than can be said for the Mine workers Union of Canada, whose sordid role in the Corbin strike (1935 Ed.), which wrecked Dist~- rict 18 of the United Mine Work- ers, is well known to many old- timers in the trade union movement,” Mr. O’Neal came onto the labor scene in British Columbia quite late in the day, and therefore makes the error so typical of many of his kind of substituting falsehood and distortion for “history.” The Mine Workers’ Union of Canada, an affiliate of the Workers Unity League of Canada of which this writer was national secretary, grew out of the in- ability of the UMW Lewis-Livett machine in District 18 (Alberta) and a similar UMW machinerule in District 26 (Nova Scotia) to provide leadership to the miners’ struggles of that period, Granville Island B.C. Automotive Service Co. Ltd. Granville ls. MU 4-9819 Wally Sklaruk KEEP SMILING, FRIENDS The Mine Workers’ Union of Canada, operative in both Dist- ricts 18 and 26, was in no way connected with Mine-Mill or its predecessor, the Western Feder- ation of Miners, except through inter-union solidarity and unity in the respective struggles of each in both the U,S,A, and Ca- nada, Moreover, the Mine Work- ers’ Union of Canada existed in both districts approximately seven years before the Corbin strike, Hence it was not the UMW Calgary-based District office ; which called the Corbin strike, but the Mine Workers’ Union of Canada, when all other avenues of negotiations in collective bar- gaining had been closed to them by the coal operators, And while the UMW District office (at the time nothing more than an “office” maintained by John L, Lewis) did nothing to “preak” the Corbin strike, they also did nothing while it was in progress to help win it, The Liberal government of ‘*puft”? Pattullo and its provincial police, together with the Corbin coal operators did all the strike- breaking, clubbing and manhandl- ing Corbin miners, arresting seventeen of their strike leaders, and utilizing a company bull- dozer, driven by a provincial policeman, to smash into a picket line and seriously injure eight of the miners’ wives by crushing their feet with the blade of the machine, Mr, Harvey Murphy, the pres- ent B,C, District representative of Mine-Mill, together with the local Corbin miners’ leaders, were the outstanding spokesmen for the Corbin miners struggles for decent wages and safety in for Fernie, Tom Uphill, was also working conditions, The late MLA an active participant in the Corbin strike, It was also a Corbin miner who headed up the historic “Cor- bin Miners Defence Committee,” which did a magnificent Canada~ wide job of building solidarity and support, in which many UMW members also participated, This miner is now the UMW secretary in Cumberland, B.C, Thus to accuse, or even imply that such men are guilty of “strike-breaking” is an ignorant slander of the basest sort, It does show, however, that “his- torian” O'Neal didn’t go very far afield in his “researches” to do a smear job on Mine-Mill, It may interest this compara- tive newcomer to the B,C, labor scene, who demonstrates startl- ing disregard for facts, to know that it was this writer, as gener- al-secretary of the WUL who initiated and opened the “Unity Conference” in Calgary, and with the fullest cooperation of the Calgary Trades and Labor Cowm- cil, to bring the Mine Workers Union of Canada back into the UMW fold; a unity objective made easier to attain just because of the labor unity and solidarity that resulted from the Corbin strike, It was also this writer, to- gether with others who took a leading part in bringing the Na- naimo miners backintothe UMW, and who personally installed the new charter of the new UMW local there, When writing history, or what is purported to be “history,” those who presume to speak for workingmen, regardless of union affiliation, should stick to the facts, and leave the fiction to the hack writers of monopoly jour- nalism, Mr, O’Neal degrades the high office he holds when he in- dulges in historical distortions, TOM McEWEN & &§ . bas S. AY. pa es * ales en : CORBIN MINER’S WIVES. Historic picture shows eig' wives who were brutaliy run over by a company line. Veteran labor leader and PT editor Tom McEwen this strike straight after distortion by B.C. Federation o Pat O’Neal. : Pat ON Nick Leschynski runner of today’s AUUC, ht of the Corbin miner* bulldozer on the picke sets the recor Labor secretory Ukrainians all across Canada and the progressive movement in B,C, were shocked this week to learn of the untimely passing of Nick -Leschynsky, veteran fighter for peace and people’s progress, who succumbed to a heart attack Monday, June 1, in his 60th year. ~ During the 30’s he was the national secretary of the Assn. to Aid the Freedom Movement in Western Ukraine, Moving to Edmonton from Winnipeg, he served for a time as provincial secretary for the ULFTA, fore- Ss —— PUBLIC MEETING | HEAR NIGEL MORGAN, Prov. Leader cpc report on THE SOVIET UNION TODAY (with color slides) PENDER AUDITORIUM 339 West Pender St. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 8 p.m. Everyone Welcome > ROOFING & SHEET METAL ery litt | rer Reasonable ‘Gutters and Downpipes Duroid, Tar and Gravel (enick BITZ 277-3352 << a ow ooo ees a. Painters’ and Paperhangers’ San eres a : : Supplies _ NOTICES BUSINESS PERSONALS. BUSINESS PERSONALS 5 unworthy Wallpaper 5657 Hag: S5e-—Now 190 Rol COPY — DEADLINE FOR ALL Typing done at home PRESCRIPTION BYEGLAS it POSS SeSSSSESSSESHSSHSSGSSSEOOS ADVERTISING, All copy must Proceeds to Press Drive $14.95. eee optical ie ce ° ‘Everything in Flowers’ be in the offices of the PACI- Ruth TR 6-4542 of Trib. Office tions filled, standard a ? ae ‘i sae 7 : FROM FIC TRIBUNE no later than 12 . $5.95, Additional, perc st : Noon on MONDAY, WEST END RADIO—Specializing . CAL, 865 E, HAST™ 3 EARL SYKES in TV Repairs. Latest preci- MU 3-8819, e Soe . COMING EVENTS sion equipment used, (Former- 2 42 E. Hastings, MU 1-3855 ues Se ee bane seracay ieee CARPENTER—Kt : Vancouver, B.C. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GOOD at 1721 Robson St. MU 3-2618, Cabinets — Arborite, Ré : TIME?2? STOP!!! : tion Rooms, Fences. S OVALIINE.: Come & Have a COOK-OUT! js youR CAR, HOUSE or BUS- Can dhone TR 6H ° . Hamburgers, Salads, Weiners : 4 e ° re ° : ey INESS INSURANCE DUE? Call FOR RENT ° AFE 4 & Buns, & more delicious food, Ben Swankey to get the best . “0h : 251 EAST HASTINGS : AFTERNOON ENTERTAIN— possible policy for your money, LARGE OFFICE SPACE ga : Vancouver, B.C. : MENT, A Golf Tournament, 433.8393 RENT. APPLY: 264382” = ° Games & Sing Song. : tings St. AL 3-8642. : QUALITY SERVICE = = EVENING ENTERTAINMENT. aera ee ales aos aameee Recent FILMS on CUBA will & ae E HALLS FOR RENT - =< be shown at Dusk, , pow : —¥ A. SMITH PLACE — PRITCHETT’S — 4463 West 10th Ave, RUSSIAN PEOPLE'S 7 rr < y 5245 Empire Dr., North Bur- Eione soot Avallable “OF meet ee ) Expert Watch & naby, = : quets and weddings att pate teY Jewelry Repairs pe ea ape: = Shes — eed Commer able rates, 600 Camphe S73". Special Discount to i oc, ee A ey, ee | Tribune Readers. you eat, Refreshments, eee Be Ge Por ag oy HALL, 2 TONE 9 SP CANADIAN BAM-“ tom Tatlors: and Ready-tos °OCe™ Available | aa 1179 Denman St. MU 2-1948 or MU 5-8969 \ NUAL PRIOR GARAGE & SERVICE 219 Prior St. MU 3-2926 COMPLETE AUTO SERVICE & REPAIRS Auto Body Work LEE, Proprietor . \ \ y ) ' ' ARCH PARK — SUNDAY at 1:30 P.M, ERICAN KIDS MEET AT AN- INT'L CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATION, PEACE quets, meetings, wed Wear. 324 W, Hasting és astings St. MU hone AL 3-9964. 1-8456 or 4441 E, Hastings - CY 8-2030, See Henry Rankin for personal service, PENDER | BUSINESS PERSONALS i ARTISTIC BEAUTY SALON Auditoriv™| ERS. Have you any beer ATTENTION NEW WESTMIN- STER & COQUITLAM READ- pop bottles to donate to the Press Drive. Free Pick-up. Phone Gordie at WE 8-4467. Styling, Hair-cutting, ‘ Permanents and Tinting at (Marine Workers) if Reasonable Prices é or 1035 EAST BROADWAY (at Glen) 339 West pend Phone 876-1113 Phone MU 1-94 “ils Special Spring Rates during May Large and Small He & JuneonTues., Wed., and Thurs. for Rentals June 5, 1964—PACIFIC TRIBUN