MEDIATOR AND AGITATOR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 10

MEDIATOR AND AGITATOR.

TILLETT'S VIE W OP SIE JOSEPH ASKWITH. Mr. Ben Tillett lias just published a "History of the London TransportWorkers' Strike" of two years ago, in which the various phases of that strange eventful story are set forth. One of the passages of immediate moment is that in which the personalities of the "go-betweens" at the negotiations at. tho Board of Trade are described, "Wo had had a good time at tho Board, of Trade," Mr. Tillett writes. "Sit George Askwith (Industrial Commissioner for this Board of Trade), tho patient, plodding man, with pigeon-holes _ in his brains, who listened without sign of being bored or absorbed, who concealed hi.-j mind liko a Chinaman. Emotionless, except- that he would peer through his glasses at someone making a statement of moment, never raising his diplomatic -voice, or appearing to hurry over anything; guiding without falter or apparent effort tho disputants, however heated they may be, himself tho inscrutable, patient listener. "And such patience! It was tnore than dour in its persistence and calmness ; it compelled by its coldness, and saved us from tho bickerings on occasions when the wisest become puny and spiteful. He is the most dangeroiis man in the country. His diplomacy is and will be worse than war. Unless it absolutely, suecceds hi forcing industrial combatants to appreciate tho human oneness of the community it will ho a danger, inasmuch a;S it will make with its gre.it gcuius for a peace that after all will bo artificial. There is no real peaco for the toilers so long as the wage system exists. Men like Askwith might make the moro supine and ignorant believe there can bo peace without paying tho price of war."—' 'Morning Post."