LABOUR LEADERS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18659, 7 April 1926, Page 13

LABOUR LEADERS.

♦ — MR THOMAS AND MR COOK.

PLEASANTRIES EXCHANGED.

(niOK otra ow coerespohdbn!.) LONDON, February 4. Labour leaders are human like the rest of us, and they sometimes differ in their general outlook on life. Mr J. H. Thomas and Mr A. J. Cook, secretary of the-Miners' Federation, represent • the two extremes of the Socialist move* ineht, and it is interesting to hear what they think of one another. "Like tho majority of the members of out movement," Mr Thomas •wrote in a letter to the "Daily Herald," "I have long ceased to treat Mr Cook serioußly, and my regret is that a great organisation like tho Miners' Federation of Great Britain should, day after day, have its case ruihed by the childish outbursts of its secretary, who not only displays such lack of knowledge and experience, but whose only contribution so far has been to mistake thunder for lightning. I must, however, romind him that when he presumes to give advice or to criticise tho conditions of employment of the members of other organisations, or to question the action of a delegate conference, ho should just keep in mind that the great mass of trade unionists of this country do not judge the worth of a leader by his frothy orations, but by whether he succeeds in delivering the goods. I have long felt that the miners of this country are Buffering under deplorable conditions, and, incidentally, I hope that I have made some effort to help them. JBut one's sympathy for the miners is accentuated by. the knowledge that they have to suffer under the double misfortune in having to tolerate as their leader Mr Cook, who has yet to learn the elemental principles of leadership. "All those who happen to know most about events are praying that he will at least take,a rest, and so render a more lasting service to the cause of the workers.'' Mr Cook's Reply. Mr Cook's observations on Mr Thomas's letter are to the following effect:—

"I have no time to waste in a personal controversy with the right lion, gentleman. lam more concerned with the miners' fight for a living wage, and can leave the miners and the members of; the working class movement of this country to Judge on merits the proposals and policy carried out by Mr Thomas and that advocated by myself. Mr Thomas's letter is based on false-

hood'and misrepresentation, and he has now joined the mighty chorus of the masters and their Press in an attack upon myself, which will, no doubt, increase hia popularity among that section, if that is possible. 1 cannot claim to be an experienced after-dinner speaker at the groat working-class functions which Mr Thomas attends at the Savoy and the Hotel Cecil. Nor can I claim to be a leader of fashion; especially of the evening dress variety; but I do claim to be a class-conscious fighter for the workers. The miners having selected me by ballot vote to represent their interests and to fight their cause, I shall carry out their mandate irrespective of abuse or misrepresentation from this noble gentleman. I stand for the working classes against the capitalist classes and all forms of vested interests. "While I welcoino advice from any quarter, I shall only accept instructions from the men I represent. The Right Hon. J. H. Thomas, P. 0., etc., along with other great noble'lords, dukes, and gentlemen, has long wished mo in a very warm place. 1 hope I shall not get the deserts they wish me. However, I shall leave my fate to bft decided by the working-clas9 movement."