CONTENTdm
application/pdf
THE IBRITIS INDUSTRIAL UNITY: STJ/^QTH EIGHTH YEAR. if. 37. :CIAL PAPER: VANCOUVER TBADES AND LABOB COUNCIL, AND B. 0. FEDEBATION OP LABOR TW VANCOUVER, B. C, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1916 POUTCOAL UNITY: VI0TOBT IS z Socialization of the of Production Is Its Objective Australian Government To Make Proper Provision for Ex-soldiers [By W. Francis Ahern] SYDNEY, N. S. W., Sept. 1.—(Special to The Federationist.)—Conferences havo recently been hold by the United Federation of Labor, the Social Democratic Party aad the Labor Representation committee, to discuss the matter of linking up the political and industrial forces of Labor in New Zealand. A roport has been drawn up and adopted embracing the following details: The party will be known ob the New Zealand Labor Party, and shall consist of all Labor bodies who subscribe to ita constitution and platform. Representation in the committee shall be baaed on the numerical strength of each of the affiliated bodies. The flrst executive will be elected from the three bodies above mentioned. .This executive will moot at Wellington, and take such action as it may deem necessary to organize the workers for political action. Ttae Objective. The objective of tho party shall be the socialization of the means of production, distribution and exchange. Its platform will declare for the initiative and referendum and proportional representation; the recall; the abolition of the country quota; full civil rights to all public employees, and the removal of political disabilities of women. All existing stato lands to be added to the national endowment, with tenants absolute right to improvements. It stands for a state bank with a sole right to the note issue; state owned shipping' service; state control of all branches of insurance; development of state factories, farms and industrial services. It stands for free, secular and compulsoVy education from the kindergarten to the university; uniform school books printed by the government and supplied free of eost. It demands increased taxation on unearned increments and monopoly, for the purpose of removing the present burden .upon family incomes; increased taxation on unimproved lands; Inereas- ed graduated income tax, with a corresponding reduction of indirect tax. It stands for the extension of the pension system to cover all incapacitated persona, and increased ratOs of pensions. It will advocnto tho right to work, the full recognition of unionism as the basis of arbitration in industrial law, and the consequent membership of ult workers engaged in the various industriea. It will advocate a citizen army on a volunteer system, with standard wages while on duty, together with practical measures for the promotion of peace. Firat of all it will demand the repeal of the conscription law in New Zealand. It will be seen that the Now Zealand Labor pnrty is following tho lines adopted by the Australian Labor party. The time should not be far distant when they Bhould amalgamate. A Great Problem, The Australian government is engaged in studying out a solution for one of tho gravest problems that ever eon- fronted a nation, that of saving 250,000 men from the scrap-heap, after they have returned from tho war. The government hns rightly announced that aa these men are away fighting the battles of the rich people of Australia, it is only logical that the rich should be the greatest supporters of any measure intended to enable theBe men to take care of themselves and their families after tho war is over, that is those who have not been physically incapacitated aB a result of it. The government offers no apology when it asks the wealthy of Australia to flnd at least $80,000,000 of the $100,000,000 necessary to settle these men in employment after they have roturned. It is the aim of the government to settle as many as possible on the land. Australia cannot have too many primary producers. This will be the most expensive part of the scheme, and because of the costliness of the operation, every precaution ia to bo taken to provent any but suitablo men being assisted to purchase irrigation blocks or forma. Lifo in the open air has made a great many of our soldiers believo that they will nevor be content again if they are cooped up in towns or cities. It is imperative, however, that they should not mako any mistake about their proper avooations. Probation Farmera. Men who havo never engaged in agricultural operations might easily discover through a very brief experience that the arduouB toll of the husbandman did not suit their peculiar temperaments. To discover this after settlement upon the land would involve an enormous loss, besidoa dislocating the whole scheme. It is proposed, therefore, to create what may be called probation farms, ao that land applicants mny be tried out for two or three months, in order that they may ascertain whether they havo any natural aptitude for such a calling. Once they have passed through the probation farms, they will be entitled to the asBiatance which It is intonded to grant. Roughly Bpeaking, it is contemplated that each returned soldier should be provided with $2500 worth of land and an equal amount for improvements. For this he will pay over n term of years, which will grndu- ally wipe out his indebtedness. A rate of interest Iosb than the current rate in the open money market will be charged him, on an ascending scale until it is uniform with the public ruling rate. The Labor_ governmont' will bear tho loaa that ia occasioned by this generous treatment to tho new settler. As far as poasible, efforts will be made to plant the men on the land in comnrunitioa instead of having thom scattered, for it is expected that this collectivism will ma* terially aid the Boldlera in beating their ■words into plowshares. At a recent THE TIME AND THE PLACE FOR A PROGRESSIVE MOVE A Great Provincial Resource Awaiting Intelligent Development for the Public Good—As State Ownership is Now on the World Docket it is Up to British Columbia to Open Court and Try the Case WITHIN THIS province lies a wealth of natural resources that has by no means escaped the eager eyes of the capitalists who continually scan the speculative horizon for profitable locations wherein to cast their bread of investment upon the waters, with a reasonable certainty that it will return to them in due course of time, accompanied with much increment. Among the other resources peculiar to this locality, and one that possesses a direct food value, lies in the vast supply of fish to be found in the waters of this coast. While it is generally known that the fisheries of this coast are of vast extent, for some peculiar reason there has been less said about these particular resources, and what has been done along the line of their development, than their importance really deserves. From an examination into the matter, it appears that the reason for this may possibly be found in the fact that certain interests—notably the big canners and operators—have been able to build up and hold such an extremely fat and juicy monopoly for themselves, that they have used every means within their power to allow as little light as possible to be cast upon their operations, and thus safeguard their chosen field from undue invasion by other profit-seeking interests. The fact that their operations—at least as far as the canning interests are concerned—are carried on at somewhat isolated points and cover but a few weeks of time during each year, has made it possible to avoid the notoriety that usually follows in the wake of financial ventures of any considerable magnitude. In Its Early Days. ♦ Of course, the Indians of this region lived very largely by fishing, in the days prior to the arrival of tbo white man and his civilization. In the early days of the fishing industry; under the rule of the white man, operations were, of course, limited in scale and tho fishing was practically all done by whites. As tho value of the salmon for canning purposes became known, and the canneries grew into larger units of operation, Oriental labor waB introduced and the white fishermen gradually forced into tho background. The price paid for fish by the canneries was continually lessened until tbe white were nil but completely forced out of the • industry. It has long since become impossible for. n white fisherman to make a living in this province, through fiBhing alone. Though perhaps some Blight modification of this has occurred during recent months, it is due solely to the effect of- the war upon the supply of Labor in the market. Tbe "Iron Chink." Tho Oriental had not long superseded the white man as the lubor force in the operation of canneries, before there appeared that mechanical contrivance known as tho "iron chink." ThiB machine now performs the work of cleaning the fish and making it ready to be put into the cans. It doea if swiftly and thoroughly, ond dispenses with a very large percentage of the Oriental labor previously employed. Thus the Oriental is now getting his, and tho gold mine of the canncr'a combine is becoming none the less rich in consequence of hiB getting it. Tho arbitrary authority over the flshormen of the coast, white, Indian and Oriental alike, is thus becoming more complete and crushing in the hands of the cannery combine, as the days go by. The outlook becomes ever more hopeless and dismal for these workers. That aome still further slight betterment may come because of the effect of tho war upon tho labor market is possible, but it can bo but temporary and will again be lost when the labor conditions once more return to the normal. Later Developments, It is needless to say that the big can- nop' interests that have grown up out of tho conditions upon this coast, have at tho same time left no stone unturned to so shape those conditions as to best protect themselves against any and all invasion of their terirtory and opportunities. That they reached out for the hand of government to aid them in their laudable purpose, Ib a foregone conclusion, for it is a well-known fact that there is no other source from which conference of the state premiers of Australia, it was agreed that they could set aside enough land of suitablo quality to provide allo.tmonts that would yield competoncy to their occupiers. To Encourage Business Talent. Thoae returned soldiers who wish to engage in busines in towns or eitiea will be treated with the aame generosity as thoae who elect to go on the land, with this difference, that the capital outlay in the caso of the urban dweller will not need to be anything liko as great aa that demanded of the rural settler. For ho who desires to set up a small shop in town, the idea is that tho state war council will grant monetary assistance to procure a lease of his shop and acquire a stock that will admit of his earning his own livelihood. In short, every reaBonnble consideration and help will be extended to the soldiers when they return. Whon ihe full scheme is officially announced, it will be found that the government has anticipated every contingency that taay confront those who have to administer an undertaking of extraordinary magnitude and involving the most complex and puzzling Bocial and industrial problems. Some Contrast The scheme of the Labor government to save the men from the economic scrap-heap after their return from the trenches, is in direct contrast to a schemo that emanated from the Australian employers to the effect that tho returned soldiers should be treated as "slow workerB," and Bo be allowed to work for lower wages than the ordinary rates of pay. The idea of tho Australian employers came up for consideration by tho Trades and Labor councils, who promptly turned it down, saying that it was an insldiouB attempt to 'undermine tho established right of tho worker to get a fair dny'B wage, and was aimed at the foundations of the most Bocred rights of Labor. The Labor bodios say that, come what may, when the men return, thoy shall got the stan* dad wagCB, and not be made the prey of all "cheap labor advocates," and incidentally, assist in lowering tho wogos generally throughout Australia. Thisis the, sole roason we are fighting conscription in Australia today—for tho simplo reason that conscription means puro and unadulterated slavery. Wo will have none of it. ample aid can come to the assistance of economic adventurers in their queBt of pelf. Any one at all familiar with the situation knows full well that the issue of cannery licenses, of fishing licences, and all rules and regulations relating to the conduct of the fishing industry, hnve been under the direct control of the B. C. Canners* association for years. No one could get a cannery licence for any locality that would in any manner threaten to interfere with the intorests of the combine. To even obtain an ordinary fishing licenco required the approval of tho association. The "free fisherman" was free to flsh, only with tho approval of his self-constituted masters. Fishing licences are apportioned to tho various canneries in the combine, and thoae canneries farm them out to Orientals and other cheap grades of labor. Outside of this enough licenses are granted to white fishermen to provide for such voters as may reaide in the vicinity of any particular cannery in ueation. The Political Twins. That this happy arrangement for the cannoriea haB existed under both Liberal and Conservative administrations need surprise no one who possesses even the slightest knowledge of capitalist politics. The ground work of this protective policy-was laid, and well laid, too, undor the Laurier Liberal regime, and has been continued, and well continued nt that, under the present Conservative government. When it comes to wet-nursing capitalist schemes of piracy and loot there is no choice between these political' twins. What either one of them overlooks is not worth picking up. That theao political twins make wry faces at each other during the heat of a campaign, and even go the length of applying opprobrious epithets to one another, should lead no one to think that there is any family difference between them. These little eccentricities are only a part of the stage work inci dental to the proper presentation of the farce-comedy of "the pot calling thi kettle black." Some of ttae Results. The generouB returns in tho way of fat that accrue to the astute owners of the fishing industries of the provinco, are indicated in the report of tho Provincial Fisheries department for the year ending March 31,1915. The entire output for the year, of the fisheries of the province, amounted to $11,500,000, Of'this amount about $11,000,000 was turned out by the handling of salmon, halibut, herring, cod and whale oil. This represents the output of the big concerns. The output of salmon alone was over $8,000,000, nearly all of which is put up within a period of less than two months out of the year. Just what the rato of profit upon the cannery investment was, iu the case of this salmon pack, is not absolutely known, but it is a common saying among those who have followed the business, and who are outside of the combine, that an ordinary year's pack will pay for a cannery, and a proflt of 100 per cent, upon the investment. What the rato of proflt should be for the following yeara during the lifetime of the cannery, is loft to thc reader's imagination. That these sngucious cannery owners have boen long enjoying a fairly good thing iB beyond doubt, and that thoy have vory carefully Bafegtiurded their interests by refraining from exposing thoir gold mine to the covetous eyes of their capitalist relatives outside, seems equally certain. That they have received the hearty and whole-souled support of both Liberal and Conservative governments, is perhaps due to their proficiency in tho fine art of "greasing the ways." The use of this marine term should be permissible, for is not fiBhing itself a marine occupation! If Not Why Not? Those nre the days when, largely as a result of war exigencies, a swift and pronounced transfor of capitalist administration of industry from the capitalists themselves into the hands of the capitalist state, is being made. Whothor we like it or not, that seems to be the next ordained step in the evolution of human society, and consequently an absolutely necessary ono. If such be the cobo, overy force in human society should be directed towards that end, and it ia up to us in BritiBh Columbia to do our part in its consummation. As the fisheries of this province constitute a natural resource of inestimable food value, and ono that is now being ruthlessly oxploited for thc odvnntago of an interest in our midst that is a grentor foe to the welfare of our peoplo than all tho Huns on earth, why should wo not insist that the governmont of this province immediately tako steps to bring the exploitation of these fishing resources, in their entirety, directly within tha activities of the state itself f And further, why not demand that the operation of the industry implied, shall be conducted solely for tho purposo of obtaining a food supply for all of our I BRITISH TRADES Rejects the Proposed Trade War After Military Butchery Ends Brotherhood of Labor Does Not Include Enemies of Righteousness (Continued on page 4) THE BRITISH TradeB -Union Congress at Birmingham, England, tout week, reaffirmed tho principle of the eight-hour day in all trades, with a minimum adult wago of $7.50 a week, recognition of the unions'by the employers, and payment of unemployed men and women by the state. The congresB instructed its parliamentary committeo to prepare a manifesto showing that reconstruction after the war depends on education, abolition of sweatshop conditions, demolition of un- Banitary areas, and abolition of all monopolies. Want Labor Minister. The congress adopted a resolution in favor of a minister of labor with power to control and organize the health of workers, housing, agriculture and food supplies, along with national control of land, state ownership of railways, waterways, mines and war plants. Harry Goaling, president of the con- greBB, declared that the government should not dismiss about 6,000,000 men and women from their present employment after the war until comprehensive measures had been- taken to prevent an unemployed crisis. Demand Age Pensions. The congress alao adopted resolutions demanding adequate old age pensions nnd exemption of such benefits from taxation. The reduction of the pension age limit from 70 to GO years was also carried. Pleas were made for a better cooperation between employees and employers. The congress repudiated the charge of David Lloyd George that organized labor had not done its duty to the country during the war. It was pointed out that 90 per cent, of the soldiers in the trenches were workingmen Reject Trade War. The congress rejected the idea of a trnde war againet the central powers after the present war. The speakers declared that organized labor of Oreat Britain had not -gtrtie Into the" War to punish the German nation, but to abol ish all wars in the future. It was argued thot a trade war would injuro British labor as much as German labor, and would mean more sacrifices for working people without increasing the welfare of the nation economically. American dolegates to the congress also expreased the idea thot organized labor in America favored the Allies mainly because it was assumed they were fighting for right and justice, not for private capitalist gains. To retain these sympathies, the Allies must mako their actions agree with these claims. Plan Neutral Conference. The suggestion of an international Labor conference, including delegates from the Labor organizations of the central nations, was rejected. Most of the speakers declared that they would not confer with Gorman, Austrian, Bulgarian and Turkish Labor delegatea so long, as these Labor leaders of central powers stood by their governments in a war against tho righteous and just allied governments. Whether a conference of allied Labor organizations would admit delegates from neutral countries was not settled by the congress. It was left to a later decision. The congreaa went on record againat industrial conscription which would send soldiers into factories and ahopa on different terma than civilian workers. Endorse Protective Tariff. One of the most startling announcements of tho congress was a resolution declaring in favor of a protective tariff. Tho resolution was adopted by a majority of over 1,000,000, and demands measures oxcluding or restricting the importation of goods made in foreign countries undor wages and conditions which nro below the English union standards. fin ViMo-tTtiA I 01*7 WOO J $1.60 per Year GRIT ARTILLERY SMASHES THE BOWSER MACHINE GUN Conservative Government Wiped Out By Liberal Landslide—The Political Augean Stables to Be Purified and Purged of Filth—Treasury Leaks to Be Securely Plugged—Wets in Doubt, Women Win FROM LATEST ADVICES available just before going to press early this morning, it looks as though the Liberals have made a fairly complete sweep of thc province. Not above seven or eight Con* servatives arc left to tell the tale of misplaced confidence. The machine is wrecked and a glorious opportunity is apparently opened up to the Liberals to build up another one just like it, or even more perfect, if possible. That there will be great glee in the Liberal camp, after the long, lean years of adversity, goes without saying. That thc Labor interests of the province will lose nothing by the change of political administration is a foregone conclusion, and that they will gain little is equally certain. These flops from one capitalist party to another are absolutely devoid of significance to any outside of the pie-counter brigade that is slated for gastronomic service thereat, That the winning combination will set itself at once to work to consolidate its gains and fortify its position against all counter-attack, is the surest thing on earth. While acknowledgment is made that the Conservative bunch got what was coming to it, Thc Federationist cannot but be extremely sceptical as to the probability of the winners being one whit better. There is nothing in the history of the Liberal party to warrant the assumption that the interests of Labor arc any safer in its hands than in those of its political twin, the Conservative party. As She Looks. ♦ From returns now in it looks Tho pedagogue in tho Whito Houso has boon doing «omo skilful politicnl work in connection with tho controversy between tho railways nnd tho brothorhoods. Now thnt matters hnvo boon settled to tho satisfaction of the workors, by tbo pedagogue's adminis* trntion onacting nn eight-hour law, it mny reasonably be expected thdt Wilson will receive duo rccorapenso nt the November elections. Even now somo of tho alleged Lnbor papors nro hailing Wilson ns ono possessed of a "keen sympathy with tho cause of Lnbor," in* stoad of a keen political sagacity on his own behalf. Lots of Henry Dubbs still lack proper perceptive faculties to ennblo them to distinguish between trick nnd truth. LABOR TEMPLE MEETINGS DURING THE COMING WEEK SUNDAY, Sept. 17— MONDAY, Sept. 18—Boilermakers j Electrical Workers, No. 213; Brewery Workers. TUESDAY, Sopt. 19—Bookbinders,' Railway Firemen. WEDNESDAY, Sopt. 20— THURSDAY, Sopt. 21—Maintenance of Waymen; Trades and Labor Council. FRIDAY, Sopt. 22—Civic Employees, though the Liberals would have thirty- four membera in tho house at Victoria, out of a total of forty-Beven, with several more ridings still to hear from. Should these also go Liberal, tbe Conservatives will hold but seven seats, And what an uncovering of Conservative rascality has been promised in the event of a Liberal victory! Having been so promised Tho Federationist shall eagerly look forward to its fulfilment, and a racy and absorbing tale it will, not doubt be. Parker Williams Wins. Parker Williams, Liberal, easily won. out in Newcastle riding over his Conservative opponent. No other candidate waB in the field, Williams will be remembered as a one-time socialist member from that district. It has not been forgotten how he used to tear the hide off Ralph Smith, who was one time elected to tho federal houso as a Labor man, and who subsequently uncovered himself as a Liberal, for hiB betrayal of the trust imposed in him by the miners of Nanaimo. Now that he has travelled the same route and arrived at the same destination as Ralph Smith, and they are in the house together at Victoria, there is no logical reason why Williams should not apologize to Mr. Smith for the really nasty things he used to say about him, or elae acknowledge himself afflicted with the same weakness or turpitude that he uaed to attribute to him. It will be very interesting to see these erBtwhilo political enemies eventually, perhaps, become aa cloaely attached to each other as were Damon and Pythias of old. It is said that politics makes strange bed-follows. Tlicn again it soraetimea brings others together be- cauae of a strange uffinity that is difficult to explain. Other Candidates. Of the independent candidates here in Vancouver, Cassidy and Trotter headed the Hat, polling around 2000 each. Harrington, the lone socialist, received about 1000 votes. Two socialists in Victoria, Poupard and Smith, received 350 votes each and Skinner in Nanaimo 227. How the socialist candidates in other districts fared is not yet known, although John Mclnnis at Fort George may probably bo olected, latest reports early this morning giving him a small majority. Prohibition Prospects. Unless the return of the soldiers' vote should upset their calculations, it looks ns though the prohibitionists were destined to win out. Ab far as returns are in at the time of going to press, tho majority appears to be fairly heavy in favor of the act. There is, however, a strong chance of the soldier vote overturning this, as thero aro about 20,000 who oro entitled to vote. It is understood that the returns of this voto will uot bo in until the end of October, ho the fate of the "wets" will bo hanging in tho balance for some time to come. The Suffragettes. Woman suffrage wins out in this city by a vote of morothan two to ono. It would upponr from this that it is almost safo to nssiime it will carry throughout the provinco. There is ono thing to bo said about tho women, und that is that thoy huve beon most energetic nnd tire- loss workers, not only for womnn suffrage, but for prohibition ns well. They wero plentifully in evidence around every polling station all day yesterday, and until tho votes wero counted and the result known. About overy interest in the province was active in this campaign but Lnbor. Its activities were practicnlly nil. Evidently the workors are painfully indifferent to their own olass welfare, or are perfoctly satisfied to leave it to the political mercies of their masters. PAINTERS' CONFERENCE Pacific Northwest Conference Held This Week at Taeoma Business Agont W. J. Nagle of the locnl Bail.ling Trades Couneil returned yesterday from Everett, Wash., whom he attended thc Pacific Northwost Conference of tho Brotherhood of Painters on Monday nnd Tuesday last as the delegate from Vancouver. Tho conference was attended by more thnn 20 representatives from tho entire jurisdiction, including Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, and was an unqualified success. President E. P. MarHh of the Washington State Federation of Labor was present nnd addressed the delegates, Suitablo recognition was given the death of F. C. Clarke, nn old-timo member of No. 64, Taeoma, Wash., who passed away on Soptembor 2. Mr. Clarko was born in London, England, Soptembor 2, 1844 und eumc to tho United Statos in 1881, locnlod in Chicago, became a member of organized labor, in which ho had tnken an nctivo part up to the time of his death. He was better known to his many friends na "Single Tax" Clarko. B.C.E.R. MAY REACH EEMENT WITH ITS EMPLOYEES Mass Meeting Early This Morning Discussed the Situation Company Have Decided to Meet and Negotiate With Employees WHAT LOOKED like a critical situation late yesterday afternoon, as a result of the differences between the members, of the Electrical Workera union and the officials of the B. C, E R., for the past two weeks, has, happily, been changed to one that gives promise of a solution. For a while yesterday there seemed to be material for a scrap. But better counsel has prevailed, and whatever intention the company officials may have had of declaring for the "open shop," there is now every Hkeli hood of un amicable settlement. Midnight Mass Meeting. The whole situation wus thoroughly discussed at a midnight mass meeting last night, or rather early this morning, at which it was announced that the company was now prepared to deal with the Electrical Workers' union, and also open up the way for an adjudication of existing agreements with the Street Railway Employees' union, embracing all employees in the operating depart' ment. New Schedules Being Drafted. A few minor points remain to be agreed to so far as tho Electrical Work' ers' aro concerned. An amended agree' ment for the Street Railwaymen will be drafted today and discussed by both parties, to be submitted to another mass mooting tomorrow midnight. Under the circumstances the details may bo left undisclosed at this time with profit to both partiea. "DATE" REES A VISITOR U. M. W. of A. Board Member and Family Left for Home Yesterday. David Kees, international board mem bor of the United Mine Workers of America for District 18, embrucing the Crows Nest Pass district, him beon u coast visitor for thc pust couplo of weeks. For tho first time in yenrs, Mr. itccs, along with Mra. Keen und their family, decided to tako a holiday., Naturally they chose the coust for the outing. Aftor having a royul good time thoy left by yesterday's U. N. R, hfter- noon train for Fernio, to resume the daily grind. '' Dave'' paid The Federationist frequent visits while here, and yesterday morning expressed the hopo thut tho revenue from the big edition of last week would mako it possible to keep afloat during the coming winter. With the completion of the now Kettle River Valley railway, it will mean much closer communication with tho Pass districts, und he hopes tho miners will tnko a greator interest in The Federationist aB a result, in the nbsenco of their own District Lodger, which was forced out by tho "war times." Fred Hoover 111 at Moose Jaw. Fred. A. Hoover, sixth vice-president of tho International Association of Street Railway Employees, and business agent of Pioneer Division, No, 101, is ill at Moose Jaw, according to advices received by Mrs. Hoover yesterday nfternoon. A vicioUH business agent of the striking patternmakers of Detroit, ignored n court injunction by going to a strikebreaker's home nnd converting him to tho union sido of tho controversy. He was jailed and fined for disobeying the court's order. In sentencing him, the learned judgo said, "I wunt you to understand property rights must bo respected, and that mon cannot interfere with employees of this shop." While \ndrew Furuseth is laboriously arguing Mint "labor is not property," would he bc kind enough to tako a Bqulnt at tho laborer himself, in the light of thc learned judgo'a decision! IHDOiOF The Slave Civilization of Centuries Is Tottering to Its Grave Lies Aimed at Socialism Are Now Coming Home to Capitalist Roost «rTHiS IS the greatest historical mo- I ment of all ages. Old forms of society are being hurled in the bloodstained trenches of Europe aud new forms of society are growing into existence. "The first milestone of the social revolution has been passed in Europe. This iB the real meaning and result of the present war." So aaid Cornelius Lehane, Cork, Ireland, Labor and socialist speaker, last Friday night, in Milwaukee, while dealing with recent events in Europe. Tke audience was the largest of any of the meetings, Frank J. Weber, general or* gainzer of the Wisconain State Federation of Labor, presided. Employing Glass Hu Lost 'The real significance of the European war," declared Lehane, "is not in its battles, retreats and advances. There is something beyond and deeper than the fighting. What is really happening over thero ia the breakdown of the capitalist syatem and of a civilization which has prevailed for several hundred years. We are witnessing the final phase of an historical epoch. "The socialist movement has won everything' that has been won in Europe and the master class has lost," England's taking over control of the railways and shipping and the control of thc food supply of both England and Germany by the government were, Lehane declared, more Important than any battles of the war. Individualism Is Buried. "Gambling in grain has been stopped, prices fixed and supply equalized," he declared. "For the first time the condition of the food supply of a nation has become the concern of the government. This control will remain after the war. The philoaophy of the master class, based on individualism, is forever buried in the trenches of Europe." Discussing the moral and ethical aspect of the-war, Lehane declared that every objection made to socialism on these grounds has been wiped out by the war. "Socialism is accused of being anti- religious, of wanting to destroy and desecrate churches, of destroying the homo and finally of resulting in a nation of 'fatherless children,'" Baid tho speaker. 160,000 War Babies Born. He theu pointed out that churches havo been destroyed, have been used for stables; that 30,000 priests have been conscripted and forced into military servioe iu France; thousands of homes broken up by tho war, and that finally, in England, there have been born, since the wur, 150,000 "war babies," whoso paternity is unknown. "All the things socialists have been accused of/' he continued, "have been dono, not under socialism, but under the rule of the accuaera of socialism." Lehano discussed the execution of James Connelly for his part in the Irish revolt nnd said: "If Iriah Catholics in the United States want to orcct a monument to Connelly thoy will vote for Bonson nnd Kirkpatrick." Labor Backed Revolt. The Dublin revolt, Lehane declared, was uot tho work of the Sinn Fein party bat of the Labor-socialist group. The meaning of Sinn Fein is "We Our- solves," nnd tbo party favors ignoring the British parliament and organizing a separate government for Ireland in opposition to tho Redmond plnn of remaining a pnrt of the British government. From here Lohnne wont to Minneapolis, whom he will speak Snturday night. CARPENTERS MEET TONIGHT .. Local Conditions Improving Dally Witb Much Better Prospects. A muss meeting of curpenters will be held in room 301, Labor Templo, this evening at 8 o'clock, to discuss trado conditions. All carpenters havo boen invited, BusinCBs Agent Jimmy Robiaon reports that trade conditioiiB ore improving every day. Quito n number of all- union jobs aro already under way and the prospects, from an organization stnndpoint, are much better than far aomo months. Tho condition of the labor market, too, makes it almost a certainty that the employing contractors will soon have to reckon on an increase over tho preBent wnge rato. "There in a good deal of building work in sight for the next few months," said Business Agent Robison to The Fedor- ntionist yoaterdny, "and if the carpenters will only got togethor thore is no quostion but what they will be able to securo better working conditions in the nenr futuro." Milwaukee trado unionists are interesting themselves in the 1017 convention of tho Brotherhood of CnrpenterH nnd Joiners. Tho carpenters' delogntes hnve beon instructed to go to the Fort Worth. Texns, convention, which is to meet this month, and novor let un until the 1017 convontion hns been landed for Milwaukee. WANTS 1917 CONVENTION Winnipeg Trades and Labor Oouncll Wants Next Tear's Labor Congress. Winnipeg Trades and Labor council' hns issued an invitation to the Trades and Labor Congreaa of Canada to hold its 1017 convontion in tho Prairie Capital City. Winnipeg delegates to the Toronto convention, which opens a week from Monday, will vigorously support the uction of the control labor body. Tho Congross met last in Winnipeg in 1008. PAGE TWO THE BRITISH COLUMBIA FEDERATIONIST FBIDAY... ..SEPTEMBEB 16, 1916 INCORPORATED 18136 Molsons Bank CAPITAL Ud RESERVE $8,800,000 96 Bnuchu In Cauda A general tanking business transacted. Circular letters of credit. , Bank money orders. Savings Department Interest allowed at highest current rate \ IBS. Federationiat, Limited B. Farm. Pettipiece Manager Offlce: Boom 817, Labor Templt TeL Exchange Seymonr 7495 Subscription: (1.50 per year; in Vaneoaver City, 12.00; to union* eubscrlblng In a body, $1.00 "^BEPREMNTATIVES New Westminster W. Yatos, Box 1021 Prince Rupert W. E. Denning, Box 631 Victoria A. 8. Wella, Box 1588 THE INCORPORATED 1855 BANK OF TORONTO AaigM 109,000,000 Deposits 48,000,000 Household Banking Accounts in The Bank of Toronto havo been found by many to be a groat con* vonience. The accounts may be opened in the names of husband und wife, and either may deposit or withdraw money. Interest is paid on these account's twice a year. Paid up capiat 1,000,000 Reaerve fond 8,480,883 Corner Hastings and Cambie Sts. "Unity of Lahor: the Hope of the World' FBIDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 1916 all capitalist agencies so assidiously cultivate it. T. B. CUTHBERTSON & Oo. Men's Hatters and Outfitters Three Storei Some of Onr Beit Cuttomert are among the trade unionists of Greater Vancouver. In some caseB, where a customer MAT NEED EAST TERMS we are willing to talk it over. Come in and look over the biggest and best stock of furniture in British Columbia. 41 HASTINOS ST., WEST BAGGAGE Delivered to any part of the dty. Furniture and Pianos Moved or Stored at reasonable rates. Phones Seymoar 105, 605. Night and Sunday calls, Sey. 3589. Great Northern Transfer Co. (McNeill, Welch 4 Wilson, Ltd.) 80 Pender St, W., Vancouver, B.O. W. R. OWEN Malleable Ranges, Shelf and Heavy Hardware; screen doors and windows. 2337 MAIN ST. Phone: Fair. 447 British Columbia Land Splendid opportunities in Mixed Farming, Dairying, Stock and Poultry. British Columbia Qrants Pre-emptions of 160 aores to Actual Settlers— Free TERMS— Residence on the la*d for at least three years; improvements to the extent of (5 per acre; bringing under cultivation at least five acres. For further information apply to DEPUTY BONISTEE OF LANDS, VIOTOBIA, B, 0. SEOBETABT, BUREAU OF PBOVINOIAL INFORMATION, VIOTOBIA, B. 0. AMPNG THE two or throe foolscap pages of suggested, editorial, heads furnished the Canadian press by the department of Trade and Commerce at Ottnwa, wo noto the nbovo fjuptipn. Beforo nn HOW intelligent r o p 1 y MUOH DO t could bo made to WE OWE? such a query, it is of ilrst importance to find out who is mennt by the "wo" reforred to. As tho department of j Trado and Commerce s.iggestB tho query, it is but reasonable to presume that tho "wo" referred to must be the trading and commercial clasB of the Dominion. As that class, more properly termed the capitalist class, owns and ontrols all of the wealth of the Dominion, and holds n lead pipe cinch upon all that will bo produced in the future, so far as we are now able to determine, it ought to be easy to answer the query. What ever that class now possesses, plus all that it ever did possess in the past, and again plus all that it may by the same token ever possess in the future, it oweB to the working class which has produced it, and from which it has been and will in the future be taken, without any equivalent having been rendered in return. And it is due solely to the stupidity and spinelessness of that working class that the debt has been so long allowed to pile up without n settlement being demanded and on- [forced. * * * It may be true that within the ranks of the capitalist class individuals or concerns may be indebted to other individuals or concerns, but neither creditor nor debtor can have nny standing in the jurisprudence of Labor, other than as a criminal caught red-handed in disposing of or making way with the proceeds of the plunder of the workers. What these criminals may, or may not owe each other is of no consequence to the work- who are enslaved and robbed. The interest of the enslaved is to break their chains and bring their -robbery to an end, instead of taking sides in the various quarrels arising among thieves over a division of the plunder taken from them. .Whatever debt tho ruling clnss may owe to the class which it has ruled and robbed, can never be paid for tho very good reason that the ruling class. never produces anything to pay with. All that itB various members ever pay oach other with must flrst be stolen from those who produce all wealth—the workers. If the department of Trade and Commerce is earnestly endeavoring to ascertain how much "we" of the Canadian ruling class owe to others of our'' class, either native or foreign, it is but fair to presume that such information is being sought for tho purpose of enabling "we" to formulate plans for the liquidation of the debt. Now payment can be made only by means of a transfer, from debtor to creditor, of some form of wealth produced by Labor. This wealth must flrst be taken from the workers who produce it. It must be gotten for nothing. If the debtor had to pay for it, there would bo nothing to warrant the transaction, for he might just as well pay his creditor direct, and thus save himself unnecessary bother. That which individual capitalists or concerns may now owe to others of their ilk, or that which-capitalist nations may owe, can never be paid except these debtors flrst suck the substance wherewith to make payment, from the enforced and unpaid toil of the work- ing class. And if such payment should bo made in full, no burden would be lifted from the bnckB of the workers, because no working class debt had been cnncollod by thetransaction. The mere transferring of accounts in the capitalist ledger neither loosens the chains nor lightens the burdon of slaves. * * * What do "wo" of tho working cIbsb owet Nothing. Tho working class has always paid its way through life, and it iH the only pnrt of human society that ever did, or evor could do so. Nothing can be paid for except by the production of it, or its equivalent, Therefore1 nothing can be paid for except by labor. Labor produces nil wealth that is, or can be. measured in terms of exchange value. Labor iB, therefore, tho sole paymaster. Tho Salvation Army slogan that Jobus pays it .all, may bc true in regard to all heavenly reckoning, but in mundane affairs it is Labor alone thnt makos payment. It pays in wealth for itB own poverty' and its masters' affluence, and it pays liberally in blood, swoat and toars for the chains that bind its limbs. And overy force and factor that is a part of capitalist society is continuously active in bo chlo- forming the workers that Labor will continuo to slave and pay. And as long as the working class remains sufficiently stupid to be content to slave, and sweat, and pay that which it does not owe, who shall blame the master class for clinging to the middle and driving tho Bpura hornet As to owing, the working class owes nothing. Tho capitalist class owes everything to working class stupidity, That is why FOR.THE second lime in the history of its building, the Quebec bridge has met with disaster, costly alike in human life and in what is commonly termed property. Not thot it makes much difference in THE either case, for it is QUEBEC a well-known fact DISASTER. that thc formor is. among the cheapest things extant, while the latter costs ab> solutely nothing but tho taking. The first collapse of the structure, which occurred in 1907, oost'the lives of some 70 workmen. This latest disaBter resulted in the death of salf a score. Presumably from out of the inexhaustible reservoir of the labor market will come a fresh supply eager and willing to offer itself ub a sacrifice upon the altar of human folly, And who can say that these huge undertakings in the shape of monstrojs bridges, groat tunnels, lofty sky-scrapers nad the thousand nnd one enterprises into which capital pours its plunder and slaughters its slaves with such n lavish hand, are not veritable monum^ntB to human folly? Can any ono point to u legitimate and healthy human purpose that is conserved by those boasted achievements) Does their accomplishment add to human comfort and well being, or in the slightest degree increase the useful woalth of the world or lighten the burden of toil upon the shoulders of men? Is there the slightest compensating advantage for the terrible amount of energy expended ond the loss of life suffered by the working class? It is all sheer folly, nBininity of the crasscBt kind, and could nevor bo thought of in any other than a brutal and conscienceless slave society, whose loftiest ideal is the display of powet and plundor. TheBe boasted achievements are closely akin in character to the hanging gardens of Babylon and the pyramids of Egypt. They are purely ruling class giracracks that nre part and parcel of the modern system of transmitting slaves into bank balances. * * • One-half of the energy, expended in enlarging and extending the mechanism and empire of capitalist property and production, would, if sanely utilized, feed, clothe and shelter all mankind in comfort and abundance, and thus enable man to really live as a human being, rather than to vegetate as a slave at one end of the social ladder, and an un- Bufferable nuisance and a curse at the other. And what other animal in the category can make such a ghastly farce of living aB the animal known as a workingman? This peculiar animal, that possesses absolute mastery over all other animal kind, and at least no small degree of mastery over the giant forceB of nature "as well, seems to be almost devoid of social instinct, reaaon and sanity, so much so in fact, as to persist in doing a multitude of amazing things, some of them actually bordering upon the absolutely marvelous, and the most marvelous thing o all is that his most amazing achievements result only in his own undoing. Either he7 loses his life in the doing, or the things of his creation become the veritable Frankenstein monster that subsequently devours him. And 'yet he calmly keeps the "even tenor of his way," sublimely unconscious of the supreme folly of his acts and the ridiculous figure he cuts in the great scheme of things. The fearful toll of life that is taken from the ranks of his class, in the upbuilding and extending of the capitalist mechanism of tor- ture and exploitation, seems to his dull intellect to be naturally and logically incidental to an inevitable and pre-ordained purpose. His "betters" laud him to the skies for the noble part he plays in the spreading of civilization to the uttermost parts of the earth, and if he as an Individual escapes from some disaster that takes toll of his fellows, he aids in brushing aside the remains and cheerfully takes his place as the next probable victim. As a veritable veteran of the field of industry, he walks as fearleBBly into the jaws of death at the command of hiB industrial master, as does his equally brilliant colleague upon the field of war, at the command of his superior officer. It is a brave story nnd scarce a day passes that does not add tragic pngos to it. war, this relativity appenrs to Btill obtrude itself into that worthlessness itself. By the above rating it would appear that the common soldior who had become incapacitated in the service of his country, has become worthless to the value of $480, while a brigadier- general similarly incapacitated, has attained a worthlessness nearly Bix times as great. We protest ngainBt the imposition of this indignity upon those vulinnt brigadier-generals who may unfortunately become so incapacitated in this struggle as to be unable to longer regale the world with tho bombast and braggadoei-j usually provided by that grade of warrior. ^* * * The Federationist desires to express ' ing proflt from the labor of thUse who do not and cannot own theBe things, i.e., the working class. Having acknowledged that right it is difficult to understand how Mr. Wilson, or any other reasonable person, can logically object to the exercise of all rights and privileges that muBt go with such ownership. Surely if persons or corporations are legitimately entitled to own property, Buch as persons or corporations must possess the legal right to fix the price at .which they are willing to sell such property. ."Their products" are their property, and why should wo no,t pay the "prices they charge?" It should never be forgotten that we are under no legal compulsion to purchase. If the price doeB not suit ub we can its regrot that the government di<l uot j refUBe to take the C00*8' If consult this office beforo adopting these i ttPProve of tho present system of pro- pension regulation, but as it did not ""^ ' "
Publisher changes in chronological order: Vancouver Trades and Labour Council (1912) ; The B.C. Federationist, Ltd. (1912-1915) ; The B.C. Federationist, Limited (1915-1922) ; The B.C. Federationist (1922-1923) ; The British Columbia Federationist (1923-1925).
Newspapers
Vancouver (B.C.)
English
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Vancouver : The B.C. Federationist, Limited
Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from the Digitization Centre: http://digitize.library.ubc.ca/
BC Historical Newspapers
Original Format: Royal British Columbia Museum. British Columbia Archives.
The British Columbia Federationist
Text