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INDUSTRIAL UNITY: STRENGTH OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE FEDERATED LABOR PARTY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA PUBLISHED IN INTERESTS OF AU WORKERS .. POLITICAL HMTT: VB3TOBT SIXTEENTH YEAR. No. 12 FOUR PAGES VANCOUVERrB. C, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 21,1924 5C A COPY 3. 8. Wpodswortb, labor M. P. piwroH-f Mfclaohlan's Case Before Parliament TRIED ON OBSOLETE LAW Four Judges Closely Connected With Companies Before Ap- pointment to Bench [J. S. Woodsworth, $1. P., Centre Winnipeg, delivered a lenKthy speech in the federal house on March 4. 19ii, a verbatim report of whieh appears in Hansard of that date. Regarding the arrest and conviction of .1. B. Maclachlan, secretary pf the Nova Scotia miners, Mr. Woodsworth , has the following to flay.—Editor], -THAT brings me to a question that * has been of very great interest to ' tho workers of Canada from coast to , coast, namely, the arrest and conviction of J. B. Maclachlan, the secretary of the miners. I am very glad indeed to give credit tp the government in that within the last two or three days an order has been issued for the release pf J. B. MacLachlan on parole. It has not been gfeperally known that tjie other six men who were arrested and convloted at the same time were released some time ago. 1 understand that Mr. McLachlan ls gtlll in Dpr- chester Renlteptlary. Whether ftj* pot he will accept hts release on tlcket- qf-leave, I do not know, but although his release may be a certain kindness . to him and to his family. It by no | means goes far enough, because he still standi as a criminal. Fpr what I was he arrested? Because he wrote a I circular letter which he sent out to ' the different unions, protesting ' against the brutal action of the pro- ' vlncla| pojlpe of yntta, Sessile. He stated hpw Hits tqree pf provincial policemen had rltjden down men, women and children who were going peaceably about their business. I have here—I w|fi not take tile trojjl)!e to read them to the house—statutory 1 declarations which were presented tp i the commission which recently re- ■ pprted, substantially corroborating the statements which Mr* McLachlan had made. He was charged with spreading a false tale, and also with sedition. He wait taken to Halifax, and the charge pt spreading a. false tale waa dropped; lt wm fpund thet his > tale was all tpp true. The authorities then proceeded with the second charge, that of seditious libel, I am not going to weary the house by going Into the hiBtory of the law of sedition. It ls an obsolete law; It was \ not used In Englnnd, or very rarely i used, for nearly one hundred years. The safeguards which, have exist ."1 in this law up to 18i9 were removed by a bit of vicious legislation wliich was rushed through this house at that time. Epdentjilly -edition, although not defined In the code, rpnslsts ln the criticizing of public authorities. I submit that if half as seriou_ charges had been made by the right hon. leader of the opposition (Mr. Meighen) out tn the open oa he made on the floor of the hou_e yesterday, he could be charged under this law of seflitiqn, an* fsr thp life of me i dp not Bee that anything could save him. But sprely we have get beyond the time when authorities are immune from prtMclam. We are surely sitp- poseQ tp tie living in a day of <|*?n.o- 'cratic Institutions, and if authorities! are not doing the right thing they ought to be criticized. There have always existed men of heroic mould who are willing to Btand up and claim their rights, and J. B. McLachlan, I believe, ts one of theBe. It ia nenety years since Nova Scotia a map was tried fpr sedition. Then a man was haled before thp courts anc) accused pf being "a wicked seditious apd ill— ■disponed person, a person of most wicked and malicious temper and disposition." That man Is now regarded aa one of Canada's greatest ' sons, Joseph Howe. But he was able - to say at that time. In connection with (his trial: And here I may be permitted -to thank heaven and pur ancestors, that I do not'stand before a corrupt and vpnal court and a packed and predetermined. Jury. Was J. B. MacLachlan able to say ihat? He had been taken from his iwn hpme county and sent ott to be rled In Halifax, a city which through he papers and through false repre- entatlon had been poisoned againBt lie minors through a period of many montha, If not years. Further than that, hjg case wai <lealt wjfh by Judges jnany pf wliom UP tf) the time of their *>levat|pn tp the bench had beep very fclosely connected with the coal companies. I am not for one moment accusing thea* Judges pf wilfully prostl- lutlng their offlce, but I say that men T*ho for many, many yeara have been Jflnanclally Interested ln pertain cqn- ■cerna might And It very, very hard to [disassociate themselvea from certain H)Plntq pf v|ew whiph they would; al- Itpost Inevitably have acquired. I Imkefl, when In Ns.* Scotia, eqnpsrn- Tjn* Hit mtM 0 the -Dpreme oom, --hnd I wae told that the corporation ■Influence on the bench waa bo strong hat the court Is looked upon hy labor Haa a company department. At least ■four Judges were very plpfiely connected with the companies In New jQlangnw before their appointment to Ithe bench. Chief Juitlce fhe Hon. Robert E. Harris Wa| preeldent qf fhe (Intf-i Tcotla gtee| and Coal epipp»ny jhortj y before hie appointment. IMr. Justice MelliBh. the trial Judge p the McLachlan cape, rpcelvefl hie iPpointment in a manner which makes hie an outstanding corpora- ilpnlst pn the bench. Hla appointment wae made shortly before the irlmlnal trial of the Dominion Coal impany olllclals for cauiing the New rr'aterford explosion. The New Wat- irtprd explosion took »*»•*» at New (Continued on aeao 4) Canadian Labor 7 ' to Hold a Oonvention in \ -ouver on April _. \ ■ ^ CHANGE COUNCIL'S \*B Immigration—Public pefending Counsel—b. N. B. Uniforms- Mental Hospital Hours PRESIDENT R. H. NKELANDS oc- * cupied the chair Tuesday evening at a well-attended meeting of Vancouver Trades and Labor council. Credentials were presented by the Cigarmakers* local in favor of Delegate P. Schwahn. A letter was received from the Hod Carriers' and Laborers' union, local 792, requesting assistance of the council in furthering the interests of members of that local, and urging that skilled tradesmen should insist on union laborers being employed on work on which they themselves were engaged. The Building Tfafl^ Rfimr arily .were affected by this appeal which was sympathetically considered. Secretary Bengough also read a notification from the Musicians' local, to fhe effect that the Alexandra academy and Jack Running's orchestra were now on the fair list. The letter thanked President Neelands and Secretary Bengough for their united labors in effecting this happy result. A letter wu read from Hon. James Murdoch, minister of labor, stating fleflnitgly t\*&\ (n gRftp pf reRflltS tfl t(ie contrary, the fair wage clause waa being administered and lived up to in every respect on the Welland ship cs,nal contract. The secretary was requested (p send ft copy ot letter to the Trades and Labor Congress ot panada, requesting further information. Notification was received pf the proposed formation of a British Columbia section of the Canadian Labor party. Bnclosed ln the letter was 0 draft copy of the constitution and pjatform of the G. L. p., with a request that three delegates be appointed to attend an organising conven- tlon to be held at local labor headquarters on Tuesday, April 29. The convention has been called ln accordance with a decision of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada convention ln the city In September last. Delegates A. Maclnnis, J. Q. Smith and J. Flynn were elected to represent fhe council at the convention. Referring to rumor, widely circulated, to the effect that negotiations with federal and Canadian authorities were under way for bringing into the United States the surplus of skilled mechanics who are leaving England and Scotland, with a view to relieving the shortage of this class of labor In Pennsylvania, a letter waa read from the deputy minister of immigration And colonization. The letter emphatically stated that no such negotiations have been in progress, and that nothing whatever had been heard Pf them ltt that particular department. The letter was flled. C. C, Labrie, purchasing agent of (he Canadian National railways, with reference to uniforms for employees, una stating that forms for tender had been given to all tailoring Arms in Vancouver who were anxious to quote upon this work. The council endorsed the request of Toronto District Labor council re the appointment of a public defending counsel for those charged with criminal offences when such persona are financially unable to employ legal talent for such purpose. Hon. J. D. MacLean, provincial spcr retary, wrote with reference to lhe hours, worker ln montal hospitals, and enclosed considerable data collected Ity pr. H. C. Steeves, medical superintendent, at tho public hospital tor the insane, New Westminster. This data was of a statistical nature, covering hours worked In various mental hospitals ln Canada and the United StateB. Further Investigations will be made. At the request of the provincial cx- pcutyve, t|*e name P* VaRppuver rifles and ^pr cquncll w||l be phangef} tp VfMppuvpFi Npw Westminster and District Trades council. WAT THE PROFITEERS Tlie Housewives' Boycott Has Brought Down Prices by Over 8P ppf pew . Through a well-organize. Iipypott, the Houaewlvei' association of Sydney, New South Wales, have succeeded In reducing the price of potatoes from tto a ton to between Ii and tt. When the prices were high, they' asHeil all householders to refrain from buying, with the result that huge quantities of potatoes were allowed to rot, at great loss to the profiteers. When the price was hammered down fo bedrock, the »a|iHS|*t|pn lifted the Itfiircqtf* Civil Servants*' Annual Pumtlon Thp Federal pivll Servants of Can- ad*, Vancouver local, are completing plans for their annual supper and dance, which will be held at Lester Court on Wednesday evening next, Garden's orchestra w||l prpvlde the dance music, and members and their friends are |pp|t|ng forward to a most enjoyable time. qAn Appeal rr__ FEDERATED LABOB BABTT OF B. C, being de_irou_ of making what contribution - it oan to the betterment ol society, realises that the most effective method of accomplishing that end is through the process of education of the publio. The F. L. P. is, therefore, desirous of utilising the medium of THE FEDERATIONIST to the fullest possible extent. That oan only be made possible by the hearty eo-operation of al) workers. The policy of tbis paper is being controlled by those who have the best interests of the workers at heart. There is, at the present time, no other paper so controlled in this city or province. There is no other means available to the workers to voice their opinions. Help us make THE FED- ' ERATIONIST what only sincere, co-operative effort can make it, a mighty power for good in this oity and province, not alone fpr the workers, but for all suffering humanity. The pages are at yqur service, We invite yon to aval) yourselves of them, avoiding of course, at all times, anything like disagreeable personalities. Principles, not personalities, are alone desirable. LEARN WHAT LABOR IS DOING THE WORLD OVER Boost Jfie federationist It Is Your Best Friend SALARY QUESTIONECROWSIEST MINERS Wbat the Amalgamated Civil Servants of Canada Want from Government A STATEMENT OF THE FACTS Committee Import Ia in F*yor ft* a Contributory Superannuation Aot [By Fred Knowles, National President pf A. C. ?. of p.] fTp UNDERSTAND tfie agitation being carried on by the civil servants ln the dominion at the present moment, it will be necessary to explain ihe cause: In 1918, the government had the serylce re-classlfled and fixed a salary schedule, which admittedly was (ar too low, to meet the cost of living, but on the assumption that living costs would return to normal, to offset the admittedly low salary ranges for the bulk of the service, a bonus was added to thc salary schedule, known as the "cost of living bonus," This bonus was graduated according to salary, all salaries under and not exceeding $1200 per annum received the maximum bonus of $420, except to persons -who were single or not classified as a head of a household. Ajll persons, except the latter,' received $24 less bonus for each $120 salary over tfie $1200. In 3 921 all bonuses were reduced by 25 per cent. and in 1922 a further reduction of 25 per cent, was inflicted on those receiving more than $1500 per annum salary. Single persons, or those not classified as head of a household, received in 1918 an original bonus (>£ $252 per annum, which has been re- duced aloiif the lines qf the rest, from time to time. We have always been opposed to the bonus system, which discriminates against persons because of family relationships. We want salnrles fpr work performed. We wore promised salary revision a year ago, and got a bonus reduction for salaries over $1600. We were promised a, salary revision this year, and we will set what? From the Information we have received, salary revision is again to be deferred, and n bonus cut of 50 per pent, on all salaries of $1200 or over, atyl the elimination of the bonus on all salaries qf $1560 upwards. Civil servants want salary revision now, and the discrimination against single persons through the bonus system stopped The civil, servants, as represented by the Amalgamated Civil Servants of Canada, want a salnry revision, based nn present salary, plus 75 per cent, of tho original bonus as a basis, in effect what those receiving less than $1500 salary, are now receiving, with a minimum of $1200 per annum. It is Impossible to go into the salary hcIhv dules of the whole civil service ln the Bpace at my disposal, but according to figures quoted on the floor of the house of commons last session, 7729 civil servants, permanently and fully employed, receive $800 per annum or less (exclusive of bonus), and 11,092 receive $960 or less (exclusive of bonus). Is there any wonder that threats of bonus reductions, causes consternation? There are letter carriers walking around this country, married men with families, receiving $88 per month, and single men receiving less, night at this moment; post office clerks, married men with fami lies, $92.75, and single men less. The same applies to all the lower grades of tho civil servioe. We understand that the government desires both efficiency and economy in the service. We are In agreement with them, but fall to see any economy in attacking salaries already too low. Though salary revision and bonus cuts are well to the fore at this moment, this Is not by any means the only point at Issue between the government and its em ployees. A Superannuation aot lifts been ln the offing for some time,'arid we understand that auch an act Is'lo be brought befbre parliament as a government measure some time this What U contained ln the May Strike April Iat—Wagp Negotiations Ate Now Broken Off Negotiations between district 18, United Mine Workers of America, and fhe Western Canada Coal Operators' assocaition, which have been in progress since February 23, were broken off on Saturday. The sub-committee formed at the suggestion of the miners, were unable to agree upon a new contract. The miners' delegates will thus report to their respective locals to prepare for a strike on April 1, feeling confident that even better terms than those aaked for will be conceded, before thay again resume work. The operators also left Calgary, with the Intention of reporting to their district. The miners, while by no means Jubilant over the result of negotiations, remain adamant in their attitude with regard to reduction ot wages. The operators' representatives appear to be ln an indifferent mood. Society Must Do Its Dutyto Individuals Who May Serve It in Future Crises PRINCIPLES OF SOCIALISM F. L. P. Rally at Bnrnaby The fourth annual rally of the Burnaby branch. Federated Labor party, Was held, last night in the I. O. O. F. hall, McKay. There was a gratifying attendance, and the evening proved both a pleasant and profitable one for those who attended the rally. Cannot Pay the Rent Many ex-service men want houses, and the municipalities dare not let them into the houses because, owing to their situation ln life, they cannot pay the rentals of 12s., 14d., and 16s. a week which are demanded, declares Mr. Egan, M. P. General's Salute '1 am glad to say, as an old soldier, that Stephen Walsh, the new secretary of state for war, has gone down exceeding well among soldiers," said General Sir Ian Hamilton, at a dinner at the London Press club. "There is a strong feeling at the war office, and among soldiers who have met him, that he is sincere." CU V A Rare Musical Treat—Orpheum Theatre Filled to Capacity4 The second nnrmnl concert of the Musicians Benevolent society, associated with the Musicians' Mutual Protective union, was held Sunday evening, at the Orpheum theatro. It was tho best ono ever held in this city; and Lhe people turned out in full force to do honor to the hard-working musicians of Vancouver. The large gathering appreciated to thc full limit the lengthy programme which was of u vory high order. A massed orchestra of 100 pieces rendered four of the Ave magnificent numbers, under the leadership of several of the city's leading conductors, namely, Messrs. Calvin Winter, Charles H. Williams, William Pilling and Qeorge E. Metoalfe, The performance of tho massed bands of 60 pieces, E. W. Hunt, director, was encored to the echo, when the regimental march of the 57th battalion was played. The ladies Instrumental quintette was a real and unique feature. A trio of flute, French horn and piano was also an item relished by the audience. Solo artists assisting were Miss Belle McEwan, soprano; Leslie Orowj- mith, piano, and James Isherwood, baritone. Mr. Isherwood gave the audience an unusual treat when as his encore he essayed with notable success a dramatic rendition of Moussor- gsky's sardonic "Song of the Flea." President E. O. Miller of the union, addressed the gathering briefly In explanation of the work of the beneve lent fund. The committee deserve the thanks qf Vancouver's musical public and patrons for such an elaborate programme of such high-class music. PatronUM ff«fr»tto.*l* afverttaerft A GREAT WELCOME Triumphal Reception Tendered J. B, Maclachlan at New :. Glasgow. V* 9* A SPONTANEOUS TRIBUTE State Formed for Individual—No Person Ever Created for %Stftfe' [By J. L. T.] TT WAS the writer's sad privilege to attend, a few ^-Vfe pgq, a mP8t Jm? PSPssive funeral s^rv|cp. A t^fof ordeal it was Indeed! It was of a young man, of whom it might be said, as was said by one of the world's greatest orators on a similar occasion: He haft not passed on life's highway the' Btone that muks the highest point, but, being weary for a moment, he lay down by the wayside and taking his burden for a pillow, he fell into that dreamless sleep that kisses down his eyelids still. While yet in love with life, and raptured with the world, he passed to silence and pathetic dust. Yet, after all, it might be best, just ln the happiest, sunniest hour of all the voyage, while eager winds are kissing every sail, to dash against the unseen rock and in on instant hear the billows roar above a sunken ship, for whether In mid-sea or among the breakers of the farther shore, a wreck at last must mark the end of each and all. No matter lf their every hour Is filled with lovo and every moment Jewelled with' joy, life wilt at Its close become a tragedy as deep and dark as can be woven of the Warp and woof of mystery and death," But the sadness that was imparted to those who viewed that silent form was not made lighter when they thought of the loved ones that had been left to struggle through this world as best they can without a father's guiding hand. This thought ever haunted me as I listened tn the Bervice that day, "What of the future of those who are left and how practical in our sympathy that wc were there exhibiting, going I i bo in lhi dark days that nre ahead of them.' j There were several wee buys In th< family. I thought of how, within the | next fifteen or twenty years, these' same lads might be called upon tu' answer their country's call, if uued Ot; and 1 thought of those young lives today, l*eing cast upon life's troubled sea, when tomorrow they might be called upon to bear the brunt of our, own, or some other nation's guilt, und faco again war's frightful carnage. Surely (he day is not far distant when thero will he an organized attempt, upon the part of society, to see that lt properly and fittingly discharges its duty to the Individuals who may yet bo called upon to serve it in Home future crisis, or who, may hnve done what has been conceded by ull, to be their duty in the days gone by. Our civilization cannot much longer claim the right to call Itself christian, while at the same time it leaves widows, orphans and dependents to struggle as best they can through the battle of this life. Not only does It leave them alone, but oft times It Ignores, or again, actually renders still more difficult, their struggle. And lastly, aa If not satisfied with the burden lt has placed upon them, adds Insult to Injury, hy asking these boys to some day don the uniform, shoulder nrms and face the onslaughts of a foe. No, this must not be! Just os certainly does the state owe a duty to Its individual members as does the members to the Btate. The state has been formed for the individual, not the individual for-the state. May our eyes become ever more opened to the needs of the Individual! May our moral consciousness become awakened to our responsibility to our brothers and staters In need! It Is only In proportion to the development of that spirit within our own souls that we may expect society or the state to Intervene on behalf of our fellowmen. It Is, therefore, encumbent upon ua all to faithfully discharge our duty, and Crowd Augmented hy Hundreds of Miners from Adjoining Towns—His Address [Workers Weekly, Ste|larton, N. S.] T^HE triumphant reception accorded to J. B. Maclachlan, Thursday, March 6th, was a spontaneous tribute to the fighting qualities pf the ex-district secretary. The Academy of . Music, at New Glasgow, was packed to the doors when ex-Secretary Maclachlan appeared on the stage, and the building fairly rocked with applause. A special train from Thprburn arrived early ln the evening, accompanied by the Thorburn band. The crowd at the station, awaiting the arrival of the early train from Truro, was augmented by hundreds of miners from the adjoining towns of Stellar- ton and Westvtlle. Headed by the band, the triumphal procession proceeded to the Academy pf Music, and for nearly two hours the vast audience celebrated the restoration of J. B. Maclachlan once more to the ranks of Jhe workers of Nova Pcotia. ,, - The ex-district secretary was ln hiB usual good form, find his incarceration has in no way diminished his fighting spirit, as was proved by his address. He was repeatedly cheered while speaking, and was deeply moved by the reception accorded hini. An address of welcome was tendered to Mr. Maclachlan on behalf of the miners pf Plctou county. The following is the reply of Mr. Maclachlan tq the address: Mr. Maclachlan said: "I want to thank you for your kind welcome here tonight, and for the address. It is one of thc finest things that has happened to me since I came Into the world. John L. Lewis thought he waa putting Maclachlan out of the lahor movement Tou cannot put a man out Pf tue lahor movement. Some men are ir It a,nd others are on its buck, I am in the labor movement, and the mine workers cannot put me out of It. I was born in lt, lived for It, and wit) die fu it. John L. Lewis is on Its back. I feel thankful to you people for thd welcome you have given me, atfer a!! my shortcomings. When I look buck on the trial, lt rather amuses me. Thc reasons given why I should go to Jnil were strange indeed, I went to school until I was ten, then I went to work in the mine. I tried lo follow O'Hearn ln some of the reasons he gave to the Jury why 1 should be locked up. They could have given me 20 years for each of thc three charges, and yet I only got five in all. The attorney-general gave three reasons. His first one was: 'When I took over this offlce of attorney-general I determined to lock horns with this man Maclachlan,' Well, if ho has horns I was not aware of lt. I could not see any reason why I should go to the pen because he had horns, or if he displayed bovine tendencies. He went wild, simply wild, over mc. Another reason he gave was that hiB father and mother came from Southern Ireland, and yet he loved thc British constitution. Welt, poor old Ireland was not to blnme for that. ShudeM of Emmett and all the other hPlf-aacrificing monl—they died for thoir c nntry. That will never ho said of the man who wnntod to pnt- the working man in jail." In scathing terms, Mr. Maclachlan denounced tho conditions nf the Hnli- fax jnil. and the yellow cooties. Ho spoke of hfs being taken to Dorchester chnlned, and of his meoting a prisoner who wanted to know what sedition wns. Sedition, snld Mr. Maclachlan, is when you prntCHt against the wrongs inflicted un tho working men; when you portCHi ngninst the resources of thc province helng put in thc control of men like Koy Wolvin; when wnge rates nre forced on you without your consent. These things rContlnued on page 4) NEW FOREIGN POUCY Results In Friendliness lu International PolltU'H, Partliulnrly BVanoe and Russia "The friendly gestures made straightaway by prime minister Macdonald towards other countries, particularly France and Russia, have resulted' In a friendliness in International politics contrasting strikingly with the strained relations existing under the previous autocratic and bureaucratic foreign policy," declared James Stewart, M. P., undersecretary, Scottish board of health, In recent speech at Clydebank. What a Lahor Party Oould Do for Them in Britiih Columbia OLD COUNTRY WORKHOUSE bent) our every effort in an endeavor to bring about such changes In our social structure as will render the l.ves of those who have had to face such sad and tragic experiences, ae pleasant, and their burdens aa light, aa they can be made under such aad circumstances- M»y every such death serve as a clarion call to duty tp every true follower of the principles of socialism. Day Haa Passed When Woman Should be Brokon by Laborious Work t!iyW.w.J J WOULD like. With your permission, to make an appeal to the women of British Columbia to take an interest In politics, apd I feel sure that the, great majority would arrange themselves on the side of the Federated Labor party. The (inly legislation affecting single women during my sojourn at the cpast has been the Minimum Wage act, wWh is evaded by employers and not enforced as it should be by the government, and girls dare not report their cases for fear of losing their jobs. And the' only legislation passed for other women has been tho Widows Pensions act, which leaves much to ho desired before it proves the blessing it ought tq be. Firstly, I would like to ask what are the condltlona of the Women wage-earners at the present day, and their prospects for the future? For the majority, a life in a depart*. mental or other store, at a laundry or In domestic service,' at wages Just sufficient to keen them it from otto | day to anothor with •»» prospectf for saving (pr old age or ^ ratpy day. In England. I founjj thftt " was a night- ! mare for spinsters lp mlflrtt* »f* *&■ I their strength was on the wane, and It became difficult for &em to compete with younger women at the loom j and tn the factories; for to a great number there waa nothing but the Workhouse staring thorn in tho taca, , Which was dreadefl hy all wlf-respowing people. To those not fami»ar wltn the old; country worktipuae syatem, which la ' controlled by tho Popr .Law act, und which, I believe, has been in existence for over a century—It waa dealt with' moat forcibly by Charles Dickens Ih "Oliver Twist/1 over half a century aeo, and wtth slight improvement only is atill a blot on tho hub of bur great empire. Some years ago, owing to the pressure from the public, a liberal government appointed a royal commission to enquire into the workings of the Poor Law act,.ond with the result that same was condemned hy the majority report and reform suggested, and a minority report called for far more drastic reform, and even after this commission's repcrt, nothing was done and those damnable disgraceful conditions allowed to remain as one of many legacies te- queathed to the new labor party. Now for a few remarks on the pio- Ulems focing the married women uf the working class. From the commencement of their married lives, thty are raced with the difficult problems' of making ends meet, and under present conditions, they dread the pn *>- pectri of bearing children and the responsibilities of rearing families, condition!- which drive n lnrge number of our mothers Into lunatic asylums. Who hns to bear the burden when the wage-earner Iohcs his Job, and even when working, who does the planning and Kchemfug to mnke a dollar do the work of two. See the Kale dnys, and the crush of women which tells its own tnle. When the women get wine nnd organize, and send hnm.-i men to mnke lnwn for them, there will be no need for snlo dnys, as those salen nre farcew kept up to keep the workers hypnotised, l>n you ever hear n politician of the old parlies deal with nuostlpnH affecting the home* and tho brend ami butter quofltlons of (he workers? What t-ttvrl will he the freight churgCH to the opqst or the pant history of the Pacific '.rent Bqstorn have to a working man's wife or n girl working under sweating conditions? If women cnn bo persuaded to kIvc those Questions careful thought nnd rend thc literature of thu lnbor parly, they will find thut this imrty has remcdlcH \a improve and even sweep away thCHC evils, lit the Ilrst plnco, a labor party would hoc that women have a renl living minimum wage, and see that it wan enforced and also see thnt there were no unemployed women, hut should there be a lack of work for all, then a minimum wage paid to the unemployed until work could be found. For married women a free doctor j should be provided ipr confinement!', and a grant made to cover all the costs attache thereto. Furthermore, a labor government should provide or the unemployed working man nt trade union rates, which would take a load off the minds of their wlvea The day has gone when women 'should be brpken pj/ laborious work, when machinery c*n be provided to make such work a pleasure and not a task, and community laundries and bake housos could be established In thickly-populated districts, and such drudgery work taken away from the home. All these queations should be thought out and expression given to them at the ballot box. Evory reader of The FeAesfttloalst bur their nbacrlptlope *■ ooon oe - _,_r„Jptloie as eoon as tbey ore dee, and by tMNetae aiiofawt wwkor to easeoribe. It «eea aot take m«* oteri te do thto try*. PAGE TWO SIXTEENTH YEAR. No. 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA FEPERATIONIST vAncouvbr, b, c. FRIDAY..-!: .'. „...March 21, 1924 Published every Friday by The British Columbia FederationiBt Bnalneaa snd Editorial Offlce, 1120 Howo 3t. The policy of Tho B. C. Federationist is controlled by the oditorial hoard of the Federated Labor Party of BrltlBh Columbia. Subscription Bate: United States and Foreign, $8.00 per yesr; Canada, $2.60 per year, fl.SO for six months; to Unions subscribing ln a body, 16o per member per month. . FRIDAY March 21, 1924 J. P. MORGAN AND THE FRANC WHEN one reads our daily press, there is an impression which seems to remain very firmly lmplant- edupon our minds, and that ls, that the reading pubWo are, in the minds of those who are responsible for the dissemination of tho news of the day, either credulous In the extreme or entirely lacking:. In all knowledge of world affairs. They are now trying to make us believe that J. P. Morgan has become one of the world's greatest philanthropists; that in one week he could have cleared 1100,000,000 by selling dollars and pounds last week at high and converting them today, but he did not. We have nothing against Mr. ^forgan personally.* He is acting in perfect harmony w4th the system under which we live, whereby it is possible for ono man, living in affluence as he is, and controlling as he'does, eo much of the world's wealth, to control the destinies of Europe. Bankers, ln their wisdom, had agreed that unless the reparations problem was satisfactorily settled, Europe was doomed to chaos, and that the Morgan loan solves one of the toughest problems facing the Dawe's commission, over which thie French have been balking. That .may all be, but to those of us who are aimple-minded enough to think that no man should hold the reins of auch power in the hollow or His hand, the whole idea seems to be nothing loss than tragedy. What (f Mr. Morgan had not done, what we are informed he did do? Must millions of lives over thore In Europe over remain at the mercy of a few men. of Mr. Morgan's type? God forbid l The day has arrived whon men and women, the world over, are thinking for themselves as they have never done before, and thoy are coming to realise that it is about time that they have taken upon themselves the responsibility of self-government, which thoy had thought was theirs, but which, ln reality was in the hands of our so-called speculators of the type of Mr. Morgan. The French peoplo may flnd that the franc had rallied for a time, but they can rest assured that lt is nothing more than a pawn in the game of chance being played by the world's financiers, and that, until such control is wrested froni such mon, their future remains ever an uncertain quantity. combination of open-mindedness and caution which should be the finest fruit of successful training. It should foster such a lively understanding of the workings of nature that the fascination of discovering ever new wonders will endure through life and I mitigate sorrow, boredom and disappointment. As our system exists today, the student Is, it would seem, blocked at every turn by the prejudices and preconceived notions of the past. We are inclined to the belief that, were the young m'lnds ln our universities today but given the opportunity and the encouragement, they would, In the not too distant future, serve as beacon lights to guide the generations that are yet to come, to a brighter and a happier state than they now enjoy. The present condition of society, where few live ln luxury, and many in poverty and want, has little to commend itself to any thinking man or woman, or to the young, active, and alert minds who are about to step out Into this world of chaos. May we not appeal to Buch young minds to endeavor to throw off the shackles of past superstitions and prejudices, and be pioneers ln the blazing of some new trails over which, the generations that are yet to come,- may travel ln comfort, or at least, with the-knowledge that no innocent man, woman or child Is being called upon to bear needless suffering* or want, for which, they can have no responsibility. And of these young minds we would ask this one question: Must not some basic economic change new social order? can see where the owning and controlling of our natural resources and means of wealth production by foreign capitalists is not going to make one whit easier their task of social reconstruction. Capital will continue to flow in our direction, just so long as It is profitable for lt so to do and not a moment longer. It knows no flag, color, race or creed. The good that It can do; the human suffering it might appease; the happiness It might bring to thousands If used for the common good means nothing to lt, so long as profits do flow into Its fold. It was said that, "the gifts of nature have been bestowed on us lavishly, but we need capital to develop them." It would seem that nature has chosen just to tantalize us and that In reality these gifts are of no avail unless we choose to give them away to some ono else and ln return, to be given only the occasional privilege of being allowed to work for those to whom we sold our wonderous "gifts of nature which have been bestowed upon us so lavishly." Labor can see nothing to be elated over ln this connection, nor can tt see that it ts anyway going to assist us ln our sturggle for social betterment for which we are all struggling. Labor and the Poets a..a..a-a*a»a»a»a~a~a»**'a"t OUR EDUaiTIONAIi SYSTEM FIFTY YEARS AGO. Matthew Arnold describod the aim of education as "The getting to know op all matters which concern us the bent,, which has been thought and said in the world; and through this knowledge turning a stream of fresh and free thought upon our stock notions and habitB." Wo are prone to believe that no bottor objective could over be assigned to education than that Just cited, but we fear that our system of education as it exists today does not allow of the fullest mental development possible on all matters which concern us. Education has been, and still Is, controlled lo a large extent by those who still adhere to many ancient conceptions which ap pear to them to bo based on the best wisdom of the past, to be tested by time and substantiated by a concensus of human experience. These they do not wish to soe disturbed. No two persons might agree as to exactly what these approved findings are, but bo long uh a notion Is familiar ft Is assumed that it will not do any particular harm. Now, new knowledge, if taken seriously, fs very likoly to prove an Indictment of thoHe very IrienH which are dearest to the lll-In- fonnod. Ho in order to avoid incon- veniont discussion, the doctrine has become popular that so-called "controversial" matters should lie care fully excluded from both the schools and tho colleges. Thia moans, whon stated in a, bald form, that Instructions which might stir religious distrust, no matter how unintelligent, business, political medal projudlce, or violate the proprieties must bo avoided. How can we ever ckpoct any great advancement so long as such a state of affairs exlBts In our educational system? How can we pxpect to develop the younger minds, to the highest possible degreo of efficiency if wo persist In putting lho shroud of our past pre-, judices about thom? We should hnvo a dynamic education to fit a dyns-mic wortd. Tho world should not bo presented to students as, happily standardized but as urgently demanding readjustment. How are they to be more Intelligent than their predecessors If they aro-tralned to an utterly unscientific confidence In anclont notions, let us say, of religion, raco here- dlty and aex, now being so fundamentally revised, Our educational system should be auch as would engender jn-the student a discriminating and exacting ■ tendency-- of mind—that HENRY FORD AND VANCOUVER THERE appeared an editorial, under the above heading, in the Sun recently. To those of us who have felt that prosperity was just around the corner, lt came as a distinct shock. We had thought that we had here in Vancouver men with means and sufficient insight into the future to guarantee prosperity to this city, Now it would seem that that idea was nothing more than a dream and that, in dismay and without hope, we must turn to Henry Ford for the salvation of our city. The editorial.ln ques tion even went to far as to state that "Henry Ford ought to be inveigled, kidnapped or spirited to Vancouver, and taken on a three-day tour of this district." It occurs to ub that men have been put Into the penitentiary for statements less offensive than that! Be that as it may, we would like to ask the editor of the Sun why U is that we should even to have to think of such a thing;, when we all must acknowledge that we have in and about Vancouver such potential pos sibJIltieB? We have plenty of men to do any work that might be required. We have all sorts of money in our banks that should be available for any sound project, even under the present system. There is being spent on the Please Go Easy Investigation" over in Victoria, no doubt, a sum of money that would stagger the mind of the average man—if he ->nly knew—yet our governments onv n vur see how to our hard-ean eil tux money in What is to prevent all wage-earners fn thfs country becoming united in c solid fighting force behind the Feder ated Labor party of B. C.? Whenever any great number come Imbued with the idea of getting something out of the labor movement, then will lt start to slide down hill. Lend, freely your fcpport to the Federated Labor party of British Co lumbia, and make it a grand army of labbr to flght reaction and wrongdoing. * - The Federated Labor party of B. C. need thousands who will put everything they can Into the movement to speed the day for a real labor government at Victoria. Men and women t looking towards tbe advancement of the labor movement are needed, but those contemplating to put something over lt to advance their own interests, regr.r(_- less of the right thing are enemies to the cause, and are not wanted. any other way ihan—what would appear to most of us—to be little less than wholesale squandering. Surely the day must soon come when wo will not have to place our province at tbe mercy or whims of one man, no mutter how capable or sincere ho might be in his way, but rather, wo will find our government rise to the occasion, acquit Mienisilvos like men and take it upon themselves to see that what can be done by one man—who may have the interests of humanity at heart, who who also considers his own interests-Mian be done by the people tn the Interests of themselves. The day has arrived when we must learn to help ourselves. No longer must we remain prisoners of a system (our present capitalist system) when within our own hands we hold the keys that would open the door to freedom and prosperity for nil. CAPITAL AND IMMIGRATION WE have boen told thut Sir Henry Thornton has predicted a great flow of United States cnpltul Into Canada. We are told, too, that thc flow has already commenced, and that here In British Columbia wo have ovidence of It, in that city property, sawmills and tlmberlnnda hnve boen purchased by Americans ln recent weoks, Thla sounds very interesting, to say tho least, but when ono analyzes It carofully, lt Is very doubtful if It is worthy of the feeling of satisfaction ond pride.thnt wo might be inclined to waste upon it, The momory of war has not yet left us. Tho horror of it nil Is still too fresh in our memories. Rumors ol other wars are still rife In our dally press, In this connection there lurks In our mind that we have hoard of "vosted Intorests" being a vory potent factor In bringing about of wars. Wo know that tho financiers In England today talk a groat deal about their "vested Interests" ln Russin, nnd that wns ono of tho great obstacles Jn the way of the recognition'of the Russian soviet govornmont. Is It not possible thut all this so-called flow of Amorican capital Into this country Is going to bo one of the most powerful pb- Htnclca that will bo placed ln tho wny of socialism ln the years to como? Adhoronts to the labor-socialist movoment are not highly elntod over thb flow of capital, for thoy can soe in' i' nothing more than a temporary r«lle' from our present social Ills; and tney Soldiers Were Promised Much- Armies of Unemployed in Every Oountry [By O. L. 0.] Reconstruction—a potent word ln 1918, and now forgotten, or at least never mentioned by the average editor in 1924—should be as much of an issue as ever. Immediately -after the armistice, and as poon as peace was secured, we heard much of the grand new ordor that was to bo brought about, fostered by tho wonderful spirit of comradeship nnd brotherly love, and the lofty ideals engendered by the war. Truly it was a magnificent picture of a grand awakening, to be followed by a day or an epoch of happiness and contentment, when all of us should be buay and prosperous, and, of course, happy. Such was the dream of beauty following the nightmare of war. It waa to be a wonderful advance over "conditibns existing in pre-war days for prosperity was to abound in every land and there was to bo no more lean years, How was it to be done? One great factor to be dealt with was the demobilized soldier. He had been taken from productive industry (\yhen he could get a job), and employed industriously destroying the products of the rest of the population, for during the war a small portion of the work- era ln every nation engaged, succeeded ln producing their own food, clothing and shelter, and a few luxuries, but also produced billions of dollars worth of munitions of war, and supported in the field, against most stupendous obstacles, the huge armies engaged. The soldier hnd been promised much. When peace came, ho had at least the right to expect that those promises would bo fulfilled, and governments In most cases, did make an effort to do something, but lt was a glunt's task to tnko a machino that had lieon so altered during the stress of war thnt it could bo operated by only a fow people, and make it provide employment for all. ■ Everything thnt was attempted wns, however, dono on the same old basis as existed in pre-war days. The economic system, which had received such a sevoi'o wrench ln the war-time, wna not attacked; in fact, that must have been what we were to reconstruct, and any attack on it waa ono of mere phrasos. Nor was it in any wny altered to flt tho now spirit that wns abrond. The soldier was educated mainly to mako a botter employee of him. The soldior settlement was brought into being, but only in the samo old wny that any band of net- tiers would bo "encouraged." Then wo began lo pray for normalcy, which presumably means "as you were," and we are truly na we were and a good doal more so. Alt that has boon reconstructed Ib big business, and bigger armies of unemployed ln overy country, with pos- sibly one excoption. Frankly, this article ls only critical; not of itsolf re- constructive, but voicing an evon fronter nood than ovor of the necessity of undertaking real constructive ■nensuros, looking to the inauguration of an ora of progress—forward, not bnckward. Lot us bend our energies 'to Its Inauguration. Let us, from now on, discuss the steps to be taken 'o really reconstruct our way of getting uur living and thon carry out cur idens, [Frances Wills] TF7HO Is on our side In the struggle for liberty and freedom and justice ? We look through dark and glorious pages of the world's history, and we encounter heroes and heroines and many a flne attempt at freedom, many a blood-stained revolution. And we muBe over the times of unappar- ent growth" when only the slaves' heart-breaking melody expressed, in vain, the bitter cry for liberty. Men of all classes, all vocations, all temperaments, have been on our side. We rejodce In the memory of what they have done for us, and we are encouraged. It ls good for ub to remember. *■*•■• ■*- t.t., an remember the poet's part ln our great strugglo? Eugene Dobs, In his book, "Debs and the Poets," doea at least. There have been and there still are, many such. This is not remarkable, for the poet is an idealist and wo socialists are Idealists. Perhaps there has never been a more courageous seeker after freedom and truth than Shelley (1792- 1822). From his youth he wasin revolt against the tyranny, superstition and narrowness of his time, (and of our time, one might add). So he used his wonderful power in struggling against these forces and the pen was his sword. In his "Ode to the West Wind," he writes: Make me thy lyre, even as the forest ls. What If my leaves are falling,, like its own! The tumult *of the mighty harmonies. Will take from both a deep, autumnal tone, Sweet, though ln sadness. Be thou, Spirit fierce, My spirit. Be thou me, impetuous one! Drive my dead thoughts over the universe, Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth! And by the incantation of this verse Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth, Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind Be through my lips to unawakened earth. The trumpet of a prophecy. Oh wind If winter comes, can Spring be far behind? His wish Is boing fulfilled; we are nearing the spring-time of our efforts. Shelley was not only a voice of the revolution; he was one of those great souls who uplift the human race with Its tangle of differing opinions, wfth its bates and prejudices. He was a nature poet; a worshipper of whatsoever Is beautiful ln the universe. He was Inspired to speak and write and compared with him, most of us are dumb. As we read his poems we see before our eyes "the flne forest that spirits the ocean's foam;" 'the blue Mediterranean, or the At- an tic's level powers cloven into chasms while far below the sea- blooms and the oozy vroods tremble;" or we see "the spirit of night whose form is wrapped in a mantle ot grey, star-inwrought" or "the moon pale for. weariness of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth." But one could quote for ever from this treasure of the mind. Shelley did not pass through life unscathed from persecution; not the least of his sufferings was the charge of Insanity which deprived him of his children, or his exile ln Italy. The ideas Of one so "tameless and swift and proud," could not be otherwise than displeasing to those ln high places. He writes: an end to his great work, but from the results of his-tireless .efforts we are urged afresh even'though as is necessarily the way of the idealist, it is— * ■ The desire of the moth for the star, Of the night for the morrow, The devotion to something afar From the sphere of our sorrow! And If we read these lines carefully we shall perceive exactly our own aims, The Most Important Word [S. :.V„ New York Justice] The sun Is warm, the sky ls clear, Tho waves are danolng fast and bright Blue islea and snowy mountains wear The purple noon's transparent light. Yet his heart fs sad; he says: Alaa, I have nor hope nor health, Nor peace within nor calm around I could He down like a tired child And weep away this life of care. That was only a mood, natural to one who suffered acutely from physical Ill-health, and the torment of un- happlness. This untimely death put "WHICH are the six most lmport- ant words in the English language?" Several Princeton professors undertook to answer this question a few weeks ago. One advanced the following list: Sanity, humor, truth, yes, no, knowledge. A second gave: Duty, loyalty honor, self-control, service and sacrifice. A third listed the1 following: Courage, consistency, self- respect, sportsmanship and tolerance. Another Included also the word "humanity." * All these words, beginning with the one which received the highest number of voteB—loyalty—and ending with those which obtained the least approval, are beyond doubt flne and well-sounding words. These words are often employed by the orator to impress audiences from the platform. In the hands of the phrnsemaker and the pen-wielder, they may become powerful weapons for good or bad, There Is one word, however, in our opinion the most 'important in our scheme of living, which was entirely lost sight of by the Princeton professors. It is a very simple word, an ordinary word—"Why?" How, indeed, would man look today If he never had put to himself the question "Why?" How could he have differentiated between the true and the false—if he were not to seek the truth, if he were not constantly to put to himself the question "Why?" How could man, for Instance, ever have learned that loyalty ls a very important word, had Ae never asked him. self the question "Why?" Who are the creators of our progress? Are they those who take for granted all that Is told them, who swallow as truth the ready formula? that are handed out to them? No, It Is those of an Inquiring mind, those who have the courage to doubt even things ostensibly axioamtlc, who everlastingly aak themselves the question "Why?" These by their doubts and their probing have brought mankind a step forward. We are advancing in every realm of life so slowly because only a few of us ask this question. How many workers whose life hardly deserves to be called "life" ask themselves this question? If they only dared to ask, they would have made a substantial stop ahead, for he who asks must find nn answer—an answer that may not always be tho right one, but nevertheless one that spurs him on to seek for a more satisfactory answer In tho end. The trouble Is that but few bother about asking "Why?" That is why our labor unions are .by far not as strong as they might be. That is why our radicals, persona who, according to the nature of the term, will not rest contented unless they get to the root of the problem—are only radicals In name. Even they swallow dogma ready-made; even they have not always the courage to ask the quostion "Why?" Yes, lt Is that unambitious Uttle word "Why" that is responsible for what progress man has made upon the long road of his historic record. The word "Why" was surely the firat word which marked man from anl- Store Opens at 9 a.m, and Closes at 6 p.m. PAY A VISIT TO Our downstairs Shop -FOR- Lower Triced Meichandise QUALITY GOODS AT A SPLENDID SAVING 575 OranviUe Street Phone Seymour 3540 mal. The oftener he makes use of the word "Why," the more he doubts, the less will he be Inclined to take for granted the inherited truisms, the more will he contribute towards his own expansion and towards the advancement of mankind in general. Patronize Federatlonist advertisers and tell them why you do so. INDIGESTION Believed ln two mlnatei wltb JO-TO Oas, acid, tour, burning stomach ill quickly relieved with JO-TO. Drag Storei. 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Dr. Brett Anderson Formerly member of the Faculty of the College of Dentistry, > Univoraity of Southern California; lecturer on Crown Md Brrdgework, demonatrator on Platework and OperatWe Den* tlstry, Loral and General AnieatheaU. 602 Hastings Street West Phone, Seymour 3831' Corner Sermour—Bank of Nova Scotia Building Open Wednesday Afternoons, Tuesday and Friday Evenings COFFEE ■to ttt lUwrMaa-aa;__." Best $2.50 GLASSES OK SMITH. Oleeeee not preeerlbed onleee ab* eolatel, neoeua-rr* Eiemlnetlone mede br pednele Ejeellht Bpedel* lete. SMIef-Olloa iierutaed. We plod ear en leuee. Leiaee duplicated br nail, PITMAN Optical House (Formerly Browa Optical Honee) Be eare ol the addreee—Abore WoelworU-'e Store, aear * QrenvUlr. Suite 36. Darle Obembera, 616 HASTINOS STBBBT WBST Pboue Sey. 1071 Vancouver Unions |UED PRINTINO TllADES CO0NCIL— ■Veete eecond Monday in the month. Prelum, J. K. White! eecretary, K. H. ttcel- . P. 0. Box 66. fOEBATlSl) LABOR PARTY, Room HI— 1.18 Pendor St..West—Busineee mooting. I*!* "Wedneeday evening, A. Uaclnole, lirmen; E. H. Morriion, eec-tree..; Oeo. lUerriion, 1182 Perker Street, VancouTer, lO., eorreepondinK eeeretery. luy dlatrlct in British GolnmbU deelrlnc ■rmetion re oecurlng epeakere or tbe for* |lon ot local brauohee, kindly communloate provincial Secretary J. Lyle Telford, Birke Bids*, Vancouver, B. (1. Tele* |no Seymour 18.I-, or Falnnont 41*88. ' _KERY 8ALESMEN, LOOAL 871—Meete Second Thureday every month In Holdon llding. Preeldent, J. Brlgbtwell; financial letary, H, A. Bowron, 829—llth Avenue Iernatiohal brothebhood _ or ■ollermakere, Iron ShlpbuUdera and Help- _ et America, Local lit-Meetlnie «ret 1 third Mondeye In eaoh month in Holden ■dine Preeldent, I. Willie; eeeretery, A. ler. OBee houn, 8 to 11 a.m. and 8 to 6 IoKLAYERS AND MASONS—It you need rioeJayere or meeone for boiler worka. _ or marble eettere, pbone Brieklayera' tin, 611 Holden Bonding. 10 MtPLOYEKS. ONION—HeeU Int vd third Frldaya In eaeh montb, at *US lerdo Street. Preeldent, David Cuthlll, Albert Street: eeereUrytreaonrer, Oeo. leoa. 1188 Parker Street. fclNEERB — INTEBNATIONAL ONION Steam and Operating, Loeal 882— ■ie every Wedueeday at 8 p.m., Boom I Holden Bldg. Preaident, Obarlea Price; Incee agent and flnanclal aeoretary, F. L. Kt; recording eeoretarr, J. T. vena. IY taRBriOHTHRB ONION NO. 16— ■LldJlVt. N.U Me«)onald, No. IIIrebaU! liter?, 0. A. Wateon, No. 8 Firehall. JSebaL labobebb union—sieexs lory lint and third Monday In Holden ■ding. Preeldent, J. R* Hawthorne; flnan- ■eeorettry, A. Pedghem, Joyce Riad P. 0*. leouver. B. 0.; recording eooretary, O. kt, _H_--4Mb Ave. Eaet, Vancouver, B10IANB PUOTEOTIVE JSlON, Loeal 146, A. F. ol *•■-***•• « lee Hall, Homer Btreet, aeoond Benin,, *lin Preeldent, Eraeet 0. MUler. »»1 lon Street! eeorotary, Edwa,rd JMnljaon, INeleon Street: flnanolal aeeretary, W. a. JUame, 891 Neleon Street; organleer, F. Weber, 981 Nelaon Stroet* eoiwgi ." "*w «...---* Berated beafabers'uhiub «_■ »* _*—Meeting nlghtl,'flret Tueeday and 3rd ■er of each month at heedQuerten, SIS Rove Street Weet. Preeldent, D. (J Bee- 1 viooprceident, John Jobneonl eeerettry ■enrer, Wm. Doneldeon, addreee 818 Oor la Street Weat. Branch ajont'o addnaai Tlrge Faulkner, 676 Johnoon Street, Vie* HfET AND _ll_E0_HIO BAILWAI kJJ- Soyeea, Pioneer Dlvlelon, No. 101-M.eta P HaU, Eighth and Klngaway, let and Boidaye at 10:16 a.m. and 7 pm. Pre* n," 1,1 Hoover, 2408 Olarke Drive; rdlng eeeretery, F. E. OrlBa, 447-«Ui . Eait.; treeeurer. A F. Andrew; flnan* , ooorettry and buolnMe agent, W. H, Opt 1, lflfl-"7th Ave. W. Ogee, «*ftt Mor Main Streete. Phono Fairmont 4504Y if VANCOUVEB THEATRICAL 100; ■TJO^Xu at 091 Nelwn _}**__:**_£ W on tbe Tueaday precedhll J*"1', *£. 1 of the month. Preildent, *'*.AH'I*S1.? ' 991 Nelaoa St.; Seoretary, 0. H. Wll* ■,1 991 Neleon St; Bnelneee Agent, F. Icher, 991 Nelion gt. __^—_ n 'month at a p.m. ln HoMen BaUdlnft If itingi Btreet Eaat. .• ,,- tTsBi KUPfcRT T^BG-BAPHIOAL JwiOH Mo. 418—Preaident, S..D. »•«* E5 MBMUTf^trtMnMr, 3, M. <JMnpb«U, Kjki'eK"BS 1«* Thnwdiy ol eaah mo^a.^ --a-lWt 0# OAtUPAr-*0»ff _£-*_*? MnM WMt. JttlMHI UMtlnM * rtt^ STttr Wolaiiiay am aoatV ejtoft fBMeW eaentm', J* "Ul*** Laeh organtaer. WIU People Think If the people of Great Britain can get Into their minds what the resulfs of war in the future will be, and that not only the fighting forces wjill-be Involved, but practically the whole of the population of the countly, I be^ lieve they will think very h/rd and very long* before they decide upon war. So says Ernest Thurtle, M. P. At the Orpheum It takes a Sarah Padden to turn a near-tragedy Into comedy, and lt takes some of the deftest Padden touches to Bave that comedy from developing into farce, for all of which thanks to whatever gods there be that watch over the goings and comings of such delightful entertainers as Sarah Padden and her colleagues, who, at the Orpheum theatre this week, are presenting "The Accusation," a new one-act comedy playet by Edwin Burke.' Personally, Miss Padden needs of introduction. The passing months have matured her ln her acting, the pleasant Uttle playlet passing off with a smoothness and polish that placed it on a pinnacle of perfection. No wonder she and her capable assistants were re-called sev eral times. They deserved it. That's the head of a bill that appeared to be all head, since all turns were good enough to be top-liners. It would be hard to choose what was really the outstanding feature for tt was top- noch programme presented by Al artists. The Five Petleys give a remarkably good aerial performance, and this is followed by Sam Green and Mildred Myra in symphonic and syncopated moments. Vivacious and versatile Mdlle, Ana Codee, Parisian cemedi' enne, late star of many Broadway successes har her audience gasping and guessing most of the time she was on the stage. Some of her songs were in French, but all in the audience fully enjoyed what few understood. Joe E. Brown's attempts to get himself arrested, to qualify for a Christmas dinner in gaol are about the funniest things that have been seen on the Orpheum stage, and his dancing, by way of an encore, was very clever. He has lost none of his old time pep. "A Whirl of Dance," in which May Tully presented Alyn Mann, was artistic to the nth degree, and the fact that there was a remarkable surprise at the close of the turn served to add zest to, lt. The Clinton Sisters offer a distinct novelty called "Cartooning in Dancetand," It Is unique and pleasing. LAST SHOW SAT. NIOHT SARAH PADDEN JOE E. BROWN Heading Tip-Top Vaadevllla Starting Wednesday Night Matlneea Thuraday, Friday, Saturday A Record-breaking Bill Henry Santrey AND HIS Cameo Record Orchestra KBANZ and WHITE ED. and B. CONBAD Harry and Anna Seymour ^ THE "ATTBBPIEQB" BTBOBBBL and MEBTENS JACK WILSON With CHABLES FOBSTTH In "A Noneenalcal BeTae" Attractive Pictnrea Concert Orchestra Nights 23c, 600, 78c, 111 l'lua Hat. Weekday 14c, 28c. 36c I 1% Mat. Saturday. 14c, 28c, 60c \ Tai MUSICIANS' UNION LABEL LEND TOOK PATRONAGE TO THE '__"!".•_ MCSIOTANS'iyiBEL. WHILE ROME BURNS ****** ****** ****** ' ****** The Meaning of an Unemployed Movement [By Harry Haynes, Johannesburg] * "POR two and«_a half years now a large proportion of the white workers of this country have been unemployed. For eighteen months the number has steadily and-consistently grown until throughout the country hundreds of thousands are living ln great poverty, bordering upon starvation; some of them have been like this for years. Their condition haB now come to be taken as a matter of course. Nobody thinks twice about them. They have become/ as it were, a permanent feature of our civilization. Yet even If one pauses to reflect for even a moment, the fact that one out of every seven wage-earners is unable to earn a wage, that these hundreds of thousands (counting their families) have been starving slowly since the autumn of 1922, acquires a deep significance. It is seen at once not ob a permanent feature, explicable In lecture rooms, of a continuing system of civilization, but as a sign that this civilization is waning to its end. But obviously we do not see it in this way. Nor, though remarkable, Is this by any means hard to explain. The historic parallel ls not difficult to flnd. It is clear to us today that, when the Roman empire begun to crumble, no one, or at any rate no body of men, seems to have been capable of understanding exactly what was taking place. Politicians and state servants, capitalists and trade unionists, shopkeepers and merchants—all went about their business as usual, accepting every fresh calamity (after a little squealing) as a matter of course, and doing nothing, in the vain hope that, sooner or later, they would get "back to normal times." In all our surroundings, In all the news of foreign events, the thing of tj_e very greatest Importance is the existence tn the civilized world of millions of men and women who have no work to do, and have not had work for thirty months. Confronted with what Is euphemistically called "the Blump," our government finds itself completely Incapable of providing any measure by which to surmount the difficuty. ItB attitude is really no different from that of the financiers, commercial men, and petty traders who keep repeating that there Is bound very shortly to be a revival of trade. Save for this, parrot cry no foresight has been or is being shown anywhere. What of the unemployed? As for them they, like the other workers, wolild have to "grin and bear it." The government was not particularly concerned, provided that "wages came down to an economic level;" and the relief work measures attempted, even if inadequate, are only aimed at keeping a few on the starvation line, ind perhaps assisting in preventing those fow from becoming totally unemployable. By these very relief schemes our government discovers its own complete lack of any settled outlook on the future and, at the same time, contrives to make the lot of the white workers—employed and unemployed alike—a little worse. The consistent policy has been, and ls, to prevent the unemployed from becoming a crying nuisance on the one hand, and, on the other, to drive them to seek sustenance at the cost of working below standard rates of wages, thus further accentuatihg the evil. This policy, as regards the bringing of wages to an economic level, haB been very successful. But that success has done nothing towards solving the problem. The labor movement has been defeated; the unemployed have been defeated, but unemployment has not been defeated, and the measure of the government's fundamental helplessness ls In the repetition of the magic wordB. "There is every sign of a trade revival." But If the leaders of capitalism have been no better than witch-doctors, the leaders of labor have been like the ignorant believers ln witchcraft. The white working class, down and out, has no organization worthy of the name, and tho most remarkable thing is that unemployment is treated by the labor leaders as a "question" and a "problem," instead of being itself a cal] to action of the whole of the workers. Actually, instead of this call to action, the unemployed were abandoned, thrown back upon themselves. They were left to organize themselves—for themselves. Then began the separate organization of the unemployed—an Incredible thing! To organize the unemployed was to reject tho possible and obvious, and, instead, to attempt the impossible. Nevertheless, in desperation, this impossible thing was attempted; and the fundamentally unsound idea of organizing an evil was put Into operation, and the separate- ness of the organization was allowed to develop. There was little or no contact between the organized (more or less) white workers and the unemployed. The unions did nothing; the labor party did nothing. It was only a few individuals who, In their leading of the unemployed, tried to make tho out-of-works feel that they were part and parcel of the working class, and that they must act, not as organized blacklegs, but against blacklegglng, against rate-cutting and against acceptance of sweated and starvation conditions. The unemployed committee was, and Is, only an agitational committee with a limited objective, and for the especial use of th^ unemployed. From Its very?flHJ ture it could, be nothing else, and Its activities are confined to forcing home to the brain (?) of both labor and capitalist, leaders, thftt, Unemployment Ib something that demands, not theoretical discusslngs and pretty phrase ology, but action—and action guided by an outlook on the future. The peculiar thing noticeable is that, with the exception of a few shellbacks, all public men, editora, parsons and so on. agree that upon this vital question we are drifting. It would seem that, with the unemployed themselves, the whole community awaits the Inevitable eruption and only wonders when lt will happen. Thus our big army of unemployed loses faith in both sides. Regarding anything the government might do, they are cynical, and they have no faith in the modern species of trade unionism, wherein they witness only the spectacle of trade union officials' minds moving ln the narrow circle of wondering whether next month's contributions will be "sufficient to pay the salaries. For everything which ls going wrong—and nearly everything is going wrong1—this failure to deal with unemployment is responsible. Whatever aide attempts—labor or capital —this dogs their footsteps. However society may burke it, there-ls the grinning skeleton. "So long as poverty and want on the one hand witnesses wealth and plenty on the other, there can be no peace." Labor and Disarmaments [The following article from the pen of Norman Angell, appeared in the laBt issue of the New Leader. It deals with the question bf disarmament, and its relationship with the principles of the I. L. P., and should be read by every adherent of the labor-socialist movement]. 'FHIS article does not attempt to enter into the merits of the "five cruisers" . debate. In that particular question the government may have been wrong—or it may merely have done the inevitable. What I want to do here Ib to throw out a few suggestions with reference to the question of principle Involved. Repeatedly last week one heard the comment: "To vote these estimates is in flat contradiction with the paciflst principles of the I, L. P., is sheer political expediency and opportunism. Those who all their political lives have opposed armaments cannot vote armaments without sacrifice of principle and political rectitude. Because that view ls very widespread, perplexity and moral confusion have marked the attitude of much of the party to the government's armament policy. It would seem that we are still very far from being agreed among ourselves as to the way ln which certain principles which we proclaim can be applied to the 'actual national and international circumstances, that In fact we are practically unprepared for a situation which will arise again and agflin if labor 1{3 to conduct the government of the country. Only, those who have not thought about It will pretend that the question involved is simple and clear, or easy of answer. And only such will resent differences of view. It is easy to take "a firm stand upon rigid principles," but we want to be sure that the apparent clarity and simplicity of the principle is not due In reality to the easy expedient of ignoring most of the facta involved. The Wny to Socinl Pence I suggest that the view embodied In the remark I have quoted above Is so much an over-slmpllflcatloh of the problem aa to involve utter confusion of its issues. The degree of distortion may be grasped if we would Imagine the same policy being applied to our internal problems. For of course, as socialists, we take the ground that it is not merely in the international field that we faco oppression, injustice, social and moral disorder; those evils mark life within the nation, ^"he injustices involved in our bad social system are imposed by the power of our public bodies, by all the coercive apparatus which lies behind the government, the courts, the tax collector, and the rest. In a sense it is a question of power used to wrong ends. But no one outside a tiny group of philosophical anarchists suggests that the problem can be solved simply by depriving our public bodies of all instruments of coercion, or that such a measure would be even a step towards the abolition of antl-soclal force. We do not say: "If only we can get rid of the police, deprive the courts of any means of enforcing those bad laws, we shall have secured social peace." ■ It never occurs to us to approach the thing in that way at all. We say: "Let us alter thc law or code, which the coercive apparatus enforces, so as to put the power behind better system." Incidentally, a socialist system would add to, rather than subtract from, the amount of regulation, authority, and even coercion exercised by the community as a whole. We know thnt a socialist government which began hy simply abolishing the "armament;." of public authority jn the way of police, etc.,, would not by that act banish forco from our society. Powor would merely be transferred from the community to assertive minorities (or even predatory individual adventurers of tho Gorman separatist leader type) — racist, ku klux klan, middle class unions, communist or tory groups refusing this or that tax, resisting, this or that regulation, each attempting to impose its own view of its rights or interests. We encounter a certain paradox at one stage at least of our social development. A polico force which prevents A from solzing by force the goods to which he believes himself on- titled In his dispute with B-'provonts, that is, A being judgo in his own cause—and compels submission to third party Judgment, Is in fact using its power to provent settlement by force. The limits of space compel me to short-circuit the argument; when we desire to correct the abuse of power wiihin the state, wo do not attompt in !tW flrMt instance, merely to reduce Ale instruments of power. We attempt a transfer of power from antisocial elements to the social body hy .making the code, or principle or law ;in Ithe name of which power nets fairer, more JUst, mofe BOclal'. And to the degree to which we can constitute a cohesive community by making its code fair and just, to that degree does the element of force in society decline. It will be said that the analogy does not hold because we have no code In the international field, no "community" in its true sense, and cannot make one. Then we cannot reduce armaments. The measure of our failure somehow to bring into being a real international code will be the measure Of our failure to abolish national armies. But what, It will be asked, distinguishes this from the mere lip- service to peace of the average tory nationalist? Again, our readiness to make our contribution to a real code; to announce, for Instance, to the world that Britain Is prepared to abide by an International court's decision on any subject whatsoever of international dispute which such court is competent to judge; to throw open all our mandated and subject empire to the rest of the world on equal terms with ourselves. No nationalist would agree. But the debate then would be, not about the amount of the force whieh each shall have, but the things for which ultimately our pooled powers shall stand. It ls to this plane that we should move the discussion. The Real Issue While being ready to seize any good opportunity of reducing armaments, we should be clear as to the first step upon which emphasis should concentrate. If we Bay: "Labor must stand for armament reduction, whatever others may do," then the debate is immediately thrown back to the issue of force versus no force and trusting the foreigner. In that debate the real Issue of what sort of order the disarmed or less-armed world is to accept gets lost. If France were to dl' vide her f«rce by four, but maintain her present policy towards a still less armed Germany, we should not have secured peace, and still less Justice, We should at this stago shift the discussion from: "What is to be the amount ot your force?" te tho question : "For what is your force to stand?" Concurrently with our demand for reduction of armaments, we must show that we have some means for accomplishing those ends which armaments are supposed, however mistakenly, lo accomplish—political and economic security. When we have faced squarely the price, in surrender of national "right," that we are prepared to pay, when the imagination of peoples has been flred by the picture of a real code, a better international system, we can approach tho problem of pooling power (not necessarily entirely through the leagut of nations) for the support of that body of right, and from tbat will come the best hope of reduction, and the virtual disappearance of armaments. CANADIAN UI HEWS Items of Interest Regarding the v Activities Amongst the Bank and File William Irvine, labor M. P. for West Calgary, will bo one of the principal speakers at Montreal on behalf of the labor candidates In thc approaching municipal elections. Tho falr-wago schedule of wnges for 1924 hos boen presented by Edmonton Trades and Labor council to the city commiHsionerH to be incorporated In all civic contracts. During last six months uf 1923, some 24,788 young Canadians, Intent upon making their future homes in. the United States, crossed the international border nt Windsor, and duly reg- l«tered nt Detroit. John Lewis, president, and J. F. Day, secretary, recently elocted at annual meeting of Halifax Federated Association of Lottercarrlers, branch fl. According to the Canadian press, the Canadian National railways is Beeklng settlers from tho United States to come to Western Canada and engage in agricultural pursuits. Wages ClKMiimneO As you have an Increase in the nmount of goods produced, the wnges of the workers are cheapened, and this makes it more and more difficult for the worker to pay the rents of houses that tho medical profession stato to be necessary to give him a decent standard of comfort, says John Whoatley, H. P. After-Eating Distress And all forms of Btonuch trouble, iuch m km paint, nrttl. tour, ImrnlnK stomach aro all relieved In two minutes by taking JO-TO Jo-To laid by aU Drnf|liU. New Shipments of English Footwear for Men Just arrived, via Panama Canal, some of the finest Shoes ever shown in Canada. The famous "Grenson" shoe- dressy, perfect- fitting and serviceable. Including: FINE BROWN WILLOW CALF AND BLACK BOX CALF SHOES Derby pattern, calfskin lined with English oak tanned soles; also brown willow calf and black boxcalf brogue oxfords and Lome models; also the famous "Escalibur" brand in brown calf Derby models; all made exclusively for the H. B. C. and marked at the new season's prices, $7.50 to $13.50. LET US SHOW YOU. VANOOUVIR, B. 0. _ [The opinions and ideu expressed by correspondent! art not neceenrily endorsed by The Federationlit, and no reeponelblllty for tha view* expressed la accepted by the management] Cash Talks—Again Editor B. C. Federatlonist: ''Assist the conductor by purchasing your ticket at the ticket office before boarding train." So reads the notice dta played in several places in the Car- rail street station of the (intorurban) British Columbia Electric railway. 1 read the notice and purchased ticket to Hastings road station and return—at tho ticket office. On the roturn trip I gave the return portion of my ticket to the conductor, requesting at the same time as transfer ticket to the Fairvicw Belt line. Tho conductor informed mo that no transfer Is allowed on such a ticket. As I knew no better at that time. I paid a six-cent faro on a Fairvicw cnr, to get to my destination. Upon a subsequent trip, I again purchased, in.the ticket olllce, a ticket to Hastings road station and return, but while on this visit to Hasting rond station, a friend Informed me that if I paid the conductor on tho train eleven conts, it would enuitle me to a transfer ticket to anywhere in the city of Vancouver. On my return, I tendered the conductor, the return half of my ticket and one cent, requesting a "Fairvicw" transfer, the conductor most courteously informed me that "he could not punch tho coin," and could not issue n transfer to me. I then asked him If I paid him eleven cents in cash (that being the value of the ticket plus one cent) If he would give me a transfer. He replied In the affirmative. In other words, I was penalized for following out tho company's request to "nssist the conductor" by purchasing my ticket in tho ticket oflico; as by so doing, I forfeited my right to domand a transfer for use on the city cars, to which I was entitled, for the addi tional charge bf one cent over and above the train fare. To recapitulate: Any passenger paying the conductor on the.interurban train eleven cents-cash, may travel from Haatingt) road station to the city cf Vancouver and receive in addition Q| transfer ticket to any part of the city. Or he may pay five cents cash (thla being the fare from Hastings road station to Horne Payne station, or any 'Intermediate station), plus a "green" street car ticket, and receive a transfer UBket, for use od the city street ears. Of if he travels only from Home Payne station, or that vicinity, to the itUeWrban termi- nuB, he may pay six cents cash, or a "green" street car ticket to cover his ride in the train, nnd receive a transfer. If he wishes, to any part, of the city. But If he buys a ticket at the ticket offlco "to assist tho conductor," ho gets his ride on the train, but no .transfer. Thanking you, Mr. Editor, for thc kindly uso of your columns as a moans of reaching the long sufforinp public. I nm, PRO BONO PUBLICO. Vancouver, B. C, Mnrch 20, 1924. Hand The Federationist to your shopmate when you are through with it. TO THE MEMBERS OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS Boost for The Fed. oun cikcijIjAtion is INCREASING OET ANOTHER NEW SUBSCRIBER CTOVES AND RANGES, both malleable and steel, y McClary's, Fawcett's, Canada's Pride, installed free by experts; satisfaction guaranteed. Cash or $2.00 per week. Canada Pride Range Company Ltd. 346 Hastings Street East Sey. 2399 BRITANNIA for PURITY ALWAYS COOL AND SPARKLING NONE BETTER MADE Aak for BRITANNIA—the Label ii a Guarantee of Purity PAGE FOUR if SIXTEENTH YEAR. No. 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA FEDgRATIONIST Vancouver, b. a UBOR MD IDEALISM" rCovemeate Are Flashes Across tht Firmament pf Time and Evolution [By Prances WlllsJ It is often said—and perhaps quite justly—that labor, as a whole, la In iV. liferent, or even hostile to the artls- tlj and beautiful in life. The aver ;:;e working man has no sympathy i or, and no appreciation of the artist tmd his work. The typical "red" regards anything outside his own sphere a j a waste of time. He becomes one- tided, possessed of one idea. So our critics tell us; so, alas, we ourselves observe. If these criticisms are unjust, we .■liould seek to repudiate them; lf ihey arc correct, we should endeavor to change our attitude, not because v/3 are afraid of being called mated' ullstic, but because we are afraid of ! ecominff materialistic. Granted, of course, that there Is a certain material element—the bread and butter facta of life—that cannot and must •iot be overlooked; but this element ia not all. If we allow lt to loom too large, if we allow it to crush that vfhich is flne and spiritual, then we Khali never be flt to take pur share ijC responsibility. The leavening minority of the idealists would cease to work, through the dull, Inert, unthink- nit? mass that is labor. Let us consider what would happen if the labor movement, through ;he votes of thaf same inert and Mn {'linking mass, ever came into power ^-complete power, and the preaent wage-slaves became the rulers. For, qf course, rulers would still be neces- mry. Production would have to go on, just as now, under more humane conditions, perhaps, for without be i ig sentimental, one must say that Uie average working man or woman is kindly disposed—is n*Pr*e human living as he does amidst the fiercest ■strife and tprmoij and pflns fyap to face wilh facts and realities. Bui would the world be any better? Would we have any more love for our ina< terlallst rulers than we have for tho corrupt tyrants of today? Self would be the keynote; do or be done would ftill be the pet theme. Would We, therefore, have an atpm more liking . Cpr that system than we have for the capitalist order of things? It is hardly too pessimistic a view to say that human nature must change before the socialist concepts can be realized. Human nature does change, we believe, but slowly and surely. Man ls W. WILSOH Loggen and Surveyor. BOOTS Hade to Order Onr Specialty Repairing Neatly Done 28 WATER STREET VANCOUVER, B. C. l'lione. Seymour »3« WB CATER TO THE LABOR MAN TUBBY "Ask Dad, He Kpws' By WINNER HEY, BOOB! VITAMIN"!! ral SANWH-ATD'VAMEAN eAUIN'ME A BOOB? IFWOWAHIA.FIHW OF niNE. I'D PUNCH NOIMNTH'M5E, vNOUB'-OWBEir \\_afolA\_i_____. wi>yf'}*w*^ largely a creature of environment. It were Calvanistlc, however, not to add that this environment ls to some extent, man-made, and that we can do our share of helping human nature to- change, by "arranging circum stances" as a teacher would say. We dan encourage, emphasize, reiterate, But what? Not the fact that nearly the whole of "mankind is cheated out of its dues; not the fact that the workers have suffered horribly, unbelievably; npf. the fact that there exists a class war? Yes, but not primarily* not everlastingly. Thp Individual, particularly, the child, for in him lies our hope, must be taught tha( service is more thaa self; that there ls something flner th^i} materialism. But how to teach these things? Beams could be written on how they are neglected in school and out of it. One has,only space to remark here that anything which uplifts the human soul should be made use of. Thanks to tije mighty spirits of past anfl prpsejit, 'tyerfj are ^pftffy fpor^a to disturb our earthiness ae Browning would say: In the reallms of literature, OVt $*r)fl music; in the beauty of sky and forest and sea, we are splrltu aiized. And our struggle for liberty and Justice does not lose'thereby, tt has (he broader vision, higher goals, fairer tactics; It loses fts narrowness and bitterness. We afe imbued with the spirit of tfce ffeat which will carry us through—not necessarily to mere material "success"—but to the fulfilment of pur Ideals; not necessarily tp popularity pr power; just merely to serve pur use. For individuals and movements are but flashes across the firmament of time and evolution. Hand your neighbor thie copy of The Federationlit, and then eall around next day for a subscription. OOBPOBATION 0? POINT OBET Tenders for Uniforms POLICE THE BOARD 07 POLICE COMMISSIONERS will receivo scaled tenders ap to 9.30 o'clock a.m. on Monday. April 7th next, for tho supply of seventeen uniforms, eaeh consisting of one overcoat, ono tunic and two pairs of pants. FIREMEN The council will receive netted tenders up to 8 o'clock pm. on Monday, April 7th next, for tbe supply of nineteen uniforms, each consisting of ono coat and two pairs of pants. Samples of. cloth are required with tenden for each department. Tenderers are required to atate thp time _- which they will deliver the suits after acceptance of tender and to be prepared to give security (If required) for such delivery on time. Tenders should be marked on the outside Tender* for Unifortns." Tho lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. HENRY FLOYD, 0. M. 0. Municipal Hall, 6851 West Doulevard, Vancouver, B.C., March ll, 1924. Fresh Cut Flower*, Funeral Designs, Wedding Bouquets, Bot Plants, Ornamental and Shade Trees, Seeds, Bulbs, Florists' Sundries Brown Brothers & Co. Ltd; FLORISTS AND NURSERYBIEN 48 Hastings Street Fast 2—STORES— 2 650 Oranvllle Street Bey. _B_-»J_ "SAY IT WITH FLOWERS" Sey. »513-I3_1 l***************^^ Ask for "OLD ENGLISH" Pale Ale A fulWjodkd, fine flavored Ale ttat will compart in quality with nr af tht famous imDorted ^^*m ^F\ T^m^ ^^^^^t**^ Vm^m*_^^^^*u*w***' ah^ ind jtf moefa )m cost to tki "The Personnel and Issues of the British Labor Government" TBy Dr. W. J. Cijrry] ' HPHIS was the subject discussed last • Friday evening in the W. P, hall, and Tom Richardson was the speaker. A leading principle of the Third Internationale, and the radical labor movement is "a united front,'1 yet in British Columbia there are still three .political parties, each claiming to re- present socialism, and so far class- consciousness seems often to be eclipsed by party prejudices, yet even here a tendency toward union Is visible. Last month, a prominent member of the S. P. of Canada dealt with the Russian revolution at the b'r i'Jay nighl meetipc In the W, P. hall, while lost Friday Tom Richardson, of the F. L. P. dealt with the labor party prob' lems in Oreat Britain, in the same place. The Accession of British Labor a His torlc* Event The speaker agreed with thp chairman, th^t the Russian revolution might well pe considered the greatest event In human history, apd alsp that the labor parly coining in possession of rule in Britain, m\r,ht lie tlie second event of importance to labor and mankind. The speaker waa a personal fritnd of premier Macdonald, and knew In- tlmately many leading figures in the new government of fhe ol<| lapil. He paid a high tribute to Macdonald's in tegrity and dualities a_> a leader. He represented not only the working class but the Ideals which can alone Drlng peace fli.d progress to the world. But Mr. Richardson was np hero- worshipper. |Ie could see flaws in the labor party of pritain, and sonie men in offlce he would rather see outside, but no one realized more thoroughly the gerat responsibilities, and the colossal problems which must ere long be dealt with by labor, than does Ramsay Macdonald and his associates now in offlce. Tho Lnbor ^Government Interna tional aud Revolutionary Although many regard the present government of Britain as representing only reform and nationalism, the speaker on Friday evening, who had sat with the leaders of the govern: ment, while a member of the house of commons, knew that the British ■trade more today than do the United States or France, yet they still refuse to recognize Russia, and have for years resisted the soviet appeals for trade and credit, because Russia represents communism, and the destruction of property rights, which is the basis of capitalism which those, nations represent. This granting of credit, and the recognition of soviet Russia will mean a tremendous bond of union, and cooperation, which may be considered a historic event of the greatest importance toward peace, sooial welfare and communism. Miners in tlie Scats of the Mighty Mr. Richardson had himself gone into the coal mines to work as a boy, and he personally knew ii}any of the nine miners, who, now occupy cabinet positions, and in spite of Churchill's sneering remarks "that the workers are not flt to govern," wjio tji}$ miners, and men of the working olass can legislate arid battle for the freeing of the wage slave? If British labor is socialist, why haa Macdonald not introduced socialist legislation, instead of reform measures? To this qupry the reply w^a "that the labor government represented a minority party, and a minority of seats, and any measure introduced with a view of displacing capitalism by -Industrial democracy, would mean thp immediate defeat of the la|)or government." The time Js not distant when ^ia course may become necessary, h«t labor Is not ypt rea<Jy for another election. Churchjll's claiiji lo helng flspfoved. During the few weeHs (jiat fobor lias been in copirol, more progress has been made to replace secret diplomacy of party politicians and profiteers by open and honest negotiations, by real statesmen, than ever before known in British history. Labor is gaining in power and popularity every day, at the expense of the other parties, and the next election will doubtless see labor In a majority over all coalitions representing capitalism. The swing toward the left is in- evft?b'« ind no doubt Macdonald and his comrades are wise enough to read the hand writing on the wall, and to know the present social chaos is but the birth pangs of the new social or- Labor party stood for the abolition of1 der, which will alone bring peace nnd 1 ■ , I Wh __-.__11i-_n_.it itnot published sr dispfayvl bjr -aUejHK Cortrol Baat4 or bf ths Oowsranot of BHti-fa CohnnbU. +t&i0)0m**mm*tt***am*m0*amm capitalism, aivd for international control by the workers. Mr. Richardson also read extracts from Macdonald's speeches in the house, in which he condemned the action of the government when they were about to plunge into the world war, and it Is well-known that Mr. Richardson himself suffered through his anti-war attitude. In reply to a question, he declared that if Germany had won, the workers of Britain could not _iave been bled' more mercilessly than they are being bled today, by the exploiters of .Britain, but that many laborites hold that had Britain remained neutral, there would have been no war, but a settlement by arbitration would have been affected No doubt Mr. Richardson would agree that Britain, like Russia, and Italy, were after the spoils of war, as the secret treaties exposed by^ Lenin, clearly demonstrated, and he would probably agree taht this great catastrophe has hastened the ripening and fall of capitalism, and in spite of its horrors, will prove to be a blessing In disguise. Macdonuld No Paciflst A statement, which should even please the members of the Workers' party, was that although Macdonald believed In constitutional methods, yet he was no'paclflst, or non-resistant in the Tolstoian sense, and lf any reactionary Faclst, or Crusader's forces should rebel against the labor state, he knew that Macdonald and his colleagues would "ruthlessly" crush any seditious outbreak of this kind with the powers of state. He also stated that ln the laat great miners' strike, the corporation government, then in control, discovered to their dismay that the militia called out to "preserve the peace," and to act as strikebreakers proved to be sympathetic to labor, and had to be disbanded. It seems evident from this, that Mr, Richardson might even endorse the action of the red army when lt ruth lessly crushed the forces which Bri tain and her allies sent to overthrow the workers government In the soviet republic. Why Did Maodootdd Reoognlu- Ruata? The recognition of Russia was the flrat official act of the labor government. A question coming from the audience, implied a belief that this recognition waa effected, not out of regard fpr the soviet interests, so much as tq promote the interest of British capital, put Rp Rations need goodwill between nations. Next Friday, the concluding meeting of the season will be held. The subject will be: "Communism, the Next Stage In Social Evolution." Dr. Curry will speak. There will be illustrations and discussion. Seditious Libel (Continued from page 1) Waterford, C. B., N. S., on July 25, 1917; some 65 or' 70 men lost their lives by it. The men pontended the explosion was caused through negligence of the corporation, and Its officials, and an information was laid. The then Mr. Melllsh was a member of the firm of Mclnnis. Mcllish, Fulton and Kenny, Halifax, N. S. This firm were the chief solicitors, as thoir successors are today, for the Dominion Coal company and the Dominion Steel corporation, before the merger of these and other companies Into the Besco. Mr. Melllsh appeared in court on all their actions. This Information being laid, the office of Mclnnis and Melllsh was preparing the caso for the companies involved. Shortly before the trial, Mr. Melllsh received his appointment as judge of the supreme court of Nova'Scotia. His firat Important work on the bench was to hear the New Waterford explosion case at Sydney, the defence of which he had prepared for the companies and their officials, Mr. Hector Mclnnis, senior in his law Arm, being chief counsel for the defence on the trial at Sydney. Mr. Justice D, D. McKenzle, puisne Judge of the court, was, previous to his appointment, the local so licitor for the Nova Scotia Steel company, at North Sydney, and was very closely In touch with Besco. Mr. Justice Ritchie, previous to hts appointment, did work for the Dominion Coal company. Whether he waa a permanent solicitor or not, I just do not know. However, he appeared In some cases on their behalf. Mr. Justice ppgere, previous to his appointment, was a partner of Henry Rogers, Harris and Stewart, Halifax, and solicitor for the Nova Scotia Steel company. The other Judges on the bench are Justices Russell and Chlsholm, neither of whom had known relations with these companies. Perhaps I should pdd thftt the Novn Scotia workers point put that the minister of national defence (Mr. Macdonald), who la officially responsible for the troopa being sent to Cape Breton, has been. If he is not atill, the solicitor for the coal companies. Nov, #r. Spe*$«r< If WY: thlnjr more were padded to destroy the respect for the Impartiality of the courts it was supplied by the congratulatory telegram sent by Besco to the attorney-general of Nova Scotia. I regret to say not only was there no intimation ln the speech from the throne that any action was to be taken to give relief to this large body of people in Nova Scotia, but further, there is no intimation that any action ls to be taken with regard to the iniquitous legislation which was placed on the statute book in 1919. The prime minister Intimated yesterday that several of the measures which had been passed by this house last year were to be reintroduced. But he did not suggest that the amendment to the Immigration act was to be reintroduced. J have still hopes that the government may consider this matter; ^hat is why I am bringing \t before the house today. The necessity for this legislation, without going into details, I can bring before the house by reading a resolution passed at the last annual convention of the Ontario section of the Canadian labor party: ^iat, wherpas, dijrifig the poBt-war hysteria \n the year 191?, there yvere passed in the federal parliament amendments to the Immigration act; amendments to the criminal code; amendments to tha Naturalization act, which, in effect, deprived all citizens born outside of Canada, including British-born, of the right of trial by Jury, whloh removed the constitutional ' safeguards of freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom Pf assembly, and which rendered Canadian citizenship valueless; therefore, be It resolved, that this convention pf (he Ontario section of the Canadian labor party urge the twp labor members and the progressive members of the federal house to put forth every endeavor to have this undemocratic and un-British legislation removed from the statute books of Canada- I am glad to note that this convention called upon the progressives to aid In this wbrk. I would like to believe that the libtral party of Canada has still a-sufficient respect for the old liberal traditions that it would feel that at this session of the house It eould carry out the objects of the resolution which I have just read. In his day, Joseph How.se waa fighting against an iniquitous institution known popularly aa the "family compact. He is honored today as others of the older stock of Canadians have been honored, because they so bravely took up this fight- I vepture to say that J. B. MacLachlan and others who are fighting against the great trusts which have grown up over all this dominion are fighting against a more dangerous and menacing institution, or series of institutions, than that of the "family compact." The prime minister ls rather fond pf boasting that his grandfather was a repel. Unless he Is very careful tho prime minister's grandchildren will not be able to boast that concerning him. Salary Question (Continued from page 1) act, w* do not Know. Last session of parliament appointed a parliamentary committee to Investigate the Civil Service act, evidence was received by that committee from the Civil Service commission, heads of departments, and representatives of the service (employees) organizations. The report of the evidence submitted, and the committee's findings cover over 1100 pages. The committee's report of the salary question, is that, after reorganization, that salary revision shall be taken up immediately, and pending salary revision, the bonus to continue Regarding superannuation, the com mittee ls favorable to a Contributory Superannuation act, and agrees entirely with employees' contentions ln this regard. An act placed in the appendix to the report, by resolution of the parliamentary committee, covers the desires of our organization. This Is the act we want, A Great Welcome (Continued from page 1) will be given back to the working class and their wrongs' will eventually be redeemed If you say that strong ly enough, you are liable to get Into Jail for sedition. I don't know much about your contraot. Tpi) don't set much news In the pen. Mr. Woods- worth . told me on January 16 that Wolvin had ppsted a 20 per cent, reduction. I said he will never reduce tho wages. He does not mean to. will toil you what he wanted. He wanted the mines closed. The. miners of this continent dig twp tons of coiil tp every one required Wolvin puts up a bluff and says you are pping to have your wages reduced ?? per cent. He wanted you men tp atrlic;, and he wanted a peaceful strlljp. He msde money out of it, but you men hive your living Jeopardised; the living of your family is being Jeopardised every day. That little baby occupies the front rank In a strike, and that sickly wife. Thp ruffians that pfrn this oountry deliberately attacked the fr.q- men and children. The men cpn (tend It, but when I tee the wo$eq and WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED A NEW STOCK OP Borsalino Hats ■*"-*9S»»*«*-WI*«W*«***«**B!*«^^ In the new sand, grey, brown and blaok NEWEST SHAPES Stetson Hats $8.50 Borsalino $7.60 Other makes from $2.50 Pine Shirts, hundreds of patterns to select f_oin....$1.25 Men's Suit) from $17.60 New styles and conservative models Agent for HEADLIGHT OVERALLS {UM) COjpiNAT-QNS W,B. Brummitt 18 and 20 <.QRPQV* ST***!? WPT «4 412 HASTINOS STBEBT WJ|T, VANCOUVEB, B. 0. Clay Worsted Bine $9.50 ' Work Shirts from $1.00 Men's Oxfords ........IfifSO Men's Fine Boots from ..$4,00 Stridel" Boots-. $8.00 Pell's Boots, Dr. Reed's Piish- ion Soles :....'... $11.50 children being starved, sedition pr no sedition, I am going: to oppose it. Talk about sacred contracts! There ls one sacred contract. When you take a woman to the altar and promise and Bwear to love and support her, that 1b a sacred contract. I will break any contract to keep that one. That is what counts. I don't know about this agreement; but you men know, and you have done the right thing in voting against it, I thin);. You have to light to wrest n |iv|ng. Mr. Maclachlan says ho weighs but 186 pounds today, as compared with 168 pounds formerly. Although they decreased my weight, he said, ln closing, they did not kill my ambition to tight for the working class. "The greatest honor taht was ever done me," said Mr. Maclachlan |n closing, "was here tonight, when this huge gathering turned out at nearly midnight to welcome me back from the penitentiary." Mr. Maclachlan left on the midnight train fpr Cape Breton, and was given a great send-off. .w ,•"■ BURNING STOMACH J Btmm la hrs alntu with JO-TO lii-lfutlon quickly, wlcho.t hjrm. All Drag auras STEAMSHIP) TICKET AGENOY TICKETS ft) Alsts PARTS OF THB WORLD Agent for Ml Steamship Companies ■Prop In aad *Ut Vs tt— It Onr. MM. HAT, Agent Vmco«t«i. ?. O. THE CHOICE OF THE UNIONS CATTO'S VERY OLD HIGHLAND WHISKY THOBOUOHLY MATURBD—ONE OP THB MOST POPULAR BRANDS AT THB GOVERNMENT STORES OOLD LABEL 15-YEABQLD Ask for CAITO'S. For salo tt aU Government liquor Stores TUs -dt.rttMm._t la nt paHUk-l er dliiUysd by the Litur Control Beard i by the OOTtramW cf Brltlih C-Umbls ywB FREE SERVICE NOW OFFERED —BY— ,| CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS Colonization and Development Department ■THE wprk of thlp department la being rapidly extended throughout ' Western Canada tp be of tbe best pouible service to thp public, and through lta apeclal representatives ln the Bast, In Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and other European countries, |t will be able to bring to Canada large number* of Immigrants, male and female, who fn a short time should become permanent and desirable settlers, Th* great obstacle In the past hu been the uncertainty o'f Immediate otAflomm tm thp new irrlvnl and farmers cap assist colonlaaUon work by employing their help through this channel, and If possible BY THB YEAR. The work la done without charge and no advance* ara required (or transportation or for W •lm|I»r purpose. All information given Is uaed for th* purpose pf Informing th* settler re- quirl^f work pnly. EVERY NEW SETTLER HELPS VOU PROSPER ALL D. N. a STATION AGENTS JIAyiC NECESSAliy FORMS -A1TD WII* TAIfK TOtnt APPLICATION, OR WRITE D. M. IOH_ffK)N, B. q. V. LETT, Oeneral Agricultural Agent, Mural Agtnt, WlNNIPBq BDMOMTON Coloniwticin *n4 Developintnt Department, Canadian Nationai Railways
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).
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