MORE DESPATCHES FROM SPAIN

PAGE FOUR

Sa

The People’s Advocate

Western

Canada’s

Leading Progressive

Newspaper

| PROGRESSIVES AND WAR

PAGE SIX

FULL No. 143.

«<=> Published Weekly

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1937

Single Copies: 5 Cents

VOL. Ill. No. 39

——_—_—_———————

ATTEMPTS TO HUSH UP ’PHONE PETITION

Two-Day Strike Ends In Victory :

All B.C. Theatres Sign With Projectionists’ Union

Winning a smashing victory on all counts, Local 348, Projectionists’ Union Signed an agreement with Famous Players Corporation Thurs- day morming and union members were back on the job in the after- moon, :

The agreement calls for the same Working conditions as in the i935 agreement pilus 5 per cent increases in pay in 1938 and 1989.

Famous Players caused the 2-day Strike by an insistence on a wage reduction and an increase in worlk—! ing hours.

A hold-out of the 15 independent theatres in the city collapsed later in the day as the adamant position of the union convinced these own- ers of the wisdom of acceding to its demands.

Because of the large amount of

technical work involved in prepar- ing the contracts, the union permit- ted the opening of these theatres Thursday evening on the wunder- Standing that owners would sign the completed contracts before mid- night, 2 Oak Theatre, Burnaby, is still unfair, the union declares. Representations of poverty were made to the provincial government

by three city theatre owners in an. effort to ayoid terms of the con- tract. Ei

The union requested full investi- gation by government officials into the accounts of these owners, as evidence of a willingness to cooper- ate, and for a substantiation of Owners complaints. This was agreed upon.

After receiving last-minute news |

of the situation from union officials, the Projectionists’ union president expressed the thanks of his union to a PA reporter for the cooperation

given by the puper in their long strugegie. Request was also made by the

president that the PA express his thanks to the public for their co- operation during the strike.

Pearson Rebuffs Delegation From City Unemployed

Adopts Callous Attitude Toward Jobless’ Soliciting ‘As Affair Of ~ Attorney-General’

PRE-NATAL AID SOLE CONCESSION

What amounted to a blank refusal to consider any demands but that of pre-natal] allowance for mothers on relief was the answer of Hon. G. S. Pearson, minister of labor, to delegations

from the Workers’ Alliance,

Service Men’s organizations when they asked this week for an amelioration of present relief rulings, delegation spokes-

men told the PA Wednesday.

To married men on city projects Pearson declared that the government was not considering the question of allow- ing more work days, nor would there be any restoration of

medical and drug allowances.

Pearson recommended them to apply to the city council for more work days, only to have Mayor G. GC. Miller interject that the city had no funds for this purpose.

Curt Refusal

Pearson expressed sympathy for the unemployed families of Vancouver but declared that they were better off than

others in the province.

‘W. Campbell, spokesman for single men, kept his head in spite of provocative statements from Pearson and the mayor. The answer of the minister of labor when pressed to order immediate relief previous to possible work plans of the

ernment was:

“€Tt is the concern of the attorney-general’s department if youths are driven fo solicit funds on the streets.”

Asked by Campbell whether it was more honorable to solicit openly than steal, Pearson declared: ‘Commission of erime is also the affair of the attorney-general,” and that the

last batch of arrested jobless “should not haye broken the law.”

Stating that it was time the goy- ernment got down to some common sense instead of bringing up ‘isms’ Campbell stressed the desire of the single men for work, not charity.

Pearson, however, maintained that “agitators and anarchists’ were fomentinge trouble in the community. He had no answer to the question as to what could the boys do in Vancouver when they were without food. This problem was posed by P. Bengough, secretary Trades and Labor Council and Alderman Helena Gutteridge.

Vancouver Local Council of Women and Progressive Women’s Federation have sent protests to Wicteria on recent treatment of jobless requesting that the province assume responsibility.

Labor Warned Of Renegades

PA Complimented For

Fake Council Exposure’

Declaring that W. J. Scribbens, Civie Employees’ leader, “‘should be

ashamed of himself for associating with such a scab movement,” Pres- | ident Jamieson led the heated dis- | cussion around the letter from the | BC Maritime Workers to the Trades | and Labor Council, Tuesday, which Warned the council of the recent at- tempt by union renegades to set up en independent labor council.

Complimentine the PA for e=pos- ing activities of this group, Sam Shearer, delegate from Railway Car- men, called for ‘fullest publicity on these traitors to labor,’ and recom- mended use of the: radio for this PUrPOSE.

Executive of the council was in- structed to investigate fully and re- port at next council meeting.

Local Joins IWA

VICTORIA, BG, Oct. 7. — Appli- eation for a charter from Interna- tional Woodworkers of America

Was made this week by Local 1790 here, last of the locals of the Lum- ber and Sawmill Workers affiliated j, 4o the BG Goast District Council to line up-in the TWA.

Single Unemployed and Ex-

To Requests.

H1—n— 4,

Casualties of Undeclared War in Far East

fs i — i —nofs

Chinese soldies, wounded in an engagement w ith Ja

arrive in a truck at an army

i

panese forces on the outskirts of Shanghai, hospital in the #rench concession.

Union Meet On Act Set

Zov-

Big Business

Buys Herald

Murrin, Farrel, Spencer Reported To Have Control

Vancouver's only morning news- Paper, The News-Herald, “owned, eontrolled and operated by the Staif,”” which, in the three years of its existence has been the most out- speken voice of reaction in this city, may be expected. to become even more reactionary in the future.

According to reliable information received by the PA this week, Pres- ident W. G. Murrin of the B.C. Electric, Gordon Farrel of the B.C. Telephone company and Gol. Victor Spencer shave each put up $5,000, while Jake Buerk, of Carter-Halls- Aldinger, is Stated to haye con- rributed $15,000 to acquire the news- Paper for Vancouver big business

Duncan Hamilton, president of the Wews-Herald, is reported to have in- vested $2,000.

It is rumored that stock issued to employees as wages when the paper Was struggling for existence is to be called in and reassued at about fifty cents on the dollar.

“This new stranglehold obtained by reaction over the press here makes it all the more imperative for the people to build their own organs,” declared Harold Griffin, acting editor of the PA, this week, in comment: | ing on the report.

|

delegates.

For Oct. 30

Percy Bengough, Jamieson Elected Delegates Here

President Jamieson and Secretary Perey Bengough will represent Van- couver Trades and Labor Council at the trade union conference in Vic- toria, October 30, when draft of a proposed trade union bill for BC will be discussed.

Unanimous endorsation of the con- ference was given by the Trades Council here at its meeting this week,

Noya Scotia and Alberta legisla- tures have recently enacted bDilis Which provide for lezal recognition of the right of employees to join trade unions of their choice, recog- nition of the right to collective bar= faining and state’s penalties for em- ployers who intimidate workers against joining unions.

At the recent Trades and Labor Congress at Ottawa a resolution was passed instructing provincial labor bodies to strengthen proposed bills by inserting that employers be com- pelled by law to conduct collective bargaining; that company unions be forbidden and that a method be de- termined to establish the exclusive bargaining union in cases of dispute between two or more unions.

The Victoria conference is expect- ed to use as a model for the pro- posed act that adopted by the Trades Congress.

Since endorsation of the confer- ence, a large number of unions is expected to send delegates to Victoria. Unions with delegates already elect- ed are: Street Railwaymen, Bakers,

Hotel and Restaurant Workers, Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers at | Ymir, BC. Jeweiry Workers’ and

Laundry Workers’ unions both do- nated $5 toward expenses of the

| Successful candidate,

est numiber of

Transportation Issue

Deroche Parents Conduct Stay-Home School Strike

DEROCHE, BC, Oct. 7Parents of school chlidren in this district are conducting a stay-at-home strike.

With the school five miles

away and no schoo] bus pro-

vided, parents of thirteen children, most of whom were just Starting school, got together and decided to keep their chil- dren at home until transportation was provided.

Salsberg Lost By Split Vote

Outstanding Unionist Was Opposed By CCF

TORONTO, Ont., Oct. 7—But for the fact that the CCF insisted on running Harry Simon in Toronto St. Andrew, J. B. Salsberg, out- Standing: Ontario trade unionist whose candidacy was endorsed by many unions and progressive organ- izations, would be the Labor mem- ber for that constituency in the new provincial legislature.

Salsberge received 6302 wotes, 179 fewer than his successful Liberal opponent, J. J. Glass, who polled 6481. The 880 votes given to Simon, which otherwise would have gone to Salsberg, made all the difference.

In Waterloo North the CCF also split the yote. There John Walter, CCE, polled 564 votes to 4161 for Alfred Mustin, Farmer-Labor. The J. A. Smith, Liberal, received 13,470.

Sisnificant fact of the campaign was that the CCI received the high- votes, where the campaign was conducted on a broad basis of unity of all progressives.

Harvey Binder, lone Communist candidate in Ottawa South, obtained 404 votes.

TORONTO, Oht, Oct. 7: = A con- ference has been called by the Executive of the Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy to be held Oc- tober 23 and 24, here.

A letter to Wictoria brought a school inspector. He hoped the par- ents were not penalizing their chil- dren by keeping them from school. They hoped the government was not penalizing the children by its fail- ure to furnish transportation to School. And there the matter rest- ed, with no sSuarantee that a bus would be provided. So the parents are continuins their strike and cir- culating a petition asking the govy- ernment to provide the necessary transportation.

They contend that under the terms of the school act a bus must be pro- vided within a 3-mile radius or a new school provided where there are more than nine children.

Twenty-eight children are indirect- ly affected by the strike. :

Ratepayers Rap Council’s Action

CLOVERDALE, BC, Oct. 7. — A storm of protest has been aroused in this district by Surrey Municipal Council's action in withdrawing a resolution permitting ratepayers on relief to work out their taxes.

Excuse for the action was the large number of requests for prefer- ment received.

Cripps, Laski On Labor Executive

LONDON, Eng., Oct. 7.—Sir Staf- ford Cripps, Socialist League head, and Professor Harold Laski, both outstanding proponents within the Labor party of a united front of all left-wing forces, were elected to the national executive committee of the party this week.

Organizer Says

Effort Made To Get Names Lists

Declares He Was Approached Several Times By Interested Parties To Drop Campaign

FEDERATED RATEPAYERS TO MEET

Attempts to sabotage the

conducted against proposed higher rates,

petition campaign now: being by stampedinge the

public into believing that the recent 10-cent reduction offered by BC Telephone company will meet popular demands, is the charge levelled at a well known city ex-alderman and two of- ficials of the Federated Ratepayers’ Association, by W. R.

Bradbury, campaign manager, Allegations were made that

the PA learned this week. secret meetings had been held

between officials of the Federated Ratepayers and representa- tives of BC Telephone company, with civic officials present, to. call off the petition campaign, signatories to which have

now passed the 20,000 mark.

Attempt To Call Off Petition.

From a letter to Bradbury fionery, it was obvious that an

om Pederated Taxpayers’ sta- aitempt to close the campaign

was tried by members of the executive. The letter also in- iumated that the Railway Commission had been wired to this

effect,

Bradbury declares that he was approached several] times

by interested parties to drop

$100 Daily Is Required For Drive

Fund Now Falls $15 Daily Short Of This Mark

Tell our readers that it tales $100 a day for 30 days in order to raise that $3000 for the PA-Clarion main- tenance fund and that to date we are lagging at the rate of $15 a day, Bill Ravyenor, manager of the joint press drive committee, re- quested of the editorial board.

Rayenor tries to visualize all the committees throughout the provinee to which he has sent personal let- ters and drive materials.

Some of them have hardly got started on the campaign, he states, although he did hear that Nanaimo committee has listed a number of Supporters and detailed members to approach them with donation bonds. He passes this on as a valuable idea for other committees.

This week the drive committee makes a special appeal to readers and supporters of the PA, who are net connected with any particular committee or organization, They are asked to send donations to the drive through Bill Bennett, who writes “Short Jabs.” Monies will be ack nowledged through the mails by the committee and, if requested, names

of donors will be mentioned in his column. Just address to Ql’ Bill, People's Advocate, 163 West Has- tings, Vancouver, B.C.

st

Last committee

Week the Grandview press | in a magnificent effort at the Auditorium raised $280 for the drive. Wancouver Centre plans a big sports show with the help of Vaneouver Sports Club at the Hm- bassy Ballroom, October 20.

Less ambitious, but every bit as/ important, are the clubroom and house socials organized by local committees for the drive. For in- stance, the $10 raised by Colling- wood-Nanaimo Park press commit- fee in a corn roast social held last Priday at 8004 Bast Wifty-fourth Ave., at which Ol’ Bill spoke.

As encouragement to canvass, to- day there arrived two yearly subs from Pete TLazaroff, Jesless sup- porter at Quesnel BG.

Maritime Province Has Public Works

New Brunswick Employs 10,000 on Road Scheme

HAT the BC government is de-< liberately closing eyes to the sufferings of thousands of citizens and assuming a helpless attitude in a situation that calls for energy and inijative is proven by the measures adopted by the Liberal government of the province of New Brunswick to cope with unemployment within its borders.

This is shown in documents sup- plied by H. R. Pettigrove, fair wage officer, Department of Labor, Fred- ericton, New Brunswick, now in the files of the Ex-Servicemen’s League, 3408 Cambie Street.

In answer to a request from Fred Tyler, president ESL, who has visit-

ed and seen the extensive building «tenance, bridgzework and re-construc-®

of roads in New Brunswick, Petti- |

grove supplied a road map caption-!

ed “Permanent Road Programme

Progresses,’ and in a short letter

showed precisely how it is being

done. Following is the letter: 10,000 Employed.

“In the season of 1936 tenders Were called for approximately 330 miles to be graded and payed. The erading was completed last year and the paving is proceeding steadily this year. In April of this year, approxi- mately 300 miles were calltd for which is to be graded this year and paved next.

“This altogether with the main-

But the main factor in reducing our

tion of secondary roads has been the means of employing around 10,000 men during the summer months.

unemployment has been improved conditions in lumbering and farm- ing; so that today there is practical- ly no shortage of work for any man to do a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.

Programme to Continue.

“This work (roads) has been capi- talized, the province being able to obtain money around 314 and 3 per cent. It is the intention of the coy- ernment to continue with this pro- gramme.’’

of the people of BC. New Brunswick has 33,402 automobiles and about 15,000 miles of roads: BC has 106,079 autos and about 20,000 miles of road, according to Zovernment figures.

“New Brunswick has since 1936 paved 330 miles of highway and it is anticipated that over 700 miles will be completed this year, says Pettigrove.

‘On the other hand the ESL is in- formed by the Bureau of Provincial Information, that BC has 113 miles payed, 700 miles bituminous sur- faced,

States Fred Tyler, ‘Here is the® | Public works programme in a nut-! Shell; eminently suited to the needs

Comparison Made. | “Interesting also is the compara-— tive picture furnished by Canadian Automobile Chamber of Commerce indicatine percentage of total provin- cial reyenue derived directly from the use of the roads, in the form of Sasoline tax and car registrations; New Brunswick deriving 30.8 per cent and BC 2041 per cent.

“Tf New Brunswick with smaller population and less cars was able to borrow at 314 per cént to employ this summer 10,000 men, why the Stalemate in BC?

“British Columbians need good | roads. Our unemployed need work | and wages. This is a way out.’

the campaign and that the ostensible reason for withdrawal of the executive committee of the Fed— erated Ratepayers from the ~ cam- Paign is that sufficient Signatures have been secured and some rate- Payers’ officials object to carrying the campaign into the business: men’s field.

“We are after 35,000 signatures and we stand by the demand for a flat rate of $2.20)? announced

Bradley to the PA. =

Secret Discussions -. telephone message to his wife from someone at the city hall was the first intimation to the commit- tee that secret discussions were tak-

ing place on the recently offered

10-cent reduction, Bradley stated,

Crude attempts were made to get the signature lists out of his pos- Session, Bradley charged, and he was forced to put them in a safety deposit box.

Telephone users and ratepayers’ organizations in Wards 1 and 6 are incensed at the turn of events and are pushing the petition more energetically than ever, said Brad- bury.

Liberals Flere UrgeEmbargo

Tax On Company Re- serve Funds To Be Discussed

EDMONDS, BC, Oct. 7. — A Ca- nadian embargo on shipment of goods to Japan until all Japanese troops have been withdrawn from China was demanded of the King government in a resolution passed by East Burnaby-Edmonds Liberal Association at its meeting Tuesday in St. Alban’s Hall here.

Stevedoring companies were urged to refuse to load serap metal or war chemicals destined for Ja- pan.

Notice was given of a motion to be introduced at the next regular meeting, requesting the British Co- lumbia government to consider tax- ing reserve funds of companies, where such funds are out of pro- portion to the invested capital of the companies,

VI Organizations Urge Boycott

VICTORIA, BC, Oct. %.—Follow- ing resolutions have reccived en- dorsation of ‘Victoria Trades and Labor Council, Lower Island Indus-

| trial and Employment Conference,

the IBU, Saanich CcRr District Council, Victoria CCF District Coun- cil, Advance Youth Club, Wictoria Loeal TWA.

Invocation of the 9-Powers Act- and application of economic sanc- tions against aferessor nations.

Boycott of Japanese, German and Italian goods.

Appeal to maritime Workers to re- fuse to handle munitions and sup- plies for Japan until Japanese armies are withdrawn from China,

Assist Loggers

CUMBERLAND, BC, Oct. 7.—As- Sistance to the present organiza- tional campaign of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers’ union, was of- fered by United Mine Workers at a union meeting held here recently, the secretary being instructed to cooperate in every way, at the sams time to guard against neelect of his own union duties, ,