The Dominion. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1914. THE METHODS OF THE RED FEDS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1979, 9 February 1914, Page 6

The Dominion. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1914. THE METHODS OF THE RED FEDS.

■» —; — It has'been so evident that- the old lied Federation stridor element in the new "Waterside Workers' Union is determined to create disorder in. the union and make, tilings as uncomfortable as possible for the Arbitration meinberß that the turn which 'proceedings took at the meeting on (Saturday last will surprise no one. Practically from beginning to end of the meeting' there was a determined and persistent effort on the part of the lied Federationists to browbeat and intimidate the men who had joined the- union during the strike. They Were .howled down when they attempted to speak; they were threatened with violence; and in one case at least physical Violence was actually used. The conduct of the* great bulk of the Red Fcderalionists was indeed in complete harmony with' their behaviour during the early days of the strike when, they sought to terrorise the community by their lawless behaviour and cowardly acts of tyranny and brutality. They 'had no faith in the justice of their cause; they had no confidence in the .merit of their argument; they simply laid themselves out to gain their ends by silencing those wno disagreed with them by savage outcries -and threatening behaviour.' The result was a meeting which can only be regarded by s.an"e unionists as a disgrace to unionism. It would seem that out of a membership..of over 1500 active members 'less than 500 attended the_ meeting, and this number ( wiis mainly composed of strikers belonging to the Red Federation. It is probable that the -comparatively small attendance was due to the fact that the more reasonable and reputable members of the union anticipated a rowdy meeting, and preferred to absent themselves rather than become involved in the verbal 1 and possibly, physical strife in prospect. But be that as it may the outcome was that the rowdy element took charge at the outset and dominated the meeting. Resolutions were passed which in effect practically mean the transfer of the control. of the union's affairs froto the hands of the officers deeded by the Arbitration unionists into those of nofninees of the strikers. Whether ih the circumstances imiMwhich the meeting was held these resolutions will hold good in la\v remains to be seen. It is stated thatRed Federatio-nists who are nob members of the union obtained access to. the room and participated in the proceedings; _ and in one case at least an Arbitrationist member who was legitimately nrcscnl was wrongfully ejected by s.fi-m® of the more acgressive of the. disorderly element. There are other grounds which ma? lead to the business transacted being set aside, but it remains to bo s<ksn

whether it will bo necessary to take the matter into the Law Courts. The two outstanding features of the. situation however are (1) that tho community is facet! with the' fact that terrorism and intimidation arc still regarded as the legitimate and most effective weapons of the Bed .I'VJonition, and (2) that more than ever it is the duty of the employers to stand by the Arbitration unionists and give them preference of employment. It must not be forgotten that the methods practised by the liod Fedcrationists at Saturday's meeting arc tho methods which fed tip to tho recent disastrous strike and which were also used against the community until they wove stamped out by the splendid work of the special constables. Such methods ai'o a standing menace to sane and legitimate labour unionism and a fruitful sourco of disturbance and danger to the industrial life of the country. Moreover, their evil influence does not stop even there, but is liable to insidiously weaken that respect for law and of' der upon which our civilisation so largely rests.