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Bi-monthly Bulletin Published by The B.C. District Council, International Woodworkers of America, Affiliated to Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)

Vol. XII. - No. 22.

VANCOUVER, B.C., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1944

Broadway <> Printers 11d.

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IWA ADOPTS 1945 PROGRAM

Delegates

Adopt

Constructive Program

AtlIWA Convention

VANCOUVER, B.C.—The Eighth Annual Convention of-the IWA-CIO concluded in Vancouver last Saturday afternoon with 243 registered delegates in attendance representing wood- workers from Pacific to Atlantic, and from Alaska to California. Unanimous support to President Roosevelt, continuation of the IWA’s no-strike pledge, and approval and support of the Dum- barton Oaks Conference proved the right of this convention to be considered one of the most progressive in recent years.

A curious inconsistency of the convention was the reaction- ary, undemocratic position taken in expelling two delegates from the convention floor without trial for alleged political

beliefs—while delegates went

DARSHAN SINGH SUPPORTS UNITY

Unity of the Nations as accom- plished by Great Britain, USSR, and the United States at the Teh- eran Conference was hailed by the IWA Convention as a mighty force which must prove indestructible, in a resolution on U.S. foreign policy which supported fully the right of the people of India to national in- dependence.

‘The resolution also urged that the State Department should af- ford real labor participation in its

affairs, and also appoint labor at- tehes to its embassies abroad. Speaking on India, Darshan ‘Singh of Victoria told delegates that no permanent peace would be ble without her deliverance, “Fascism and imperialism are in- separable twins” he said, “with one fifth of mankind in bondage, ‘under tyranny, must we keep quiet? Are our children expendable for a World War?” . 4 can be no permanent eke one eo palatal in world seething wit) Darshan Vict are mi the safe or imperialism, whethr

on record for a program and policies which can leave little to be desired from the viewpoint of achieving a speedy victory and a lasting, secure peace.

Of the 41 delegates representing B.C. Locals, only four, namely George Mitchell, Stewart Alsbury and Tom Kipp of New Westmin- ster Local 357, and Tom Barnet of Local 85, Port Alberni, sup- ported the stand for expulsion without trial, and continuation~ of the political ban in the constitu- tion,

The first resolution adopted pledged full support to President Roosevelt, Vic-Presidential candi- date Truman in the November 7th US, election, as well as endorsing support to candidates pledged to uphold FDR’s foreign and domes- tie policies. Labor unity also re- ceived the unanimous backing of delegates in two resolutions, one calling for a greater degree of co- operation between CIO, AFL and Railroad Brotherhoods; and the other urging setting of a date and place for early, holding of the World Labor Conference, previ- ously called for last June and necessarily postponed on account of the opening of the Second Front.

Commendation of President Philip Murray for establishing the National CIO Committee to Abol- ish Racial Discrimination, was ex- pressed by the convention, which at the same time condemned “any form of racial or religious discrim- ination as an evil characteristic of our fascist enemies,” and re- newed its pledge to carry on the fight for protection in law and in fact of the rights of any racial and religious or minority group to participate fully in our social and political life.” “Any vestige of Naziism which rears its ugly form in our glorious democracy must be immediately and deci-

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er it be imperialism of the Dutch, French, Americans, British, or what have you,” he deleared.

He pointed out the immense market a free India with a raised standard of living would provide for Canada, and that, unliberated, she would remain a fertile culture spot for Fascist.propaganda of the

Japanese and others.

Karley Larson, president of the

Northern Washington District No. 2, IWA-CIO, who made the appeal to the Convention in re- spect to the ruling of President Lowery, who had ordered expul- sion of three members from his district for being members of the Communist Political Association. Delegates from four other dis- tricts in the United States, name- ly, districts 7, 9, 10 and 12, also supported President Larson’s ap- peal.

Frank Carlson, Vice-President, Of 1-71 Dies

Brother Frank Carlson, active " member of the IWA since 1938, and vice-president of Local 1-71 since December, 1942, passed away Monday, October 23, at | the age of 45.

Born in Korsnas, Finland. He leaves a wife and family in that country to mourn his death.

Frank Carlson arrived in Can- ada some 18 years ago and worked in the hard rock mines and logging camps of British Columbia for a number of years. Following an injury re- ceived while working at Brit- annia Mine, Carlson, unable to do manual work became active in the Swedish Finnish Work- ers Club and labor organiza- tions in Vancouver.

The last few years he was working at the Nordic News Stand and for the WA Union in charge of the mailing depart- ment of the B.C. Lumber Worker. ¥

He was buried at Ocean View Cemetery, Monday, October 30. Services were conducted at Armstrong Funeral Parlors, where Harold Pritchett, district president, gave an appropriate address outlining some of Frank’s past life and the work he has done. He also read the union burial - service at the grave side.

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Convention Split On

Issue Of Unseating Two U.S. Delegates

Despite the strong and united opposition of Districts No. 1 and No. 2, the two largest in the IWA and the most rapidly increasing in strength and membership, William (Red) Wal- lace of 2-46 Bellingham, and Ralph Nelson of 2-75 Lyman, Wash., were unseated from the convention and ordered expelled from their locals on the charge of being “(Communists” within the meaning of Art. 1, Section 4-b of the constitution.

Original order of expulsion came in the form of a letter from Worth Lowery, who’stated that on his interpretation of the clause the Communist Political Association is the same as the Communist Party mentioned in the section, and charged the two members with belonging to the former. -

The local unions concerned re-©

fused to act on the president’s ruling, ‘and -appealed to the con- vention. Worth Lowery refused to permit Karly Larsen, president of District No. 2, to present the ap- peal until-a threatened bolt of his own supporters in the convention, who favored the _twenty-minute speaking privilege for Larsen that had first been denied by Lowery, forced him to reconsider his ruling.

Wallace ‘and Nelson stood firm on their denial that they were con- nected with any organization cov- ered in the constitutional clause.

“Thesé men are entitled to a fair trial before a jury, as pra- vided for in the constitution,” de- elared Larsen. “This they have never had, and this presidential in- terpretation would deprive them of their rights entirely.”

Despite similar and forceful arguments by Harold Pritchett, Nigel Morgan, and other delegates of District No.'1,/the convention upheld the president’s ruling on a roll-call vote of 28,000 to 20,000.

Another division and spirited debate followed. a motion to un- seat the two delegates from. the convention, which was. lost by Districts 1 and 2, 26,000 to 21,000, but the battle raged highest on a motion from District No. 2 to elim- inate the discriminatory clauses, 4b, 4-c and 4-d, from the constitu- tion.

On Secretary Benedict pointing out that the latter two sections would grant membership to Nazis and fascists, delegates told. him and the president in definite terms that their object was to prevent, any member feared or disliked by the executive being expelled sim- ply on an “interpretation” declar- ing him to belong to one of these ideologies,

William “Red” Wallace from Bellingham, Washington, one of the delegates to’ the convention who was unseated as a result of Convention action. “Red” Wal- lace is a charter member of the IWA and has the unanimous sup- port of his local union, which re- fused to expel him at President Lowery’s request.

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Ralph Nelson also a charter member of the IWA and who was also unseated from the Conven- tion. Nelson, a member of Local 2-75 Lyman, Washington, enjoys the full confidence of his local ° union. :