CCL right-wing uses machine to
gag critics when redbaiting fails
to sway convention issues

OTTAWA

Robbed of the presence of sterling leaders of the labor movement through suspension and expul-
sion actions against the United Electrical Workers and Mine Mill and Smelter Workers, and gagged

by a mechanical machine “majority,” progressive delegates to the recent

CL convention here nonethe-

less fought’ resolutely for sound union policies against th right wing administration of A. R. Mosher and

Pat Conroy.

So strong was the pressure of |

delegates from U.E., Fur and
Leather and United Auto Work-
ers that time and again all the
right-wing leaders were forced to
defend their position on key ques-
tions.

Previous conventions, through a
barrage of red-baiting, were able
to drown out those who fought
for progressive policies. This one
found it more difficult, and re
sqrted openly to arbitrary rulings
to end debate on critical ques-
tions like foreign policy, a Co-
ordinated wage drive, trade union
security, representation, and de-
valuation.

On one the

occasion during

convention a stunned platform of |

right-wingers felt the full fury of
rank-and-file criticism. This was
when the subject of increasing
representation at conventions to
large unions like the UAW was
under discussion. Loud booing
greeted Pat Conroy’s charge that
‘leftist? elements alone sought
greater representation and a fair-
er system of representation at
conventions. While on most is-
Sues there had been a consistent
seven-to-one vote in favor of the
right-wing, the representation by
size of union membership issue
saw this large majority cut to
two-to-one. On the final roll-call
vote, 495 voted with the adminis-
tration and 238 with the progres-
Sive policy.

A surprising bolt from the
tight-wing took place in the form
of considerable Steel and Rubber
delegates who voted with UE, Fur
and Leather and UAW. The UAW,
which had formerly been split,
voted solidly. Mine delegates | cast
14 votes against the administra-
tion, Steel 17, and Rubber 13;

The stinging personal rebuff
given Pat Conroy ‘for ‘hig red-
baiting expressed the resentment
against .the right wing built up
during the convention. Even
Mosher was forced to admonish
Conroy from the chair with, “I’m
asking the speaker not to cast
aspersions on any delegates.

Right-wing UAW and Rubber
delegates demanded that Con-
roy cease his red-baiting and
charged the administration with
“spending too much time” on it.

Conroy’s entire performance was’

Seen as an object lesson on the
uses to which red-baiting is put:
concealment of the serious under-
Mining of trade union democracy
‘through denial of adequate rep-
resentation to unions like the
UAW. ;

A second demonstration of rank-
and-file delegate unrest with the
Bagging of debate on vital is-
"sues, was seen .on the morning of
the final convention day, when

the Mine-Mill issue came to the

floor.
After a few minutes discussion,
Mosher closed the debate. A

storm proke around the micro-
Phones as delegates fought to con-
tinue debate against the expul-
sion of the vital Mine-Mill union
and to score the administration’s
‘Taiding policies in Timmins and
Port Colborne. ;
One young woman delegate,
. Pat Rooney of UE, Hamilton,
Tefused to leave the mike, “Lis-
ten, Mr. Chairman, it’s mo use
you sitting up there banging
the hammer, I’m going to speak
whether you like it or not,” she

Shouted above the uproar.

In a dramatic 15 minutes Miss
Rooney strode up to the platform,
took “Mosher’s hand-mike and
Started to address the delegates.
Mosher struggled with the girl
delegate, wresting the equipment

‘

\

from her grip.’ Later the mike
was cut dead. .
A delegate from Quebec de-

scribed the event as reminiscent
of the worst feature of life in
Quebec province where the right
of free speech is denied labor.
In a release, Robert H. Car-
lin, Eastern Canadian director
of Mine-Mill, declared: “Dele-
gates to the ninth convention
have had ample proof of the
dictatorial and autocratic ac-
tions of the executive officers
of the Congress and have seen
the results of the machine vot-
ing in practise.” He declared
that his union would be ready
to rejoin the Congress if “raid-
ing and political domination” of
affiliated unions ceased.

In its closing hours, the con-
vention discussed a watered down
economic resolution on the ef-
fects of devaluation and the need
for a coordinated wage drive. :

Although the resolution gave lip-
service to the need for resistance
with ‘the recommendation. that
“adequate preparation for effec-
tive protective action” be under-
taken,» the fact that it came on
the floor when 50 percent of the
delegates had left the session, and
almost at the close of proceed-
ings, was eloquent proof of the
fact that the CCL leadership does
not intend a serious contest of
the wage cuts effected as a re-
sult of devaluation.

“At no time,” said I. Burman,
UE Montreal] delegate, “has the
basic cause of devaluation and
what to do about it come before
this convention.” He castigated
Mosher for his Stratford speech,
in which he declared there would
be no fourth round of wage in-
creases in 1949. What was needed,
he said, was a coordinated wage
drive to fight impending cuts as
a result of devaluation.

Following were results of vot-
ing for CCL officers:

For president: A. R. Mosher,

503; R. H. Haddow, 147.

ENDICOTT.

redouble a-bomb pro-

U.S. would
duction, Endicott asked:

“Where will this lead us? Others
can also redouble. After mankind
has been destroyed in an atomic
war, will there be any America
to stand up and cry, /‘Hurray, we
won the war, we have 500 bombs
left over’?”

The only possible answer , he
said, was for the big powers to
agree to ban the bomb, to apply
atomic energy to. peaceful produc-
tion and to work for trade between
all countries. ‘

Endicott’s disclosures, which are
hardly news in Canadian govern-
ment circles, are nevertheless like-
ly to disconcert the war-obsessed,
St. Laurent cabinet with a popu-
lar demand to know what Canada’s
Chalk Rivér atomic plant is doing
to apply atomic energy to peaceful
construction and development.

It is already being pointedly ob-
served that Canada’s rich unrani-
um resources, which could be ap-
plied to develop the northwest in
which they are mined, are being
exploited by the U.S. for the pure-
ly destructive purpose of a-bomb
production. As a result, Canada is
being deprived of the nesources
which could be applied to keep her
in the forefront of atomic indus-
trial progress.

The growing campaign for ban-
ning the ‘bomb will be given an
impetus in Vancouver on Friday,
October 21, when Dr. Endicott
speaks at Pender Auditorium here
under auspicés of Vancouver Peace

Council. |

For vice-presidents: C. H. Mil-
lard, 528; A. McAuslane, 641; S.
Spivak, 512; Steve Anco, 172;
J. K. Bell, 177.

For executive council: George
Burt, 654; Sam Baron, 521; Joe
Mackenzie, 528; Don MacDonald,
532; Wm, Stewart, 156; H. A.~
Chappell, 523; Fred Dowling,
5386; Jean Fare, 143; Wm. Rob-
itaille, 638; J. E. McGuire, 514;
J. Bellingham, 134; J. Brown,
147; S. Barrett, 520; Bob Stew-
art, 126; J. K. Bell, 150; R. H.
Haddow, 156.

Good idea for Vancouver, too

; Charlotte Chance (left) ard

to their protest.

Marilyn Wax step smartly into

the Chamber of Commerce building in Los Angeles to register
their complain against smog—and their gas masks gave point

Evidence given at probe indicates
Noronic was a ‘floating coffin’

TORONTO

Evidence piling up at the government hearings on the disastrous Noronic dockside fire which claimed
139 lives last month proves one of survivors’ charg2s beyond a doubt: the pleasure ship was a floating
coffin which should never have been allowed to ope atc.

As the sordid tale of gross inefficiency, lack of fire precautions, slipshod federal inspection methods
and Canada Steamship Lines’ greed unfolds at the inquiry, public opinion draws its own conclusions: the

holocaust which took such a heavy
toll of life was a plain case of

mass murder.

“Had Hitler tied one of his
crematoriums to the dock, it
couldn't -have done a more ef-

ficient job,” said one listener, bit-
terly.

Evidence given at the hearing
disclosed that:

@ Captain William Taylor had, by
his own count, “one drink of
Scotch” before the fire broke
out. (A Cleveland passenger
Who escaped from the blazing
ship charged that Taylor was
drunk.)

The 36-year-old Noronic lacked
fireproof bulkheads prescribed
by law.

@ The government itself was to
blame for this criminal neglect;
it exempted its good friend

Canada Steamship Lines from

those Canada Shipping Act reg- |

which made fire - re-
bulkheads compulsory.

ulations
sistant

e@ Inspector William P. Craig of

the Department of Transport,
who signed the Noronic’s_ in-
spection papers last April,
didn’t know his job. (Craig
testified: “The Noronic had
more fire buckets than the
law required.” “How many
does the law require?” asked
a board member. AT don't
know,” confessed Craig.)

@ Fire hoses on board the Nor-
onic didn’t work; fire klaxons
were apparently out of order,
too. :

Ship’s. officers had not in-
structed the scab Seafarers In-
ternational Union crew in fire
drill; neither officers nor men
knew their fire stations.

Hastings Steam Baths
OPEN DAY and NIGHT
Expert Masseurs in Attendance

Vancouver, B.C,
HAst,. 0340 766 E. Hastings

credible carelessness, neglect and
disregard of safety precautions
aboard the Noronic, public opin-
ion is demanding that the federal
heads of the Department of
Transport and the heads of Can-
ada Steamship Lines face crim-
inal charges following the hear-
ing.

Daniels charges
discrimination —

_-

Cut off social allowance benefits

that he was “partially employable,”
Bob Daniels, secretary of the B.C.

Union of Handicapped and Disabled
Persons, is preparing to picket so-
cial service offices until he wins
his case.

“My own doctor has testified
‘that I am unable to work,” said
| Daniels. “This is a clear example
of discrimination arising out of my
actions on behalf of the disabled
persons in this province.”

Recently, Daniels picketed social
services demanding carfare for re-
lief recipients, and was successful
in having carfare granted.

Admission

MH 1

As the inquiry continues to un- |
cover shocking evidences of in-|

three weeks ago on the pretext |

SPEAKER: —
DR. JAMES G. ENDICOTT

SUBJECT:

“World Peace and the Atom Bomb”
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 at 8 p.m.

At

PENDER AUDITORIUM

(339 West Pender)
Under auspices of the Vancouver Peace Council

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — OCTOBER 14, 1949 — PAGE

Council ducks
BCER issue

Civic utilities committee mem-
bers squirmed in their seats this
week as a delegation led by Nigel
Morgan, LPP provincial leade1,
put them “on the spot” by demand-
ing the city hold a plebiscite in
December on public ownership of
the BCER. ;

Carrying a petition signed by
thousands of citizens urging a
plebiscite, Morgan told aldermen
it was their duty to see that a pleb-
|iscite “is held at.the time of the
next elections.

Finally Alderman Alex Fisher,
chairman of the committee, man-
aged to duck the issue by declar-
ing that the subject matter did not
appear on the agenda, and Mor-
gan’s remarks were out of. order,

Mcrgan announced that the peti-
tion lists would-be forwarded to
the chairman of the Public Utili-
ties Commission in Victoria.

Fisher declared that the issue of
public ownership was “a dead —
dog.” But he didn’t look as though
he believed his own words.

- 35

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