AN ANTI-LARKIN MANIFESTO.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1915, 25 November 1913, Page 7

AN ANTI-LARKIN MANIFESTO.

BY THE SEAMEN'S UNION SECRETARY J. HAVELQCK WILSON'S VIEW Of "LARKINISMi" By Tulcffropli—Press Association—-OopyriKlit London, November 23. Mr. J. Havdock Wilson, secretary of tho Seamen's Union, in a manifesto, states that Larkin, tho Dublin strike lender* has absolutely controlled the Dublin Branch of the Sailors' and Firemen's Union for tho last two years, The union has been involved in continuous disputes without refc-reneo to tlio governing body. Tlio presont strike could bo finished if common sense vailed.Tlio manifesto asks whether those who are booming Larkin can justify Larkin's disregard of agreements. , Tho newspaper "Daily Citiswn" says t.lie British labouh oa-u only exert its full influence on behalf of the Dublin strikers by trusting itself to tho guidonco of well-tried leaders. Larldn does not servo bis own or Labour's cause by sowing distrust- between -leaders and followers. Seven hundred, strike-breakers at Dublin aro receiving 335. a week and free meals. Thev have sent a cargo of cattle to Birkenhead.

URKIN IN WALES. CHARACTERISTIC HARANGUES, (Roc. November 24, 10.20 p.m.) London, November 23. Larkin, addressing a crowd of 10,000 at- Cardiff, compared non-union men to "camp followers watching a battla from afar, and then robbing the dead." The Irish Labour party, he said, was neutral in tlio mat-tor of Homo Rule. They did not bargain with politicians and they were not- concerned with tlio "bonds of Empire," T'hoy were concerned only with having a freer and fuller life in their own country. Ha added: "Wo say to Redmond andCCarr r son: Curses on both yoiir houses." They represent, capitalism. ; Speaking at Swansea- Larkin declared that his purpose was to iveid the workers in one union. The idea bad 'not been achieved heretofore, owitig to persons who had obtained positions by monopoly and privileges among tho workers and .declined to surrender them. Ho contended that the rank and file, not tho leaders, must decide tho iino of advance. He added: "Wo ought to take over Ireland, and use the country to €he best interests of all its people." WELSH RAII/WAYSIEN'S DEMANDS Lofidort, .November 23. The South Wales railway men havo resolved to strike on December 1 unless an eight hours' day is conceded the lofcomotivo men. FRENCH MINERS ON STRIKE.' Paris, November 23. 'As tho result of tho strike tff French! minors, 70,QU0 men aro idio. Tho Paris Miners' Federation urges the resumption ef work on Monday next.

UNEMPLOYED IN 3ERUN. TRADE UNION FUNDS DISSIPATES IN STRIKES. (I:!go. November 26, 0.10 a.m.) Berlin, November 24. Tlioro -are upwards of 80,000 u»i?3)i« ployed in Greater Berlin. Th:' Social* ists in Parliament dcm&nd that a Bill should be passed providing for an Imperial insurance scheme against unemployment. Tho "North Gorman G&zotto" conlends that but for the accumulated funds which havo been expended in strikes, tho trades unions might easily have solved the problem of imcniploy iimnt themselves.

In ft recent a-rticlo reviewing certain aspects of the Dublin stfiko, Mr. Phili;? Snowdcn, M.!'.., a Socialist of.the betto.' ofa,ss, who condemns doctrines of $yndi< calisin, observed that whbn tho delegation' from the Trades Union Congftis weni to ifublhi recently to try to bring the dispute to an cud Mr. Larkiii told them to go to the infernal regions. "tii short," snys Mr. Snoivden, "the. Irish Transport Workers' Union is not ft traito urn-cn as ivc understand unionism in Great Britain, but a syndicalist organisation with a revolutionary policy, and a revolutionary aiiu. It is tho purpose of this form of industrial oigamsatioa to supercede ail the .uieiods which 'old-fashioned* trado unionism U-Ses. Its poliey, as described in the words of oho of its foremost -advocates, is to fight the employers all the time—no agreemeat?, no truces, no conciliation, but frontal attacks, side attacks, rear attacks upon the capitalists without cessation. All is fair in this war, and every devico must be invented for irritating fend goading tlio employers, The strike is to bo the main method of attack. Tlio sympathetic strike is looked upon by those syndicalists as one of the most useful weapons they can employ. It develops the spirit of solidarity among tho workers, and it causes public inconveniences and los-9. In the -philosophy of tho syndicalist these partial and sympathetic ■strikes are believed to serve a double purpose. In tho first place, the strike for eome specific demand, such as an increase of wages, is the only way in which the employers can be moved. Nothing can bo gained, it is maintained, c-xocpfc by tlio workers proving to the capitalist that (hey are strong-enough to force it; and, indeed, it is held with equal teuaeity that nothing is worth Swing unless it has been secured as a result of the workers defeating and humiliating the capitalists. "Tho second purpose this strike pe'.icy is supposed to sorve is as a preparation for (ho last great culminating cftort— tho general strike—which in two or Uire« days is to bring tl» capitalists starving to t.lve feet of the strike committee., begging that tlio workers will take over the nisSfumcnts 'of pro.dnclinii awl Uistribillion, This is the -policy and ami of j,arkin.is)jl. Itierwliblo as it is, still it is the fact that this hare-brained policy lias supporters not ouly Ireland, bstt in Great Britain. The foolish strikes wliicil took place at Liverpool and Birmingham were fomented by English larki«s; Tho sight of tlio men gomp back to work on tho railway companies terms it- two or three days is a sample of what will always happen if such a policy of recklessness is followed. Larkm has nlreadr one great and tragic instance ol the failure 01. his policy 4o Ins discredit-*-liaiiiely, tho Irish, railway -strike where the men were hummed to tlio dust. Larkinism is tlio negation not onlj- of tradf unionism, but of common-sense.