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ABOR .MAIDIAM With Which Is Incorporated THE B. C. FEDERATIONIST 3BF. teenthYear. No. 4. > VANCOUVER, B. C, FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 192^ V ; -f Eight Pages, — ■ ■— ->' _■>>*/■ 5c A COPY MARY WORKERS 3EK RELEASE OF TAILED COMRADES LGARY,—Unemployed work- fere are demanding, the r'e- of their comrades who were to Lethbridge and Fort Sas- ewan jails for ordering in restaurants when they [iot have the money to pay .. . a following resolution "was d at a recent unemployed Ing,. and ordered sent to the ler of Alberta and to the iter of Public Works: 'hereas the 46 workers now~ ned In Lethbridge and Fort itehewan jails, after being aced to 30 days' imprison- on the 12th, 13th and 14th of January, 1926, for obtain- i meal for which they were le to pay. nd, whereas the conditions admitted by the authorities much worse than expected, id whereas the authorities, Investigating conditions in *ry„ have found it necessary xtend immediate relief to men. lerefore be it resolved that aforementioned workers be <ed Immediately, and return- the place from which they sent." copy of the resolution has .been sent to the Central ill of Unemployment at Ed- >n. i unemployed at the meeting the stand that the 46 men braved jail and dishonor in to bring the plight of their ides to the attention of the [rlties, and now that the -ities had decided that the lon was desperate enough to irate a new relief system, it fip to the fellows who were ing the fruits of their com- "victory" to do all ln their to secure their liberty. Canadian Workers Pro/ ^e More, *'ji.Ja,/ / tf But Get Less, Says Labor M.P. FEDERATED PRESS REPORT REVEALS VALUE TO LABOR /"\TTAWA.—That production per individual worker in Canada had increased by 40 per cent, since 1917, while real wages, based on the purchasing power of the dollar, had increased by only 11 per cent, in the same period was disclosed through figures produced by A. A. Heaps, Labor M.P. for Winnipeg North, in a speech in the House of Commons here. In opening his address in reply to the Speech from the Throne, Mr. Heaps made some caustic remarks about precedents, and stated that the Minister of Agriculture, not being satisfied with some speakers going back to King John to find a precedent, had gone-back to the time of Moses to find one. "Prom the Labor point of view," continued Mr. Heaps, "The Speech from the Throne is notable for omissions. There is no reference in It to some of the pressing problems concerning Labor. Yet when I look away from the Speech from the Throne, which I suppose is the settled policy of the government, and look over to the opposition, and as I analyse and scrutinize closely what the hon. leader of. the opposition (Mr. Meighen) has to say in reference to matters pertaining to Labor, I find that the right hon. member's speech contains just as little reference to Labor as does the Speech from the Throne." Mr. Heaps produced figures to show that the average production per worker in Canada, in 1917, amounted to $5,279, and by 1923 this had increased to $6,222, and that the latter figure if based on 1917 prices would amount to $7,- 372, or an increase of 40 per cent. He then gave figures showing that in 1917 the average wage amounted to $748 and in 1923, $959, or an increase of 11 per cent. If based on 1917 prices. Dealing with the number of men employed In the manufacturing industries he showed that in 1917, 531,466 men were employed, while in 1923, despite the increase in production, the number had dropped to 446,994, and pointed out that neither a high tariff nor a low tariff would remedy the fact that production was increasing while employment was decreasing. Special Insurance against unemployment, sickness, invalidity, and old age were a necessity. "When we read," the speaker continued, "what wages the average worker In Canada receives at the present time, I \ do not think there is a member of. this House who would suggest that those wages are adequate to meet any contingency either in connection with old age or ori account of sickness, or anything else." Dealing with unemployment the speaker said in part: "We have been receiving telegrams dally from the civic officials of Winnipeg demanding that the government take action in this direction; and in addition to those we have been getting telegrams with reference to the disabled returned men . . . The government so far have given no definite assurance that they will look after these particular cases. We do not know whether they will do anything to assist the aged and the needy in Canada. These are problems which I hope to see taken in hand at this sesion of parliament. So far as the Speech from the Throne is concerned, I must say that it contains very little that is promising to myself; I see in it very little hope "or encouragement from the standpoint of Labor." Fifty Years of Toil, Now the Bread Line Try to Husk Up Expose Drumheller Miners To Save Horthy Regime Suffer More Splits »r Alderman Roasts Iritan Wage Slashers JjGARY.—Under a sane so- fystem a mild winter would Karded as a boon, but under lllsm is works serious hard- Jierally at this time of the |% number of unemployed can work snow shovelling, but year there is practically no Ito shovel, with the result that fnber of street cleaners have Kiut on half time, or in other f, have had their wages re from 45 cents per hour to bents. lerinan Parkyn, Labor alder- jat last meeting of the City (.11 raised this question, stat- hat the suffering it caused overshadowed the Baving I was made. Continuing, he Jied the other aldermen: "If |ad to live on such pay you be in' hell. Some of you [embers of the church, and I Inge you as such to vote It this resolution." It was ed to retain the cut. CALGARY. — Forty-four years of "honest toil," commercial prosperity and industrial stagnation in this town has failed to line the pockets of Angus McDonald. The veteran of toil, who confesses to being 81 years of age,, was among the crowd of unemployed who lined up here asking for relief. Questioned as to how long he had been a resident of Calgary he Informed his interrogator that he was here before Calgary appeared on the map, having come here with Donald Smith, afterwards Lord Stratheona, when that individual and his party were surveying for the then western line of the C. P. R. When that work was completed, McDonald decided to remain in the west, and has been here ever since. Half a century of toil in this El Dorado has failed to net him sufficient to keep him in his old age. NEW WAGE CUT ILL RIVER, Mass.—The dof- |and spinners* union affiliated United Textile Workers tes a 15 per cent, reduction ages ln piece rates In several Oakland and 'Frisco Exchange Unemployed OAKLAND, Calif.—Eighty-five homeless, unemployed workers were arrested by Oakland police while trying to keep warm in the pottery kilns here. After a night in jail, they were told to either leave the town or remain in jail. They left town on the five-cent, (vehicle) ferry for San Francisco. Seventy-one homeless, (unemployed workers were arrested in San Francisco and given the alternative of staying in jail or leaving town. They left on the five-cent ferry for Oakland. Thus the unemployment problem was solved. Odds ln favor of Oakland. VIENNA—Efforts to hush up the gigantic bank-note forgery scandal because of the political implications the Horthy government being deeply involved in the issuance of billions of counterfeit French francs, are being made in Hungary. The French government is quietly working to stifle the scandal and confines its investigation only to see that there are no forged notes held out by those who have confessed, who include one prince, a count and cabinet ministers of Horthy's government. The French are dickering unofficially with the prince, Wind- isch-Graetz, and Premier Bethlen is also working to prevent further exposures of the incredible crookedness of the reactionary Horthy regime which overthrew the Soviets established under Bela Kuhn. The whole mess is so unspeakably rotten that the social-democrats have threatened to withdraw support from Horthy and Bethlen. DRUMHELLER, Alta.—The confusion in the ranks of the miners in Alberta which has had such disastrous results to the men and benefits to the mining companies during the past year Is being further intensified by the juvenile romanticism of the I. W. W. A few days ago a group of miners employed at the Thomas mine, Nacmlne, took a vote on whether they should join the I. W. W. or the Miners Union of Canada. Some 130 miners are employed at this mine, seventy-eight of whom were present in the mine wash house when the vote was called for. The vote stood at 52 for the I. W. W. and 26 for the Canadian union. No effort was made to call a real meeting of the miners so that all of them could express their opinion on it. Thus the result of too many unions and too little unity proceeds apace. •pHICAGO—(FP)—The Federated Press enters its 7th consecutive year of daily news gathering for labor papers with its financial position greatly improved and with gains in the number of its LaJbor clients, says Secretary-Treasurer Carl* Haessler in his report on the past year to the annual meeting which takes place February 5, 1926, at the central offices of the association, in Chicago. The text of the report is: To the Executive Board and Member Papers:— The Federated Press now has behind it over 6 years of continuous activity as Labor's news service. Each year has seen a struggle to maintain the standards of Labor news gathering with insufficient Income. But Its fundamental policy of serving every group in the La bor movement without factional bias has again been justified by continued confidence among our member editors and by applications from new papers for membership in our co-operative news association. In foreign countries Federated Press credentials open Labor doors on every hand. The membership roll of papers receiving FP service at the epd of 1925 numbered 68 compared with 63 the year previous. There are 5 Canadian, 1 Mexican and 1 British paper. There are twelve dailies. The 68 papers may be grouped as follows, some naturally ap pearing under several headings: Organs of A. F. of L. automous oi1 subordinate bodies 24, A. F. of L. central bodies 18, international official organs 14, Communist 12, (Continued on page SI) Insurance Plan Causes Trouble in R. R. Union Send in your subscription today. Highlights on This Week's News CANADIAN Profits Increase—Employment Drops 1 Listening In On Ottawa _. 4 Tho Week In Ottawa _..;. 5 AMERICAN Federated Press Issues Report 1 Farmers Roward Small 6 The MinerB Freedom 8 BRITISH Labor In 1925 — 7 Minrs Publish Pit Paper 7 Chamberlain Groots Blackshirts 7 FOREIGN Chineso Study Labor Problems 2 Indian Swaraj to Organizo Militia.... 3 Swedish Spinners Locked Out...- 8 Prairie Unemployed Force Government Aid CALGARY.—Some three hundred men are* receiving relief here from the Provincial government, as a result of their demand to be fed, or else to help themselves to food. These men ai-e being doled out two meals and a "flop" dally, and must report each day and get their tickets. All jobs coming in to the employment bureau are toeing given to unemployed men, who are informed that if they do not take what is offered them they will be cut off relief, and are liable to be jailed for vagrancy. However, jobs are scarce. During the past week the applications for workers has been less than a dozen. MONTREAL.—Trouble is reported to be brewing in the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees over the proposed $4.00 Per year increase in dues, which was recently decided upon in order to inaugurate a pension scheme. The proposal is meeting with much adverse criticism from men employed on the Canadian National Railways, with the result that a circular letter has been sent these men by the Grand President, in which the writer charges that the C. N. R. membership Is being poisoned by national proaganda. The members of the union are equally vehement in denouncing the scheme. In a recently Issued circular they state that "Out of the worker's meagre wages he Is to provide for his death, sickness, un employment, and old age; robbed daily during his lifetime by the employing class broken and bent In industry, worn out with work at an age when he-should be still enjoying life, unemployed as a consequence of now and improved machinery, a victim of greater profits, he is now being called upon to provide for these conditions by robbing his stomach and body to pay insurance premiums." The circular ■ goes on to point out that Labor unions should demand social insurance, to be paid for from the profits of industry, and not strain their members' small resources for this purpose. Page Two THE CANADIAN LABOR ADVOCATE Friday, January 29, 192fl LOCAL LABOR NEWS Lenin Memorial Meet New Westminster Labor Was Very Successful Party Elects Officers Chinese Labor Tackles - Working Class Education CLASSIFIED AD! What was probably the best programme ever put on at a Labor meeting In Vancouver took place on Sunday night last at the memorial meeting held by the Communist Party to commemorate the death of Lenin and Liebknecht. The speaker of the evening was Dr. W. J. Curry, who outlined the struggles, and efforts on behalf of the working class of these two men, and pointed out that the best way to commemorate their death was to assist In the great work which they had made their life task. After the speaker had concluded his remarks, a musical programme was put on, in which the Communist Party choir, band and orchestra took the leading part. A collection amounting to $82 was taken up. -Comrade Angus Mclnnis was the speaker at the monthly meeting of the New Westminster Lalbo^ Party, held on Tuesday, 26th inst. During the business session the following officers were elected for 1926: President, David B. McCOr*- mack; Vice-President, Chas. Flummerfelt; Secretary, Harry P. Latham; Treasurer, A. Sprtce; Executive Committee, J. Couldry, Cameron, Wilkinson, Curie, Mrs, Barrett, Mrs. Higgins. Fishermen to Meet on Wednesday Night Next A further organizing meeting of fishermen will be held in Room 213, Holden Building, 16 Hastings Street East, Vancouver, on Wednesday, February 8rd, at 7:30 p.m. All fishermen are invited to attend. Steady progress is being made by this organization, some new members being taken in right along. The union has appointed a committee to interview the canners with a view to arriving at an agreement with them before the season opens. All fishermen should join and assist tn advancing and maintaining their living and working conditions. Dr. Curry Conducting Class on Russia Today A course of readings and discussions (conducted by Dr. W. J. Curry) from the British Trade Union Delegation's Report on Russia, and other sources will be held in the C. P. Hall, 666 Homer St., every Tuesday evening, at 8 p. m. Russia, today, in the light of Marxian philosophy, is the most Important, valuable, and inspiring study possible to take up. All interested are invited to come and take part, Lantern Illustrations on the screen, and Labor and popular songs will be a feature at each meeting. •VjOSCOW— (FP)—The Sun Yat Sen University of the Toiling Masses of the Far East has opened its doors to 210 Chinese students who have come direct from China to Moscow to attend its sessions. Karl Radek, directov of this new educational enterprise, is enthusiastic over its possibilities, The opening of the university marks a new era in our relations with the far east," he says, "Heretofore the great imperial powers went into China to exploit the resources and the workers, lu/un where Chinese students we"t to western countries, it was to capitalist universities where they studied exploitation, Here, for the first time, we propose to train the representatives of Chinese workers in the arts of the working class struggle." Students in the SUn Yat Sen university will take a two year course. Economic geography, political economy and social history, a history of the revolutionary movements east and west, the social economic and political life of China, the agrarian problem, colonialism and nationalism, contemporary thought and the Russian language form the principal Study. As the students cannot speak Russian, most of the classes will be In French and English. Students were picked by the student organizations of China on the following basis: (1) their past services to the labor movement; (2) their probable ability to serve the labor movement in the future; (3)at least 20% women; (4) students to be distributed geographically over the various regions of China, There were over 1,000 applicants in Canton alone, Most of the students are* members of the Kuo Ming Tang party. About a fifth are Communists. All" are young. Sun Yat Sen university is controlled by the Society for Assisting the Sun Yat Sen university. This is a private association under the chairmanship of Joffe, former soviet minister to China, Trade unions and co-operative societies belong to the Association. Interested persons may likewise join it. The association is establishing branches in Russia and expects, to establish a similar organization in China. The association has no conection with the soviet government and receives no financial support outside of the dues paid by its members. FEDERATED PRESS REPORT REVEALS VALUE TO LABOR Soviet Co-Operatives American Money Kings Play Important Role Like Fascist Regime Interesting Subject At C. L. P. Open Forum "What is Wrong with the Canadian Labor Movement" will be the subject at the next weekly Open Forum meeting of the Canadian Labor Party. The speaker will be J. N. Boult. The meeting will 'be held, as usual, in the Royal Theatre. Doors open at 7:30 p. m. Meetings commence at 8 p. in. After the speaker has completed his address there will be a period for questions and discussion. The platform will be held open to all those desiring to talk either for or against the speaker. Soviet Union WiU Not Attend Geneva Meeting MOSCOW—The Soviet government has forwarded a note to the league of nations declining to attend any disarmament conference on Swiss soil, but emphasizing its willingness to attend a conference elsewhere. It is known that President Sci oloja, Italian, of the league, and Sir Eric Drummond, English, its secretary general, are in Paris to confer upon what reply shall be sent to Soviet Russia. It is annoying, to say the least, to the league, that Soviet Russia can put pressure upon the league to bring the Swiss government to retribution for its outrageous behavior in the Vorovsky case. The Swiss, now that the other nations are forced into relations with Soviet Russia, are becoming keenly aware that if the Swiss government does not make amends to Russia, all the league of nations may have to move out of Switzerland to accomodate the frequent league conferences which must include Russia. Thia will practically bankrupt Swiss business which depends so largely on league visitors and conference retinues for its income. (Continued from page 1) independent unions 11, railroad labor 9,Farmer-Labor and allied 7, foreign 7, Socialist 6, co-operative 3, I. W. W. 3, Negro 1, unclassified 10. -v During the year, The Federated Press has had two occasions to protest the action of the British government in attempting to bar its duly credited foreign correspondents. In the case of Scott Nearing the British finally admitted him, while in the case of Gertrude Haessler, the U. S. state department assured the FP after due enquiry in London that the bar was not caused by the FP credential. Both Incidents occurred just before the threatened British general coal strike. The FP vigilantly supports its correspondents at home and abroad. The editorial and business staff have worked together in unprecedented harmony the past year. The Chicago news and business, headquarters is staffed by Carl Haessler, managing editor, Leland Olds, industrial editor and Anna Bela, office secretary. In addition Joe Carroll, C. A. Moseley and Harold Bassman have assisted. The New York bureau has developed remarkably under the untiring work of Art Shields and Esther Lowell. The Washington bureau continues on its high efficiency level under Laurence Todd. Among foreign correspondents with FP credentials during 1925 may be named W. Francis Ahern, Scott Nearing, Len de Caux, Anna Louise Strong (Anise), Gertrude Haessler, P. J. Welinder, Jack Armstrong, Carl Branin and Nellie Seeds Nearing. Among domestic and Canadian correspondents were Tom Tippett, Miriam Allen deFord, Albert F. Coyle, Harvey O'Connor, Martin A. Dillmon, Maud McCreery, Harold R. Johnson, J. W, Leigh, John Robur, Sydney Warren, C. McKay, Daisy Lee, W. Ivens. A. L. Carpenter, Jack Mette and Stanley Boone. Luxury is, indeed, possible in the future—innocent and exquisite; luxury for all and by the help of all; but luxury at present can only be enjoyed by the ignorant; the cruellest man living could not sit at Its feast unless he sat blindfolded.—John Ruskin. MOSCOW.—(FP)—Co-operative organizations are playing an important role in the economic life of the Soviet Union. During the revolution, the civil war and the currency infation, the co-operatives had a bad time, but since the new economic policy began in 1921 they have received every assistance from the government and are recognized as one of the chief factors in the success of a worker republic. Sales, membership and economic position have all shown great gains in the past three years. Co-operative sales in rubles (1 ruble, 60c) in the republic have been: 1922-3, 818,000,000; 1923-4, 2,050,000,000; 1924-5, 3,600,000,- 000. The figure for 1924-5 is an estimate, but for the first nine months of that year, the sales were 2,700,000,000 rubles, more than 30 per cent, greater than the sales for the whole previous year. The co-operatives bake about 40 per cent, of all the bread consumed In the republic. In Moscow they bake 75 per cent, of the bread used. The 77 leading co-operative societies bake more than 80,000,- 000 pounds of bread per month. Half of all the textiles sold are handled by the co-operatives. They also handle 80 per cent, of the oil. The secretary of the All-Russian Co-operatives estimates that 60 per cent, of all Russian workers and 22 per cent, of all peasants belong to the co-operatives and that the co-operative societies get from 60 per cent, to 55 per cont. of the monthly wage paid to the workers. The peasants are taking a growing interest in co-operation. On June 1, 1925, there were 4,343,000 town members of the co-operatives and 4,838,000 peasants. There were 19,000 co-operative societies ln Russia October 1, 1923. They had 25,500 shops and 6,896,- 000 members. Two years later, June 1, 1925, there were 25,500 societies, 49,000 shops and 9,183,- 000 members. During the eight months ending June 1, 1925, the membership of the co-operatives Increased by almost two millions. Co-operation is no longer a theory in the Soviet Republic. It is the method by which workers, and to an increasing extent, the peasants, provide for the distribution of consumption goodB on a nonprofit basis. WASHINGTON. — (FP) — In a two-hour speech filled with revelations of the partiality of the Wilson and Harding and Coolidge administrations for American financial imperialism, Rep. Rainey of Illinois, Democrat, denounced the Italian debt settlement during debate on that measure in the house. He reviewed the Mussolini dictatorship, with its rule of murder, arson and crushing out of all possibility of free association of citizens. He declared that America must not subsidize despotism based on murder and terror in Europe by cancelling 75 per cent, of the debt owed by the Italian government to the American people. He showed the high profits taken by Morgan & Co. from the $100,000,000 loan they sold for Mussolini to American investors, and laid upon the Coolidge administration the responsibility for the Morgan deal. Reviewing Herbert Hoover's foreign activities, Rainey showed that Hoover, as partner and field manager for the Scotch promoter, Leslie Urquhart, had secured concessions from the Russian czarist government which he is now trying to force the Soviet government to restore to them for exploitation. BARRISTERS Bird, Bird & Lefeaux, 401 MeJ polltan Bldf. BATHS Vancouver Turkish' Batha, Pa<j Bldg., 744 Hastings St W. BICYCLES HASKINS A ELLIOTT, 800 P« Btreet W. The belt makes of blof on easy termi. BOOTS AND SHOES Arthur Frith & Co., 2313 Main*] BOOTS (LOGGING) H. Harvey, B8 Cordova St. W." CAFE Empire Cafe, 76 Hastlngi St. chiropractor Dr. d. a. McMillan, pali Graduate. Open daily and evenll 683 Hastings Street West, cor. <_•_) ville Street. Phone Sey. 6954. DENTIST Dr. W. J. Curry, tOl Doming Bldg. DRUGS Red Star Drug Store, Cor. Ctj dova and Carrall. FLORISTS Brown Bros. & Co. Ltd., 48 tings St. -. GLASS' GLAZING, SILVERING, BEVELLIS WESTERN GLASS OO. LTD., Cordova St. W., few doon wut] Woodward'!. Sey. 8687. Wholeial* •] retail window glass. HOSPITAL BETTER BE SAFE THAN SORRTj Grandview Hospital—Medieal, ral leal, maternity. 1090 Victoria DrH High. 137. MEN'S FURNISHINGS W. B. Brummitt, 18-20 Cordo Street. Arthur Frith & Co., 2313 Main MEN'S SUITS C. D. Bruce Ltd., Homer and : ings Streets. W. B. Brummitt, 18-20 Cordo; Street. MUSIC ■\7IOLlNS ADJUSTED, VOICED, V paired, by expert. Will Ed-nan1 96S Robson St. Sey. 2004. OPTICIAN Pitman Optical House, 616 Haj ings West. PAINT AND 3-PLY PAlfELS Gregory & Reid, 117 Hasti]| Street East. TOBACCOS Mainland Cigar Store, 310 Carfl Street. CORPORATION OF POINT ORE'S Kansas City Building Crafts Ask Wage Raise ST. LOUIS.—(FP)—With the approach of the building season, building tradesmen of the two principal Missouri cities, St. Louis and Kansas City, are seeking to revise their wage scales upward. The organized contractors have taken a stand against any wage boosts. But the men are solidly unionized. St. Louis painters, receiving $1.30 an hour, demand $1.50. Other St. Louis building workers are drafting new agreements. Stone and marble masons of Kansas City demand $1.50 an hour to replace the present sfcale of $1.25. Wood, wire and metal lathers receiving $10 a day, demanding $11. Hoisting engineers, painters and carpenters will ask better wages. Tenders for Trees, Etc. SEALED TENDERS addressed to undersigned will he received by J Council up to 8 o'olock p.m., on __f day, February 1st next, for the bur of 2500 Boulevard Trees, 3000 Seedlings. Particulars as to sizes and varied and forms of tender may he obtail on application to the Municipal EnJ eer. The lowest or any tender not essarily accepted. HENRY FLOYDl 0. M. Munioipal Hall, January 28, 1926. Patronize our advertisers. NONE BUT WHITE HEI EMPLOYED COALf AND t wood/ Patronize our advertisers. Say you saw it advertised in the "Advocate". NONE BUT WHITE HEL] EMPLOYED tiday, January 29, 1926 THE CANADIAN LABOB ADVOCATE Page Three - - POLITICS - - lian Swaraj Party Spanish Dictator To Organize Militia Having Pleasant Time --INDUSTRY-- Cooks' Strike on the Swedish Employers Rivera Hits Tourists Lock Out Spinners lAWMPORE—The Indian Na- lil Congress which has just eluded is a most significant and marks a more drastic de- Ition of Nationalist policy. . the Swaraj Party's policy of j-drawing from the Councils, if f government refuses to respond [the demands foi- constitutional prms, was carried by an overtiming majority. must be remembered that the ve tactics is only a partial boy- of the councils, as the Swa- Ists will attend in order to ob- jict the Indian government's pgets, and also sufficiently of- to prevent their seats being llared vacant. Certainly Swarajist leaders who ye their eyes on the sweets of tee, and who amended that Na- jialists should accept office, re- ped, and will, in all probabil- find their spiritual and polit- I homes in the bosom of the le-serving liberal party, [his cleansing will not hinder, will aid the Nationalist Movent. !)ne of the most important de- Ions of the Congress was that [favor of the formation of a |tionaI Militia, by voluntary con- liption. Certain volunteer or- Jilzations, of a semi-military na- |e, already exist. It is proposed ft they form, the basis of the force. will be noted that our Indian tionallsts have not overlooked example of the Irish, in the j-my Sinn Fein years, with their pen army and similar bodies. HENDAYNE, France.—An alleged attempt to assassinate General de Rivera, Spanish dictator, has been frustrated, according to reports received here from Madrid. Pedro Morante, a Spaniard, who recently returned to Spain from the United States, has been arrested in connection with the attempt and has been placed in an asylum, Three peasants of Caudete, Spain, have been hanged by order of a court martial which convicted them of having participated in a struggle with the civil police. Fifteen peasants are still In jail awaiting sentence. Twenty- one have been released. MEXICO The Sixth Congress of the Mexican Federation of Trade Unions, which was held at Juarez last year passed a resolution to convene a congress of elementary teachers. Steps have now been taken to carry out this resolution. The National Committee Of the Federation is first of all making an inquiry among the affiliated organizations concerning the degree of school education of the members of the Unions. It is intended to invite the elementary teachers of Central and South America to this conference, as well as the Mexican; and, besides educational problems, the conference will discuss the economic Interests of the teachers. NICE, Franlce.—Pleasure-seeking parasites, who have flocked to .the Riviera from all parts of the globe, were put into gloom when the cooks went on strike here for an eight-hour day. The cooks waited until the hotels here would be swarming with these pleasure-seeking and exacting parasites before delivering to the hotel managers their demands for an eight-hour day and better conditions. In order to bring the dismayed managers to terms a little more quickly, instead of carrying on a long series of negotiations, they went on strike. Cooks in private homes are in sympathy with those ln the hotels and will make no effort to scab on their brothers. Rockerf eller University Boosts Education Costs litary Act Menaces U.S. Organized Labor WASHINGTON.— (FP) — Sen. per and Rep. Royal Johnson le offered in the two branches pongress the universal conscclp- bill which has been prepared the American legion for minting all labor in the industries lime of war. While It purports conscript factories and mines railroads and all other Indus- wealth as well as labor, the jsth" of the measure are found [hose sections which undertake ■make strikes and wage-move- lits, in time of war, a violation |he military law. Organized la- is to be held at the point of jgun when militarism next liks loose. fils bill is opposed by spokes- of organized labor, and is fcorted by many lobbyists for fness. It will not be passed by er house of Congress at the lent session. CHICAGO—(FP)—It will be 20 per cent, harder for worker families to raise -the tuition fee for their children wishing to attend the University of Chicago after July 1. The quarterly fee will then be $90 -instead of $75. In spite of many' millions raised in a high pressure begging campaign the past year, the university still pleads poverty. Fortunes are built up by exploiting the workers in department stores, stockyards and mall order houses contributed to the recent drive. The university was founded with money given by John D. Rockefeller when he was the target of public anger because of the secret rebate system and other dishonest practices by which he crushed competitors and bled the consumer. AUSTRIA The Austrian Social Democratic Party and the Trade Union Congress aim to set up a Labor College at Vienna. Six-month courses are being arranged; the students are to be nominated by the national organizations of the Socialist Party, the Trades Unions and the Co-operative Societies. A suitable hostel ls to be provided, in which the students .will toe housed free of charge during term-time. The College is to admit young industrial workers, men and women, as well as officials from the Labor Movement. The College is to have a governing body of its own which will be comprised of representatives of the Socialist Party the Trade Unions and the Co-operative Societies. Seeks World Alliance Of Textile Workers Stay at Lhe I0TEL STRATFORD The Plaoe Called Home I, Oorner GORE AVE. and KEEFER STREET Phone Sey. A121 GIOVANDO, JOHN THA (100 Elegantly Furnished Rooms. Rooms with Private Bath Moderate Prices tFIRST-CLASS SERVICE General Wood Jails Filipino for Criticism MANILA, P. I.—Protest is running high in the Philippines as a result of Governor General Leonard Wood's latest outrage, the arrest of Manila City Councilman Antonio D. Paguia, Senor Paguia was sentenced to two months' in prison for venturing to criticize the governor-general. "This is Philippine autonomy under the Jones act!" a prominent Filipino nationalist remarked bitterly in an interview. "Just as it is 'high treason' for a native of India to say anything disrespectful of the British viceroy or the king-emperor, so it is a prison offence in the Philippine Islands to impugn the motives, in tegrity or capability of Uncle Sam's imperial representatives. We have had enough of 'autonomy.' Nothing less than complete and immediate independence can satisfy the Filipino people." Senor Paguia criticized Gen. Wood in the course of a political campaign speech. This was at a time when the governor-general had committed a whole series of acts directed at the continued enslavement of the Philippine Islands, which have become the favorite prospect for Wall Street's projected establishment of .vast rubber plantations under the American flag. JAPAN The Japanese workers and farmers now have 14,600 co-operative societies with a i capital of $50,000,000. These societies maintain co-operative credit Unions or banks with deposits from members of $260,000,000. From these huge resources, equal to the most powerful banks of New York and London, the Japanese workers finance their small farm and industrial undertakings. Cheap credit and freedom from usurers go a long way toward the industrious little brown brothers of Nippon. WASHINGTON.— (FP)—Information received in Washington from the International Federation of Trade Uunions at Amsterdam is to the effect that Tom Shaw, international secretary of the International Association of Textile Workers, is to visit India, China, Japan, Brazil and Mexico in order to stimulate organization and affiliation of the textile workers of these nations in the international. Vigorous efforts are to be made to raise the wage standards in the industry in the Orient and in Latin America, and to remove other conditions which oppress the workers there. Decision on this world-wide campaign of unionization was reached at the meeting of the executive committee, at Zurich, in December. At that meeting the application of the United Textile Workers of America was accepted. STOCKHOLM, Sweden.—(FT) —A lockout started ln the Swedish textile industry January 2 embracing 25,000 workerB. The workers, with the exception of the loom repairers, are organized industrially and belong to the Swedish Lands organization, the strongest labor body in the country with 380,000 members. The loom repairers, about 600 workers, form a craft union in the same Lands organization. The fight centers around this group. The employers demand that they leave the main body and consider themselves a union of foremen with no right to strike or it' they continue with the other workers, to accept reduced wage scale on an hourly basis instead of by the week as now. The loom repairers refuse to accept either alternative. Hence the lockout. The industry is paralyzed. Another fight is looming in the match industry. This is a big Industry in Sweden and the main part of the world match trust in which the Rockefeller money plays a big part. Wages are outrageously low while the profit ls high. In the window glass Industry the employers declare, that on account of competition from Belgium, Swedish workers must accept a reduction of 6 to 12 per cent, in wages, while an import duty of 18 per cent, is demanded. The Socialist government is taking steps to terminate the textile lockout. Unemployment in Sweden Is growing and committees are working out plans for government relief. A proposal for unemployment insurance is promised. Berlin Unemployed in Precarious Condition CZECHOSLOVAKIA The two federations of Czechoslovakia Trade Unions have recently issued very Interesting annual reports. The one includes 43 federations and 330,000 members, and the other (Socialist Unions) has 67 federations and 332,000 members. The Unions affiliated to the Socialist Federation organized 122 educational courses in 1924 and 9969 lectures. They possess 864 libraries. BERLIN.—So great is unemployment and so continually does it become greater, that in searching for a way to give jobs to the starving thousands of Berliners seeking work, the city administration is advancing $1,250,000 to complete the subway from Hermann Platz to the Landwher canal, a project begun in 1912, but stopped by the war. However, this work can furnish only a small percentage of the unemployed with jobs—and at a good profit for their bosses as well as the usual graft for various officials. FRANOE Recently in the French chamber of deputies the department of war made an official declaration of the casualties in the -Moroccan war since, July, 1926. The figures show that 2,500 soldiers were killed; 1,200 died of various causes 7,300 soldiers were wounded; 160 officers dead and 259 wounded. In all 11,419 men are dead or have shed blood for the banks. Patronize our advertisers. Ont Flowen, Funeral Designs, Wedding Bouquets, Pot Plants, Ornamental and Shade Trees, Seeds, Bulbs, Florists' Sundries Irown Brothers & Co. Ltd. FLORISTS AND NURSERYMEN 8—STORES—8 Hutlngi St. Bart, tf. 911-871 «5 Gran-rill* Stntt Sty. 9813-1891 161 HMtinfi Street Wut Sey. 1870 "SAY IT WITH FLOWERS" GREECE Greece has been formally advised by the American government that no extension of a $33,- 000,000 credit will be made and that she is expected to fund her existing debt of $15,000,000 on terms approximating those of the British settlement. Further meetings of the two commissions have been postponed to afford the Greeks time to communicate with Athens. Chicago's Labor Bank In Healthy Condition CHICAGO.— (FP)—After four years without cash return to stockholders the Amalgamated Trust & Savings bank, Chicago's Labor bank, will pay 6 per cent, dividends in 1926, voted by the annual meeting January 12. Profits in 1925 would have been larger but for the great expense of moving into the loop district early in the year and because of the low foreign exchange rates and low commission charges to borrowers on real estate, bank officials explain. The Amalgamated bank, which is owned largely iby the Amalgamated Clothing Workers union and its individual members, has 12,000 checking and savings accounts' of individuals and nearly 300 accounts of unions and allied organizations. Forty-Seven Workers Victims in Ecuador GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador.—Simultaneously with the wave of imperialist terror sweeping over Cuba and Cenral America, the republic of Ecuador has suddenly become an Inferno, due to the recently established military directorate and its efforts to win the favor of Wall Street and Washington. Under the pretext of putting down a "counter-revolution" against the directorate which seized power through a coup d'etat, a fierce assault has been begun against the labor unions and anti-imperialist elements. Already 47 active workers have been deported from the country. Every attempt is being made to smash the labor organizations. Besides the deportations, many workers have been imprisoned. Th|lngs have not stopped there, however. The military government has gone so far as to arm some 3,000 young aristocrats and adventurers, "to defend the republic menaced by the Bolsheviks," according to public declaration of Minister of War Bolona. All printshops where labor papers were published have been destroyed and a veritable campaign of terror has been begun. In addition to the special force above referred to, the regular Ecuadorian army has been called Into play. The army, consisting of 6,000 men, is commanded by a special Italian (fascist) mission sent here for purposes of military instruction. The right arm of Labor is a strong press. Add power to this arm by subscribing to THE CANADIAN LABOR ADVOCATE. NEW ORLEANS.—(FP)—Attracted by newspaper reports of the many public improvements not only In New Orleans, but on the Gulf coast, thousands of strangers are in the city vainly seeking employment. Charity organizations are taxed to capacity. Page Four _. THE CANADIAN LABOR ADVOCATE Friday, January 29, OPEN FORUM &<Ukrid fay, QUESTION BOX] Address All Letters and Remittances to the Editor Hty (Eanatan ffiabor Aimnrai* 1129 .Howe-Street, Vanconver, B.C. £!?.!?.™ll?,,,,,SL,,,,,i?,H?,,,, $2 A YEAR $1 SIX MONTHS ItllUIUUimilWIIUIItUIIII :: Capitalism's :: Weekly Pageant PORTLAND city council is launching a campaign of advertising calcultacd to impress the uniniatcd that crime docs not pay. Tiie campaign is to last for four months, and poteutial brigands ■ are to be shown "that a life of crime Is bare of all recompense". True to their capitalist training the Portland aldermen flgure that the only route to a man's conduct ls through his pocket bonk. Seemingly they also think that Portland has a sufficient number of millionaires, and are trying to persuade all and sundry to become "honest workingmen". * • » T W. MEEKINS. C. S. trade commissioner, has reported to the American department of Commerce that "business indicators" in Canada point in the direction of a trado improvement. ..One of the "indicators" he cited is "in- of the opinion that tlie income creased Immigration". He ls also tax should he reduced. From all of which we gather that Uncle Sam's financiers are being informed that an opportunity may be presented In this country for them to invest some money, and wring some profits from the expected immigrants. He also wants to see that the Dominion government does not grab off any of it in tlie shape of an income tax. « * » IT S. BUSINESSMEN seem to bc developing an aristocratic complex. Tlie president of the Pacific States Butter, Egg, Cheese and Poultry Association is complaining that people refer to them as "butter and egg men," and says snch an appoint km is nothing short of slander. This is strangely reminiscent of thc old British aristocracy, who used to consider it a disgrace to be associctcd with trade. Seemingly they have not yet nrrived at the stage where the term "steel magnate" would be obnoxious, but they arc on their way. . , , TJUSSIA has hud several months respite from lying proi>agnn- da ln the Canadian press, but apparently the barrage has opened np again. While the daily papers lie about conditions in the Soviet Union, and tell of packs of famished children, the eyes of thc populace are diverted from thc comic opera at Ottawa, The fact that Russia is compelling thc League ot Nations to trim its sails may also bo wounding thcir family pride. • **•♦'» DUSINESS MORALS may be taught to Vancouver children says the daily press. Presumably this means teaching the -young the necessity of beating the other fellow before he beats them, that is if present day standards arc to bc taken as a basis. Business Immorality, however, would be n better name for It. • • • •"THE PRINCE OP WALES lias taken another rioso dive with dlsasterous results to his collar bone. Once upon a time kings mounted on war chargers rode at the head of their armies, nnd took part In the battles, but thnt wns in tho days when, ns onc Labor writer poetically puts (It. "Kings could sit on horses." • • * r*_iXJ—, it is said, makes a very ^ good adhesive. ' Why Patch a Rotten Vessel? A CORRESPONDENT in this issue suggests that the Federal government abolish the office of Governor General; the provinces abolish the various lieutenant-governor offices; amalgamate minor cabinet positions, and use the monies thus saved on building up industries, increasing employment, and reducing the cost of living. 'Our correspondent asks for our opinion on the subject, and gives as his objective: Drastic economy, and work with a, living wage for the unemployed. _* We might reminder 'friend of the old Labor adage that it, is not more work the worker requires, 'but more rest—rest not only fromnis labors, but also rest from worries over his economic position. It might also be. pointed out that if large scale industry ensured employment the British Isles should be a place where an abundance of jobs could be secured. Thc fact that such is not the case proves we must look in another direction for relief from our economic ills. It is at the point of production that the worker is fleeced. This truism cannot be too frequently reiterated, because, an understanding of it is necessary to an understanding of present day society. The worker agrees to work for a certain length of time for a certain wage. During the course of his day's toil he produces a greater value than he receives in return in the shape of wages. The difference between what he produces and receives is known as surplus values, jand is the source of all profits, no matter in what form they- present themselves. It is of no small moment to those who work for a daily wage how those who neither toil nor spin divide up amongst themselves the fruits of our labor. It is a matter of minor importance whether they dole it out to obsolete political figure-heads, or use it to build more factories and import more workers to operate them. Our great problem (at the moment) is to reduce the rate of exploitation by increasing real wages, or reducing the hours of toil—the latter preferably—and ultimately to forever end a social system the very basis of which condemns us to a life, of wage-slavery. Listening In On Ottawa a snap of the finger, !whi! really big problems are neglected, and left undiscul The same gentleman cluck] "wheat belt" physics:— I "I am perfectly well awl (As heard by the Editor) the fact that just so long •TiHE strange rendition of the have to the south of us a 1 devil's tattoo coming in on with one hundred and tenj the radio during' the past week 'lons of people, the law of was not caused by static but by tatlon will always drawi a cl vociferous ejaculations at Ottawa, percentage of our populatid as our statesmen "struggled with the south. It is a law of nt geography," and wrested with such and it will work inevitably."] problems in statecraft as raising Mr.'J. K. Flemming, M.pl cattle, cultivating strawberries, Vlctoria-Carleton, on the dlf| marketing, ham and eggs, and ties of higher education:-— civilizing Scotchmen. The latter, "There was another and although not national products stupendous struggle with get] like home brew or Douglas fir, are phy when the people of this causing a revamping of Canadian try undertook to build a ral politics. across the Rocky Mountains. STATION: HOUSE OP COM- Mr. Speaker, later we had anl MOjNS, OTTAWA. Subject: Reply tremendous struggle with ge| to the Speech from the Throne. Phy when, about twenty H. A. MuHins, M.P. lor Marquet- ago, Sir Wilfrid Laurier. . . tc, broadcasting:— posed the construction of a "Scotchmen like our Canadian way from Winnipeg to the steers. I was over their last win- tio seaboard." ter and I saw Irish steers stand- Sir George Perley, on the ing at the rail while our "Canadian tlon between the gustatory- steers were being taken. Our cat- and a tariff on strawberriesJ| tie do wonderfully well over "Strawberries which are brq there. The Scotchman, Mr. Speaker, is a wonderful man for feeding cattle. ... He is not a disturbing element at all but is a self satisfied well-doing man. He believes implicitly in two things— the Sabbath day and turnips. He (Continued on page 5) UNION DIRECTOR! ALLIED PBINTINO TBADES CO —lleeta eecond Monday In tht Preaident, J. B. White; aeeretary, feeds turnips lavishly to our cat- Neelandi. P. 0. Box tt. tie." The same gentleman on ranching abilities:— "Western Canada .... sent Old Age as Political Bait IjTROM Ottawa comes word that the present government (providing it continues in office) intends introducing an old age pension scheme. If press reports of the proposed bill be authentic it is going to be like all Liberal measures—"notable for its omissions.'" Reports at hand indicate that all beneficiaries must be "deserving indigent persons of 70 years of age and upward. ... be British subjects of at least 20 years' residence in Canada, or naturalized subjects of at least 15 years naturalization, and 25 years residence; and that the maximum rate of pensions be $20.00 per month, which would be lessened by private income, or partial ability to pay." Apparently the King government intends that the average worker shall be given every opportunity to die before he becomes of age. The. stress and strain of say 50 years toil in a logging camp is sufficient to kill an elephant, much less a man. However, those'who do have the vitality to survive half a century of gruelling labor are to be afforded an opportunity of experiencing the sensation of slowly starving on $20.00 per month. Referring to the P. G. E. Railway, John Oliver says: "Capital knows no international boundaries." (Doubtless the hon. gentleman learned this fact from some of the Labor members in the Legislature) King, however, by his proposed pension scheme, wants to make, certain that those whom an all-wise providence condemned to be born in a foreign country, must, have toiled for at least 25 years in Canada, otherwise they get nothing. Seemingly he wants to make certain that a Canadian capitalist has exploited them for at least half of their life. From this one is apt to draw the startling inference that King has even less brains than Oliver, because the latter says capital knows no international boundary, and the former seemingly thinks it has. Obviously King, by this proposed measure, is making a bid for Labor votes at next election, and at the. same time wants to retain his capitalist friends- FEDERATED LABOB PARTY- hte 111, SIS Pander St. Weet. meeting a lit and 8rd Wedneiday | lngi. B. H. Naelanda, Chairman; I Morriion, Seo.-Treaa.; Angua Mad 35*4* Prinoe Edward Btreet, V«nc* representatives to champion the B.C., Oorruponding Seeretary, . cause of the live stock industry. , Any dlitrict in Brltlih Oolumbl „,, , „ ,,,, ilring information re neuring ipq 1 here are plenty of men sitting 0r thi formation of local branohei,j at the other end of this chamber *J communicate with Provincial s,,un „,ni i r.s, «... .u u . fW J* Ljrle Telford, 624 Birki who will look after the wheat Vancouver, B.O. Telephone Hi end, but not enough of them are 1882, or Bay-flew two. looking after the livestock .... BAKERY SALESMEN, LOCAL I am in the live stock industry, a ^1X1*^7* feeder and producer of cattle, one well; finanoial iecretary, H. i of those on the prairies who are ron, 781 18th Ave. Eaat. trying to make two blades of CIVIO EMPLOYEES' DNION, grass grow where but one grew ft^V^^ fe before." p.m. President, B. K. Brown,] t.i i ... . . Oharlea St.; aecretary-treaaurer, Idolatrous statements concern- Harriion, 1182 Parker St. ing the "sacred cow," by the same MUSICIANS' MUTUAL PBOTEfl gentleman:— UNION, Looal 148, A. F. ttl «.__ o„ ■ _v. _ _ , , _, Um'» la G.W.V.A. Hall, Seymou! Mr. Speaker, that good, kindly ptnder Streeta, aeoond Sunday soul called W. T. K. Preston came »•"• Preaident, E. O. Miller, »f into my constituency during the {ft Coi rtPib&tU .«! last campaign to talk on that W. E. Wllliama, SSI Nelaon atreel sacred business, the cattle trade •*"■'■"' F- rl«tl""r' "l f""on Fancv a man like that dis- THE FED EBATED SEAFAl .... xancy a man like tnat as- DNI0N 0F 0ANjU,A_H,ld,a cussing a sacred proposition like lt Booma 8, • and 7, Flaok the cattle tradei" 1*8 Haatinga Straet W., VaneouveJ Tel. Bey. 8881. Preaident, Bobert " Hon. W. lt. Motherwell, Minis- Vlce-Preaident, Da-rid Olllnpla; ter of Agriculture on the patriot- £3^** SSftUl ic et forts o£ the Canadian hen:— Btreet, Vlotoria, B.O. Phone MM "Canadian hens have been lay- Typo8RAPHIOAL UNION, No. ing very much more generously Preaident, B. P. Pettipiece; vln at this time of the year than us- *£ «■ £ *££$ J,""'^-] ual*—more generously in fact than Meeta laat Bunday of each montk] ever known in the history of Can- P*"*** la Holden Building, 18 Haetif ada for manv decades" PBINOE BUPEBT TYPOOBAPlf aaa lor many aecaaes. UNION. No. 418—Preaident, Mr. Munion: "In view of the ",cd?n»la: ••-'",,r-T-tr",ur"- , _ . ■ ■ .t Lu _«■•,' < . t, . Campbell, P.O. Bo* tS8. **" statement of the Minister of Ag- Thuraday of eaeh month. riculture is it his intention, as a ****************************. minister, to claim foif the government credit for the I improvement in the laying qualities of the Canadian hen?" Meat! THE CANADIAN ffiabar Action with Which la Incorporate^ SHE BBITISH COLUMBIA TIOMST PUBLISHED EVEBY FBIDA By the Ubor PnbHihlng Oj Bnalneaa and Editorial Offici 1128 Howe St. The Hon. the Minister of Agriculture on freedom for hens:— "The hon. member for South Wellington, so the report goes, said: 'What is this man Motherwell doing with our eggs anyhow? Can't our hens be permitted to The Canadian Labor Advocate ia lay as they want to?' " factional weekly newipaper, givlni of the farmer-labor movement ln Mr. Forko, Progressive leader, ~"~ ,. - - • __ , . „. _ , *_i,.„....,. „i.__.<, _.» i_.__.n_ ,__ Subecrlptlon Ratce: United Statei showing signs ol intelligence:— /ore|gn, $2.60 per year; OanadP "How little the people really ' per year, fl for ab montha; to i know about the important ques- "^'pi?'moX* U*T' "" P"' tions before the Dominion at the Member The Federated Praia and] present time. You will find men BrltUh UDot Preaa in public life quarrelling over tri- f*"a. things that do not amount to Friday, January 29,1926 THE CANADIAN LABOR ADVOCATE Page Five The Week at Ottawa GOLD PILLS Listening In On Ottawa By J. S. Woodsworth, M.P.) now differs materially from the HEN I wrote last week the Platform on which they went to vote on the first ammend- the country. The nearest approach nt had not yet been taken. The to a -°ublio brIbe was tnat offer- irest was very keen, hundreds ed b* Mr- Guthrie which, if it eople having come to hear the menat anything, means that the tes only to be turned from Conservatives were willing if doors. When the vote was glven P°wer to go slow In putting :en, near one o'clock in the lnt0 Practice their protectionist 'rning, the galleries were still Princtples. On the principles of ■wded to their utmost capacity, co-operation and compromise, and Vhen the Roll Call Is taken a with the situation of the country 1 is rung, the Whips gather in as l* ls today' Perhaps even this the Members, and the doors point of vlew mJSht have some shut. In this vote every mem- Justification, but one Conservative (who Liberal Love-Making s ill was present. One by one 0n the wnole the attitude of n the long rows,'each Mem- the Conservatives has been un- rises in his seat and his name compromising. They have shown called out by the Deputy Clerk no willingness to co-operate. The the House, and recorded by the Llberals, on the other hand, per- -rk. Mr. Meighen rose first in haps naturally, are very keen in- port of his ammendment, foi- deed for the co-operation. They ed of course by the entire have been wooing the Progres- inservative group. Then came slves and Independents with an je vote with keenest interest. A ardor that is positively embarras- logressive rose, a second, and sine' Just what the co-operation rd, a fourth, a fifth. No one lnv°lves is not very apparent. The on the opposite side of the government undoubtedly would use. Those who had kept close Iike to take lnto their cabinet bnt knew that the amendment some ot the Progressive members, s defeated. When the negative being willing apparently to con- p called, the Liberals voted sol- cede that the group would main- y^_ followed by the Indepen- tain lts ^entity. Whether this ar- •Tts and the Labor men seated rangement is possible under exist- vard the rear of the chamber. ing circumstances is very dubious, en on the other side, the Pro- The Progressives and Indepen- dents are more inclined to co-operate in putting through those legislative measures which both groups have in common. Whether the government will feel Itself safe in attempting to carry on without any more definite guarantees than this is again a matter of doubt. But desperate men will take desperate risks, and the government is undoubtedly fighting for its very life. The Voice of Reaction Those who voted against the erish'anJetyTo "exercise" every amendment are feeling rather Bible degree of influenece pro more confirmed in the correctness of their judgment by the attitude .he papers have had a good °f the reactionary press. In the U to say about bribery and cor- editorlal already referred to- the ption. If we read on behind Globe urees: headlines, the bribery and "Better put up with another h-uption referred to is not per- general election, get back to the tal but the terms are descrlp- two-party system, and secure of the methods used by the stable government at once." lltical parties. To the honor If the recent vote has prevent- the Independent Members, ed the stable government that lo so largely control the sltua- some of the Interests would like In, it should be said that there to have established, that is, a la so far as we know no at- government free from effective Jipt at anything like personal criticism, much has been accom- fbery or undue influence of a Plished- If a S?neral election would mean a return to the two- party system and the death of ssives added their quota. A Close Call e amendment was lost by >e votes. Had any two more mbers voted Conservative the iision would have been reversed d the Conservatives would have en in power. Millions of dol- s had been spent during the ction in the effort to decide s issue which, after all, was at s time decided by two votes, ts it any wonder that during preceding days there had been the Independent groups, then we [tterial nature. Toronto Globe Suspicious Globe editorial denounces the may well continue to explore pos liatlon as follows: sible methods of co-operation. ['The six days of political jock- * * * ng, wire-pulling, button-holing, In preVious years we have re- Inipulating and Intriguing are fei.red to the extravagant and Ire than sufficient. The sordid democratic character of many of fctacle of the representatives tho formalities and functions con- the two historical parties necte(J with the Opening of Parading one another at the nament. in reply to a critic unter eager to pawn their pro- the Ottawa Journal recently came Led principles and policies for to the defence of the Drawing fee has sickened the public. The R0om and social functions: blcal way in which the sup- "After all, men and women kedly unsophisticated group crave an(j need amusement, it ht finds itself possessed of pow- drives away dullness, drabbiness: | to make or break has trotted jt ja a wholesome corrective camp to camp inviting ov- against intellectual stagnation, lures, if not soliciting "consld- and what is most Important of all, Jtion," has disgusted the pub- lt Keeps people from the most dreadful of all fates—taking t The Progressives' Position themselves too seriously." luch hysterical statement is ab- This advice might be very good ]itely unwarranted. The Pro- if directed towards certain class- slves and Independents frank- es of our population. ProbaJbly |and openly asked both the many of our farmers and Indus- larger parties to state their trial workers live too dull and lition with regard to certain drabby a life. Possibly, a little ]re public questions. There does of the theatrical performance seem to be any political im- which we have in Parliament Irality ln their being willing to might be of some assistance to bport the government that will them. Just why it should be nec- Jrry out the programme of the essary for society at Ottawa is [ople who sent them to Otta- not quite so apparent. So far as the morality of the We have been inclined to think parties is concerned, that is that the trouble was with many IrhaPs a somewhat different of our Members that they did lestlon. The Liberals have ap- not take themselves seriously Irently broadened out their pro- enough. However—on with the ■ramme. It is not clear that It dance. By LELAND OLDS, Federated Press ■"PHE gold cure or revolution— these alternatives face France today, according to C. W. Barron in The Wall Street Journal. Bussia, Italy, Germany and England have taken their medicine, he says, and are seeking restoration of their industries on a gold basis. "The whole world," he says, "is today revolving around the problem of gold and the gold cure. The United States has one-half of the money gold of the world and is therewith gorging itself to repletion with a prosperity that must end. Therafter, and just when it thinks it needs lt, the United States will have to give up its gold to countries that have taken their gold cure, set their standards, and underbid the United States in wbHd trade." !' Two years ago Barron said of the importance of gold: "If you think historically you will see that, preceding every great world movement, every great lunge forward of the human race has begun with a structure of credit or of gold or silver beneath it. You know that modern civilization after the middle ages began with the output of silver from South America." An employe of the United States mint named Del Mar became interested in the history of the precious metals. Generalizing on his long study he said: "Rising from the obscure details of the early history of the precious metals, it may not be amiss before the opening of its modern chapters to briefly characterize its general features. These are slavery and conquest: slavery being the means by which the precious metals were chiefly acquired, and conquest those by which their possession was transferred , from one nation to another." By these methods gold has come Into the possession of today's capitalist oligarchy although today slavery is masked by the wage system and conquest by indemnities and investments. War inflation threatened the gold standard and produced the specter of social bankruptcy. The oligarchy recognized that social bankruptcy meant social revolution. So world capitalism hails the return of each successive nation to the gold column as a victory lor the present social order. Even Hussia is considered half way back to the fold with its gold chervonetz. But as gold represents not only the Integrating agency in socialized production but also slavery and conquest, its stability laciis permanence. Instead of encouraging industry it stimulates trading, financing, gambling, avarice and luxury. What is accounted the basis of wealth and power becomes a source of danger to the country's industries and of poverty and decay to its people. The Journal continues i:s editorial: "People who denuonce social life forget what lt means ln an economic way to our modern life. They forget that jewels and gowns,, that chic hats and blouses, that silver slippers and the daintiest lingerie, provide work for tens of thousands." It is not any great consolation for the thousands that toil to know that a few privileged people have all the advantages of their labor. If the economies of the writer are sound, might It not be a good thing to distribute purchasing power so widely that the public at large might be able, if they so desire, to wear these coveted jewels and gowns and hats and blouses and slippers and lingerie. But each of your readers may draw his own conclusions: I wish merely to give some idea of the mental attitude that so largely prevails in Ottawa. (Continued from page 4) into this country in March or April are not nearly as good as our own which come later, but if we eat them freely at that time our appetite for strawberries is satiated, so that when our own come in there is not the demand for them that there would be if the United States fruit were not admitted. How the hon. gentleman, therefore, can make any objection to a stiff duty on' all fruit and vegetables imported from the United States, I cannot understand." NOTE:—Should the reader desire to secure original copies af these gems of parliamentary wisdom, the Editor will be pleased to supply the number and page of .Hansard* *w^er,e i^ean, b,e found. Mexican Labor Raps American Imperialists MEXICO CITY.—Reports are still coming in to the capital from outlying sections of Mexico testifying .to the activity of the workers, and students of this republic on behalf of the Cubans-oppressed by the present wave of imperialist terror on the island known as the "pearl of the Antilles." Latin-American solidarity against the common Wall Street enemy is creating a widespread movement which cannot fail to have permanent results, particularly if seconded by the workers of the United States. February SALE IS NOW ON SHOES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY A complete line for Men, ■**■ Women and Children. Every pair a genuine bargain. Our low prices will surprise you. DON'T FAIL TO SEE OUR WINDOW Limit.! 1087 GRANVILLE STREET (Directly Oppoalts Standard Furniture Coy.) H. NEIL Hand Made Loggers' and Seamen's Boots 135 LONSDALE AVENUE NORTH VANOOUVER Phone 1181 AUTOMOBILES We Have Some Oood Bays ln . GUARANTEED USED OARS t>OC Cash Payments As Low As *f*.*> FATTISON MOTORS Ltd. Phone Sey. 7105 1385 GranvUle St. Vancouver Turkish Baths Will Cure Your Rheumatism, Lumbago, Neuritis or Bad Cold - MASSAGE A SPECIALTY PACIFIC BUILDING 714 Hastings St. W. Phone Sey. 2070 SPEED! ■THE voice currents used in long-distance telephoning travel from 8,000 to 178,000 miles per second. B. 0. Telephone Company Bird, Bird & Lefeaux BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, BT0. 101-108 Metropolitan Building 837 Hastings St. W., Vancouver, B.O. Telephones: Seymonr 6668 and 8887 GLASSES 5 COMPLETE No Drugs Used in Examination THIS advertisement moans high- grado glasses, with a thorough and advanced eyo examination by a graduato specialist. You will find that we give tho most valuo for tho least monoy, and wo stand back of all work turned out. If your eyes ache, seo ub. BIRD EYE SERVICE (UPSTAIRS) 205 SEBVIOE BLDG. ROBSON nt GRANVILLE Entrance 680 Robson St.- Phone Sey. 81)55 Sickness, The Result of Defective Teeth Dr. W. J. CURRY, Dentist OFFICE: 301 DOMINION BUILDING Fhone Sey. 2354 for Appointment TAOCTORS are now recognizing the relationship between dis- •*-' eased teeth and bad health. Every week or two some physician sends mo a patient to hnvo his teeth attended to, and in tho majority of ensos tho doctor's suspicions aro confirmed, and tho health improves when lho Dental neods liavo beon supplied. This is natural; good Mood deponds on good digestion, nnd this in turn depends on mastication. Dr. Curry combines Long Experience with most Up-to-Datc Methods. OUR CAMP CLOTHING IS UNSURPASSED IN QUALITY AND ASSORTMENT RAINTEST CLOTHING— Blankets $8.00 pair up !,hirtts *!'?? * Men's Underwear, heavy rib- Pants $5.00 Tin Pants $5.00 ,)e(l* special $1.50 garment Mein's Heavy Tweed Pants, for ■'. 05e. , ,„ , *4*50 „u, . . Clearing Price of Men's Rub- Men's Mackinaw Shirts from , $5,50 Der C°ats, with bolt, regu- Coats from .... $0.95 lar $10.00 for $0.95 We Carry Union Mado Shoes W. B. BRUMMITT 18-20 Cordova Street West, Vancouver, B. C. Page Six THE CANADIAN LABOB ADVOCATE Friday, January 29,192 With the Marine Workers (Conducted by W. H. Donaldson, Secretary Federated Seafarer! of Canada.) Farmers Labor for "^Xtaa-o Telegraphers Toil Long Houn By SEAMEN'S ACTIVITIES TTHE auditors appointed to audit the books and records of the organization, of the past year (January 1st to December 31st, 1925) reported at last meeting of the uniop, held on Friday, January 22nd, that after three days' work they found everything in good shape, including finances, assets, etc. Considering the amount of "benefits" paid during the year, and the many little points gained for the seafarers in general on the coast of British Columbia, and the assistance given to members of other organizations, who were not represented here, the union has done well. A large number of seamen, firemen and oilers joined the organization from January 1st to December 31st, 1925. Many seafar-' ers transferred from other organizations, including some from The National Sailors' & Firemen's Union of Canada, which organization represents the remnants of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific, who In their efforts to re-establish themselves have unsuccessfully resorted to all kinds of tactics to break up the Federated Seafarers' Union of Canada. Recently the secretary was ordered by the organization to sue the former secretary of the National Sailors' & Firemen's Union for making slanderous statements, on the "Waterfront," about the Seafarers' Union, and its secretary. The result was that Mr. Campbell was ordered to pay damages to the extent of five hundred dollars and costs. As a result of the case, many of those that thought the statements of the defendant were true, became members of the Federated Seafarers' Union of Canada, and were only to glad to support the cause of the seamen in British Columbia which was the sole object of the The Federated Seafarers. Another feature of the work of the organization was the resistance to the efforts of the Consolidated Whaling Corporation of Victoria, to reduce the bonus of Empire Cafe QUALITY COURTESY REASONABLE 76 Hastings East HAROLD DEGG and BOB KKAUSE Ute B_th Batt. and 72nd Batt. the seamen on the whalers during the month of May, 1925, when the men refused to sail unless the rates of the previous year were granted. The Federated Seafarers' is the only organization which represents the cause of the seamen and firemen sailing from Victoria. Although the efforts of the C. G. M*' M. have been very successful in preventing delegates of the Seafarers' Union getting aboard the vessels of that company, many of the men, who were not organized, after making a trip soon found out the headquarters of The Federated Seafarers' on Hastings Street, and expressed their opinion of the conditions aboard the ships of the C. G. M. M. Ltd. , The organization was successful in having the vaccination fee, returned to seamen who had the doctors fee stopped from their wages,, through the efforts of Mr. J. P. Hogg, who wrote the C. G. M. M. regarding the wrongful stoppage from the seamen's wages. This saved many seafarers more than a day's pay. Quite a few seamen who were not organized complained of the conditions existing aboard C. G. M. M. vessels. The Federated Seafarers used each letter, and through the Labor Advocate some improvements were made, especially in the ease of the Canadian Seigneur, and the Canadian Importer, two of the very worst of the company's vessels. The men on the Importer were short of rations for a matter of ten days on one voyage, and the S. S. Canadian Seigneur was the ship that reported from every port the form of starvation that the crew was subjected to. The following trip, owing to the publicity that had been given by the Labor Advocate, under the heading of "Starvation at Sea," the crew were treated a lot hetter than on the former trip, and many non-union men were the first to come to the headquaters and compliment the paper and organization for the successful exposure of the conditions aboard the "Seigneur." The Importer had the reputation of being a hard case ship. When speaking to one of those responsible for the victualling of the "Importer" on the dock* at Vancouver, the remark that this was the third trip the "Importer" had been short of food elicited the retort: "No, Billy, it is the fourth trip." A complaint came from the crew of the S. S. Princess Beatrice of the C. P. R. regarding the food and the conduct of the chief stewards towards the men that had the nerve to complain, was quickly adjusted by the man- LBLAND OLDS, Federated Press Farmers don't get a reward for their labor and a return on their capital commensurate with the wages and returns to capital and enterprise ln. industry, says the U. S. department of agriculture in a statement urging restric tions on the undue expansion of weekly the third month; $18 week- farm areas. It draws attention to the low incomes farmers are now getting as follows. "After paying interest, rent, taxes, and money expenses, it is estimated that the net cash Income of American| fajrmers to)* the crop year 1924-5 averaged only $610 plus an average consumption of food from the farm valued at $336. This) return represented what farmer operators received in interest on an Federated Press) matio sender. The work s eyes, ears and nerves. The machines connect all] principal telegraph points country. The girl types onl machine in New York andj message is printed off by chine in, say, Seattle, where| other worker pastes lt on a ly the first three months work; for distribution. The messageij $19 afterward until the company relayed to offices not having is ready to give a further raise, matic connection by Morse < In New York city, where living is graphers, men and girls high priced, the experienced girls out the messages toy hand oveij make about $100 a month. wires which carry many mesa A 7 per cent, wage increase be- at once- Machines and glrls.f came effective for selected workers duolnS more work Per hour< (By Esther Lowell, IVTEW YORK.—(FP)*—Profits of *■' $16,1-70,089 made by WeBtern Union in 1926 are making some girl machine telegraphers employed-by the company look.twice at their yearly earlngs. The girls make $15 weekly the first month training; $16 the second; $17 of Western Union on January 1. The raise does not apply to all the workers. "We know our people," the New York superintendent of machine telegraphers tells Feder- average Investment of $6,043 and ated Press. The company now pro as wages for the labor of themselves and their families. An allowance for. the labor of the farmer and his family at average wages of hired farm laborers besides what the farm supplies to the family living would leave no interest return whatever on the farm operator's capital. In fact the average family would have lacked $184 of having anything to apply as Interest on their capital investment. MAINLAND CIGAR STORE "The Place for Pipes" Mail Orders Receive Prompt Attention 810 OARRALL STREET VANCOUVEB, B.0. Red Star Drug Store "The Mail Order Druggists" Wa Make a Special Effort to Oet Gooda Out by Flnt Mall After Receipt of Tour Order Corner Cordova and Oarrall Vanoouver, B.O. Subscribe to the Advocate. agement of the company in their usual courteous manner. Owing to the limited amount of space in the Advocate the balance of the report will be held over until the next issue. See that you get both copies. Morse telegraphers employed; Western Union and Postal graph are now poorly organ!) No local of the Commercial graphers' union exists for then New York. The brokerage graphers have a local of this-J ternatlonal, but this local not take telegraphers, Mors machine, from the big commci] telegraph companies. Western Union has a comij union, however. Federated will have a story about this| Who Is BILL HUNOERFOH Ask Any Labor Man. Hospital Notes The many friends of Dad Gi- martin are glad to hear that "Dad" has been discharged from the General Hospital. He is on the look-out for work although not in the best of shape to do so. Harris Manos was disharged from St. Paul's Hospital on Monday and is being treated as an out patient. Harris has been suffering from a bruised hand which he got hurt while working for the Coastwise Steamship & Barge Company, bn the Barge Granby No, 1. Other seafarers in St. Paul's being visited once or twice a week by the Federated Seafarers' Union of Canada are: M. McPhail, A. B„ from the Wairuna; Phil Cree- gan, from the S. S. E. D. Kings- ley and S. F. Wilson and Emil de "Maesschalck, both seamen from British ships. Some Belgian seamen are still ln hospital from the "Gertrude." Australian Labor Papers Please Copy. Genuine enquiries are being made for tlie whereabouts of W. T. Hannah, lost heard of at Montreal, but believed to be in Australia, and Woolston Levers, seaman. Letters from the relatives of the above mentioned are in the oflico of The Federated Seafarers' Union of Canada. Brother J. Campbell added his name to the subscribers list of the was "a peace of spoils and indent displaced Morse operators once, did.all the work and unionized. Morse operators get higher wages ! than the chine workers. Pneumatic connect many New York brcj poses to give girls working nights offlces- eliminating even 16 per cent, more than Workers. Morse telegraphers. One of several girls brought by the company from Salt Lake city tells Federated Press that her companions and many of the other girl machine telegraphers in the New York offlce are working 12 to 16 hours daily. Time and a half is paid for over eight hours work. The state law limiting women's work to ten and restricting certain night work is posted in the.Western Union offlce but crossed over and marked "Does not apply to this offlce." The girls are required to work every third Sunday. Since employers' device next week. the New York offlce cannot get enough girl workers, those on the job frequently work through two weeks or more without a day off. Western Union pays transportation to and from New York to girl machine telegraphers who promise to stay three months, one of the Salt Lake city girls declares. In the ,Mormon town the girls are not paid while learning and $86 per month is the high wage for all but workers who have been years with the company. Girls work eight hour shifts with half hour lunch and two 15 minute recesses. No girl can leave her place until relieved by another. Each machine telegrapher must keep her eyes following the moving line of print which the automatic types out on tape or on rolls of paper. She must catch every mistake. She must be able to touch type messages on the auto- U. S. Liberal Razzes League of Nations WASHINGTON—(FP)—"Yo(ung Bob" La Follette's first speech in the Senate was an indictment of the world court. He tied it up with' the League of Nations, and in fighting phrases that reminded his hearers of his distinguished father he- roasted the whole lot as a betrayal of American liberty and of the1 cause of humanity. He recalled the discovery and publication, by the' Russian Bolsheviki, of the secret treaties by which the Allied powers had divided, in advance, the spoils of the war. At that time Wilson was talking of "war for democracy," and "peace without victory". But the peace written at Versailles STANFORD ROOMS 863 SETMOUB STBEBT Honaekeeping and Transient ] Central—Terms Moderate Under New Management "BUI" Hungerford and K. Oa bridge, Fropa. Patronize our advertisers. BRUCE, SUIT SALE Big reductions, splend values. Regular prie $22.50 to $42.50, now- $15 to $37.62 C. D. BRUCI Limited Oor. Homer and Haatingt I VANCOUVER, B.O. Advocate. Many more are needed to keep a live paper such as the Advocate going. The next meeting of the Federated Seafarers' Union of Canada will be held on Tuesday, February 2nd, at 8 p.m., in the Hall at 163 Hastings Street West. Important business, Mall List Boland, F.; Boland, T.; Bates, H.; Bell, A.; Beckett, H.; Farqu- har, D.; Henderson, C; Hannah, J.; Hamil, B.; Love, W.; Lawson, J.; Matthews; Maddigan, M.; Maekay, J.; McDonald, J.; McLean, L.; McLeod, M.; McCann, J.; Odgen, A. W.; Put.-., A. E.; Reld, C; Starr, J.; Tarrat, C. W„; Worrall, Wm. nltles, of cruel, inhuman exercise of power of the conqueror over over the conquered, such as had never been known to the civilized world. Instead of high moral principles, noble ideals that the peoples* of the, ^orld who had been fighting the war had been led to expect would control the peace treaty, selfishness, greed, revenge, political expediency held unquestioned, unlimited --.way at Versailles. He described the French outrages against the population of the Rhur, the destruction of Damascus, and the cowardice of the League in fallling to take up either issue. The Original HARVEY Logging Bool HAND-MADE BOOTS for LOGGERS, MINERS, CRUISERS and PROSPECTORS qulak Serriee for Bepaln All Work Guaranteed ipeoial Attention to Mall Order] H. Harvey Ettabllihad ln Yaneonrer la U%% M CORDOVA STREET • - ' ay, January 29,1926 THE CANADIAN LABOB ADVOCATE Page Seven Iters in Britain Publish Pit Paper i kBY SCOTT NEARING (^CHESTER, Eng.—(FP)— at the Rufford mme, Not- fmshire are publishing a "pit " the Rufford Star. The appears every two weeks, bgraphed with a hand ma- Land sells four cents per coPM aevoted to the problems facte men who work in the Ruf- ilne. One of the working edits the Star, and he and Ull group of associates make Reives responsible for clrcu- the jiaper. (es on conditions inside the k comments on . the relation en miners ahd the labor aent, reproduced labor car- ahd letters from miners up the bulk of the paper. issues i* contain as Uttle as 1 words. Others run as high ve times that amount. The Se Issue consists of four large , mimeographed on both paper is edited anonymous- J.n a talk with the editor, I "him': "Can you get out a ill paper of this kind and still ^your job in the mines?" shrugged "fife shoulders: , is a risk we must all take," Iplied. [then explained that a large ler of papers are ordered and 7 for in advance. Others are |d among the 2,400 men who in the mine, lh all of the labor involved in |g, manufacturing and distri- volunteered, the actual cost lb paper, per issue, is $4.16. loutlay buys paper, ink, etc., JOO copies of a four-page ffar as the editors of the Ruf- Star know, this is the first k.per published by miners in End. ©to (Efltttttrg ffiaimr Htm* Chamberlain Addresses. His Fascist Comrades British Labor in 1925 (By W. Milne-Bailey, Acting Secretary, Research Department, Trades Congress) Durham Miners Win jment Reveals Blackshirts Broke ■IDON—In "Stubbs' Gazette," |cember 23, It ls announced Mr. Howard and a Mr. pson, both of 26 Charing 'Road, London, have had a ly Court judgment against jjolntly for the sum of £21 |ld. item is Interesting because (toward is president, and Mr. pson is treasurer, of the Na- : Fascisti. libbs' Weekly Gazette and Creditors"—to give its full -is a semi-private period- containing all bankruptcy [and similar items for the liatlon of credit firms, bank- ad others. Its authority is teachable. fck shirts and revolvers are hive it would seem. right arm of Labor iB a press. Add power to this Jy subscribing to THE CAN- LABOR ADVOCATE. I OITY OF VANOOUVBB Court of Revision. NOTICE that the Assessment of all rateable property in the Vancouver, whioh will form Ks of municipal taxation for the p26, has heen returned to me nance of the provisions of thi* liver Incorporation Act, 1921," at the ..samo may be inspected | offices of the Assessment Com- Ir, City Hall, Vancouver, be- lhe hours of 9 o'clock a.m. and |i each day, and that the flrst of the Court of Revision to re- ualiie and correct the same, will : on Friday, February 26th, 1926, 'clock In the forenoon, in the Chamber, at the Oity Hall, [Street, Vancouver. he said meeting all complaints the assessment as made, by the ir. which ahall have been re- I by me at leaat seven clear days |o the date of the said meeting, heard. WILLIAM McQUEEN, City Clerk. (tall, Vancouver, B.C., 15th, 1926. T ONDON.—In sending the New Year greetings of British Labor to comrades in other lands who may read this, may I express the hope that 1926 will see a far closer understanding and a greater measure of real unity among the toiling hosts of labor all over the world? Trade Unionism The gradual but sure revival from the trade depression in 1924 led to a turn in the tide of wage reductions, and in that year there was on the whole a slight increase in general wage rates. If 1925 failed ta live up to the promise of 1924 it at any rate confirmed the forward impulse already given to the Trade Union Movement, Trade last year showed, no marked revival though what little* movement occurred was in the right direction. Trade Unionism also moved in the right direction and at a more rapid pace. For the first time since 1920 an increase in the number of organized workers was recorded. The Trades Union Congress has as its first aim the recovery of at least its 1920 membership' and as helping to this end has just inaugurated a nation-wide campaign to organize women workers completely. This follows a similar campaign, which ls still In progress and is meeting with great success, among the large numbers of unorganized agricultural workers. Amalgamation Meanwhile the movement to amalgamate unions in the same industry has proceeded vigorously and several big fusions await only a formal vote of the membership. Educationally the year has been noteworthy for the decisions taken by the Scarborough Conference of the Trades Union Congress to bring under its official care the various Labor colleges and to recognize both the Workers' Educational Association and also the Marxian organization (National Council of Labor Colleges). During the coming year detailed schemes are to be worked out for giving ekect to these decisions. The Greatest Achievement British Trade Unionism's greatest achievement, perhaps, in 1925 was its successful resistance to violent attacks on wage standards In three great industries, namely, Wool, Railways and Coal. The importance of the dispute in the last of these, overshadowed almost everything else in the industrial world and continues to do so. While the Railroad and Wool Workers were faced with a temporary depression the Miners have long been aware that the Coal industry Is in a really terrible condition. Convinced nevertheless that existing methods of ownership and management were very largely responsible, they refused In June last to consider the slightest reduction in the already deplorable wages or the slightest extension of working hours. The first step must be a drastic reform and reorganization of the industry. On the issue they appealed to the whole Trade Union Movement, with memorable results. Quite spontaneously, and with the utmost enthusiasm, the movement responded. The great Transport Unions quickly worked out a scheme for stopping all movement of coal should the miners be locked out. The General Council of the Trades Union Congress took over, at the invitation of the miners, the conduct of the struggle and the stage was set for the biggest industrial conflict in British Industry. Anything might have happened, but grave though the situation was, the workers did not flinch being determined to main tain at least what, they had, little as lt was. Premier Baldwin solved the problem for the moment by giving a subvention from the funds of the State in order to maintain the existing wage levels while enabling the coal owners to keep their pits working. Then came the Royal Commission on the Coal Industry—four men", with four assessors, who would work out a scheme for the salvation of the industry ln less than nine months. Now Britain awaitg their proposals,, for the subvention ends in May next, as at present arranged, and circumstances are no different now from what they were in June. It is safe to say that a situation of the greatest magnitude will face the nation between now and next. June. I propose "to send shortly a summary of the Labor scheme, as placed before the Commission, for the public ownership and cooperation of the coal industry. It is not on the lines of any previous nationalization scheme proposed in Britain, Political In the realm of politics the Locarno settlement has, of course, been, tlie chief item. Labor, while wholly in favdr of signing the, agreement, has emphasized all the time the fact that signing documents is useless unless there is behind everything the genuine desire and will to carry out its terms In the spirit as well as in the letter. It would be fatal for people to imagine that peace and friendsihp in Europe are assured because of the Treaty signed in London at the beginning of December. All nations and particualarly France, must show that they are willing to back up words by deeds, If in the forthcoming conferences on disarmament they do not, the world will know what value to place on Lo- carnOi That the lions artd wolves will turn into Iambs the Labor Movement does not seriously anticipate, knowing their history, and therefore the fight against war must contiue to be fought by the Workers, Locarno notwithstanding. Home Politics In home politics the most note worthy event has been the enactment of a law providing pensions for widows and orphans and supplementing the existing old age pensions scheme. The new scheme comes into Operation at the beginning of this year artd is contributory, the Stato, employers and workers all paying contributions as they do under the Health and Unemployment Insurance schemes. For the rest the Baldwin Government has done nothing. Unemployment has remained stationary, the cost of living has remained high despite the appointment of a Food Council (with no executive powers, be it noted), and Housing has made slow progress under legislation passed in previous years. On the whole 1925 has been a year of stock-taking and internal heart searchlngs In the political Labor movement, and after all this ls necessary at times in all movements. LONDON—An Illuminating incident occurred during Sir Austen Chamberlain's visit to Rapallo _ . , , Which gives us a new view on the Decision in Dispute foreign secretary's long-susrected affinity for a fascisti dictatorship LONDON—The claim of work- when the workers of this country ers at the Bolden and St Hilda make u8e of the industrial weapon Collieries, Durham, has been sue- of unity af.'alnst the attacks of the cessful after a third hearing. In boss- the first place, it was ruled that H,s Ions seoret talks wlth M"s- the men were out of work in con- soIm,, ,n whioh- it is rumored, sequence of an industrial dispute plans wele lald for the Pursuance and were not entitled to benefit. of an aseressive imperialist policy A new claim was lodged, and it wlth the collaboration of fascist was then decided that the men Italy* would aIso seem to have '"- were entitled to benefit on the fused the spirlt of international ground that the employers had tMcisn* into the naturally dlcta- not withdrawn the notices termin- torlal blood of slr Austen, ating contracts which were given *•*• deputation of fascists called In the middle of July. upon him at Rapallo, no doubt In In the.present hearing the um- order to congratulate him and h*.» pire ruled again for the workers, colleague's of the tory government The Act of 1920 by section 7 on their suppression of free precludes situations vacant speech and the liberty of the sub- through a stoppage of work due Ject in Britain, to a trade dispute being regarded He responded by presenting the as " suitable employment" for fascists with a photograph of hlm- other persons than those affected "elf, bearing the inscription: "To by the dispute and equally pre- my Genoa comrades, with all best vents the same employment being offered to the men who are concerned in the dispute. The umpire also finds that the employers are not willing to reopen the colliery as if the notices of mid-July had not been given wishes." - Birds of a feather plot together. Sees West Virgina Labor Coming Back (By Art Shields, Federated Press) Labor's Latest Paper Trade Unionism Organ LONDON—"The fTrade Unionist," a new weekly newspaper will make its first appearance at an early date. It will be devoted almost entirely to trade union and industrial NEW YORK—Clinton Golden, news, and we welcome still an- field representativt of Brookwood other voice to spread the gospel Labor College, returns from a of working-class solidarity, tour of West Virginia greatly en- The paper will be under the in- couraged at the prospects for a dependent control of a group of labor comeback. well-known trade unionist^ con- Where the miners' union is nected with different industries. broken Golden found men work- Richard Copock, the chairman of ing ln many cases for less than the committee, is the general sec- half union rates. The so-called retary of the National Federation 1917 scale—with wages stabilized of Building Trades Operatives, an at about a third less than the organization that fights consistent- Jacksonville scale—is often nothing but a scrap of paper. The non- iy for unity 'both in that industry and the whole trade union move- union companies pay much less ment. often—whatever starving men will work for. Non-union miners are threaten- The other members of the committee are W. H. Malnwarlng, W. T. A. Foot, Fred Witcher, Jack ed with discharge if they report Tanner and V. Brodzky. doubtful gas conditions and so fa- With such a committee as this tal explosions occur. Golden was we are assured a progressive, clean in West Virginia when 19 lives and constructive outlook on trade were sacrificed in the Jamison union matters. mine explosion near Fairmont and he says a wave of indignation ran through the state. It was the second terrible explosion since the war on the Jacksonville pact began. Golden is returning to West James Maxton Stirs Up a Hornet's Nest LONDON—Addressing the Con- grress of the Educational Insti- Virglnia this March at the invit- tute o£ Scotland at Glasg*0w, ation of the state federation to put the case for workers' education before the 11 central labor Cambridge Universities he stirred bodies. The idea of workers' edu- up a dragon wh,oh challenged cation, as an aid in the fight, has hlm to mortal combat> .lames Maxton, M. P., said that when he criticised Oxford and gone over he says. He found a Judging from the correspon ds education committee in Char- ence he had reoelved £rom gl.ad_ leston and lt made the meeting there a success. City craft unions are enterprising in Charleston and ln Wheel- uates it seemed that he had wronged thein. They were not so decadent, for some of them had a fine command of virile English, Ing, where the open shop move- ^...^ _ol||d not ])e exc,elled by a ment was more complete, the out- Billingsgate porter. look ls better than it has been for several years. He found a Brookwood graduate, Leonard Craig, now head of the moulders' union and of the central body's education movement, which was recently formed. Across the line in Ohio miners BUILDING TRADES ALLIANCE BOSTON—A Building Trades Alliance for .building tradesmen from cities north of Boston has been formed an8 will serve as a clearing house for Jurisdictional and other troubles. Carpenters, electricians, painters, sheet metal workera, plasters, plumbers and steamfltters's unions participated from Maiden, Melrose, Wakefield, Stoneham, Reading, Winchester, Medford and Wobum. Mr. Maxton said it wns unfortunate that British education was dominated by the ideals, aims, and traditions of Oxford and Cambridge, where we were told there was to be acquired a vague and intangible something unobtainable anywhere else—where they learn- retain union wages though some p(, to „p]ay the game.» have been sliced. The miners there He had coma tQ tho conclusicm are contributing $2.00 per man to tha. the game these fellows prid. the anthracite strike despite the ed themselves on wa8 that of mining companies' check it off. refusal to "Beggar my neighbor." Pass this copy to your shopmnte and get him to subscribe. Send In your subscription today. NEW YORK.— (FP) —Twelve porters and 112 cleaning women ^ struck in one of New York's sky- — ' scraper office buildings when their cash to $56 per month payable by- employer discharged some of them check semi-monthly was also pro- and attempted to make the others tested. Offices were left littered, double up on the work. Tho change halls unmopped but the strikors of wage payment from $10 weekly won with promise of cash paymetn. Page Eight THE CANADIAN LABOR ADVOCATE Friday, January 29, 195 f Our Open Forum BY LELAND OLDS "lVTOTHING but a goddam coal factory" and "loading coal by the acre instead of by the ton" are miners' phrases quoted by Carter Goodrich in his book, The Miner's Freedom, to describe how the advance of machine production is pushing the coaldigger down to the level of an unskilled day laobrer. Goodrich shows simply and graphically the change from the old independence of isolated work at the face to the gang labor of serving a. machine eight hours a day under immediate supervision of a boss. In the first part of his book Goodrich describes in some detail the unusual freedom of the old time miner's work compared with the average job in industry. He refers to "the strong feeling among the bosses as well as among the workers, that the miner is a sort of independent petty contractor and that how much he workB and when are more his own affair than the company's." The prevailing freedom of the miners, he points out, is in part a matter of vigorous huamn tradition preserved at the gob piles during delays in the supply of cars and by public opinion in communities populated almost entirely by miners. He sees the union as the great bulwark of this traditional independence with the protection it gives the miners against arbitrary discharge. The regular duties of the men's mine committees have carried them into active contact with the operation of the mines. He sees here a crystalization of the miner's freedom in union policies amounting to an interest and share in management, including substitution of democratic group discipline for the arbitrary discipline of the boss. From this picture of traditional freedom Goodrich turns abruptly to the possible Fordizing of coal mining following the spread of machine production. He quotes stateemnts from men, urging this development, to the effect that "the best mines are coming more and more to be organised like factories." He cites the Oary mines' of the U. S. Coal & Coke Co. with four times the usual number of bosses, which announces that the mine foreman and his assistants "are supposed to do the thinking for the men." When complete ma- chlnization of the miners is accomplished, Goodrich quotes, "the man won't be a miner any more, coming to work when he pleases; he'll be a mechanic and he'll do what he's told." He adds, "or an unskilled laborer." But how about the union? Theoretically it favors the introduction of labor-saving machinery but will it be able to handle the situation when this machinery enables management to fill the mines with green help while at the same time the greater productivity reduces the number of jobs? These questions Goodrich leaves open after quoting the argument of T. A. Stroup, a western mine*, superintendent, to the effect that the complete mechanization of the mines would be "a certain cure for "unionism." This easily read book should form a centre of discussion in every miner local, for It presents the outstanding problem which organized miners are facing today. Failure to deal with the problem may well leave union miners stranded while the industry moves bodily away to nonunion mines. The Miner's Freedom, by Carter Goodrich; Marshall Jones Co., Boston, $2. Dawes' Plan Favored by German Capitalists The German capitalists have made good during the first year's operations of the Dawes' plan. They have made good in several ways. They have smashed the workers down to the bread line— cutting wages, increasing hours, and breaking down the conditions qf labor. They have also made good in that their profits are' increasing, while they are building up the nucleus of a system of foreign trade which, if the Dawes' plan lasts long enough, will place Germany in a position to close up half the factories 'of other nations. Britain, France, and the other nations may draw yearly reparation payments from Germany, but it will be at the expense of their own trade; for as Germany's export trade grows—and this has to happen If Germany is allowed to continue the reparation payments—unemployment increases in the other nations as factory after factory closes Its doors. Germany paid in her first year's obligations, amounting to one billion gold marks, on the due date —August 31. So well has the Dawes' plan worked, that Germany could have paid this sum as far back as November last year had she been so disposed, The big German industrialists are behind the Dawes' plan to a man, for under the scheme they are profiteering middlemen, supplying rich foreign markets that the money-grabbing Allied Governments have to find for them in order to collect the reparations. They boast quite openly that the Dawes" plan has only to last long enough, and they will secure the whole of Britain's foreign trade, leaving that country but a skeleton, as far as-*trade is concerned. It enables them* to undercut British products, and forge ahead In the world markets. In steel alone the product has almost doubled in two years.—"A u s t r a 1 i a n Worker." Headers of The Labor Advocate are invited to send in letters for publication ln onr "Open Forum." Thla la a "free for all." No communications will be censored ao long aa writers retrain from indulging in personalities. Letters should not exceed 260 words. Tha management of The Advocate asaumea no responsibility for opinions expressed ln this'* apace. ■ -**. Editor Labor Advocate: Being an Old Country man I was very Interested In the article "The Week at Ottawa," which appeared in the January 15th issue of this very interesting journal. In view of the financial aspect of the Dominion, and that there are large numbers of men walking about workless and starving, I would suggest that the Ottawa government cut down expenses to a considerable degree, namely, the abolition of the Governor-Generalship, and the duties to be taken over by the Prime Minister and his successors, who can represent the King by Royal proclamation; the same applying to the provincial parliaments, where the Lieutenant-Governor appears to me to be a costly and unnecessary figurehead. Also some of the minor Cabinet positions could be amalgamated and the money thus saved put to increasing the industries in the Dominion (particularly in the west), and so make more Work for everyone, besides making the country more independent and reducing the cost of living. I am not advocating a break from England, but as Europe seems to be so full of "Peace Treaties" just, now, why not the London government turn to and make an Empire Pact by which the Dominions would be bound OOBPOBATION OF THE DISTBIOT OF BTTBNABY THE FIRST SITTING of the Court of Revision of the 1926 Assessment Roll, will be held on Monday, the 8th day of February, 1926, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, in tho Counoil Ohamber at the Municipal Hall, at Edmonds, British Columbia. ARTHUR G. MOORE, Clerk. Edmonds, B.C., January 22, 1926. with the mother country, as Is now the case. I should like the Editor's opinion oft this subject and perhaps some of the many readers of the ADVOCATE could suggest some other plan which will attain the same result, viz. DRASTIC ECC OMY at Ottawa "in conjunct with the provincial capitals, work with a living wage for unemployed. R*^ EDITOR'S NOTE:—See edi ial for reply. Advertisers are helping us. Reciprocate by buying from them, and tell them you saw it in the Advocate. 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SEE THE NEW MODEL FORDS Beauty Comfort Utility ; WE CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO VISIT US IN OUR NEW HOME CORNER OP Seymour and Smythe Vancouver Motors Limited Seymour 7700 Seymour 7700 J END OF THE MONTH Clean-Up Sale Our Men's Special Solid Leather Work Boot, cap't Ao QC be beat. Black or Tan, Plain or with Toe Cap.. *POeo**aJ Women's High Grade Slippers, Patents or Suedes, d»0 QC All'sizes. Values up to $6.50.. WOea/V 600 pairs Leckie's Sample Shoes, sizes 6 to 7 &>A QC only. Regular $9.00 «Pt*»J7y' Specials ip BOYS' BOOTS. All Solid Leather AO f*_ Remember this <***** ' *** KIBLER'S SHOE STORI (The Beet for Less) 163 HASTINGS ST. E. (Almost Opposite the Library
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