THE ADVCGOCATE

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‘5 final estimate is possible as W of a gathering which will l€se its mark on the political fe during the months to come. *s plain enough, however, that ‘ts quest for jobs, peace and ci liberties the Youth Congress lSnoving into irresistable con- / with the president and his ries. ‘

3 the same time, it is moving yard closer cooperation with ar, farmers and other progres- #3) political leaders. Political ob- fers here did not miss the fé. that the delegates gave their atest ovation to John L. Lewis S3. that one of the major steps

en by the national assembly #\ to accept the offer of the Z) leader for collaboration on leslative matters with Labor's Wi-Partisan League.

jor the thousands of delegates tk Citizenship Institute was ex- aiy what its name implies — a Sf00] in national politics and in tasks of you people as citi-

‘ut the Institute was no or ary class room in which the lents listen meekly to the lec- +s of their elders: It was a jat arena in which political FG es and leaders clashed. And © delegates were actual partici- pits helpin= to Shape the future. j C)

URING the past few years the Youth Congress had been one Hthe large progressive organiz- S:2ns which formed the loose S ular coalition around the ad- puistration. While the AYC had Says asked for more aid for = th than the president gave, it ported the inadequate social fislation which the New Deal { offer. Mrs. Roosevelt was Mminently known as one of @se who supported the aims of —E Youth Congress. 5 fore recently many young peo- » had begun to turn against the sainistration as they saw the is in aid for youth, the expan- #1 of armaments and the trend @rard participation of the Unit- & States in the war in Europe. = is equally true, however, that Say others did not yet fully un- = Stand the role of the Roosevelt = Qinistration in the new world

iaticn.

“hey. knew what they wanted

ut they did not realize how mapletely their wishes and as- ations clashed with the poli- 3 of the president. Jelegates to the Institute know w if they did not know before nd they will take the word 4d: to millions of young people their communities,

e

THEN the delegates marched single ._ file into the White ise grounds they came to hear at reply the president would <e to their insistent demands. Sducation, vocational train- employment at a living wage all, preservation of the civil srties proclaimed in the Bill Rights—peace—these are our tiple aims,” Jack McMichael, irman of the Youth Congress, i as he introduced the presi- c, ind the president scolded the egates as they stood patiently the pouring rain on the wet, sey White House grounds be- ise they made these simple dest demands. The president rebuked them ¢ asking for jobs because youns »ple were unemployed 20 or 30 irs ago as well as today. de commanded them not to 5S any more resolutions such the one adopted almost unan- ously by the New York Coun- of the Youth Congress against ir loans to the Mannerheim vernment in Finland. (The president chose the occa- n to make an attack on the viet Union which aroused the prst fears of the delegates that 2 administration is moving rap- yy to war. What hurt most of the delegates 9st was that the president had

By ADAM LAPIN

challenged their democratic right to express themselves on legis- lative and political issues which closely concern them.

He actually scolded them for passing resolutions at all — not only on Finland but on other matters as well. He told them sthat the complicated affairs of national and international policy are best left to experts of more mature years.

In short, the delegates were given no assurances that their cardinal demands would even be considered. On the contrary, the president indicated clearly that the administration was moving in the opposite direction.

Some conimentators- have seen fit to make much of the fact that a handful of delegates hissed the president. What was really sur- prising under the circumstances was the discipline and selfre- straint of these young people as they stood patiently and silently on the White House lawn and were scolded and insulted.

HEIN Mrs. Roosevelt answered

questions at the closing ses- sion of the Institute, she was More tactful. She went out of her way to praise the leaders of the Youth Congress. She did not seold. The administration is not asking for a break with the AYC. But she said exactly the same things as the president.

@n the question of peace she went even further than the pres- ident. When the delegates march- ed into the White House they shouted: “The Yanks are NOT Coming.” Mrs. Roosevelt told them that they might be coming very shortly— :

“Today you may be sure you would never approve of a war un- der any circumstances,” she de- elared. “Six months from now the situation might be so chang- ed you would see things entirely differently. Nobody knows what he may have to face in the future or how he will act under differ- ent circumstances.”

T every point the speech of

John L, Lewis conflicted with

the sjseeches of the president and Mrs. Roosevelt

The outstanding leader of Am- erican labor told the delegates that it was the democratic right of the Youth Congress to keep right on passing resolutions “about the Finnish question, or the Russian question, or the Eur- opean question, the peace ques- tion, or any other question.”

If the president and Mrs. Roosevelt gave youth no assur- ances against involvement in war, Lewis urged them to keep on fighting for peace and to “hold to strict accountability any poli- tician or any statesman who un- dertakes to involve this country in a war in Europe or a war in the Pacific.”

Both the president and Mrs. Roosevelt had been vague about civil liberties. But Lewis was specific. He challenged the ‘spanking new’ Supreme Court to do something about the iniqui- tous poll taxes which deprive the Wegro and poor white people of the south of the right to vote.

On the question of jobs, Lewis offered the clear cut specific leg- islative program of the CIO with its demand for extension of so- cial legislation and for an ade- quate WPA and NYA program.

And finally the leader of the CIO told the Youth Congress that “While the Republican party says it doesn’t want to associate With you and the Democratic party through its titular spokes- man says they doubt you know what you are talking about,” la- bor would be glad to co-operate with the youth on a common pro- gram.

@ HUS delegates had presented to them two clear-cut alter- natives. They could either follow the administration toward war

FADING THE PRESS

Hie; International Workers Order in New York has an- nounced a new popular pocket guide to reading the apitalist press—between the lines. Journalese of foreign correspondents is translated by the WO for its 150,000 members, as follows:

‘Alleged’: Guesswork.

‘Unconfirmed’: Sheer rumor. ‘Tt is said here’: Picked up anywhere. ‘Hitherto unimpeachable sources’: A tipster who may

ave been right once.

‘Local diplomatic circles’: Small talk at consular or em-

assy functions.

‘A person high in the government’: Someone’s secretary

r assistant.

‘Advises’: Reports in the local press. ‘Authoritative sources’: May or may not be unless they

re named.

‘A high officer’: Strictly private opinion of a military man

F doubtful rank.

Don’t have a ‘headline mentality, the IWO adds, and if 1c events described occur in one country and the dateline ves a wire office in another country, ‘turn on your doubt

ill blast.’

And remember that photographs can easily be ‘faked.’

and insecurity or they could ally themselves with labor and the cio.

Even prior clash of programs between the president and Lewis, it was clear which way the delegates were heading.

When Attorney-General Robert Jackson spoke at the opening session, he was introduced by Edward Strong, chairman of the Southern Negro Congress. Strong reminded the attorney-general pointedly of the midnight raids by the FBI on the homes of 18 persons charged with aiding Am- ericans to defend democracy in Spain.

Despite the furor in the press and the demands of various groups and politicians for a ‘red purge,’ Youth Congress leaders stood firm and declared that Young Gommunists had their Place in the youth movement. They warned that a move to per- secute Gommunists was the first step in a more general suppres- sion of civil liberties.

At the Youth Congress assem- bbly, the attitude of the delegates as manifested by speeches and applause, was crystallized into a coherent program of action.

The assembly made it plain that “Young America will not be trapped into war’ and called on the youth of the world to unite to stop “the slaughter of our gen- eration.”

It set aside April 6 as a day for national demonstrations to Keep America out of the war and ap- proved plans for a joint anti-war congress with the young people of Latin America. It launched a nation-wide campaign for pas- sage of the American Youth Act,

to the dramatic .

WASHINGTON.

“HE president used a bludgeon. Mrs. Roosevelt tried tact and persuasion. Neither succeeded in arresting the trend of i’ the American Youth Congress away from the administra tion. As more than 5,000 young people were travelling back +n the capital to their homes in every corner of the nation, this seemed to be the outstanding feature of the colorful and matie Citizenship Institute and the subsequent meeting of the national assembly of the Youth Congress.

which will give jobs and oppor- tunities to young people.

The Youth Congress showed its devotion to civil liberties by re- fusing to accept the proposal of a representative of the Young People’s Socialist League for ex- pulsion of the Communists. The setting up of local civil liberties committees was adopted as a method of keeping tabs on the Dies Committee, the department of justice and other forces which threaten the rights of the Amer- ican people.

Finally, immediate negotia- tions on common action with rep- resentatives of the CIO and La- bor’s Non-Partisan League were initiated and letters proposing similar negotiations were sent to leaders of the APL, the Railroad Brotherhoods and the Farmers’ Union.

) © CLEARLY had the delegates to the Citizenship Institute manifested their will that there was practically no opposition to the adoption of this program by the 92 youth leaders present at

the AYC assembly.

Politicians in Washington may not like the Youth Congress but they cannot afford to ignore it. The delegates to the Citizenship Institute and toe the AYC nation- al assembly were speaking not only for themselves but for mil- lions of young Americans.

They reflected the new politic- al winds which are beginning to sweep America—the growing dis- trust with both major political parties on the basic issues of peace and jobs and civil liberties and the movement toward inde- pendent political action on the part of the masses of the people.

STORM GATHERS AS IRELAND AROUSED

By SEAN MURRAY

DUBLIN

LL Ireland is incensed over the execution of Barnes and Richards, for all sections of national labor opinion were

united behind the demand for a reprieve; the Fianna Fail clubs, the trade unions, the trade councils put forth a united effort. Dublin Trades council, with James Larkin, veteran labor leader, at the head of the demonstration, marched to the prem- ises of the British representative to Hire, Sir John Maffey, requesting an interview. The Protestant archbishop of Dublin sent a letter of support to the reprieve committee and the Hire

government made representations to London.

The executions were an effront to a united nation. All muni- cipal bodies adjourned as a mark of respect for the executed men. A demonstration of 50,000 in Dublin marched Sunday in a pouring rain in protest.

Simon Donnelly, veteran Re- publican leader of the fight against the Black and Tans and now leader of the Republican ex- servicemen, delivered a funeral oration in which he held the parti- tion of Ireland responsible for all the trouble and declared that a united Ireland is the only basis for peace between Britain and Ireland.

Ten thousand demonstrated in the Belfast nationalist area under the auspices of the Republican working class. The Craivyagon government banned the demon- stration, and the police attempted to intimidate the people. Speakers defied the ban, however, and ad- dressed the crowds from house- tops. Police made baton charge and arrested dozens of persons, who now face prison sentences.

The left Republican and work- ing class elements want to con- vert this united movement over the graves of Barnes and Rich- ards into a united movement to end partition.

e li Workers’ Weekly, organ of the Irish Communist party, voices this demand:

“Ridding the world of Barnes and Richards does not rid Brit- ish imperialism of the problems confronting it in Ireland. The country, which mourns their death, must now see to it that the objectives for which they gave their lives are realized in the shortest time.

“Can the forces which rallied round the campaign for their reprieve from the British hang- man rally for a common effort to rescue the country from the clutches of imperialism, its wars, pogroms and borders? That is the acid test of all indi- viduals and organizations which mustered round the banner of the reprieve campaign. The Same exertions could realize victory for the aspirations for which they died.”

The Left wing is now preserv- ing the demand for the nation’s claim to unity and independence and is demanding withdrawal of the six northern counties @North- ern Ireland) out of the war. It insists that the Fianna Fail gov- ernment act on the national man-

date to end the policy of com- promise with British imperialism. e

PPOSITION to the war bur-

dens grows in North and South. Belfast dockers have

ealled a lightning strike, demand- ing extra pay to load dangerous war materials. Though troops have been called in, they are firm behind their demands,

Worthern Unionist farmers are protesting against the shortage of animal foodstuffs, the destruc- tion of young pigs and other at- tacks on farmers’ conditions.

In the Belfast parliament a strong attack was made on the Craivagon government by the Labor and other opposition parties. There are 85,000 unem- ployed in an area where 1,250,000 live. Big business is profiteering from the war. A special trade union conference under the aus-— pices of the Belfast trades coun- cil made a strong demand for ac- tion against the rising cost of living and profiteering from the war. A special trade union con- ference under the auspices of the Belfast trades council made a strong demand for action against the rising cost of living and profi- teering. It insisted that those who profit by the war pay for it.

The weakness of the anti-war and anti-imperialist movement lies in that there is no effective lead- ership of the official labor move— ment nationally,

The demand of the trade unions and the Dublin trades council for a special Trades Union Congress has been evaded so far by the labor chiefs. Upper and middle class organizations have taken no stand on the international issues, while the Left wing is working to overcome this backwardness among the people.

Skis

I think that I shall never see An object noble as a ski.

A ski, her curvesome bottom waxed

Chases the Reds around like sin;

A ski rivalling little “Liza With feats on ice that would sur-

prise ya;

A ski, her curvesome bottom waxed

With dough from hides of peas- ants taxed;

Ready for any sort of capers.

(For full details, see morning papers).

Loans may be made by Hrank- lin D, But only Finns know how to ski

—John Loring.

SHORT JABS

by OF Bill

On This In the British House of Commons, on Novy. 29 last,

: Sir John Simon outlined what is expected of the wage- Side. earners in Britain as their chief contribution towards winning the war. According to Simon, the workers must do “without rises in wages and not assume that if there should be, as world con- ditions may bring about, some rises in costs, therefore, automatically our remunerations must all go up on a Sliding scale.”

A few weeks later, on Jan. 9 at the Mansion House, speaking to a glittering array of Empire ormaments representing the ‘City,’ the finan- cial magnates and the commercial and industrial overlords, Chamber- lain, following up Simon, stated the case in these words: “I do not mean to imply that there must be no increase in wages, but I do say that it would be a mistake to tie up wages to the cost of living.”

A few days before that speech, a son of Viscount Hampden, Hon. R. H. Brand, CMG, managing-director of Lazard Brothers, merchant bankers; director of Lloyd’s Bank; deputy chairman of North British Mercantile and Insurance company, and director of the Times Publish- ing House, opened up on behalf of the poor struggling bankers. In the columns of the Times, he unburdened himself of a tirade, the gist of which was, “It is clear that the trade unions should refrain from de- Imanding increases of wages.”

And the weekly financial organ, The Economist, drove home the ar- gument with an article comparing wage conditions in Britain and ‘democratic’ Hrance. The Economist said: “Henceforth, it will be in- creasingly difficult to consider matters of wage policy without con- stant reference to parallel developments in France - . . Five million Hrenchmen are mobilized and a proportion of these are employed on essential manufactures at military rates of pay only. The rest of the industry of France is being carried on by women, older men and boys, whose wages are, at any time, below the average level.... The TUC representatives’ will be unable to escape the conclusion that sacrifices will have to be made by the British working class before equality of effort with Hrance is reached.”

And On The objective is quite plain. It is to slash the living

standard of the British workers until they are down That. to the level imposed on the French workers by the Daladier government, already far along the road to fascism.

How different, however, when we see how the bond and stock owners

are treated by Simon, Chamberlain and the bankers’ representatives in -

the British House of Commons. An agreement has just been concluded between the Chamberlain government and the four main British rail- roads. Under the terms of the agreement, the government guarantees these roads a profit of £40'000,000 (approximately $200,000,000) annually, an increase of £6,000,000 .about $30,000,000) over 1938. Besides this there has been an increase in the value of railroad securities of about $500,- 000,000 due to war business in the past few months,

Increases for the capitalists — but threatened reductions for the workers. Who rules Britain?

Light On Every move that has been made by the so-called democratic governments since Nov. 30 is an added Moscow. ; proof that the Soviet government was justified in its contention, that the White Finn Manner-Tannerheim clique was being used as the center for an imperialist attempt to destroy working class rule in the only Socialist country in the world. .

Wot only has this been the objective of British and French imperi- alism since Noy. 1939, but it was the basis of their foreign policy since the day when the Red Army chased the last of their hirelings out of the Soviet Union.

In Light On Moscow, by D: N. Pritt, this is proved beyond any sha- dow of doubt After a short outline of the twenty years between Ver- sailles and the outbreak of the present stage of the World War, Pritt described and makes a masterly analysis of the political jockeying and maneuvers of the assassins of democracy who have imposed their will on the trusting citizens of the democratic countries.

What is happening today, the absence of anything that looks like War in the principal war zones and real war in other places where there is no nominal war; the search for ‘new fronts,’ the massing of troops, the pressure on neutrals and the efforts to spread the war to new scenes; all these things may be understood for what they really are

by a reading of this masterly work of Pritt. A

It is not so much a Light on Moscow as a Searchlight on Moscow’s Enemies. Don’t fail to read it!

Ni 3 “A great deal of interest is being shown in Canada in i = I

nety five the group of patriotic business men who are placing Cent Man. their experience at the disposal of the government for a nominal wage plus expenses (up to $20 per day).

Before W. C. Woodward went back East to take up his duties on the Federal War Supply Board, he made a pep talk to his employees in the auditorium at the Abbott and Hastings store.

Undoubtedly it was a proud moment in his bourgeois life when he smilingly informed his hearers that he was a dollar-a-year man.

But his pride might have been staggered somewhat if he had heard one of the store girls in the audience remark to her neighbor, “Surely he must be making a mistake about being a dollar-a-year man. He must mean a 95-cent man.”

‘You Know Bene: intimate with great men whose names are 5 news’ is part of the job of a news hawk. A go-getter Me, Al newspaperman must not only be a member of the ‘I knew him when’ club, but of the ‘I know him now’ club, too. Mem- bership in the latter club puts him in better standing with the boss.

One of them who is very successful in this respect today is A. ¢€. Cummings, who writes for the London News-Chronicle and the Vancouver Province, According to his own say-so, Cummings is very intimate with Stalin. He has never seen, met or spoken with Stalin. He is separated by 1535 air miles of space and three hours of time, but he knows just what Satin is thinking at any moment. This is the only. explanation that will account for the yarns he writes in the Province newspaper. 428)

He says, Stalin ‘realizes now’ he has been fooled. Stalin “would like to call off the war”; Stalin was “fooled by Communists in Fin- land.” Stalin was also ‘assured’ by Soviet army heads that they would have a picnic march into Finland that would last only a month. But Stalin ‘realized’ this blunder and “changed his plan.” And Stalin “cer- tainly will make some pay for the mistakes that have been committed.”

I think you will agree with me that Cummings must know Stalin very well to be able to write so intimately about his innermost thoughts.

Stalin apparently did not tell him who is going to pay for the mis- takes that have been made. Well, I can tell him, and I am not an intimate of Stalin at all. The fascist White Finn-Social Democrat scourges of the Finnish workers will pay,—whether they are too late in leaving Finland or whether they escape the workers to become poverty- stricken refugees in the slums of their capitalist allies, like the White Russian emigres in Paris and Harbin.

PUBLIC MEETING

GRANGE HALL

Gore at Hastings

SUNDAY, FERUARY 25th, at 8 P.M.

Speakers:

FERGUS McKEAN and MALCOLM BRUCE Subject: “LABOR FACES THE ELECTION” W. BENNETT, Chairman

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